Award-winning children’s author Sarah Thomson is slated to speak at Fredonia on Wednesday, April 25. Ms. Thomson will present the talk, “Deadly Flowers: Girls, Ninjas, and Using History to Create Fiction,” based on her 2016 novel, “Deadly Flowers,” in the Science Center’s Kelly Family Auditorium (Room 105) at 4:30 p.m.
“Deadly Flowers” features Kata, a 15-year-old girl who finds a magic talisman in the hopes of protecting her soul from shadow warriors in feudal Japan. The book has been described as “genuinely thrilling” with “edge-of-your-seat action” as well as being a “a great fantasy/historical/adventure mashup.” Thomson is also the author of 10 fiction books, six poetry volumes, and over 20 non-fiction books, all created and written for children.
Some of Thomson’s other works include “The Dragon’s Egg,” a fantasy-adventure of a dragon keeper and her friend, and “Mercy,” a tale of supernatural folklore based off New England history.
In addition to her lecture at Fredonia, Thomson will give workshop sessions to Fredonia third grade students on “The Dragon’s Egg.” From a recent visit to a school in Victor, Thomson stated, “I have to admit to a certain thrill in having a shared experience of reading every now and then...With your friends and classmates and strangers you met on the bus. It brought the fictional world into real life, joined us together into a community who shared our imaginary lives. It was lovely.”
“Deadly Flowers” received an Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award through the Wisconsin Library Association for “distinguished achievement in children’s literature” and won a Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award, as well.
The lecture is free and open to the public. It is supported by a Carnahan Jackson Humanities Grant through the Fredonia College Foundation.
