A Co Tyrone teacher has realised her dream of having a book published after the release of her debut children’s novel.
Lynn Fleming, a teacher at Omagh Academy, has penned ‘Catching Butterflies’ about a cat who escapes its home to go on an adventure.
She has taught English at her old grammar school for over seventeen years and loves to inspire children to read.
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The secondary school teacher, originally from Castlederg, said the book was inspired by her experiences of growing up in the town during the Troubles.
“I wanted to write a novel about my childhood, which would be a tribute to my grandmother who died of cancer in 2010,” Lynn said.
“She was an amazing woman who was the linchpin, the cornerstone of our family.
“During lockdown I found myself thinking more and more about the past and growing up as a child in the 1980s in Castlederg.
“It was during the troubles and Castlederg was one of the most bombed towns in Northern Ireland.
“Despite the danger that we all had to live with, I always felt safe at my granny’s house.”
Lynn said her grandmother’s house was a special place where the family came together while there was often turbulent times nearby.
She added: “It was a very special place where our family came together and shared their stories.
“I loved to sit on a little stool and just listen to the laughter, which filled the house.
“I wanted to share my experiences and my memories through the character of Perdu, who is an abandoned kitten who finds a home at my grandmother’s house.”
'Catching Butterflies' is available at WH Smith online or instore and via Amazon.
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