Teacher shares book with Roy-Hart students about children with psychic powers

Posted 3 April 2024 at 9:24 am

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Provided photos: Mike Fisher holds copies of his book, “Mediums at Large: The Trap of Orion.”

MIDDLEPORT – Mike Fisher is one of the educators at Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ Center for Professional Development.  He is also an author who has written several books.

Years ago, while teaching a unit on astronomy he started to write a story about Orion and the Greek goddess Artemis.

“After a visit to Lily Dale, down near Fredonia, I was inspired to write a story about a couple of kids with psychic powers who live in a Lily Dale-like community,” he said.

Lily Dale is a hamlet in Chautauqua County and is the world’s largest Spiritualist community.

“In the story, the kids have to use their gifts to solve a mystery involving the matriarch of their community, Sister Stellar,” Fisher said. “The mythology and astronomy are blended together as a backdrop for the actions occurring in the present day and ultimately help the kids solve the mystery.”

The book is entitled “Mediums at Large: The Trap of Orion.” Fisher said he would share bits of the story with his students in serialized fashion and in later years, he shared the full draft.  “I’ve been working on this off and on for over a decade and I’m thrilled to be able to share the finally finished product with others,” he said.

One of those groups of students belongs to teacher Susan McLaughlin at the Royalton-Hartland Middle School.

“My insurance company, Thrivent, offers seed money for projects to make a positive impact in your community, so I applied,” Fisher said. “This company extends grants to its members in what they call ‘Action Teams,’ and these action teams can do just about anything as long as they benefit others and speak to their motto to ‘Live generously.’”

Fisher was thrilled when his grant was approved and used the grant award to share the books with Mrs. McLaughlin’s class.

“The kids were thrilled at the thought of getting their own copies of the book,” McLaughlin said.

Roy-Hart middle schoolers hold copies of Fisher’s book after he delivered the books to the class.

Fisher hand delivered the books to the class, who were very excited to have a hard copy of it.

“I love getting feedback from the kids about the book and I am looking forward to going back after they finish reading it and talking to them about the process and answering any questions they have about the book as a whole,” he said.

McLaughlin said Fisher won’t be waiting too long because the moment they got the books, they couldn’t wait to get back to the story.

“It was so nice for the students to actually have them in their hands and I read it to them the rest of the day,” she said. “They were so much more engaged and attentive. There is something about having your own copy and being able to read along. Of course now they want Mike to come back and sign their copies!  I told them that signing 84 books might be a little too much!”

Fisher was pleased to hear about the response to his gift to the school.

“I have the best job and I love getting to do what I do!”

Fisher’s books, including “Mediums at Large” are available on Amazon.