Mahaila Smith (they/them)
@mahailasmith.ca
Co-Editor for The Sprawl Mag
Poet
Water-Kin (2024) with Metatron Press
Enter the Hyperreal (2024) with above/ground press
Seed Beetle (2025) with Stelliform Press
After All This Hurt (2025) with Bywords
Mahailasmith.ca
Poet
Water-Kin (2024) with Metatron Press
Enter the Hyperreal (2024) with above/ground press
Seed Beetle (2025) with Stelliform Press
After All This Hurt (2025) with Bywords
Mahailasmith.ca
Pinned
Today we're sending this little beetle out into the world. May it burrow into your hearts, in a nice way.
Congratulations to Mahaila Smith for this beautiful, innovative and tender collection of narrative science fiction poetry!
Now available everywhere!
www.stelliform.press...
Congratulations to Mahaila Smith for this beautiful, innovative and tender collection of narrative science fiction poetry!
Now available everywhere!
www.stelliform.press...
Today is the day! Welcome to the world little beetle :’)
Happy Valentines Day from my sister’s morning love story by @amalelmohtar.com and @maxgladstone.bsky.social and on theme pancakes ❤️💙
February 14, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Happy Valentines Day from my sister’s morning love story by @amalelmohtar.com and @maxgladstone.bsky.social and on theme pancakes ❤️💙
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
Lil before-bed request to check out my fashion + space opera anthology!! Would be really grateful for folks to back it. We are 8 days away from wrrapping up and have $4k to go.
✨ WHAT ELEGANT STARS is now funding ✨
satellites and sewists, terminals and tailors, dandies and dying stars
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dav...
satellites and sewists, terminals and tailors, dandies and dying stars
www.kickstarter.com/projects/dav...
February 13, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Lil before-bed request to check out my fashion + space opera anthology!! Would be really grateful for folks to back it. We are 8 days away from wrrapping up and have $4k to go.
My new witchy poem is out with Penumbric today! You can go read it here: www.penumbric.com/currentissue...
February 12, 2026 at 4:26 AM
My new witchy poem is out with Penumbric today! You can go read it here: www.penumbric.com/currentissue...
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
Still can't quite believe that my story, Last Train from Deadwall, made the Locus Recommended Reading List, but it's there! Many thanks to @bcsmagazine.bsky.social for giving this story a home and @scott-h-andrews.bsky.social for helping to shape it into its best form.
locusmag.com/2026/02/2025...
locusmag.com/2026/02/2025...
2025 Recommended Reading List
Welcome to the Locus Recommended Reading List… We saw some fabulous books come out last year and are so pleased to let you know about them! Our recommendations are compiled annually by the Locus re…
locusmag.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Still can't quite believe that my story, Last Train from Deadwall, made the Locus Recommended Reading List, but it's there! Many thanks to @bcsmagazine.bsky.social for giving this story a home and @scott-h-andrews.bsky.social for helping to shape it into its best form.
locusmag.com/2026/02/2025...
locusmag.com/2026/02/2025...
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
A couple of Ottawa wish lists that I've come across in the last few days, if anyone has items to spare.
Highjinx needs space heaters, camping heaters, gloves, blankets, long johns.
Helping with Furniture needs kitchen things (pots, utensils etc), curtains, bedding, towels, toys.
Drop off info:
Highjinx needs space heaters, camping heaters, gloves, blankets, long johns.
Helping with Furniture needs kitchen things (pots, utensils etc), curtains, bedding, towels, toys.
Drop off info:
January 27, 2026 at 5:19 PM
A couple of Ottawa wish lists that I've come across in the last few days, if anyone has items to spare.
Highjinx needs space heaters, camping heaters, gloves, blankets, long johns.
Helping with Furniture needs kitchen things (pots, utensils etc), curtains, bedding, towels, toys.
Drop off info:
Highjinx needs space heaters, camping heaters, gloves, blankets, long johns.
Helping with Furniture needs kitchen things (pots, utensils etc), curtains, bedding, towels, toys.
Drop off info:
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
In THE WILDCRAFT DRONES, T.K. Rex imagines the co-evolution of AI, climate collapse and rewilding in fourteen bold stories. Preorder now from the publisher: http://www.stellifor...
January 24, 2026 at 6:30 PM
In THE WILDCRAFT DRONES, T.K. Rex imagines the co-evolution of AI, climate collapse and rewilding in fourteen bold stories. Preorder now from the publisher: http://www.stellifor...
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
URGENT: January 23 is the last day to say NO to this proposal. Text OCEANS to 43428 and voice your opposition to this offshore drilling plan that would jeopardize treasured coastlines nationwide.
January 23, 2026 at 8:01 PM
URGENT: January 23 is the last day to say NO to this proposal. Text OCEANS to 43428 and voice your opposition to this offshore drilling plan that would jeopardize treasured coastlines nationwide.
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
Signed. You know what to do, Canada.
petition to protect gender affirming care in canada. go fuckin sign it
www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
Sign this Petition - Petitions
There is no obligation on the part of the House of Commons or any Member of Parliament to authorize the publication of an e-petition or to present an e-petition or a paper petition to the House of…
www.ourcommons.ca
January 22, 2026 at 1:51 AM
Signed. You know what to do, Canada.
A miniature hand grips my bootlace and won’t let go. I bend down to pry its brass fingers open, wedging my thumb into its curled palm, but it’s no use. I’ll have to find the key. I’m not giving up a new lace for a damn spare part. The metal sparks against the pavement with each step.
The streets of the Undercity are never clean. Garbage and grime are drip down from the endless bridges of the city above. Residents never go outside without a sturdy hat. What object drops at your feet that makes you decide to enter a lift and search for its owner?
#TinyTalesTuesday #WritingPrompt
#TinyTalesTuesday #WritingPrompt
January 21, 2026 at 5:51 PM
A miniature hand grips my bootlace and won’t let go. I bend down to pry its brass fingers open, wedging my thumb into its curled palm, but it’s no use. I’ll have to find the key. I’m not giving up a new lace for a damn spare part. The metal sparks against the pavement with each step.
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
I'll be at VerseFest in Ottawa this March. This is just a teaser, so please follow @versefestottawa.bsky.social to keep updated on all the festival's news and programming!
January 20, 2026 at 11:37 PM
I'll be at VerseFest in Ottawa this March. This is just a teaser, so please follow @versefestottawa.bsky.social to keep updated on all the festival's news and programming!
Going through my author copies this afternoon, and found that I have TWO more copies of this issue of +doc!! If you would like to read my pushcart-nominated poem you can reply or send me a message, they are 4$ each
This year, null pointer press has sent the following poems as its submission to the Pushcart Prize:
"B is for Brutus", @officialmchangpoet.bsky.social
"The Lies Overlap, Alongside the Years", BEE LB
"The Bugs Have Gone Away", @mahailasmith.ca
(cont)
"B is for Brutus", @officialmchangpoet.bsky.social
"The Lies Overlap, Alongside the Years", BEE LB
"The Bugs Have Gone Away", @mahailasmith.ca
(cont)
January 20, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Going through my author copies this afternoon, and found that I have TWO more copies of this issue of +doc!! If you would like to read my pushcart-nominated poem you can reply or send me a message, they are 4$ each
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
We're a bit late with our new year's wishes. It takes time to muster up the optimism these days, but what else can we do but face the year with love and creativity and good books to support us? Resistance and transformation are hard work. May you find the stories and the courage you need this year.
January 5, 2026 at 4:58 PM
We're a bit late with our new year's wishes. It takes time to muster up the optimism these days, but what else can we do but face the year with love and creativity and good books to support us? Resistance and transformation are hard work. May you find the stories and the courage you need this year.
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
Ongoing notes: the ottawa small press book fair (part three, : Mahaila Smith + Janice Colman, / @mahailasmith.ca @amandaearl.bsky.social ;
robmclennan.blogspot.com/2025/12/ongo...
robmclennan.blogspot.com/2025/12/ongo...
Ongoing notes: the ottawa small press book fair (part three, : Mahaila Smith + Janice Colman,
Further to what I picked up at the most recent edition of the ottawa small press book fair [ see my first post on such here ; see my second ...
robmclennan.blogspot.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Ongoing notes: the ottawa small press book fair (part three, : Mahaila Smith + Janice Colman, / @mahailasmith.ca @amandaearl.bsky.social ;
robmclennan.blogspot.com/2025/12/ongo...
robmclennan.blogspot.com/2025/12/ongo...
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
This is gonna be EPIC like POETRY!
It's my honor to announce that in February, I'll moderate a second storytelling conversation at St. John's University, this on poetic imagination in the modern age with award-winning poets @csecooney.bsky.social, @alwayscoffee.bsky.social, and Connecticut's State Poet Laureate Antoinette Brim-Bell!
December 13, 2025 at 3:34 AM
This is gonna be EPIC like POETRY!
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
Tomorrow (Dec 12th) is the last day to submit your claim regarding Loblaws’ bread price-fixing scheme.
You could get $50 or more. Get that “bread!”
www.cbc.ca/news/busines...
You could get $50 or more. Get that “bread!”
www.cbc.ca/news/busines...
You could get at least $50 from the bread price-fixing settlement. But the deadline is coming up | CBC News
Your chance to get a piece of a $500-million class action settlement, following a years-long bread price fixing scheme will soon expire.
www.cbc.ca
December 11, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Tomorrow (Dec 12th) is the last day to submit your claim regarding Loblaws’ bread price-fixing scheme.
You could get $50 or more. Get that “bread!”
www.cbc.ca/news/busines...
You could get $50 or more. Get that “bread!”
www.cbc.ca/news/busines...
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
some above/ground press author activity: Mahaila Smith, Laynie Browne, Julie Carr, Katie Ebbitt, Rae Armantrout, Gary Barwin + Drew McEwan, / @garybarwin.bsky.social @mahailasmith.ca @juliecarr.bsky.social ;
abovegroundpress.blogspot.com/2025/12/some...
abovegroundpress.blogspot.com/2025/12/some...
some author activity: Smith, Browne, Carr, Ebbitt, Armantrout, Barwin + McEwan,
Mahaila Smith has new work up at Strange Horizons ; the recent "Writing as Alchemy" event, featuring readings by Laynie Browne, Julie Carr a...
abovegroundpress.blogspot.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:16 PM
some above/ground press author activity: Mahaila Smith, Laynie Browne, Julie Carr, Katie Ebbitt, Rae Armantrout, Gary Barwin + Drew McEwan, / @garybarwin.bsky.social @mahailasmith.ca @juliecarr.bsky.social ;
abovegroundpress.blogspot.com/2025/12/some...
abovegroundpress.blogspot.com/2025/12/some...
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
Hey Ottawa, come out to St Laurent mall this Friday after work for a book sale to raise funds for the Ottawa Food Bank. It's hard to express how much Alan and the All in a Day crew have done for reading in this city and this is just their latest impressive team effort. Say hi if you see me there!
December 3, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Hey Ottawa, come out to St Laurent mall this Friday after work for a book sale to raise funds for the Ottawa Food Bank. It's hard to express how much Alan and the All in a Day crew have done for reading in this city and this is just their latest impressive team effort. Say hi if you see me there!
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
Consider the following before adopting a Manticore for your family
December 3, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Consider the following before adopting a Manticore for your family
What I’m wearing to the Bluesky Christmas Party
December 3, 2025 at 5:04 AM
What I’m wearing to the Bluesky Christmas Party
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
Neon Hemlock has some fantastic books on offer, and you should definitely take this opportunity if you're on a budget. Every novellas has been worth it.
📚 50% off ebooks because capitalism i guess
use code UGHFINE
or you could just buy them! up to you 📚
www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks
use code UGHFINE
or you could just buy them! up to you 📚
www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks
November 28, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Neon Hemlock has some fantastic books on offer, and you should definitely take this opportunity if you're on a budget. Every novellas has been worth it.
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
Ending today on a high note of $852 -- wow! If we can raise $130 a day for the next five days, GULA will make it, and I am so pleased to be even coming close. Thanks so much to all the people who have been helping me boost and get eyes on this!
Holy crap! We are now at $844 - that means we're now over halfway and only $656 to goal. That's 14 big tiers or 33 paperbacks -- let's GOOOO
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/e...
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/e...
November 29, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Ending today on a high note of $852 -- wow! If we can raise $130 a day for the next five days, GULA will make it, and I am so pleased to be even coming close. Thanks so much to all the people who have been helping me boost and get eyes on this!
Reposted by Mahaila Smith (they/them)
This #thanksgiving, snap up 3 of Solaris' Indigenous Fantasy Books from @rebeccaroanhorse.bsky.social Caskey Russell & @karinlow.bsky.social for just 0.99 each, (website exclusive) geni.us/Solarissale
And they're all series starters, so there's a lot more indigenous fantasy in your future!
1/2
And they're all series starters, so there's a lot more indigenous fantasy in your future!
1/2
November 27, 2025 at 5:15 PM
This #thanksgiving, snap up 3 of Solaris' Indigenous Fantasy Books from @rebeccaroanhorse.bsky.social Caskey Russell & @karinlow.bsky.social for just 0.99 each, (website exclusive) geni.us/Solarissale
And they're all series starters, so there's a lot more indigenous fantasy in your future!
1/2
And they're all series starters, so there's a lot more indigenous fantasy in your future!
1/2
Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen
Janelle Monáe for my 24th bday and the best show i have ever seen
FKA Twigs
Beach Bunny
Leith Ross
Fanclubwallet
Janelle Monáe for my 24th bday and the best show i have ever seen
FKA Twigs
Beach Bunny
Leith Ross
Fanclubwallet
Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen
Jann Arden (x2 I think - amazing show)
Walk Off The Earth
Journey
Avril Lavigne
Spice Girls
Jann Arden (x2 I think - amazing show)
Walk Off The Earth
Journey
Avril Lavigne
Spice Girls
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen
System of a Down
Green Day
Metallica
Cancer Bats
Counting Crows 🤣
System of a Down
Green Day
Metallica
Cancer Bats
Counting Crows 🤣
November 27, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen
Janelle Monáe for my 24th bday and the best show i have ever seen
FKA Twigs
Beach Bunny
Leith Ross
Fanclubwallet
Janelle Monáe for my 24th bday and the best show i have ever seen
FKA Twigs
Beach Bunny
Leith Ross
Fanclubwallet