Coming in July are two Pen Women workshops in San Miguel de Allende, a beautiful viejo colonial town in the mountains of Mexico, well-known as a haven for artists and writers. Our mission will be to see, with new insights, the centuries-old architecture, revisit some ancient Mexican images, and enter new space with our own creative talents, all in one week.

The Art workshop will run from July 17-21. We'll have coffee in convents-turned-art-centers, sightsee broadly and up close, and connect some ancient images with today's points of view.

The Writer's workshop will run from July 22-28 with some of the same field trips plus select introductions to some modern Mexican and American writers. Plus topics and inspiration for your own writing!

Penwomen Sally Mathews (A) and Sandy Huff (A,L) are setting up the speakers, hotel, and side trips now. They guarantee both groups will meet local and ex-pat artists and writers, visit incredible homes, and take home the nuclei of many new projects.

Each workshop fee will be $1400.00, which includes your own private room at a rustic posada beside the Artist's Market, daily tours, lectures, and creative time, swimming at a hot spring, all breakfasts, and three dinners. Transportation to SMA, other meals, and those delectable souvenirs will be on your own. Husbands, friends, and family sharing your room are invited, too, at a $200.00 discount. A $50y0.00 check sent to our national headquarters will be your deposit. Hurry and register as each workshop will be limited to 20 participants.

Leaders of the workshops:

Sally Mathews (A) and her artist mom, Laura Schofer, have been members of the Clearwater Florida Branch for three decades. Sally just retired as an art teacher with the Pinellas County school system. Sally discovered San Miguel back in her college days and returns as often as she can. Three summers ago, she co-ran a very successful art-and-writing workshop in San Miguel de Allende with Sandy Huff.

Award-winning photojournalist Sandy Huff, (A,L) has published over 1400 articles in 120 magazines and newspapers, using her master's degree in communications very well. She specializes in travel and outdoor writing and has taught hundreds of students the basics of getting published. A Pen Woman since the 1970s, she is a member of the Clearwater Florida Branch.

This will be Sally and Sandy's fourth joint trip to San Miguel de Allende. "It's one of my favorite places in the world," says Sally. "I'm proud to invite Pen Women and other interested students to join us. I think we've put together two super workshops."

For more information, travel tips, and what to do before you get to SMA, click here, or contact Sandy Huff at huffsandy@aol.com or 727-725-1015.