St.-Chamassy Writers’ Residency
A quiet place to live and work in the French countryside.
A serene environment.
We welcome applications for stays of a week or two or in some cases longer.
An oasis in the oasis of the Dordogne.
Welcome to St.-Chamassy Writers' Residency
Writers and editors Laurie Winer and Tom Lutz moved to the Dordogne in 2023, planning to continue writing while eating better food, drinking better wine, and providing space for other writers and artists to do their work in the quiet and beautiful French countryside.
The property is in St.-Chamassy, two kilometers east of the ancient village of Limeuil, and it consists of three houses—our main house, a two-bedroom gite, and a one-bedroom cottage. We welcome applications for stays of a week or two or in some cases longer.
Creative Retreat
Tranquility and inspiration in the French countryside.
The Residency makes no demands on writers' time, and no report or account is due at the end. We aim to provide a refuge from the distractions and duties of daily life to allow writers to concentrate fully on their writing, artists on their art.
While meals are not provided, writers may be invited for a meal or two, either by the hosts or by writers from the other residence. Some choose to arrange readings, but there are no required social activities.
The residency is organized as a nonprofit with a mission to foster creative writing and other arts in all languages and genres. Applicants with physical disabilities should consult with us—the buildings and grounds date back to the 12th century and may not be suited to all needs. Any donations to the nonprofit will be used to offer funding to writers in need.
A Place to Write (and practice other arts)
The residency provides a fully furnished living space, an equipped kitchen stocked with random essentials, fast WiFi, and laundry facilities. For musicians there is a recording studio with keyboards, drums, guitars, basses, other instruments, and a Mac with LogicPro 12 software.
Self-Catering
Residents are responsible for their own board, transport, and supplies—think of it as a free AirBnB.
Country Living
A car is necessary. Groceries, pharmacies, other shops, and restaurants are 5 km north in Le Bugue or 5 km south in Le Buisson. Cars can be rented in Paris, Bordeaux, Limoges, Toulouse, or any other major town.
The Cottage
A studio apartment in a separate building with a single queen-sized bed.
The Gite
The Gite is a spacious two-bedroom, one-bath apartment.
Guests and Visitors
2022-2023
Jerrod Allen
Janet Fitch
Seth Greenland
Susan Kaiser Greenland
Marc Hattenbach
Michelle Huneven
Andrew Nichols
Karen Karbo
Richard Kilberg
Guillermo Lozano
Cody Lutz
Jesse Lutz
Yarrow Lutz
Barbara Margolis
Jeanne McCullough
Laurie Ochoa
April Prosser
Jim Potter
John Powers
Max Schwartz
David Schweizer
Ken Swift
Caleb Wertenbacher
2023-2024
Jon Boorstin
Leni Boorstin
Colin Campbell
Emily Doyle
Lillian Felsenthal
Gail Lerner
Albert Litewka
Nancy Mette
Debbie Ou
Quyen Pham
Erika Schickel
Max Schwartz
Barnet Kellman
Michael Kurcfeld
John Romano
Erika Rothenberg
Valerie Tomaselli
2024-2025
Bonnie Akimoto
Margo Baender
Charmaine Craig
Ayize Everett
Marguerite Dowd
Kelsey Ferrell
Judith Freeman
Jeffrey Graham
John Higgins
Dennis Johnson
Richard Kilberg
Rebecca Kinnerly
Finnley Kirkman
Rob Latham
Paul Mandelbaum
Barbara Margolis
Valerie Merians
Gary Murphey
Eleni Myrivili
Hannah Roberts
Ravi Shankar
Victor Talmadge
2025-2026
Abby Adorney
John Adorney
Mirielle Colin
Charmaine Craig
Emily Doyle
Colette Gunn-Graffy
Colleen Graffy
Tom Greany
Nadia Harhash
Marc Hattenbach
Jodie Kirchner
Sébastien Laurier
Deborah Meyler
Hero Meyler
Katie Meyler
Anna Oppenheimer
Klaara Oppenheimer
Mark Oppenheimer
Debbie Ou
Soledad Otero
Victoria Patterson
Jonathan Penner
Quyen Pham
Georgia Sanders
Claudine Sevila
Louise Steinman
2026-2027
David Armstrong
Marc Hattenbach
Dennis Johnson
Jennifer Lehr
Valerie Merians
Ose Oyamendan
Georgia Sanders
Stan Yogi
St.-Chamassy is a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Paris, or a two-hour drive from Bordeaux. (The fast train from Paris to Bordeaux is two hours.) Airports at Toulouse and Limoges are also two-ish hours away, and Barcelona is five hours and change.
Other artists are welcome to apply
Visitors have included practitioners of music, theater, film, and the visual arts.
Donations are welcome, and we have 501(3)c tax status.
Our 990 and other materials are available online and upon request at the email address below.
Applications can be sent to the email address below.
Please include the following:
1) Name and brief biography
2) CV
3) Description of project proposed for the residency
4) Website or other evidence of professional activity
5) Names and email addresses for two References
6) Special needs
7) Proposed dates