M.R. Robinson

@mruthrobinson

MR, she/her. scholar, author, editor · poster of too many dog photos · Clarion West ‘25 · VP2024 · stories at BCS, Lightspeed, GigaNotoSaurus, elsewhere · co-founder of @othersidespec.bsky.social 🪐🗡️🌈

1.045 Folgt3.299 Follower4.538 Posts

Bluesky

Ist das dein Profil?Übernimm es — dann gehört dir mruthrobinson.dirty.social.Profil übernehmen

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· 5d

One distant peal of thunder and the world’s bravest boy starts doing the Psycho scream.

A black and white dog with his mouth open and his eyes wide, pressed into the kitchen cabinets, looking at something off camera. He looks like a horror movie heroine and/or a great big doofus.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· 6d

Really long day for Wilf (he spent nine hours believing he was the one driving the car).

A black and white dog, eyes mostly closed, asleep on a blue comforter with his head on a purple quilt.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· 17d

Now I’m comparing these to the first photos I ever took of Wilf in a yard full of flowers and feeling very emotional—back when the Summer Prince was the most terrified boy in all the world, back when I said things like “oh, we’re just fostering him.”

The same dog, fresh out of the transport van. He’s cowering in a yard, trying almost to hide behind a bowl of water. He looks much younger and much more afraid.

Black and white dog hiding behind plants in the yard. He looks mournful and afraid. His cheeks haven’t yet gone white like they are now, a fact that is going to make me cry if I think about it too long.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· 17d

The Summer Prince DOES seem to have some minor concerns but, you know, heavy is the head that wears the crown.

Black and white dog sitting in a field of yellow flowers, now looking deeply worried.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· 17d

I’ve been pretty offline this past week thanks to an excess of life events, haven’t managed to post many updates, but I guess it’s never a bad time to log on and share that the Summer Prince, Lord of All Flowers has surveyed his realm and ruled that it is good.

A black and white dog with his big tongue hanging out, eyes happy and smiley, with a blurry field of purple flowers in the background.

A black and white dog with his big tongue hanging out, eyes closed and squinting in a way that looks like a huge smile, with a blurry field of purple flowers on the background.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· 19d

It’s an absolutely gorgeous cool and breezy day—possibly the most perfect day in the history of summer days—and I have asked Winnie to walk up a small hill.

A black and white dog sprawled dramatically on her back in a green field, head flung back.

A black and white dog sprawled dramatically on her back in a green field, now writhing around in a different direction.

A black and white dog sprawled dramatically on her back in a green field, but somehow even more dramatic this time.

A black and white dog sprawled dramatically on her back in a green field, looking sort of like the chalk outline of a body found in the street.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jul 10

Really excited to see this generous review and recommendation for a story that means so much to me! 🌳 🐸 ☀️ 🌊 You can read it here: augursociety.org/the-trees-an...

Screenshot of review that reads

"The Trees and the Frogs and the Sun on the Water" by M.R. Robinson is another beautiful story exploring love and relationships. Rosemarie's wife Leonora is a poet whose words cause magic. Every time Nora tries to express her love, it leads to something disastrous like sparks setting their cottage afire. Rosemarie fears there's something wrong with her, but Nora figures out that the reason she can't write a poem about Rosemarie is because her love is too big and too magical for one single poem, and in fact, every poem she's written has been for Rosemarie, capturing some aspect of their relationship together. It's a touching reminder that relationships don't need to conform to a certain pattern or meet any outside expectations, while also showing a healthy example of partners each feeling their own insecurities, but working through them together.

Screenshot that reads

Recommended Stories
"Covenant of Salt", Erin Keating (Tales and Feathers Vol. 4)
"I Will Bring You Tokyo", P.S.C. Willis (Tales and Feathers Vol. 4)
"The Trees and the Frogs and the Sun on the Water" M.R. Robinson (Tales and Feathers Vol. 4)

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jul 10

Good afternoon from the world’s #1 babiest guy.

A black and white dog with his chin in my hand, looking up at the camera. His face is going white with age. He is impossibly cute.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jul 9

31 today! And what a year of grief and joy and despair and gratitude it has been. This is the busiest week but I am celebrating by treating myself to a few quiet hours spent writing at the coffee shop.* *Okay, less “writing,” more “sweating to death,” the coffee shop was full. CLOSE ENOUGH I GUESS.

A selfie sitting at a picnic table, trees in the background, laptop and coffee in the foreground. I’m wearing a cap and glasses, headphones around my neck. The photo is in black and white in hopes of distracting from overall vibes of sweaty, humid misery. I definitely look a little like I’m forcing myself to smile. IT’S HOT OUT HERE. I am suffering.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jul 6

My best reader is my dad. He reads everything I publish (or edit) and then sends me the greatest texts in the world. I wish I could loan him out to everyone who has ever been discouraged by the apathy or cruelty of a parent—especially queer authors without supportive family. I am very lucky.

Screenshot of a text that reads “OMG!!!
My daughter is a published short story author!!! All my hours of reading to you now crowned !!! Couldn't be more PROUD!!
WHOOHOO!!!!”

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jul 5

Happy Fourth from this guy, whose body is currently 87% Xanax.

A black and white dog resting his chin in my palm. He has a slightly anxious, slightly vacant, slightly high expression.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jul 1

Extremely glum and exhausted apologies to everyone I owe an email.

A screenshot from The Office of Dwight and Jim holding a sign that says “0 days since our last nonsense,” edited to read “0 days since our last water pouring through the ceiling.”

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 28

Just for fun: a week ago!

A wall where all the plaster has fallen off - it’s bare lathe. There’s a window in the middle, no trim around it, with a fan and a light propped up there.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 28

Back home after a week away, and I have returned to a bedroom with A CEILING and WALLS and ELECTRICITY, which would not sound very impressive (might in fact sound like the absolute bare minimum) if not for the fact that it did not have those things a week ago.

A Simpsons screenshot. Milhouse standing ankle-deep in water, hands raised triumphantly, proclaiming “Everything’s comin’ up Milhouse!”

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 28

Impossible to sit alone by an empty and mildly ominous hotel pool without thinking nonstop about the perfect, perfect Kelly Link story “The Girl Who Did Not Know Fear.” “Wash off a stranger’s sadness in a green pool. What should a stranger’s story mean? Wash it away.“

A hotel pool, slightly greenish, with wood paneling on the walls beneath large windows.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 26

Family vacation.

Issue 1 of OTHERSIDE held in front of an ocean view. The cover is in shades of purple, orange, and black. It shows a figure sitting on ruins floating in space.

Issue 2 of OTHERSIDE held in front of an ocean view. The cover is in shades of purple, orange, and blue. It shows a figure walking through sunlit shallow water, a large statue in the background.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 25

Highly recommend spending your afternoon on a screened porch with a very good dog in your lap.

A selfie of MR, a woman with short brown hair and wire glasses, with her face half obscured by a black and white dog sitting in her lap, his face taking up most of the frame, his tongue flopping out. It’s not the MOST flattering photo of either but, hey, we look really happy! A bright blue cloudless sky shines through a window in the background.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 24

Another incredibly arduous day.

A box of donuts - some with chocolate chips, one with coconut, one with Fruity Pebbles… a wide and colorful variety!

A banh mi in the foreground, a Thai iced tea further back, and the waterfront blurry in the distance.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 23

Breaking news, major development: Wilf and Winnie have officially gone full Vacation Mode.

A black and white dog wearing a baseball cap, staring rather soulfully at the camera.

A different, scragglier and spottier, black and white dog. She’s wearing a visor that says “pickleball legend” pulled over her eyes, just her nose sticking out.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 21

Here’s the most important roadtrip update:

A black and white dog in the back of a car, his face smooshed into a mesh seat cover, looking a bit like a sad frog. There’s another dog blurry in the background.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 21

Winnie the dog and I at precisely 5pm tomorrow:

A screenshot of Jimmy Buffett and Kermit the frog performing Caribbean Amphibian, looking very beachy, precisely the energy I hope to bring to the cold and rainy beach where we will be.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 15

POV: you died on a day when the god of pickled eggs and sausage rolls happened to be on front door duty.

A screenshot from It's Always Sunny, Danny Devito as Frank Reynolds holding out an egg, captioned "Can I offer you a nice egg in this trying time?"

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 11

Ice cream is best when shared with a friend.

Two black and white dogs licking at a cup of ice cream, in the backseat of a car. Their heads are smooshed together.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 11

I have officially settled on my vacation reads for later this month, a moment more exciting than every other step of vacation planning combined.

I’m holding up a stack of four books in front of a green bookshelf. The books are Sour Cherry by Natalia Theodoridou, Friendly City: A Year of Walks by Sofia Samatar, Seasons of Glass and Iron by Amal El-Mohtar, and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Blurry in the background are books, some art, and a bunch of story-notecards taped to the wall, because I should probably be writing instead of photographing books.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 10

Very good mail day 👀

Issue 2 of OTHERSIDE, held up in front of a green bookshelf. The front cover shows a purple statue and a lone figure against an orange sky.

Issue 2 of OTHERSIDE, held up in front of a green bookshelf. The back cover shows purple statues against an orange and purple sky. The back cover copy reads “OTHERSIDE is a quarterly literary magazine that publishes speculative fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and art by 2LBQIA+ writers and artists. Issue 2 includes seven original stories, two reprinted stories, six poems, and one essay, as well as original illustrations. These pieces feature tiger princesses and pop stars, sword-wielding students and spacefaring scientists, cyborgs and witches-and families of all kinds.”

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 9

I’ve torn through the audiobook for this in three days and I award it 1000 out of 5 stars in the category of Books To Listen To While Painting Your Living Room. Incredibly fun. I’m now very irritated that I didn’t pace myself and have to wait for the next one AND didn’t even finish painting.

The cover for The Devils by Joe Abercrombie, a flaming skull on a dark background.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 6

The worst part about living in an old house is that there’s always a project (and, as pictured: I am always running out of painter’s tape). The best part is the light through 150-year-old glass.

A close photo of a golden yellow-painted wall and white trim, partially lined with blue painter’s tape. Parts are illuminated with wavy light, like it’s shining through water.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 3

Back at it again this morning. Still feeling very seen by this guy.

A stock photo of a man dressed as a pirate sitting in front of a laptop, holding a knife.

A stock photo of a man dressed as a pirate sitting in front of a laptop, gripping a knife in his teeth.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 3

Current status, working while listening to the Black Sails soundtrack:

Stock photo: a man dressed as a pirate, gripping a knife in his teeth, fists raised triumphantly, sitting in front of a laptop.

M.R. Robinson@mruthrobinson· Jun 1

Happy Pride Month, in just a couple of days you can read a story inspired by my absolutely incandescent rage at the concept of "too many lesbian stories" and I CAN'T WAIT!