Image of hands releasing a butterfly taken from the front cover of the book
 

Chaplain spreading his wings after book’s success!

When Elim chaplain Simeon Sturney wrote ‘You, Me and the Butterfly’ for the women prisoners he supports he hoped it might resonate with some of them. Little did he expect its escalating fanbase. Chris Rolfe reports.

Imagine being a young adult in prison; a repeat offender, nearing release with no idea what’s next. This is the situation Simeon Sturney gently brings to life in his book ‘You, Me and the Butterfly’. And it’s going down a storm with the prisoners he’s written it for.

What’s the story?

‘You, Me and the Butterfly’ is the story of ‘You’ (a woman of about 30, a repeat offender housed in detox, a week away from release), ‘Me’ (a case worker) and – you’ve guessed it – a butterfly!

It follows a demoralised ‘You’ back to her cell after housing and drug rehab staff didn’t show up to her release-planning meeting. A trapped butterfly grates on her nerves and she mulls whether to call for help, kill it or capture and release it. She chooses the latter.

She ponders whether to attend the rearranged meeting. The butterfly needed help getting free, she realises, and she needs rescuing too. Hope is found when a family member attends and offers a home.

The book ends with eight simple questions for its readers – including am I ready to try again? Can I do this on my own? Do I need help, support or even rescuing?

Striking a chord

‘You, Me and the Butterfly’ explores some of the key issues prisoners face when they’re nearing release. Simeon says inmates are loving the fact their story is being told, so much so that 900 copies have already been snapped up in his prison alone.

“I wanted to tell a realistic story from a prisoners’ perspective that had purpose and meaning and pulled no punches, but didn’t glorify or sensationalise,” he says, “so I came up with a character who was feeling stuck and looked at how one moves on in that situation.”

How does an older man who has never been imprisoned tell the story of a young female prisoner so well? With 20 years’ experience as a prison chaplain in HMP Bronzefield, he explains.

“I’ve seen a lot – the feeling of being stuck, trying again, the frustration, anxiety and fear. The women love the book because it resonates with that. Last week one woman in the holding cell pulled her copy out and said ‘This is my story – how did you know?!’”

Despite there being no direct reference to God, Simeon is amazed how many people have asked him to pray with them after reading it.

He is also thrilled that the decision to publish it in a dyslexic-friendly font has made it accessible to people who struggle with reading.

“One woman told me she’d begun reading it to her cell mate because she said she didn’t read. Later, she found her reading it by herself. Everywhere I go there are people wanting to talk, pray or ask for advice.”

Beyond Bronzefield

‘You, Me and the Butterfly’ is making an impact further afield too.

“One woman sent it to her mum because it reflects everyday life in prison and she wanted to share that with her. Another I prayed with sent it to her boyfriend in a different prison – he’s another person who normally doesn’t read books but who loved this one.”

Simeon’s connection to prison library service operator Surrey Libraries means the book is beginning to make its way around the UK too. Copies have also been donated as far as Kumasi Central Women’s Prison in Ghana via one of his friends.

Jacket potatoes and life coaching

Simeon is now crafting a prequel to his book – ‘You, Me and the Jacket Potato’ – telling the story of what led ‘You’ to prison. “It focuses on triggers that women in prison have to deal with. The potato is a trigger because it reminds her of someone,” he explains.

A third book, ‘You, Me and Nan’, is in the pipeline, and Simeon is working with fellow volunteers to launch a workshop to help explore prisoners’ fear, anxiety, hopelessness and isolation as highlighted in ‘You, Me and the Butterfly’.

In the meantime, he is thrilled to see people continuing to interact with the book. “Some people colour it in, others make notes in it. I’ve got one covered in Chinese, which I’m told explains what’s happening in the story. Another copy has been used to help someone learn English. In one copy someone has written ‘avoid anyone who has caused me harm in the past’, and I have one here which simply says ‘thank you’.

“I thought the women would appreciate it but I’m absolutely bowled over with how well it’s hit the mark.”


This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.

 
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