By Tyonna Robinson
Medaille College is opening its season of The Write Thing Reading Series on Thursday, Sept. 29 with one of their own: children’s book author Dr. Virginia A. Batchelor, professor in the Division of Education at Medaille. She will be reading her book, “Stop Calling Me That! My Name is Araminta,” and inviting questions from the audience afterwards. This event is free and open to the public and begins at 7 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Main Building located on the Medaille College campus.
Dr. Batchelor is co-founder and a member of the Buffalo Quarters Historical Society, a nonprofit organization that has focused on Buffalo and Southern Ontario’s involvement in the Underground Railroad Movement since its inception in 1995. Her involvement in the organization culminated in writing a heartfelt story of a young girl who is distraught from being called names at school because of her unique learning style. She does a masterful job of taking actual school experiences and history to teach resilience to young readers. The setting of this book also highlights one of Western New York’s treasured sites — Broderick Park — which is located at the foot of Ferry Street. It is there that Araminta finds strength from her grandma’s tales of her connection to the renowned Harriet Tubman.
As most of us are aware, winning an audience with one’s writing can be a daunting task. Remarkably, Dr. Batchelor has effortlessly captured the hearts and minds of adults and children alike. The message of finding peace within oneself is delightfully weaved throughout the book’s words and charming illustrations.
“Stop Calling Me That! My Name Is Araminta” is available online at Amazon and Barnes and Nobles.
Tyonna Robinson’s passion is exploring healthy ways to live in Western New York! She is an advocate for health and fitness professionals who are focused on guiding clients toward developing a strong mental and physical core. In 2014, Tyonna successfully created a platform geared toward education and encouragement for those struggling with issues such as overeating, low self-esteem and co-dependence. She believes introspection and self-improvement are essential to accomplishing goals, whether it is in business, relationships or health. Keep the conversation going and connect with Tyonna online at www.NYHealthKicks.weebly.com, or on her social channels on Twitter and Instagram.
