A Matlock-area fantasy author is set to join more than 100 writers from across the country at the inaugural Canada Fiction Fest, a two-week virtual event celebrating Canadian fiction and connecting authors with readers nationwide.
Cunningham’s book series The Guardians of the Weldafire Stone
Interlake native Trinity Cunningham will be among the 121 authors featured during the online festival, running from June 21 to July 4. The event will include panel discussions, author readings and a virtual bookstore showcasing works from independent, traditionally published and hybrid-published Canadian writers. Readers can attend the free online event through the Canada Fiction Fest website, where registration and the full schedule are available.
Two of Cunningham’s novels, Blood Bound and Inherent Bound, will be featured during the virtual festival. Both books are part of her fantasy trilogy series, The Guardians of the Weldafire Stone.
The book series centres on a magical stone that serves as a source of magic in the land, with each novel following a different guardian appointed to protect it from falling into the wrong hands.
Geared primarily toward adult readers, though suitable for readers aged 16 and older, the series combines quests, battles between good and evil and action-driven storytelling. Cunningham said the books also explore themes of fear, forgiveness, healing and hope.
“The Guardians of the Weldafire Stone is an easy introduction into fantasy if readers are newer to the genre,” she said.
For Cunningham, being selected to participate in the inaugural Canada Fiction Fest is an opportunity to connect with fellow writers and readers from coast to coast.
Cunningham learned about the festival through an online Discord community that includes festival founder N.P. Thomson, an Ottawa-based fantasy author. After seeing a call for Canadian writers to participate, she completed the registration process and was accepted into the event.
“It’s really cool to be part of something so big and across the entire country,” she said. “It feels very uniting of the author community we have in Canada and getting to be part of that is really an honour.”
Cunningham’s path to becoming an author began long before her first novel was published. Raised in a musical household, she grew up surrounded by storytelling. Her parents are both musicians and songwriters, and her mother wrote children’s stories, rhymes and poems.
“I’ve always loved writing,” she said. “It’s such a great way to express ourselves.”
Initially, Cunningham studied screenwriting because she wanted to tell stories through film. However, she found the format limited the level of detail and character development she wanted to explore, leading her to pursue novel writing instead.
“I love world-building. I love diving deep into these worlds and bringing them to life,” she said.
In 2020, Cunningham decided to take her writing more seriously and began working on what would become Blood Bound. About halfway through the first draft, she realized she wanted to pursue publication rather than leave the manuscript unpublished.
She began her publishing journey through hybrid publishing before moving into independent publishing, a process she says taught her valuable lessons about the industry.
Despite participating in a national event, Cunningham said her roots in Manitoba remain an important part of her identity as a writer.
While many aspiring authors picture literary careers unfolding in major city centres such as Toronto, New York or London, Cunningham said living in a smaller community has never felt like a disadvantage.
“I’ve had so much support around me from friends and family and everybody within this community,” she said. “I’ve found a really great support system, and I don’t think I would have that if I was in a big city.”
Cunningham said Manitoba has also influenced aspects of her writing. In Unbound, the third novel in The Guardians of the Weldafire Stone trilogy, she loosely based the climate of one of the stories’ countries on Manitoba’s long summer days and harsh winters.
“I’m proudly Manitoban, and I love that our province has such beauty to draw inspiration from,” she said.
The virtual nature of events such as Canada Fiction Fest also helps level the playing field for writers living outside major urban centres.
Cunningham will participate in a panel discussion titled Diversity in Fiction: Seeing Ourselves and Others in Our Writing on June 27. She will also take part in a fantasy author reading on July 4.
She said she is particularly looking forward to exchanging ideas with other writers and discovering new Canadian authors.
“I think events like this are fantastic because they really give us an opportunity to network with the reading community and the writing community,” she said.
Beyond entertaining readers, Cunningham hopes her books leave audiences with a sense of optimism.
“I hope to leave readers with hope,” she said. “Life is a series of choices and consequences and actions, and I hope people come away willing to step forward and take chances.”
Locally, Cunningham’s books are available at Chapters Polo Park, Wishme and The Cozy Fox in Selkirk, and Only Local in Altona. Her books are also available through the Selkirk Library, while e-books can be purchased through her website and through Amazon.
Looking ahead, Cunningham will make several local appearances, including The Marketplace at Pineridge Hollow on June 28 and the Gimli Christmas Market on Dec. 5.
She is also contributing a short story to The Rings of Adventure, an international anthology featuring more than 30 independent fantasy, science-fiction, horror and romantasy authors that is scheduled for publication later this year.
