Meet Clover Stroud IRL
Unveiling the depths of memoir writing
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Whist out braving the Welsh storms with the ridgebacks earlier this morning, listening to another memoir on audiobook, I asked myself would I ever get bored of memoir?? Quite simply, no, never!
For me there exists a profound journey of self-discovery and transformation - both in the act of reading someone else’s memoir and in the courageous decision to write one’s own. And yes I’ve tried and tried to complete the first draft of my own memoir, but I’m obviously too busy reading someone else’s.
I’m magnetised through the pages of intimate narratives, where I’m invited into the depths of another person’s intimate stories and secrets, where triumphs, tragedies and moments of profound insight intertwine to form a publication about the rawness of humanity. This week I’m reading a heart-rending memoir by Sarah Standing called Dancing With The Red Devil - what a page turner!
As some of you will know, this will be my third consecutive year of collaborating alongside the remarkable
whose candid storytelling continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world. Yesterday she launched her own Substack - hooray! We used to talk about her being on Substack last Summer, and I’m so thrilled she’s now joined the Substack community at last. Are you ready for your mind to be blown about how life really feels??If you’d like to meet Clover in person, we are co-hosting a “Memoir Writing Day Retreat” in Chipping Norton on Monday 6th May. This will be an outstanding opportunity for you to learn more about memoir, from nurturing your earliest ideas, to structuring an outline, to learning how to channel your deepest emotions to create beautiful prose. Clover will also provide hints and tips on writing a proposal, getting an agent, and approaching a publisher. What’s more, we will delve into her latest memoir “The Giant on the Skyline” as she shares her experiences of writing it and the exhilaration of witnessing its publication. It’s available for pre-orders now!
Here’s the thing, Clover’s journey is not merely confined to the pages of her books; it’s a lived experience, woven into the fabric of her daily life packed with raw authenticity. During our retreats, Clover invites you to embark on a parallel journey of self-reflection and growth, challenging you to confront your own truths and embrace the transformative power of storytelling. If you enjoy poetry, it plays a big part in one of the masterclasses.
As she continues to chart new territories, now living in Washington DC, she is already immersed in the creation of her 5th memoir. Her relentless pursuit of trying to work out ‘what life is all about’, is nothing short of inspirational. I love working with her! Each day retreat is magical and profound. Our guests arrive as strangers and leave as friends, some deciding to remain in contact so they can be each other’s accountability buddies. Some of our guests from 2023 have gone on to publish their own memoirs, one saying “The retreat with Clover Stroud was exactly the extra encouragement I needed to complete my work”.
If like our previous guests, you crave the power of memoir and would like to learn more about embarking on a journey of exploration with Clover on our retreats, please leave a comment or email me at hello@easeretreats.com for more information.
Until the next time
Take care and stay safe xx