Author Archives: tonia laird

The Official Announcement!

I am so excited to share that I am working on a supernatural, climate-dystopian YA (young adult) trilogy set in the Canadian prairies! Rights to BLACK DOG, BLACK DOG REIGN, and BLACK DOG RIOT were sold to sold to senior editor katherena vermette and children’s editor Yashaswi Kesanakurthy at Simon & Schuster Canada by myContinue reading “The Official Announcement!”

Northern Michif and Seventhblade

In Seventhblade, the Ibinnashae (children of Ibinnas and non-Ibinnas) use Northern Michif as their heritage language. I was lucky enough to have translation help from Vince Ahenakew, an educator and language keeper from Île-à-la-Crosse, which one of the main communities that speak this dialect. Vince kindly fixed my attempts at translating dialogue as I amContinue reading “Northern Michif and Seventhblade”

Seventhblade: Peasant Farming and Social Darwinism

The Convenient Lie That Caused the Real Destruction of Thriving Indigenous Farm Communities In Seventhblade, I’ve used some historical (and contemporary) acts of forced assimilation, segregation, and genocide against Turtle Island Indigenous communities and individuals as a basis for my worldbuilding concerning the Ecrelian colonization of the Indigenous Ibinnas, Ibinnashae, and Iqounicha of Kaspine. OneContinue reading “Seventhblade: Peasant Farming and Social Darwinism”

The Maps of Seventhblade

So in the reviews for Seventhblade, I’ve seen a few mention they were really hoping for a map. Unfortunately the illustrator was still working hard on the maps when the ARC went out, so they weren’t included. However, that means the finished book has two glorious maps for readers to reference at their leisure, butContinue reading “The Maps of Seventhblade”

Weapons in Seventhblade: Beavertail Dagger

Weapons play a significant role in the world of Seventhblade. T’Rayles’s own dagger is inspired by blades used by the Métis dating back to the 1800s. T’Rayles carries a beavertail dagger on her belt: it is a common design used by both her and the Ibinnashae of the Broken Fangs, the Ibinnas, and the Iquionicha.Continue reading “Weapons in Seventhblade: Beavertail Dagger”

It’s been a long time coming…

…but well worth the wait. It’s quite the thing, finally seeing your first book in full print like this. Actually holding it in your hands. It’s exciting and surreal; in some ways it felt like a day that was never going to come, especially with the rollercoaster ride of these last few years. I amContinue reading “It’s been a long time coming…”

Seventhblade’s June Release!

“We are who we love. A part of us leaves with the ones that go, pieces ripped from us in the worst ways, but part of them stays with us as well. They are woven into everything we do. It is true: Your boy is not here anymore. But you are you because of him,Continue reading “Seventhblade’s June Release!”