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| I want to share my friend with you. Liza Palmer has been one of the lights in my life since the moment I met her. A brilliant writer who was also deeply empathetic. And smart — God she was smart, but in a way that felt so casually insightful. Like, she would drop this bombshell of wisdom as if that was just what one did on Thursdays. What’s more, she had a gift for making you feel seen. She passed away on May 5, 2026, from an aggressive cancer. I want to introduce you to her, and the closest way I know to do that is by sharing a video with you. Two years ago, I introduced her to a small group of Patreon members with a conversation about her book, Family Reservations. In the conversation she talks about the struggles of writing the book. Part of what I loved about Liza was that she was honest and vulnerable, and this quality is on full display as we talk. I’m sharing the video because I want Liza to remain in the world. I hope you’ll take the time to watch it. |
| And, while you’re at it, please pick up Family Reservations or anything else she wrote. Like the woman in real life, in prose, Liza will make you laugh and weep and then think and repeat the cycle. Liza, you are so very missed. |
MRK’s Mundane Moments
Here’s a quick snapshot of what I’m…
- Crafting: Alma sweater (still)
- Reading: Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
- Writing: “Raelynn’s ass hurt from sitting on a conference room chair too long.”
- Watching: The Forsyte Saga on PBS
- Enjoying: Hadestown soundtrack
Noteworthy News
Apprehension was mentioned in the New York Times!
In the article titled, “In These Books, You Don’t Have to Be Young to Save the World,” Fonda Lee recommends fantasy and science-fiction novels with older, wiser heroes.
Bonnyjean fits the bill. Here’s a gift link to the article so you can read it, regardless of whether you have a NYT subscription:
Bookish News
The latest from Hildur Knútsdóttir, Dead Weight, is available for preorder and releases from Tor on May 26. I was honored to provide English translation and audiobook narration.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
An Icelandic night may hide secrets and affairs – or even bodies – in this gruesomely cathartic horror thriller from the author of The Night Guest.
Unnur was living a normal, if lonely, life until a black cat showed up at her door.
When she tracks down the cat’s wayward owner, she finds a young woman just as lost and in need of help. Like a gust of cold air in a Reykjavík night, Ásta and her pet slip into Unnur’s life.
It’s unexpected, but welcome. Unnur likes the company, and she begins to rely on Ásta in turn. But like a black cat, trouble has been tailing her new friend, and Unnur is the only one there for Ásta when things take a violent turn.
The two women quickly learn: nothing tests a friendship like blood on your hands.
Upcoming Events
I have several 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
- May 25 at 8 PM ET: I’m teaching an Unlocking Session class on the Live-streaming Classes tier of my Patreon. Come with a writing problem that needs unlocking.
- June 1: Working on a novel? Stuck in the messy middle? A new 90-day middles-focued module begins in my Write Your Novel Patreon tier.
- June 3-7 in Chicago, IL: Panel discussions at more at the Nebulas
- June 9 at 8 PM ET: Join me via my Q&A tier on Patreon for an ask me anything-style conversation.
- 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 *
- September 3-11 in Seattle, OR: I’m an instructor on the final (for now) Writing Excuses Cruise. Join the other hosts of the podcast and me as we sail to Alaska.
* Gen Con registration opens on May 17th at 12:00 PM ET. I’m teaching a workshop called “The Fashion of Worldbuilding,” and you can learn more about it and register here.
Featured Patreon Event
Write Your Novel Workshop: Middles
June – August, 2026
If you have a novel you’ve been meaning to write—or one you’ve started and stalled on—this workshop gives you the structure, accountability, and community to move it forward. Through weekly meetings that combine craft instruction and dedicated writing time, you’ll work alongside fellow novelists tackling the same challenges you are.
The workshop runs in four three-month modules, each focused on a different stage of the novel:
- Module 1: Beginning (March–May) — Getting started, establishing character and world, hooking readers
- Module 2: Middles (June–August) — Sustaining momentum, deepening conflict, avoiding the sag
- Module 3: Ending (September–November) — Completing character arcs, delivering satisfying resolution
- Module 4: Revision (December–February) — Diagnosing problems, strengthening prose, polishing for submission
As you may notice, June is right around the corner, and that’s when we’re starting the Middles module.
Each module stands alone, so you can join at the stage that matches where you are right now. Have a draft gathering dust? Jump in at Revision. Stuck in the middle? Start there. You can also jump out whenever you want to!
Each month includes:
- Weekly live video sessions combining craft instruction and writing time
- Weekly two-hour Make Me Write session (Sundays, typically 11am Eastern) — 90 minutes of writing, then 30 minutes of show-your-work with MRK or a guest writer
- Office hours with MRK
- Monthly large-group Q&A
- Monthly live-streamed craft and career class (typically the last Monday of the month at 8pm Eastern)
- Access to 70+ hours of pre-recorded Patreon craft and career classes
- Access to the Lady Astronaut Club community on Discord — the kindest corner of the internet — with your own private channel
This isn’t a guarantee you’ll finish your novel. Everyone writes at a different pace, and that’s fine. What this workshop provides is a proven framework to help you make real, sustainable progress — whether that means completing a full draft and revision, or finally pushing through the beginning that’s had you stuck for months.
Sessions meet Mondays from 3–5pm MT. Sign up for a full year and save 10%. Designed for writers with some storytelling experience who are ready to commit to regular writing practice. All genres welcome.
I offer a 7-day free trial for new Patreon members.
Elsie’s Corner
Having buttons doesn’t change Elsie’s personality, but it does change how she prefers to communicate.
Recently, Elsie let me know that she’d like me to get out of bed, please. (If I’m late getting up, I hear about it.)
Buttons have made her delivery a little gentler.
Watch the after and before 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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