Sandia Starforgers Writers Retreat and Workshop

2027 Instructional Theme: CHARACTERS + CONFLICT + CONNECTION

Enjoy a Long Weekend of Critique, Classes, and Camaraderie

April 29 - May 3, 2027
Albuquerque, NM

Get $200 off between now and October 15 when you use the discount code EARLYROADRUNNER

SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE for an off-site lodging ticket! Apply by November 30, 2026. See below for more info.

If you can't make it to this workshop, join the waitlist for future events.

Write characters who spring off the page. Learn how to use story conflict to keep readers turning pages. Connect with writers and industry pros.

Our 2027 instructors include:

• Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Award winning author, Mary Robinette Kowal
• Nebula, Locus, World Fantasy, Ignyte, and Aurora Award winning author, Premee Mohamed
• Hugo, British Fantasy, and Ignotus Award winning author, Sarah Gailey
• New Mexico Book Awards winning author and Artemesia Books publisher, Geoff Habiger
  
• New Mexico Book Awards winning author and Book Pipeline finalist, Marie Parks

When you register, you can expect:

• Small-group critique session for up to 5,000 words. You'll also critique the other pieces in your small group on characterization, tone, clarity, pacing, etc. (not line edits). Please note: Critiquer preference not guaranteed.
• Instructional classes with interactive elements.
• Re-critique session with your small critique group of up to 1,500 words after you've made revisions (or your query/pitch/synopsis).
• Intimate group of no more than 20 writers, for individualized interactions with on-site instructors and attendees.
• Opportunity to write and revise in a supportive, peaceful setting.
  
• Pitching practice in a safe environment with industry pros to give valuable feedback.
  
• Community building with fellow writers.
• Delicious meals every day! Meals + snacks included.

2027 is our fourth annual Sandia Starforgers Writers Workshop and Retreat. The general schedule is:

• Friday evening: First class
• Saturday: Critique session and second class
• Sunday: Recritique session and third class
• Monday: Panel, fourth class, and pitches

Sandia Starforgers is for you if you...

• Are a writer at any point in your career. We are open to writers in any genre, but please note that the experience of our instructors is mostly in adult speculative fiction. We all can become more effective storytellers and worldbuilders. Leveling up your writing is a lifelong process.
• Are willing to gracefully give and receive thoughtful critique with a spirit of learning, kindness, and curiosity.
• Want to learn more about writing, so you can advance your career and become a more engaging storyteller.
• Are interested in publishing your writing (including major publishers, small presses, magazines/anthologies, and self publishing).
• Crave genuine community and connection with other writers.
• Believe writing doesn't have to be competitive, but instead we can all support one another.
• Desire for writing to be more inclusive, and you celebrate diverse voices.

“I got so much out of this event. I’ve learned so much that I will be processing for awhile. The staff go out of their way to make sure we feel comfortable and safe. And most importantly, everyone, writers, staff, and instructors are so wonderful — the interactions I had make my heart so full.”
-2026 attendee

Instructors

Mary Robinette Kowal (she/her) Mary Robinette Kowal is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Lady Astronaut series and the Glamourist Histories. Her novel The Calculating Stars is one of the few works to win the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards in a single year. She is also a recipient of the Astounding Award for Best New Writer and multiple Hugo awards. A professional puppeteer for over twenty years, Kowal’s background in physical performance informs much of her approach to character in prose. She shares this craft expertise as a core cast member of the long-running, Hugo-winning podcast Writing Excuses. Kowal served as the President of SFWA and is an accomplished audiobook narrator. At home, she explores communication through a different lens with her cat, Elsie, who uses Augmentative Interspecies Communication buttons to “talk.” She also has an asteroid named after her.

Premee Mohamed (she/her) is a Nebula, World Fantasy, Ignyte, and Aurora award-winning Indo-Caribbean scientist and speculative fiction author based in Edmonton, Alberta. She has also been a finalist for the Hugo, Locus, British Fantasy, British Science Fiction, and Crawford awards. She is the author of the Beneath the Rising series of novels, which have been finalists for the Crawford Award, British Fantasy Award, Locus Award, and Aurora Award. Her novellas have been finalists for the Nebula Award, Aurora Award, British Fantasy Award, Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction, and Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize. In 2022 she won the Nebula Award and World Fantasy Award for her novella And What Can We Offer You Tonight and the Aurora Award for her novella The Annual Migration of Clouds. In 2024 she won an Alberta Literary Award, World Fantasy Award, and Ignyte award for her collection No One Will Come Back For Us. Her short fiction has appeared in print and audio venues including Analog, Augur, Nightmare Magazine, Slate, Fireside Fiction, and PodCastle. In 2017 she was nominated for the Pushcart Prize for her story "Willing" (Third Flatiron Press). In 2024, Premee was the Writer-in-Residence at the Edmonton Public Library. She was also an Assistant Editor for the short audio science fiction venue Escape Pod from 2020-2024. Previously she was a Capital City Press Featured Writer for 2019/2020 with the Edmonton Public Library. Her guest editing positions include novellas with Interstellar Flight Press and short fiction with Apparition Lit and Small Wonders Magazine. She has judged short fiction competitions with CBC, Dream Foundry, Alberta Views Magazine, and others. She is represented by Michael Curry of the Donald Maass Literary Agency and is a member in good standing of the Writer's Union of Canada, the Writers Guild of Alberta, the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association.

Sarah Gailey (they/them) is a Hugo Award and British Fantasy Award winning, bestselling author of speculative fiction, short stories, and essays. They have been a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards for multiple years running. Their bestselling adult novel debut, Magic For Liars, was published by Tor Books in 2019. Their most recent novel, Just Like Home, and most recent original comic book series with BOOM! Studios, Know Your Station, are available now. They have also written comics for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Steven Universe, Predator, White Widow, and more. Their shorter works and essays have been published in Mashable, The Boston Globe, Vice, Tor.com, and The Atlantic. Their work has been translated and published around the world. They are the editor and publisher of Stone Soup and Love Letters: Reasons To Be Alive.

Geoff Habiger (he/him) is an author and the creator of Artemesia Publishing. Geoff grew up in Manhattan...Kansas, not New York. (That's the Little Apple, not the Big Apple, for those of you playing along at home.) His co-author (Coy Kissee) co-created the company Tangent Games in 2004, through which they've published card games and supplements, adventures, and rule books for role-playing games. Geoff is a senior partner in the publishing company, Artemesia Publishing, and co-author of fantasy series, including the Constable Inspector Lunaria Adventures and the Saul Imbierowicz Trilogy. He lives in New Mexico with his wife, son, and two cats.

Marie Parks (she/her) is a queer fantasy author, whose titles Unrelenting and Undeniable were co-written with Jes Honard. Unrelenting won the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards Best LGBTQ Title and was a finalist in the Book Pipeline Unpublished Contest in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy category. Marie was also a finalist for the Futurescapes Award for Most Promising New Author for her social justice fantasy heist, Flightless (Shadow Dragon Press, 2026). She is a New Mexico Writers Grant Awardee. Marie lives in Albuquerque, where she loves to camp, garden, game, and eat green chile.

“If you’re struggling with your inner saboteur—and what writer isn’t—Sandia Starforgers will knock it out of your system with the sheer force of its community. Professionally I have never felt so seen and appreciated.”
-2026 attendee

Venue Information

The venue is a historic farm 20 minutes from the ABQ airport. The property includes bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and communal areas, as well as a number of outdoor areas. Amenities include hot tub, climate control, gardens and patios, smart TVs, high-speed wifi, on-site parking, washer/dryer, hair dryer, clothes iron, and a basketball half court. It's directly across the street from a city park with walking trails.

This is an old house, and noise carries through the walls. While we do have nightly quiet hours, if you have extreme noise sensitivity, you may wish to book lodging at a nearby hotel.

The venue is located on the homelands of the Tiwa Pueblo people. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn and gather on this land. Sandia Starforgers will make a donation to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center upon the conclusion of the event.

“The smaller class size is what makes this event so enjoyable for me. I’m glad it’s capped at a small number of students. It makes it easier to get to know people and have more meaningful conversations. The venue is great, too.”
– 2025 attendee

Ticket and Pricing Information

OFF-SITE LODGING TICKET OPTION: The in-person attendance with off-site lodging option is ideal for writers who live locally, will stay with a friend, or wish to make their own lodging arrangement. Your ticket includes all of the "you can expect" bullet points above. It does not include breakfast on Tuesday morning.

• On-Site Attendance without Lodging: $2,000. Lodging is not included; you will make your own lodging arrangement. You may still enjoy the other full in-person benefits of the event's programming and activities, including meals as described in the paragraph above.

Get $200 off between now and October 15 when you use the discount code EARLYROADRUNNER

ON-SITE LODGING TICKET OPTIONS: For attendees who purchase a ticket that allows them to sleep on-site at the event, your included lodging and meals will include the evening of Friday, April 30 through the morning of Tuesday, May 3, 2027. Your ticket includes all of the "you can expect" bullet points above.

The property has limited queen/king size beds and a larger number of double beds; if you want to share a bed with your roommate, specify this ASAP after you enroll through our information form.

You will be responsible for getting to and from the event venue.

• On-Site Attendance with On-Site Double Occupancy Lodging: $2,600 for shared bathroom [private bathroom rooms are SOLD OUT]. You will have a roommate.
  
• On-Site Attendance with On-Site Single Occupancy Lodging: $3,100 for shared bathroom [private bathroom rooms are SOLD OUT]. You will not have a roommate.

Get $200 off between now and October 15 when you use the discount code EARLYROADRUNNER

These prices allow us to:

• Provide daily meals + snacks
• Rent this accessible, peaceful venue
• Pay all instructors/staff for their time and expertise
• Bring supplies for a productive experience

"The classes, critique sessions, and side conversations all helped generate new ideas and give my story new life.“
-2026 attendee

We are offering one scholarship to a writer with financial need. This is a scholarship for an Event Attendance with Off-Site Lodging ticket. The scholarship recipient will be granted admission to the event at no cost and will be responsible for their transportation and lodging. Scholarship applications are open until November 30, 2026 at 11:59pm ET. Click HERE to learn more and apply.

“The conversations I had with other writers at Starforgers truly helped me get unstuck from some patterns that had developed in my writing process. I came home energized and ready to get back to work with a healthier approach.”
– 2025 attendee

Refund Policy

All refunds are less a processing fee of 4%. Full refund through November 30, 2026. 50% refund through December 31, 2026. 25% refund through January 31, 2027. No refunds may be issued starting February 1, 2027, as final payment for our vendors is due at this time.

Additional Policies and Disclaimers

Our attendance policy and rules:

• All attendees must be 21+ years old as of April 30, 2027.
• No smoking, vaping, firearms, knives, or weapons are allowed anywhere on the property.
• Only registered ticket holders may attend the event. No unregistered family members or friends are allowed at the event.
• Do not record any classes or share any handouts/materials you receive through or at the event. We will be recording some aspects of the event for personal use only.
• You give Sandia Starforgers photo, video, and audio release to use photos, videos, and audio recordings that may include you, your voice, and your likeness in future marketing materials.

Health policy:

• All attendees must sign an affidavit upon check-in confirming they have taken a rapid Covid-19 self-test on April 29 or 30, 2027 and received a negative result.
• We are mask-positive in our communications, but we are not requiring masks at the event.
• We will not have medical experts or supplies on hand. If you are ill, seek the care of a medical professional.
• No refunds may be given as a result of illness, injury, or any other reason, February 1, 2027 or later.
• If you are ill with a contagious illness, we may take steps to quarantine you. Recordings of some classes may be made available to you.
• You commit to washing your hands regularly during the event.
• You accept the inherent risk of this in-person event that you might get sick as a result of attending.

Accessibility information:

• The event will take place in a building with no steps other than door thresholds/curbs.
• Walk-in showers (low curb) can be available upon advanced request, for on-site lodging ticket holders.
• Live captions for live classes can be provided upon advanced request.
• Speakers during classes will be outfitted with personal amplification devices.
• We will make every effort to accommodate your dietary needs and allergies, as well as accessibility needs. Please provide advanced notice.
• Albuquerque is situated "at elevation," located at 5,400 feet above sea level. This can cause elevation sickness and adverse reactions in some people.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion information:

We actively seek to ensure every attendee, instructor, staff member, and vendor—regardless of gender identity, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, ability, education level, body type, or any other factor—feels valued, respected, and heard.

We acknowledge that systematic disenfranchisement, oppression, and discrimination of the BBIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities occur, and we must always be vigilant to not perpetuate any of these. It is everyone's responsibility to contribute to actively dismantling them. We are unafraid to be held accountable and promise to correct any missteps with tangible action. We commit to supporting vendors and businesses owned by marginalized communities whenever possible and/or that strive to create equality.

Also, we are offering one scholarship for this event for a writer with financial need (see above).

Anti-harassment policy:

Our goal is to offer a peaceful, respectful workshop experience, regardless of attendees' gender identity, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, ability, education level, body type, or any other factor. We have a zero tolerance policy for harassment of any attendee. All attendees are subject to this policy. If any attendee violates this policy, conference organizers may take any action deemed necessary at their sole discretion including, and up to, expulsion from the event without refund and refusal to re-admit the offender to any future events.

We define harassment as offensive verbal comments related to another person in attendance, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of events, sexual images in public spaces, inappropriate and/or nonconsensual physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.

If you are concerned about harassment, contact event staff immediately. We will take all necessary steps to help attendees feel safe.

Disclaimers:

We can't be held responsible for your outcomes from this event. We make no guarantees that you will have a particular level of success with your writing, be matched with your preferred critiquer, or any other outcome, now or in the future.

This event offers an opportunity to receive small-group critique on your work, network with other writers, attend classes, and practice pitching your story. How you use the time is your choice, and your participation in any or all of the events is not mandatory; you may choose to spend the event writing quietly in your room, if desired.

Get $200 off between now and October 15 when you use the discount code EARLYROADRUNNER

Questions? Email marie@marieparks.com.

If our 2027 workshop doesn't work for your schedule but you want to learn about future events, join the waitlist. We also offer solo weekend retreats and periodic virtual events.