tonia laird
@tonialaird.bsky.social
Writer of novels and lorekeeper of video games. Michif living in Treaty 6. No kings, only kin.
Book 1 of the Kin Trilogy (fall 2026)
Seventhblade (out now!)
www.tonialaird.com
Book 1 of the Kin Trilogy (fall 2026)
Seventhblade (out now!)
www.tonialaird.com
Did y'all know a group of jellyfish is called a "smack"? also a swarm, smuth, fluther, brood, or bloom?
Still, liking SMACK the most, though.
The things you learn when writing...
Still, liking SMACK the most, though.
The things you learn when writing...
November 13, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Did y'all know a group of jellyfish is called a "smack"? also a swarm, smuth, fluther, brood, or bloom?
Still, liking SMACK the most, though.
The things you learn when writing...
Still, liking SMACK the most, though.
The things you learn when writing...
Had such an amazing time at Word on the Street Toronto! The panel about Escapism in Fiction that I was invited to join was such a great discussion, and I got to meet my Seventhblade editor @jenralbert.bsky.social and a bunch of othet awesome @ecwpress.bsky.social folks! It was a blast!
September 29, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Had such an amazing time at Word on the Street Toronto! The panel about Escapism in Fiction that I was invited to join was such a great discussion, and I got to meet my Seventhblade editor @jenralbert.bsky.social and a bunch of othet awesome @ecwpress.bsky.social folks! It was a blast!
MY GOD, AI. You want writers to love you? DO ANY OF THIS.
September 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM
MY GOD, AI. You want writers to love you? DO ANY OF THIS.
I just realized I shared these elsewhere but not here. In honor of the official announcement of the trilogy and Black Dog's release next year, I created some personal illustrations of the protagonist, Wren, and Black Dog. They are linked, and one's well-being inexplicably affects the other.
August 29, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I just realized I shared these elsewhere but not here. In honor of the official announcement of the trilogy and Black Dog's release next year, I created some personal illustrations of the protagonist, Wren, and Black Dog. They are linked, and one's well-being inexplicably affects the other.
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! World English rights to tonia laird's trilogy: Black Dog, Black Dog Reign, and Black Dog Riot sold to senior editor Katherena Vermette and children's editor Yashaswi Kesanakurthy at Simon & Schuster Canada by Marilyn Biderman and Amanda Orozco!
August 25, 2025 at 7:29 PM
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! World English rights to tonia laird's trilogy: Black Dog, Black Dog Reign, and Black Dog Riot sold to senior editor Katherena Vermette and children's editor Yashaswi Kesanakurthy at Simon & Schuster Canada by Marilyn Biderman and Amanda Orozco!
This banner is still up on www.lacon.org/road/
the fact the chose North America and Africa as their background imagery is pretty damning.
the fact the chose North America and Africa as their background imagery is pretty damning.
August 21, 2025 at 3:55 PM
This banner is still up on www.lacon.org/road/
the fact the chose North America and Africa as their background imagery is pretty damning.
the fact the chose North America and Africa as their background imagery is pretty damning.
The website is currently being scrubbed of the manifest destiny content as we speak, but you can see some screenshots in the OP thread. This banner is still up, for now. Choosing North America and Africa for the imagery is bloody wild.
www.lacon.org/road/
www.lacon.org/road/
August 21, 2025 at 3:52 PM
The website is currently being scrubbed of the manifest destiny content as we speak, but you can see some screenshots in the OP thread. This banner is still up, for now. Choosing North America and Africa for the imagery is bloody wild.
www.lacon.org/road/
www.lacon.org/road/
Another blog post!
tonialaird.com/.../northern...
In Seventhblade, I use Northern Michif as the language of the Ibinnashae: the children of the Indigenous Ibinnas and non-Ibinnas peoples.
Michif is a multi-dialect language created by the Métis, and is a mix of Cree verbs and French nouns.
tonialaird.com/.../northern...
In Seventhblade, I use Northern Michif as the language of the Ibinnashae: the children of the Indigenous Ibinnas and non-Ibinnas peoples.
Michif is a multi-dialect language created by the Métis, and is a mix of Cree verbs and French nouns.
July 26, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Another blog post!
tonialaird.com/.../northern...
In Seventhblade, I use Northern Michif as the language of the Ibinnashae: the children of the Indigenous Ibinnas and non-Ibinnas peoples.
Michif is a multi-dialect language created by the Métis, and is a mix of Cree verbs and French nouns.
tonialaird.com/.../northern...
In Seventhblade, I use Northern Michif as the language of the Ibinnashae: the children of the Indigenous Ibinnas and non-Ibinnas peoples.
Michif is a multi-dialect language created by the Métis, and is a mix of Cree verbs and French nouns.
Seventhblade began as a way for me to process the death of a friend. The anger at her loss was unrelenting. I wasn't a pleasant person to be around. So I wrote that into T'Rayles. She's been ripped apart by the murder of her son. It isn't time for her to be pleasant, either.
July 25, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Seventhblade began as a way for me to process the death of a friend. The anger at her loss was unrelenting. I wasn't a pleasant person to be around. So I wrote that into T'Rayles. She's been ripped apart by the murder of her son. It isn't time for her to be pleasant, either.
I am so excited to share that I have signed a 3-book deal for a supernatural "dystopian YA trilogy rooted in Métis heritage, resistance, and self-discovery" with Simon & Schuster Canada!
Coming out next fall with two other amazing books I can't wait to get my hands on!
Coming out next fall with two other amazing books I can't wait to get my hands on!
July 10, 2025 at 10:30 PM
I am so excited to share that I have signed a 3-book deal for a supernatural "dystopian YA trilogy rooted in Métis heritage, resistance, and self-discovery" with Simon & Schuster Canada!
Coming out next fall with two other amazing books I can't wait to get my hands on!
Coming out next fall with two other amazing books I can't wait to get my hands on!
It's normal to feel helpless on days like today. Do something for your community. Create art. Check in on your neighbor. Put out water for birds and wildlife.
Embrace the humanity they want to control through fear and cruelty.
Here's a photo of a one of the little punks I live with.
Embrace the humanity they want to control through fear and cruelty.
Here's a photo of a one of the little punks I live with.
July 4, 2025 at 11:58 AM
It's normal to feel helpless on days like today. Do something for your community. Create art. Check in on your neighbor. Put out water for birds and wildlife.
Embrace the humanity they want to control through fear and cruelty.
Here's a photo of a one of the little punks I live with.
Embrace the humanity they want to control through fear and cruelty.
Here's a photo of a one of the little punks I live with.
Colonialism in Seventhblade alludes to historical and contemporary colonialism in North America.
The "Peasant Farming Policy" created by the Canadian government ran from 1889-1897. This policy, along with the Pass System, decimated Indigenous farming communities.
tonialaird.com/2025/06/25/s...
The "Peasant Farming Policy" created by the Canadian government ran from 1889-1897. This policy, along with the Pass System, decimated Indigenous farming communities.
tonialaird.com/2025/06/25/s...
June 26, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Colonialism in Seventhblade alludes to historical and contemporary colonialism in North America.
The "Peasant Farming Policy" created by the Canadian government ran from 1889-1897. This policy, along with the Pass System, decimated Indigenous farming communities.
tonialaird.com/2025/06/25/s...
The "Peasant Farming Policy" created by the Canadian government ran from 1889-1897. This policy, along with the Pass System, decimated Indigenous farming communities.
tonialaird.com/2025/06/25/s...
A story in 3 images.
Hope whoever complained about our Pride flag that we only hung up for Pride month enjoys rainbow curtains ALL YEAR ROUND.
Hope whoever complained about our Pride flag that we only hung up for Pride month enjoys rainbow curtains ALL YEAR ROUND.
June 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
A story in 3 images.
Hope whoever complained about our Pride flag that we only hung up for Pride month enjoys rainbow curtains ALL YEAR ROUND.
Hope whoever complained about our Pride flag that we only hung up for Pride month enjoys rainbow curtains ALL YEAR ROUND.
So honored that @trickweekes.bsky.social took the time out of their busy schedule to review Seventhblade! Their work has always been an inspiration and I'm honored by their words.
June 17, 2025 at 8:02 PM
So honored that @trickweekes.bsky.social took the time out of their busy schedule to review Seventhblade! Their work has always been an inspiration and I'm honored by their words.
A beautiful review of Seventhblade. I'm honestly honored.
From NetGalley
From NetGalley
June 15, 2025 at 8:24 PM
A beautiful review of Seventhblade. I'm honestly honored.
From NetGalley
From NetGalley
Cumfi Local #315 in Sasktoon is collecting donations for those evacuated due to the forest fires raging only hours north of the city. NEEDED: Summer clothing, toys & games, coloring books, strollers, wheelchairs, baby formula, diapers. NOT NEEDED: winter clothes, blankets
June 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Cumfi Local #315 in Sasktoon is collecting donations for those evacuated due to the forest fires raging only hours north of the city. NEEDED: Summer clothing, toys & games, coloring books, strollers, wheelchairs, baby formula, diapers. NOT NEEDED: winter clothes, blankets
I dunno, new notebook. It's been nigh on 40-some odd years and it still hasn't...
May 29, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I dunno, new notebook. It's been nigh on 40-some odd years and it still hasn't...
Ah, spring. The season of blossoming life on every branch, chirping chicks in their nests, and the formation of baby tornadoes in their sky dens...
May 27, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Ah, spring. The season of blossoming life on every branch, chirping chicks in their nests, and the formation of baby tornadoes in their sky dens...
My copies of Seventhblade have arrived! It's an overwhelming feeling to have an actual copy in hand...
May 7, 2025 at 3:59 PM
My copies of Seventhblade have arrived! It's an overwhelming feeling to have an actual copy in hand...
The premier of Alberta, everybody.
May 3, 2025 at 6:53 PM
The premier of Alberta, everybody.
Yesterday after a walk, my niece's dog was suddenly very lethargic and dopey and unable to stand up straight, so they rushed her to the vet, only to find out she found some weed-laced something that someone must have dropped. She's all good now, but that must have been some good weed.
May 1, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Yesterday after a walk, my niece's dog was suddenly very lethargic and dopey and unable to stand up straight, so they rushed her to the vet, only to find out she found some weed-laced something that someone must have dropped. She's all good now, but that must have been some good weed.
A new website, you say? Finally, you say? What, you mean authors still need websites, you say? Yup, they say.
tonialaird.com
tonialaird.com
April 30, 2025 at 6:02 AM
A new website, you say? Finally, you say? What, you mean authors still need websites, you say? Yup, they say.
tonialaird.com
tonialaird.com
Introducing the glory that is Demolition Man to the kiddo, and we were shocked to see that they dubbed over Taco Bell with Pizza Hut. Reddit says only the US release had Taco Bell and the rest of the world got Pizza Hut?
We must have got the US release back in the day.
We must have got the US release back in the day.
April 26, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Introducing the glory that is Demolition Man to the kiddo, and we were shocked to see that they dubbed over Taco Bell with Pizza Hut. Reddit says only the US release had Taco Bell and the rest of the world got Pizza Hut?
We must have got the US release back in the day.
We must have got the US release back in the day.
The kiddo handed me 20 bucks like a dealer in the middle of a greenhouse (I've always told them to never let other people see your money, seems they took it to heart) and so I picked out a $12 toothpick holder and a $8 air plant and created this abomination.
I love it so much.
I love it so much.
April 24, 2025 at 9:01 PM
The kiddo handed me 20 bucks like a dealer in the middle of a greenhouse (I've always told them to never let other people see your money, seems they took it to heart) and so I picked out a $12 toothpick holder and a $8 air plant and created this abomination.
I love it so much.
I love it so much.