Mary Robinette Gazette: April 2026

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Welcome to the April 2026 Issue of the Mary Robinette Gazette

A number of things have brought me joy lately.

I attended the JoCo cruise with my dad, and we had a really lovely time. He was on the front row of the writing class I taught on board. He also brought his fiddle and found an Irish session and made friends with a boatload (hah) of ukelele players. As for me, I got to see friends, dress in my Regency finery, and ride horses on the beach. Pure fun.

Mary Robinette Kowal standing at the front of a classroom with the audience waving and smiling at the camera.

Like many of you, I was fully entranced by Artemis II moon joy. The photographs, the livestreams, the whole There-And-Back-Again wonder of it all… And then the broken toilet. That scene in The Fated Sky is there because all space toilets break. Watching the crew safely return to Earth, I was definitely in my happy place.

Finally, I was honored to be invited to be a guest at MIT’s 2026 Beyond the Cradle event, where I appeared on stage with Ken Liu. It was a special event, not least of which because it’s not every day that one gets to hang out with seven astronauts.

Mary Robinette Kowal and Ken Liu on stage speaking.

MRK’s Mundane Moments

Here’s a quick snapshot of what I’m…

Crafting: Alma sweater (which I have to tear 20 rows out of)
Reading: The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst
Writing: “I can stop the conversation at any art gallery opening with a simple sentence, ‘My great-great-great-grandmother planted a forest in space.’”
Watching: Rewatching The Good Place
Enjoying: Spending time with my dad on the JoCo cruise

Noteworthy News

Did you know I have on-demand writing classes on my Patreon? No subscription is required, and you can pick the topic that interests you. Subjects include:

Editing with Precision
Verbal & Non-Verbal Dialogue
Diagnosing Story Problems
Structuring a Heist
Writing through Fatigue
… and many more

Browse On-Demand Classes

Upcoming Events

I have a few book signings, conferences, and other opportunities for connection coming up. I’d love to see you at one (or more!)

Every Sunday, 11 AM ET: Make Me Write session for Patreon subscribers at that tier
April 17-19 in Colorado Springs, CO: Keynote speaker and workshop teacher at Pikes Peak Writers Conference
April 23 at 5:30 PM MT in Albuquerque, NM: Reading/signing at Books on the Bosque along with dave ring, Marie Parks, and Geoff Habiger
April 24-27 in Albuquerque, NM: Featured instructor at Sandia Starforgers Writers Retreat (sold out; join the waitlist)
May 9 in Eugene, OR: Author talk about Worldbuilding: Fashion and Revolution at the Eugene, Oregon Downtown Library
June 3-7 in Chicago, IL: Panel discussions at more at the Nebulas
July 11-12 in Warsaw, Poland: Featured author at the Bazyliszek Fantasy Festival
July 30-August 2 in Indianapolis, IN: Author panelist and instructor at the Gen Con Writers Symposium

Featured Patreon Event

Writing Beginnings
Monday, April 27 at 8 PM Eastern / 5 PM Pacific

Every month, I provide a class for the writers in my Patreon at the Live-streaming Classes tier and above.

In April, I’m talking about one of the most notoriously hard parts of writing a story: getting the beginning right.

Beginnings are a frame and a promise to the reader. It’s when we invite them in and ground them. Explore how to grab the attention of the reader and help them know what to expect, including voice-driven and action-driven openings.

Join the Live-Streaming Classes Patreon Tier to Attend

I offer a 7-day free trial for new Patreon members. If you’re testing it out, you might as well join the Make Me Write tier (and then downgrade as needed/desired) to join a guest or me on Sundays for a guided cowriting session. I’ll provide writing prompts, encouragement, a dedicated community, and a chance to make great progress on your work in progress or a new piece. At the end, I “unpack my brain,” where I show my thought process for my current work in progress.

Elsie’s Corner

A bedraggled wet Elsie, the calico cat, with the words "This Was Elsie's First Bath" overlaid on the screen.

I recently had to give Elsie her very first bath. (And, hopefully, her last.)

I am fortunate to not have allergies to cats. But I do have allergies to aspen trees. So when Elsie took a dust bath under an aspen tree, I suddenly became allergic to my cat.

Thus, the bath.

By using buttons, I was able to explain to her what was happening. I truly cannot overstate the utility of buttons when it comes to challenges like going to the veterinarian, grooming, and navigating pain.

I think you’ll really love Elsie’s commentary after she had finished her bath and was cozy in her sweater. Watch here.

Want to start your own communication journey with your animal?

Click this link and use the code “elsiewant” for 12% off FluentPet buttons.

This is an affiliate link and I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. This doesn’t increase your cost; it simply helps support my work. And my tiny cat.

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