Memory and the Memoir
While writing your memoir, unless you diligently kept detailed diaries or filmed your life — which is very possible in these social media-heavy days — you’re dependent on your memory for your information.
Finding Her Voice: A Conversation with Memoirist Gail Rice
At 71, Sydney psychologist Gail Rice is stepping into a new chapter—as an emerging writer exploring aging, desire, and the power of storytelling. She’s an alumna of the SPARKS FLY/Imaginative Storm memoir-writing workshop with Allegra Huston.
Another Wonderful Memoir Workshop with Allegra Huston
Last October, we hosted Allegra Huston’s third sold out memoir workshop. A great group of people gathered at our gorgeous venue — The Bluenose Lodge, in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia — for another transformative five days.
Imaginative Storm: A Chat with SPARKS FLY Instructor Allegra Huston
Instructor and author Allegra Huston has collaborated with SPARKS FLY retreats since the beginning, and we finally get to chat with her about her inspirations, the challenges of memoir writing, and the Imaginative Storm technique that helped her, and can help you, overcome similar challenges.
Happy New Year! SPARKS FLY Retreats Is Growing!
We are really pleased to announce SPARKS FLY 2025 workshops! Not only will Allegra Huston be returning to lead her third memoir workshop, but we’re excited to announce that we’ll also be hosting Kate Christensen’s very first workshop in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia.
Appreciating 2023, Looking Forward to SPARKS FLY Retreats in 2024
After a long and irksome wait due to COVID-19, SPARKS FLY retreats were finally able to hold our first two workshops in beautiful Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The retreats went better than we could have ever anticipated. And there are more to come!
Celebrating Our First SPARKS FLY Retreat
Allegra Huston’s Imaginative Storm Memoir Writing Workshop began on May 22 2023, in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Ending on May 27, this five-day workshop was really worth the wait!
Get Into Lunenburg
Excited about your memoir writing retreat with Allegra Houston in Lunenburg this May? So are we! And to give you some ideas for your free time, we’ve got a quick guide to inspiring sights, tasty hotspots, and a few other things to do in Lunenburg during your stay.
Start Your Memoir in Lunenberg
Travel+Leisure magazine ranks Lunenburg as #6 of in its list of 16 beautiful coastal towns around the world. It’s so picture-perfect it’s often used as a film stand-in for traditional coastal New England.
Memoirs Are a Flexible Medium
Memoirs are a flexible medium. There is more than one way to tell your story, just as the old saying goes, ‘there are many ways to skin a cat’ – or, less violently, to peel an orange.