Sonia Fries - 2004 Montgomery Theater Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

2004 Montgomery Theater Lifetime Achievement Award Winner: Sonia Fries

To many who have read her weekly light verse column, “Keeper of the House”, in the Syracuse Herald American newspaper, Sonia Fries became the Poet Laureate of Mothers. A wife, mother, writer, teacher, and most especially a humorist, Sonia’s column ran for over 23 years and was also published in Orbit magazine in Oklahoma City and The Inquirer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Readers identify with her subject matter as she explores her own thoughts and observations

about ordinary, everyday things. She has the uncanny

ability to capture the humor, frustration, and special joy of raising children from babies to teens, in charming, rhythmical, digestible verse. An understated guest speaker for home and school parent groups, writer's groups and women's organizations, Sonia captivates every audience while sharing the ups and downs of writing for publication and seeing the humor in everyday life.

In Syracuse, New York, Sonia taught Creative Writing at Onondaga Community College. After moving to Pennsylvania with her husband and three children, she taught Beginning and Advanced writer's workshops at the North Penn Community evening school. She also conducted weekend creative writing courses for children.Sonia served on the board of directors, holding the position of president for three years, at St. David's Christian Writer's Conference, an annual week-long conference held at Eastern
College in St. David’s, PA. She taught a basic writing course and a poetry workshop at the conference for many years. Sonia is active in the schools has often been a presenter at the North Penn School District's Young Authors Conference, where she inspired and encouraged those around her to stretch and grow, not only has writers, but also as human beings. Don’t be surprised if you recognize yourself in one of her poems!

“One of my greatest pleasures is getting to know people who have a good sense of humor,” Sonia says. “If they share my love of writing and life, that’s even better!”

POEMS:

DON'T LOOK DOWN YOUR CHILDREN

JUST IMAGINE

DO NOT OPEN UNTIL POSSIBLE

END OF SEASON

FAITH IN THE FUTURE

MOVING DAY

SO THEY TELL ME