Haddon Township native Tom Turcich has written a memoir and two children’s books about his record-setting journey around the globe. Photo: Courtesy of Tom Turcich
In May 2022, Haddon Township’s Tom Turcich and his rescue dog, Savannah, became the 10th human and first canine to circle the globe on foot.
Turcich, 35, has since written a memoir, The World Walk—7 Years, 28,000 Miles, 6 Continents: A Grand Meditation One Step at a Time (Skyhorse Publishing). He’s also self-published two children’s books about Savannah’s escapades on the walk, written in verse and illustrated by his mother, Catherine Turcich. The first, Savannah’s World of Adventure (about Argentina and Chile), came out in 2023. The next, set in Kyrgyzstan, will be released this spring.
Turcich is now living in Kentucky with his fiancée, Bonnie Snyder, a doctor who is completing her residency in emergency medicine at the University of Cincinnati.
Sadly, last year, Savannah had to be put down. Turcich wrote in his blog: “I never knew something could hurt this bad.”
Have you had any problems re-integrating into American society since your return home?
Oh, yes. Even the habit of walking 25 miles a day was difficult to break. Months after Savannah and I returned home, we still needed to walk four hours a day, because I didn’t know what else to do with myself. Twenty-five miles clears my head and develops that fantastic exhaustion which guarantees a good night’s sleep. I still take at least an hour-and-a-half walk every day and am considering walking the 2,650-mile-long Pacific Crest trail.
The other challenging part was discovering that the world wasn’t coming at me anymore. I needed to become proactive about meeting new people, discovering new foods, and developing new hobbies.
Condolences on the loss of Savannah. Do you have any plans to get another dog?
She was the sweetest, easiest girl. Our next dog is going to have some big shoes to fill.
Do you plan to make writing your career?
Motivational speaking is paying the bills right now, and I enjoy that a lot. If I could continue public speaking and writing, I’d be very content with my lot in life.
What are the focuses of your talks?
They weave in lessons from my travels, such as the benefits of value-based goal setting and embracing constraints.
What has been the response from readers of your books?
People rave about the illustrations in the children’s book. And the responses to my memoir have been overwhelmingly positive. Many said they finished it in just a couple of days!
Will you continue writing books?
More children’s books for sure; they’re a great way for kids to learn about little-known parts of the world, build empathy, and grow a sense of possibility. And maybe a self-help book on how what I learned walking around the world can be applied to daily life.
What would you like your readers to take away from your memoir?
That the world is an interesting and beautiful place filled with people just like themselves.
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