Between The Lines

Postcards from Andalusia and my beloved book companions

Pure escapism!

Dear friend

How are you today?  I’m feeling a little on the chilly side after spending a glorious few days in the Ronda Hills, so if you have any sunshine, please send it my way.

I must begin with an apology for my recent radio silence here on Substack.  The past few days have been a whirlwind of writing retreats and exploring new corners of Andalusia in southern Spain.  While the stunning landscapes and charming white villages have provided endless inspiration, they’ve also demanded my full presence as I attended lots of meet n greets with venue owners, local suppliers, wellbeing experts and tour guides, leaving little bandwidth for writing.

However, the rhythm of traveling has afforded me ample time for reading.  Yay!  Amoung the books I’ve savoured recently are Rachel Cusk’s masterful “Outline” a profound exploration of the stories that shape our lives and it’s the first in what I know will be an extraordinary trilogy.  Chris Stewart’s “Driving Over Lemons” provided a witty and endearing glimpse into the life as an expat in rural Andalusia. And I’ve returned once again to the poetic brilliance of Deborah Levy’s “The Cost of Living”, a book I’ve now read three times, each encounter revealing new layers, I just love her. I’m literally counting down the days, as she has a new publication out in November called "The Position of Spoons”. I cannot wait to receive my copy.

Last but least, rounding out my literary journey, has been Mirandar France’s “The Writing School” which has further stoked my passion for the written word and the transformative power of retreats dedicated to the craft.  It was quite surreal reading about ‘the behinds the scenes’ of a writing retreat, which gave me much food for thought, as I’d love to write about the extraordinary stories that make up Ease Retreats.  Speaking of which, I’m eager to share the details about my plans to host writing retreats in the very quaint and rustic Spanish venue I recently stayed at.  You’d love it! It’s a hidden gem, miles away from the city lights, where the peaceful surroundings of the Ronda Hills will undoubtedly nurture your creativity and inspiration.

Right I must dash, I’m driving over to Oxfordshire, to a beautiful converted barn, where I’ll be hosting a writing retreat with Stacey Heale called “Doing Hard Things” with ease.  More about that next week.

Until the next time,

Take care and stay safe xx

About me… I’m Tanya Lynch, a mother, a ridgeback owner and the founder of Ease Retreats.  I love what I do, collaborating with authors and creatives, hosting retreats in beautiful venues across the UK.  I’m also a therapeutic journaling coach and through my program Rage on a Page, I help midlife women channel their emotions into something more positive and creative in less than 60 days. Each Thursday I host an online journaling club called Journal with Ease and it’s free for paid subscribers to attend. If you have any questions about the benefits of therapeutic journaling, please reach out and connect. I’m usually on a beach walking the dogs, hosting retreats or hanging out here on Substack.