Luna & Leaf Writers-in-Residence Fellowships
Supporting the Writers Who Bring Words to Life
At Spain Culture Abroad and Luna & Leaf Bookshop, we believe that stories have the power to transform lives, bridge cultures, and create lasting connections. That's why we're proud to support emerging and established writers through our Luna & Leaf Writers-in-Residence Fellowship Program.
Our fellowship program provides writers with the time, space, and inspiration needed to bring their stories to life in the magical setting of coastal Spain. Fellows receive dedicated writing time, access to our bookshop community, and the unique opportunity to connect with fellow writers in an authentic literary environment on the Costa del Sol.
We believe in investing in the storytellers who enrich our world. From debut novelists to seasoned authors, playwrights and screenwriters, our fellows represent diverse voices and perspectives that deserve to be heard.
Congratulations to Our 2025 Fellowship Recipients who spent two transformative weeks in Spain this August, 2025, immersing themselves in the creative process and bringing new stories to life!
Vincenza Blank
Vincenza was delighted when she learned in early May that her application for a writing fellowship in Spain was successful. Spanish is her second language. Learning how her writing would be influenced by living in a Spanish-speaking country, journaled in Spanish, was a fascinating prospect. Once there, she was happy to discover among Spanish writers of new acquaintance, Miguel de Unamuno, who sees the power in compassion and kindness. “Todo acto de bondad es una demostración de poderío".
Always naturally drawn to writing short plays, as a child, Vincenza would act out TV scenes during commercial breaks. She was first professionally produced at sixteen when her play Neon Green was selected for Louisville’s Young Playwrights Festival and subsequent productions of her plays have been audience favorites in New York City.
She has a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where she studied Drama and Dramatic Writing. One of her most exhilarating screenwriter jobs was successfully writing a polished screenplay under a strict six-week deadline for LA Tuna Pictures. In a jaunt as a journalist, she sold the first periodical query she ever wrote to a prominent news weekly and her second piece was selected as the cover story and received national attention. She looks forward to being able to talk about her upcoming projects, including a supernatural comedy, in more detail.
Named after her beloved Italian great-grandmother who crocheted the best slippers, Vincenza is forever grateful for her childhood dog and cats.
“I loved connecting with other dedicated and talented writers. And in such inspiring environment - writing while overlooking the Mediterranean Sea was beyond anything I could’ve imagined. Thank you Leanna Woodley-Tock for this unique and treasured experience! 💗✨”
James Barker
James completed his PhD in Creative Writing (Loughborough University, UK) in 2023 and his MA (Lancaster University, UK) in 1997. In the interim, his life experience has been extremely varied, from being an immersive care-giver for both his parents to being director of a not-for-profit grassroots arts organisation in Somerset, England. He has worked closely with marginalised groups, creating and delivering programmes to support cathartic expression and improve wellbeing through creativity and connection, developing a community hub and arts venue, the Art Bank, in a former high street bank, with the aim to encourage personal agency in the community and increase the sense of social cohesion in the town.
The creative writing workshops he taught over the years led to the publication of two collections he curated: 'Why Do You Care?' (With care-givers, 2013) and 'There's No Place Like Home' (covid lockdown writings, 2021), the latter attendant to the 'Wizard of Woz' season he creative-directed the same year.
“The Luna and Leaf Fellowship gave me the opportunity to finish the first draft of a novel, The Things Which No One Can See, that I’ve been working on since the last century! Connecting with fellow writers in a beautiful, creative space reignited my passion for storytelling after a period of ill health and was just the balm I needed.”
“Sun + Sea + Siesta. The perfect recipe for writing success!
When my daily grind eclipsed my writing practice, I knew something had to change. Enter the Luna and Leaf Writing Fellowship. It was the unexpected change of pace I needed to complete my novel and reignite my creativity. Being surrounded by other writers was inspiring and connecting in a way I had not anticipated. Instead of taking the traditional Spanish siesta each afternoon, I tucked myself away, looked out the window onto the tiled roofs of the whitewashed buildings, and I wrote. The Costa del Sol of Spain seems an unlikely place to find inspiration for a Holiday Rom-Com, but the magic in the air inspired me to craft a world far away on a cruise ship in the Gulf of Alaska. Without this fellowship, I am positive I would not have finished this novel on time, or with such imaginative detail. Believe me, I am already planning my next book set in a quaint and curious bookshop just off the beaten path in charming Estepona, Andalucia. I wholeheartedly recommend this fellowship for those who have clear goals but lack the time or mental space in their daily life to achieve them. The novelty of being away from home in a place brimming with culture, tradition, and nature is the ideal recipe for writing success. Leanna is the perfect host. She is available to answer questions and provide guidance, as well as give enough space so you will feel free to create the writing schedule that best fits your working style. I can’t express how much of a gift this experience was for me as a writer and a person.”
Sarah Atkins
Bio coming soon…
“This was a FABULOUS opportunity and I’m extremely grateful to both Leanna and to Story Summit Writing School for connecting us!! Young writers with inconsistent income often have trouble affording things like this - the fellowship made a world of difference for me. (As well as meeting some seriously cool souls, James, RosaLinda, and Vincenza!) ”
RosaLinda Diez
RosaLinda Diaz is the author of fifteen romantic comedy novels– including the soon-to-be-published Marry Ex-Mas, and the Young Adult Mystery series Mafiella. She lives in Southern California, where she travels the world too much to keep any pets, which is why her novels usually include a furry canine companion. Find her work at authorrosalinda.com and follow her antics on social media @authorrosalinda
Fellowship applications are currently closed. We encourage writers to follow our updates for information about future application periods and program announcements.