NEW — 3:32 p.m. Sept. 30, 2015
Writing a book was never in Lillian Reinys’ life plans.
That is, until the longtime Newcastle resident met a little penguin that stole her heart on a 2008 expedition to the Antarctic region.
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Lillian Reinys, of Newcastle, tells the story of Sebastian, a wayward penguin trying to find his way home, in her first book ‘Sebastian’s Journey.’
Reinys fondly remembers an excursion that took the group to an area filled with penguins on the once-in-a-lifetime trip made possible by a niece’s invitation.
The penguins mostly kept to themselves, but one little guy mustered up the courage to get up close and personal.
“He came right up to me, right next to me, and just looked me straight in the eye,” Reinys said. “That right there was the seed. It was so fantastic.”
It was all the inspiration she needed to write the children’s book “Sebastian’s Journey,” a tale that follows a young penguin’s journey to reunite with his parents.
When Sebastian, an adventurous youngster, gets separated from his parents, a friendly humpback whale and albatross come to his aid.
“An albatross and a whale helping a penguin, can you get anymore different? But yet, why not? Why can’t we work together despite our differences?” Reinys asked.
A children’s book, as it happens, was right up her alley. Reinys worked as a substitute teacher for almost 20 years and her favorite pupils were the elementary school students. She spent most of her time in the Renton School District, preferring to fill in at schools such as Hazelwood and Sierra Heights elementary.
Before retiring in 2010, Reinys would break out what were the early renderings of “Sebastian’s Journey” in classrooms she visited.
The story so inspired one student, Reinys said he spent an entire weekend drawing whales.
“For me it was an adventure,” she said of teaching. “And I always had my bag of tricks for that quiet moment or that downtime.”
She initially shelved the book for a few years, intermittently revisiting it to make tweaks here and there. After a visit to her terminally ill sister a week before she passed a year ago, she decided to once again pursue its publication.
“She asked me, ‘Hey Lil, when are you going to do something with that book?’” Reinys said, holding back tears. “That was the catalyst.”
Reinys decided to go the self-publishing route, using Outskirts Press as her platform. The book was published in April.
“Sebastian’s Journey” was mostly a finished product before publication began, Reinys said. She even had the illustrations already drawn up by artist Molly E. Murphy, an acquaintance she made through family members.
“Her work, to me, almost evokes a Native American style,” Reinys said. “I get the chills because I think it’s so beautiful and they go so well with the story.”
Reinys already gave nearby Hazelwood Elementary School a copy of the book, and she said she hopes to get a chance to read it to students.
“I hope it really resonates with kids,” she said. “I hope it makes them realize the importance of family and maybe listening to your parents, especially when you’re young. I hope they get that we can work together, even though we’re all different.”
Purchase the book here.