The Lordship House Community was organized by Michael Todd Cohen & Adrian Dallas Frandle in 2022 and includes poets, essayists, playwrights, publishers, agents, editors, visual artists, musicians, academics and scholars seeking communion through letters, literature and in-person dialogue.

Community Programs

  • 📬 Literary Salon by Mail


    In which we share typewriter missives from the Lordship House on natural history, queer life in New England, literature, film and art. Comes with a pre-stamped postcard for optional reply.

  • 🏡 Lordship House Retreat


    A short weekend visit (akin to a residency, but far less formal) for writers, readers and artists at our seaside house in Stratford, Connecticut. Fellows recieve a stipend, meals (sometimes with treats from the garden), and lodging with private bath. Past Fellows

  • ☕ Literary Brunch


    Several times a year, we welcome a gathering of literary community and kin, for a brunch spread, wind chimes and dialogue at our seaside house in Stratford, Connecticut.

  • At this time, the Lordship House Community and associated programs are offered at no cost.

the house library has over 1,000 books on wide-ranging topics and genres, including: Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, and Queer Theory. While the library is a private holding, it is our belief that resources should be shared with community. In this spirit, we established a book loan by mail program, available currently in the US.

the prompt hotline is a inspiration resource: a voicemail that picks up at Lordship House, with writing prompts, music, natural sound cues, and more. In addition, essayists, professors, poets, and other artists, are invited to program special engagements, throughout the year.

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Some letters and postcards
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Two white Adirondack chairs in the green high grass, facing out towards a sailboat making its way across the Sound.
A view of the front garden in bloom, purple yarrow in the foreground.
Lauren Theresa looks out to sea, smiling, standing on a beach, in a black wrap, the sun on her face.
Hannah Grieco smiles to camera, wearing a tan shirt; a pink and blue sunset behind.
Amie Souza Reilly lounges, laughing on the grass
Mathew Rodriguez smiles to camera on a beach, hands in pockets, a cream short sleeve knit shirt, glasses.
Benjamin Niespodziany is seated on brick stairs, smiling to camera, with sunglasses on. There is a greenhouse and a roofline in the background.
Mikey, the russet chihuahua, rests his head on a pile of books.
Sculpture of a woman's head on a small round table, a banquet behind; soft light through an open shade.
A lighthouse with keeper's cottage in front of it that has a red roof. The lighthouse tower is behind, with a red top. There is a small building out front with same. Scrub in foreground.
Purple sunset on a rocky beach.
Dark roof line of Lordship House, golden clouds and some trees, the back lawn, below.
Fire-orange sunset across the Sound, a lone deer in silhouette on shore.
Sea stairs made of large format brick tiles, leading down to a beach where the surf is frothy.
Mathew Rodriguez, in a light orange top, smirks to camera, while cradling Rabbit, a blonde chihuahua, upside down in his arms like a baby.
On the front lawn of Lordship House: a dry stack stone wall with loose stones around it, a tree branch shades from above
A wicker basket of fresh vegetables: cucumber, cherry tomato, lettuces.