Five Nights In Marrakesh | Julie Stafford

MEMOIR WRITING IN MARRAKECH
5-DAY RETREAT

a 5-day memoir writing experience for passionate writers, founded by Julie Stafford,
author of the famous 'Taste of Life' cookbook series that sold over 2.3million copies worldwide; a

self-help title, 'Stepping Out', and three memoirs, 'The Seagull',

'Seagulls on the Ganges' & 'Becoming Solo'

OCTOBER 12-16, 2026

You're Invited...

Join me in my favourite Marrakech garden for a 5-day memoir writing experience unlike any other.

Whether you are a complete beginner with a story that has been quietly biding its time or a seasoned writer seeking fresh inspiration, this experience is designed to help you transform your memories into a meaningful, compelling story.

But this is far more than a writing retreat ...

In one of the world's most intoxicating cultures, we will share 5 days (6 hours per day) of memoir writing, exploring your dream of bringing your story to life and to the page and visiting some of my favourite Marrakech haunts.

Together, we will recall, reflect, discover, create and write.

You will leave Marrakech with new skills, fresh confidence, and the beginnings of a memoir only you can write.

Marrakech will awaken your senses—and bring colour and life to your story.

I can't wait to meet you there.

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Do you have a story to tell?

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."
— Maya Angelou

MEMOIR

Every memoir begins with a journey.

Sometimes it takes us back through memory.

Sometimes that journey takes us across continents.

And sometimes, if we are fortunate, it does both.

WHY MARRAKECH ...

Of all the destinations I have travelled to throughout the world, few have captivated me quite like Morocco. I have travelled more than 30,500 kilometres through this extraordinary country, from the blue-washed streets of Chefchaouen to the windswept Atlantic coast of Essaouira, from the ancient medinas of Fez to the golden dunes of the Sahara. Yet it is Marrakech that continues to call me back. And it is Marrakech where we will come together to explore the genre of memoir writing and how you can bring your story to life on the page.

AWAKEN THE STORYTELLER

There is something about Marrakech that awakens the storyteller.

Perhaps it is the rose-coloured walls glowing beneath the late afternoon sun. Perhaps it is the distant call to prayer floating across rooftops at dusk. Perhaps it is the scent of orange blossom, cedarwood and spices drifting through hidden riads. Or perhaps it is because Marrakech sits at the crossroads of so many stories—Berber, Arab, African, European, ancient and modern—all woven together into one magnificent tapestry.

I cannot imagine a more inspiring place to undertake that journey than in Marrakech. Each morning, we will gather within the peaceful sanctuary, far removed from the noise and distractions of everyday life. Beneath carved archways and beside tranquil courtyards, we will explore the memories, moments, people and experiences that deserve a place on your page.

Beyond our writing sessions, Marrakech itself becomes part of the experience.

Its colours, sounds, textures and rhythms remind us of something many of us have forgotten in our busy lives—the importance of paying attention.

Writers are observers.

Storytellers notice what others overlook.

Marrakech teaches us how to see again.

THE EXPERIENCE...

5 DAYS MEMOIR WRITING IN MARRAKECH

6 hrs per day with Julie, plus 1 hr lunch break (lunch provided)

(different starting times each day to fit sightseeing schedules)

Choose your own accommodation in Marrakech (or we can help you)
Airport transfer to your accommodation
Welcome to Morocco Show & Drinks (first night)
1 Day in Essaouira (travel and lunch included)
5 x lunches
Drinks and Discussion to finish each day

Extend your time in Morocco ...

COST
$AU3,999 per person
Early bird special $3,499
(if paid in full before September 1, 2026)

LIMITED NUMBERS - SMALL GROUP

BOOK A CALL WITH JULIE

EXTEND YOUR STAY ...

And for those who choose to extend their adventure, Morocco offers even more.

I have travelled to Morocco many times.

Travelled more than 35,000km across the country.

Stayed in riads and hotels and even glamped under the stars in the heart of the Sahara.

I have built relationships with trusted drivers and providers and will be happy to help you create an off-the-beaten-track Morocco discovery program, either before or after your 5-Day Memoir Writing in Marrakech experience.

The majestic Atlas Mountains rise like guardians beyond the city.

Ancient kasbahs cling to rocky hillsides.

Palm-filled valleys cut through dramatic landscapes.

And beyond them all lies the Sahara Desert—a place that has captured my heart more profoundly than almost anywhere else on earth.

There is something deeply humbling about standing atop a dune at sunset, watching the colours shift across an endless sea of sand. The desert has a way of stripping away noise and revealing what truly matters. It reminds us of the power of stillness, reflection and perspective—all essential companions on the memoir journey.