Want to be healthier next year? Try storytelling. If you’re a traveler, you already have a story or two (or twenty) to tell. If you want to become a better writer, do a safari, and live a more creative life, 2026 is YOUR YEAR. Join us on THIS writing retreat! See PDF for details (testimonials, Kenya itinerary, all that is included).
Contact me at cindylmccain1@gmail.com TODAY. Registration deadline is Monday, December 15. Only a few places left!
If you long to wake up in a new world full of wonder and possibility…
If you’re tired of being tired, restless, or overwhelmed…
Listen to the whisper: There’s more to life. It’s the Call to Adventure that Joseph Campbell described in The Hero’s Journey. Taking the first step to changing your narrative is the hardest for some because it means choosing YOU. This I can promise. Kenya will give you a love story. You’ll fall in love with your life.
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined. — Henry David Thoreau
Write what should not be forgotten. —Isabel Allende
When my friend Dee and I heard about the passing of Robert Redford, we immediately watched him again in Out of Africa. We love the film and the memoir by Karen Blixen on which it is based. Living in Africa stretched her and made her a better storyteller. She left forever changed. So did we. After Dee lived in Kenya and I lived in Morocco, we wrote memoirs and other publications about our experiences. Of the 58 countries we’ve explored between us, nowhere has transformed us more as writers and women. Seeing Karen Blixen’s farm and doing a safari in Kenya topped my Bucket List, so when Dee suggested a writing retreat there in 2026, I was on board! We’re taking only 8 explorers with us, so read on and sign up soon!
Full Disclosure: Robert Redford (Denys in Out of Africa) won’t be your pilot, but we’ll fly over Kenya to Tsavo for an authentic safari experience. We’ll be inspired by epic beauty and adventure for creative inspiration and future writing material.
Robert/Denys won’t be there to wash our hair, either, but we’ll read travel literature from master writers to improve our craft. We’ll relax and recharge with kindred spirits … refreshing.
Kenya will give you a love story. You’ll fall in love with your life.
If you’re a writer not writing … an explorer not exploring … or someone who longs to try both…
If you long to wake up in a new world full of wonder and possibility…
If you’re tired of being tired, restless, or overwhelmed…
Listen to the whisper: There’s more to life. It’s the Call to Adventure that Joseph Campbell described in The Hero’s Journey. Taking the first step to changing your narrative is the hardest for some because it means choosing YOU.
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined. — Henry David Thoreau
Write what should not be forgotten. —Isabel Allende
Download the Brochure or See Below Information on the Writing Workshop, Testimonials, Retreat Leader Bios, Package Costs, How to Register, and Deadlines. Share the brochure and this blog post with novice or pro writing friends!
To hold your spot, contact Cindy McCain at cindylmccain1@gmail.com for registration forms and payment information. Completed Registration Forms and Fee Due DECEMBER 15, 2025.
Contact Cindy at cindylmccain1@gmail.com with questions about the writing workshop. Contact Dee at deeflower@mac.com with questions about Kenya. Download .PDF below.
Take a Peek into Cindy’s Morocco Writing Retreat to Know What to Expect
Join Novice and Pro Writers As We Gather Around the Table
Artist dates in Africa inspired us with beauty, rest, and adventure. At the Morocco Writing Retreat, we enjoyed lunch, playing in multiple pools, and riding camels at the iconic Jnane Tamsna.
The Kenya Writing Retreat includes:
Inspiration (see link to Origins itinerary description above)
Workshop sessions for crafting a compelling, poignant travel tale (personal essay/blog post/memoir chapter) in one week
Prompts for journaling your journey in Kenya for writing material
A supportive writing community
Practices for sustaining a creative life in 2026 and beyond
*You’ll have access to workshop materialsonline before, during, and after the retreat.
Please see the Bios of hosts Cindy McCain and Dee Flower in the brochure above.
Cindy McCain (Southern Girl Gone Global)
I’m a university writing and literature instructor, writer, editor, and photographer. Living in Marrakesh inspired my memoir, travel articles, personal essays, and podcast. Nothing makes me happier than exploring the world and empowering writers to tell their best stories. I’ve been leading Travel Tales workshops/writing retreats in the US and Morocco since 2018.
Cindy McCain (Southern Girl Gone Global)
More About Dee Flower and a Preview of the 2026 Kenya Retreat
(Photos Below from Dee Flower’s Exhibitions, Publications, and Life in Kenya)
I’ve never known anyone with more energy, love for travel, and a way of making anywhere an adventure than author/retired park ranger/safari guide trainer, Dee Flower. See her photography from six continents on her website. See more of her INCREDIBLE author bio on Amazon, where you can also get her memoir on living in Kenya, Where the Wind Wills (available on Kindle, Audible, and Spotify free with a Premium Spotify account). She’ll share her writing process, publication journey, and vast understanding of Kenya as our Resident Master Guide.
Never miss a post: travel inspiration, destination itineraries, tips, trends, and tales from the road here. Be the first to hear about online and destination travel writing retreats and workshops.