Shape Your Story in Cyprus
January 24-28, 2027
A memoir writers retreat with Jennifer Lang & Sherri Mandell in the Troodos Mountains
Meet your hosts
A San Francisco Bay Area transplant in Tel Aviv, Jennifer Lang teaches creative writing at Israel Writers Studio and leads YogaProse. She’s American by birth, Israeli by choice, and French by marriage. Places We Left Behind: a memoir-in-miniature (2023) was a finalist for Foreword Reviews Book Awards for Memoir and Landed: A yogi’s memoir in pieces & poses (2024) won Zibby Awards for Best Midlife-or-Late-in-Life Coming-of-Age. A graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts and five-time nominee for Pushcart Prize, Jennifer’s essays appear in Baltimore Review, Under the Sun, Midway Journal, and elsewhere.
Sherri Mandell received a National Jewish Book Award for her spiritual memoir, The Blessing of a Broken Heart, which was translated into three languages and produced as a play in Jerusalem and the U.S. She is the prize-winning author of numerous books including The Kabbalah of Writing: Mystical Practices for Inspiration and Creativity (Inner Traditions, 2024). She has taught creative writing for over 20 years and is also a certified pastoral counselor.
What’s a typical day?
There is no typical day—and that’s part of the magic.
Each day offers a different rhythm: focused writing sessions balanced with plenty of unstructured time to wander through the village, indulge in the spa, curl up with a book by the fire, or simply slow down and step away from the demands of everyday life.
We’ll come together each evening for a leisurely group dinner, sharing stories, ideas, and plenty of laughter—usually more than the night before.
And on our final evening, we’ll gather for a celebratory group reading, an opportunity to share what we’ve created, listen deeply to one another, and celebrate the courage and creativity it takes to put our stories on the page.
It’s a retreat, after all: time to write, time to wander, time to rest, and time to connect.
What will you take away?
✨ A fresh, creative approach to the page
✨ A deeper understanding of story shape and structure
✨ A handful of memoir scenes from your own life
✨ Literary techniques to add to your writer’s toolbox
✨ A community of like-minded writers
✨ And a renewed appreciation for the power of language and word choice
What’s Casale Panayiotis like?
Magical. Nestled high in the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus, the village of Kalopanayiotis is steeped in history, beauty, and old-world charm. And Casale Panayiotis is woven right into the village itself.
Rather than one traditional hotel, Casale Panayiotis is a collection of three dozen guest rooms spread among beautifully restored houses throughout the village, along with cafés, restaurants, and spaces to gather. During our stay, we’ll become part of village life: wandering its winding paths, exploring mountain trails, lingering over local food and drink, and making time to simply be.
We’ll dive deep and wide. Stretch and walk. Eat and explore. Write and wander. Rest and reconnect. And, above all, soak up the magic of the mountains.
Your room will feature a queen-size bed (king or twin beds available on request), an en-suite shower room, and a private terrace or balcony. Most rooms also have a fireplace—perfect for settling in with a book or writing beside the fire.
Rooms are located throughout the center and upper village, generally a 5–10 minute walk from reception and breakfast. A shuttle is available when needed.
Come for the writing. Stay for the village. Leave with stories.
What’s the cost?
4,500₪ / €1350 / $1600
What’s included?
Everything you need to write, connect, and make space for your story:
- Daily writing sessions designed to spark ideas and deepen your work
- A group reading on our final evening, where we share our work and celebrate what we’ve created
- Personalized feedback from Jennifer or Sherri on one piece of writing*
- A private consultation with Jennifer or Sherri about your writing project, questions, or next steps
- Optional yoga sessions to stretch, breathe, and reset (mats provided)
*You’re invited to submit one piece of writing for feedback—up to 800 words, double-spaced, with one-inch margins and 12-point font—by December 10, 2026.
What’s not included?
Your accommodations and dinners
Rooms at Casale Panayiotis are reserved under Jennifer Lang’s name. After making your retreat deposit, you’ll book your room directly with the hotel.- Single room: €172 per night, including breakfast
- Double room: €202 per night, including breakfast
- Group dinner: €30 per person per night for a three-course meal
- One-time facility fee: €30
Getting There
Flights and transfers to and from the hotel are not included. A group minibus will transport us to and from the hotel, for approximately €100 round trip.Lunch
Take your pick: a boxed lunch with a bottle of water (€12) or lunch at one of the village cafés.Spa
Spa access is €30; individual spa treatments are additional.In short: we take care of the writing, the community, and the experience. You take care of getting here—and giving yourself permission to slow down.
How do I register?
Ready to join us? We’d love to have you.
Fill out the registration form or contact Jennifer directly to reserve your place.
Space is limited to 14 participants, so we encourage you to register early.
Registration timeline
- September 15, 2026: A non-refundable registration fee of 1,000₪ / €300 / $350 is due to secure your spot.
- October 15, 2026: The remaining balance of 3,500₪ / €1,050 / $1,250 is due.
- November 15, 2026: The remaining balance is refundable until this date. After November 15, it becomes non-refundable.
- November 30, 2026: Final registration closes.
Once your registration payment is received, Jennifer will send you the information you need to reserve your room directly with Casale Panayiotis.
Join Us — 2027 retreat is full but you can put your name on a waitlist
Come away to write. Come away to yourself.
This retreat is for writers who want to step outside the noise of everyday life and give their creative work the time, attention, and inspiration it deserves.
Whether you’re just beginning to find your voice or deep in the middle of a manuscript, you’ll have space to write, thoughtful guidance to move your work forward, and a community of writers with whom to share the journey.
Set in a village steeped in history and surrounded by the beauty of the Troodos Mountains, this is more than a writing retreat. It’s a chance to slow down, look deeply, write boldly, and return home with renewed energy—and a clearer path forward.
Only 12 spots. We hope you’ll be one of them.