In my two weeks at Varuna I achieved all that I set out to do.
I finished editing The Wish Bird and created 6 new illustrations which will go inside the book.
Thank you, Varuna, the writers’ house in the misty Blue Mountains.
And thank you also to my fellow writers, Meg Vann, Gabbi Stroud, Meg Mundell and Avril Carruthers. And also to Sheila, who cooked our wonderful dinners each evening.
Sheila, working her culinary magic!
The view from my room, The Green Room overlooking the orchard.
Eleanor Dark’s writing studio
The Office – thank you to Jansis, Vera, Madeleine and Joan.
Mama magpie with her broken foot which doesn’t seem to bother her.
Pesky cockatoo plucking a pear.
Gorgeous vintage rubber bird stamps I bought in Leura.
The front door knocker.
The Varuna mist
The completed manuscript with illustrations
Ah Varuna <3
My visitors’ book entry
Gabi, what a wonderful time you’ve had. Varuna is such a beautiful place – I adored my week there back in 2008 (?), so many lovely memories, and yes, Sheila’s delicious food is one of them. The other is the insightful and clever Peter Bishop who was the Creative Director at the time.
I’m going back again one day, for sure. 🙂
Me too, Sheryl. I’m going to make Varuna a regular sojourn. X
Love these pics, GW. Especially the misty driveway corner and the thank you card. It’s a magical place, huh? A place dedicated to writing and ideas with no distractions. I think it only exists in some collective dream.
Thank you, Tristan. yes, truly magical. We as writers are so lucky to have this wonderful retreat. It’s one of a kind in the whole world.