The Turtle that Churtled 

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. This Chinese proverb comes to mind when I think of the journey that I’ve been on with the writing and publishing of my children’s book. It started when I was in China working with an NGO that supported abandoned and disabled children. We were walking to dinner one night and I was hobbling because I’d recently injured my knee. The group was moving too fast for me and I was being left behind and I recall yelling out to them, “Stop churtling up there, I’m chuffling back here.” No, those are not typos, they are made up words that tumbled out of my brain. However these two made up words were the first seed, the first step in my journey to becoming a published author. When I came to think about the main character ‘Sam’, it was the disabled children in the orphanages of China that gave me inspiration. They were so different to me, and yet I witnessed in them a desire to be known, to be loved and a desire to have the chance to discover what they were truly capable of achieving in life. I have dedicated my book to them.  

However the encouragement, the belief and inspiration I needed to complete this book came from my school- the students and teachers of ICHK Hong Lok Yuen. I remember casually mentioning to my Deputy Principal (Katie Saunter) that I was in the process of writing a children’s book. Her reply was, “Good, book day is coming up, you can be the visiting author and speak to the students.” I remember feeling both excited and sick in the same instant. I had two weeks holiday before book day and I frantically polished my draft and drew and painted illustrations to go with my story. That book day from memory was in 2011. I shared my book with every class from Nursery to Year 6. Since then there have been many more book days where coworkers like Jennie Martin have read my book to students and Charlie Beard has got them to imagine what the characters might look like. They asked the students to imagine and draw what a churtler looked like, what a chuffler looked like. These sketches by students inspired me and showed me how truly wonderful the imaginations of children are. After days like this of sharing with kids, Jennie said to me: “We must make this happen! This book has got to be published!” These words echoed the cry of my heart and gave me courage to continue the journey. 

I vividly remember another momentous step on my journey. It was a student named Tyler in Year 6 asking me, “Where can I buy your book Mrs Lynam?” This was the first time someone had asked me this question. I had to tell him that it wasn’t published yet but I was blown away; a child wanted my book! Over the years Tyler and Sophia, both students in ICHK have followed my book’s progress, asking me how it was going and reading my latest versions as I improved it. When I finally got it professionally illustrated they were the first students to see it. So many people have made space for me in my school to dream and ICHK has definitely shaped this book in profound ways. On the 27th of June 2022 on book day, I finally got to share the finalised version of “The Turtle that Churtled” with all the students and staff of ICHK. I have shed some tears along the way but I am so grateful to have finished this journey with the support and love of my family, friends and my wonderful school community. 

Susanna Lynam 

(Author)