Shelley Fichtel of Houston, Texas is a former magazine editor, newspaper editor, television correspondent, and critically acclaimed playwright. She has spent her career crafting stories—some for headlines, some for the stage, and one she had to survive to write. A fourth great-grand niece of the Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, she recently completed a memoir.
In Fall of 2025, Shelley attended our Nonfiction Retreat in Tuscany at the Poggio alle Corti villa. We asked her to share a few details about her experience for people who are thinking about participating in a writing retreat. Here’s what she had to say.
What drew you to KAA writing retreats? How did you hear about them and why did you decide to make the commitment to attend?
Prior to the retreat, I engaged with Kevin Anderson & Associates on a Critical Review & Analysis of my manuscript (working with executive editor Jennifer Kasius). I also received invaluable feedback through KAA’s Beta Reader Service. I decided to attend the Nonfiction Retreat because I thought the mentors could provide insider information on the publishing process.
What was the #1 thing you learned at your retreat?
At the retreat, I learned that I needed to do something to prove to agents that I am marketable. In response, I wrote an essay for the New York Times’ Modern Love column (waiting to hear back). If Modern Love doesn’t publish the essay, I will pitch it elsewhere.
Which retreat mentor had the biggest impact on you and how, specifically, did they shape your writing?
At the Nonfiction Retreat, mentor [and literary agent] Peter Steinberg had the biggest impact on me. He read my manuscript and gave me enthusiastic, encouraging notes. He also told me to start the memoir with a big, crazy scene, so I rewrote the beginning. He had several of his clients do Zoom calls with us. One explained the process of pitching and landing Peter as his agent. The other explained how he self-published a book and then later signed with an agent and publisher.
What was your favorite part about Poggio alle Corti, the villa where we host the retreat?
I loved the family-style meals at the huge outdoor table–we all got along so well and laughed so hard!
What was the best thing you ate at the retreat, and what did you like about it?
All of the meals at the house were delicious! But, the Michelin-star restaurant served some of the best food I’ve ever had in my life. Peter, mentioned above, tried to recreate the olive “spread” when he got home, but he couldn’t do it!!!
What surprised you the most about the retreat?
I did not anticipate how close the attendees and mentors would become. In addition to living and eating together for a week, we also shared writing that divulged intimate details of our lives. By the end, we felt like old friends.
If you could go back in time, would you do it all over again?
Yes!
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