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Many in Suffolk have enjoyed the writing of Tonya Sinclair Swindell, and now her poems can be found in one place.

Swindell self-published her first book of poetry, “Nourishment & Encouragement: Poetry for Your Mind, Body, and Soul,” in 2021.

“The book is a long time coming,” she said. “I feel so grateful, and I’m thankful for the community for their extraordinary support of my writing.”

Swindell is an occupational therapist with a love of writing. Her writings have been featured in Occupational Therapy Practice Magazine, the Suffolk News-Herald, New Journal and Guide, and Distinguished Woman Magazine.

After years of writing for those publications, Swindell wanted to compile everything into one book. Her poems focus on history, current events and life lessons.

“I feel like this book comes at a good time with so much going on in our world,” she said. “I see my book as being a tool to help people learn more about themselves, history, current events and one another.”

Swindell hopes that readers will make each poem their own. She hopes to lead sessions and encourages others to have meetings to discuss the poetry and read it in a way that speaks to them and their feelings.

“My understanding is that no two people will read or deliver my poems the same way, and that is part of what makes putting my book in people’s hands such an exciting and refreshing experience for me,” she said.

This is the first of many books she plans to publish. She also hopes to get her book into libraries across the country as well as have it translated into braille and an audio version so that it can be added to the Library for the Blind. She already has donated her book to public libraries in the area, including Suffolk, South Norfolk and Portsmouth.

The book is for sale on her website, teacher-withapen.com. To learn more, visit her Facebook page Tonya Sinclair Swindell – Teacher With A Pen at tinyurl.com/TeacherWithAPen.