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THE MESA TRIBUNE | OCTOBER 24, 2021
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Teacher to roll out new ‘Mortimer the Moose’ book BY SRIANTHI PERERA GSN Contributor
G
ilbert music and elementary school teacher Kathie McMahon has found the perfect way to influence kids now that she is retired. She is writing a middle-grade chapter novel series featuring fictional 8-yearold Jimmy Robertson, whose clumsy new friend happens to have a pair of antlers: A moose called Mortimer who teams with him in “Mortimer and Me.” McMahon taught children from fourth to sixth grade at Roosevelt and Kerr elementary schools in Mesa for 20 years and retired in 2005. “I realized my voice is with the kids that I taught,” she said. Hence, she delved into middle-grade fiction. Book one is “Mortimer and Me,” book two is titled “The Bigfoot Mystery,” book three is “Moose for Hire” and book four is “Moose in Space.” The first three books received Story Monsters awards. McMahon will launch book five – “The House on Briarwood Lane – during a Halloween-themed event from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Oct. 30 at HD SOUTH Home of the Gilbert Museum. The books, self-published with illustrations by Tom Tate, are available on Amazon, and suitable for kids ages 6-9. In “The House on Briarwood Lane,” an old abandoned mansion suddenly has a “sold” sign in the front yard after sitting vacant for more than five years. A light in the attic glows every night and Jimmy swears he sees a face in the window. But no one ever notices anyone going in or out. Things get even more mysterious when Lily’s cat, Muffin, goes missing, and an anonymous ransom note is delivered. The series was born from the bedtime tales the author’s dad used to relate about a donkey named Mortimer. McMahon decided to make him a moose during a trip to Alaska, inspired by a gift store picture of a moose wearing sunglasses. Because Arizona is not moose habitat, McMahon placed him in Wisconsin, where her family descended from. She moved the red-haired and freckled Jimmy from Ari-
McMahon is also involved in the Ahwatukee Foothills Concert Band, where she plays the flute and piccolo. Over the years, she held many responsible volunteer positions there as well. Add travel to that, and retired life is fulfilling Above: Teacher/musician Kathie McMahon is the author of a chapter book series for 6-9-year-olds. Right: Kathie and busy. McMahon’s “Mortimer and Me” series features an 8-year-old boy, Jimmy, and his friend, Mortimer the moose. Ever the (Courtesy of Kathie McMahon) t e a c h e r , aunt and my grandmother were all music McMahon finds equal contentment in zona to Peabody, Wisconsin. nudging children, especially boys who Friendship, team effort, co-education teachers,” she said. She taught music for 12 years, including don’t read, toward books. and acceptance are recurring themes in the She meets many 10-12-year-olds without stories because they are issues that pertain a five-year stint teaching band in southern California. penchant for the written word. to her young readers. In Mesa, her work included writing musi“My motivation was to write a series that “Overall, the whole series is about: find out what you’re good at, and accept what cals that were absorbed into the curriculum. was easy enough and entertaining enough you’re not good at and just shine wherever The integration was especially for students to keep their interest and still be at their abilities, so it wasn’t going to be a big book,” you can shine and just accept other people who exhibited learning difficulties. That led her to community theater, spe- she said. “Challenging enough that they where they are,” McMahon said. Thanks to Jim and Mortimer’s growing cifically the Mesa-based East Valley Chil- can read it and still not feel like they were clientele of fans, the author doesn’t lack for dren’s Theater, which workshopped one of reading a lower-level book.” “Everything is supposed to be gender ideas. During school visits to promote the her musicals with its students. “I absolutely fell in love with the pro- neutral these days, but when those boys get books, McMahon receives plenty. McMahon is working on another middle- cess, as well as the group itself. EVCT was hooked on to my voice’s main character, the grade novel about a 10-year-old on a cross still fairly new, so I was asked to be on the moose, that gives me a lot of satisfaction,” country trip with his eccentric grand- board in 2000 and have been a part of it she said. ever since,” McMahon said. Boys were her first audience, but increasmother. She went on to compose original music ingly, girls are also becoming readers. She has also completed a first draft of a At bookstore events, she hands a reluchistorical fiction novel for young adults for seven of EVCT’s productions, and based on her own family’s ancestry: her received six ariZoni nominations, with four tant reader her book and says “look at this and tell me what you think?” Sometimes it father descended from a family of Cornish of them translating to awards. Many moons later, after serving on its works, and the child wants the book. miners in England who came to the United board and also as an instructor in many “That gives me a lot of satisfaction just States during the Civil War. Where a genealogical search lacks, she variations, McMahon will volunteer for its seeing the kids get excited about my book,” 25th season this fall. It will be her last. McMahon said. “That’s more important to fills the gaps with her creativity. “I’m heading the committee for our 25th me than how much money I make or how “It’s fascinating,” she said, of the novel’s anniversary celebration this year, and that many sales I make. It’s just getting it into the content. McMahon hails from a musical family will be my final gift to EVCT before retiring hands of the kids that make a difference.” and her primary education is in music from the board,” she said. Her teacher husFor more on McMahon’s book launch with band, Don, who handled its website for Halloween-themed children’s activities on Oct. education. “I knew from a very young age that I many years, will also step down from vol- 30 at HD South, visit hdsouth.org. More on the wanted to be a teacher; my mother and my unteering simultaneously. author at kathiemcmahon.com. ■
