Tonja K. Johnson (Kiarra Ballard) is a Black American writer of gothic speculative fiction. Her work honors the rich, diverse culture of her ancestors while also representing Blackness in all its resistance, queerness, and neurodivergence. When not writing, she can be found reading, drawing and spending precious time with loved ones. She is a recipient of the 2023 MN Write Like Us grant and the winner of the 2024 MN BIPOC Emerging Writer award. Her work can be found in The Blue Earth Review, FIYAH Literary Magazine, Magic in the Melanin, and other publications. You can find her at https://tonjakjohnson.com/ and on threads @tonjakjohnson