about the book
It’s not like Kyra really wants to kill the future queen. Actually, she likes Princess Ariana and they have been close friends all their lives.
But Kyra has visions (which she never shares with anyone. She doesn’t want to be accused of being a witch. Well, she hopes she isn’t a witch.) In one haunting vision she sees the complete destruction of the kingdom of Mohr, and Ariana is the cause of it all. Kyra is torn about doing what’s right and the necessity of taking Ariana’s
life to save the lives of many. But she knows in her heart what she must do, so she prepares one of her deadly throwing needles with a fatal poison.
You see, Kyra is a Master Potioner. In this land of witches, shape shifters and the like, she is the very best at making magical potions, and her specialty is poisonous weaponry. She has all sorts of mystical weapons hidden in her clothes and is deadly accurate with these weapons.
But this time—when it is absolutely crucial—Kyra fails to hit Ariana with the needle! Now Ariana is in hiding and Kyra is a fugitive. Escaping into the forest, she is hunted by the royal guard and her ex-roommate, Hal, who is also a Master Potioner. Somehow Kyra must still carry out her mission without sacrificing her own life.
But not all is terribly grim! Kyra winds up with a hilarious guide—an enchanted piglet named Rosie—and a hunky wanderer, Fred, who is too charming for his own good. While narrowly evading her hunters, she learns that there is much more to this tale: a dastardly plot, an evil being, a disguised usurper, and a bewitched princess. What a tangled mess!
about the author
In 2007, Bridget Zinn had the perfect life. She was a youth services librarian in Madison, Wisconsin, the very best job for a life-long book lover, and had a wonderful boyfriend, her high- school sweet-heart, Barrett Dowell.
She also had a killer idea for a book. It was about a teenage master potion maker. After years of attending writing conferences and workshops, she began to write her first novel. In 2008, she and Barrett moved to Portland,
Oregon, where she continued to write, revising and editing, and fine-tuning her manuscript. Migraines, blurred vision and other troubling symptoms prompted her to seek medical attention, and in March of 2009, Bridget was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. She was just 31.
She underwent endless tests, suffered through several surgeries, and endured chemotherapy. She continued to write through it all, and finally Poison was completed. Bridget found an agent and a publisher.
While confined to a hospital bed, Bridget and Barrett married. Throughout the next summer they had three more wedding ceremonies. During the next two years, they traveled extensively and moved into their dream house in Portland. During this time, Bridget was working on two new novels and tried to help other authors as much as she could.
Bridget died in March, 2011. Her friends and family worked hard to help promote Poison. She would be thrilled with how much young readers enjoy her book and the awards it has garnered.
Sources:
Author website
Author biography : Publisher’s Weekly
Author biography : Chicago Tribune
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