News reaches us of a tantalising new writing course in Fiji. ‘Writing in Paradise’ is a course wrapped up in a holiday, offering daily workshops and discussions, and a glimpse of contemporary Pacific literature.

It runs from 10 to 15 October at the Daku Resort in Savusavu, on Fiji’s northern island. Daku describes itself as an ‘upscale budget resort’, with a low-key, casual atmosphere.

It has six bures, a family villa, a self-contained cottage, and a beach house, and Savusavu town is a 20-minute walk away.

The course leader will be Andrea Stretton (pictured), an Australian literary journalist best known for presenting arts shows on SBS and ABC TV. She’ll be joined by Fijian writer Larry Thomas, a senior lecturer at the University of the South Pacific in Suva. Stretton believes that a sense of place is vital to literature and writing, and will be exploring this concept in a talk with Thomas.

As well as the writing, there will be visits to local villages and local figures will be dropping in to meet the writers – we’re told that even the local Mayor will be visiting one evening!

The cost of the course (including accommodation, food and return airfares from Nadi) is NZ$1,875 per writer, with discounts for non-writing partners. You have to make your own way from New Zealand to Nadi, but that’s hardly difficult. And October is the start of the wet season in Fiji, so be prepared for the odd afternoon thunderstorm.

Interested? Contact Delia Rothnie-Jones on +61 2 9969 4753, or email dakuwriting@iinet.net.au.