“Orchestra in Our Brain.” A book that tells the story of Robert, a young boy with epilepsy who suffers a seizure while at school, and the creative teacher who helps his classmates learn that epilepsy is not something they should be frightened by.
FRANKLIN (SOMERSET) — If you’ve spent any time at the Starbucks on Cedar Grove Lane in the Somerset section of Franklin, chances are you have met Cynthia Fabian. She can often be found chatting with other locals or pondering her next writing project.
Lately, a good deal of the talk at the coffee shop has centered on Fabian’s new children’s book, “Orchestra in Our Brain.” The book tells the story of Robert, a young boy with epilepsy who suffers a seizure while at school, and the creative teacher who helps his classmates learn that epilepsy is not something they should be frightened by.
Fabian will conduct a book release party from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, at Mi Amore Gourmet Market in Somerset. She will be signing and selling copies of “Orchestra in Our Brain” and her other books. A portion of all book sales will benefit epilepsy research, education and support.
Aimed at an early-reader audience, Fabian’s story, with illustrations by artist Daniel Stevens, explains epilepsy by using simple musical metaphors to help a child, sibling or family member understand how epilepsy manifests itself. The story also demonstrates for children how we should feel tolerance and compassion for others, even if they seem different.
Fabian, who suffers from epilepsy, knows how difficult growing up “different” can be.
“I have had epilepsy my entire life and have had to overcome many obstacles over the years,” Fabian said. “But I don’t believe in letting anything stop me. By doing your best, striving to achieve and keeping a positive attitude, I believe a person can achieve almost anything.”
Fabian lives what she preaches. She was a teacher of English and English as a Second Language at RFK Middle School in Flushing, N.Y., and Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx, N.Y., for more than 15 years before health conditions made it impossible to continue her teaching career. Forced into an early retirement from her first passion, Fabian turned to writing and recommitted herself to helping others overcome the challenges facing them.
“Orchestra in Our Brain” is Fabian’s third book. Each book offers guidance or feature situations in which the protagonist has an obstacle to overcome. Her previous children’s book, “Second Hand Art,” features a character that stutters but learns to overcome his situation with the help of a local artist. She also has published a collection of relationship and dating anecdotes, “Those Sweet Nothings,” designed to help older adults learn how to re-enter the dating world after a divorce or the death of a spouse.
In addition to authoring books, Fabian gives presentations at area schools, libraries and senior centers on the topic of overcoming adversity and adjusting to changing life situations.
For more information or resources about epilepsy, join the Orchestra in Our Brain group on Facebook (log in to Facebook and search for “Orchestra in Our Brain”) or go to Fabian’s website, www.fabianwriter.com.
Source: MyCentralJersey.com
