A kid at heart: Travis sergeant pursues dream to author children’s book

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Charles Rivezzo
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Twelve years ago, Tech. Sgt. Robert Magarrell, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron, drove toward one of the darkest moments of his adult life: The death of his father.

 

In his grief, he retracted to a place of comfort. For Magarrell, that place was within the depths of his imagination. Within that moment, a dream was born. One that he has since re-written, fine-tuned and dedicated himself toward for the next decade.

 

“We were going on a drive to see my father who was passing away,” said Magarrell. “My wife was driving and I needed something to keep my mind busy. So I started writing. At first, I didn’t see the actual end of the story, but it somehow just flowed naturally.

 

“There once was a cat who knew too much,” he began to recite.

 

“It was part of my coping with a difficult time in my life,” he said. “It was my first loss. I think it’s very natural and healthy for people to do as far as a coping mechanism. It’s a kind of therapy. Writing is therapeutic.”

 

Magarrell is a self-proclaimed kid at heart. He is, in his words, “an inventor of some sort.”

 

“I’ve always been a kid,” he said. “My mother was a kid until she passed away. Even when she was with stage four pancreatic cancer, she was still having fun in life and enjoying the simple things. Having those mentors in my life has helped.

 

“I was always dreaming of stuff and inventions. I always made up stories and I like rhyming.”

 

Magarrell came up with the children’s story “Mr. Cat and the Mat.” The first in a series of Mr. Cat stories he hopes to publish over time, the focus of his story centers on teaching a valuable life lesson to children in a funny, rhythmic manner.

 

“It started with reading to my kids, nieces and nephews who wanted me to read it and keep re-reading it,” he said. “They love the story, but the problem is I’ve been reading out loud so much that they are like, ‘dad, we’re not going to like it if you keep reading it.’”

 

Within the first year of crafting the concept of Mr. Cat, Magarrell pitched his story to several publishing companies. Each time, his proposal was returned with a rejection letter.

 

Years passed. He re-wrote his story, trying to find ways to make it more appealing to publishers. He tried everything; more publishers, agents and self-help books. But with no success.

 

“This is my mid-life crisis you could say,” said Magarrell. “I’m following my dream.”

 

Magarrell eventually decided to forgo the traditional route of getting his book published and has since pursued self-publishing.

 

“It’s very difficult if you’re not famous or a big name,” he said. “But my goal is to do as much good as I can in this world. I want to teach kids. I want them to know adults have fun and I want them to learn these important lessons.”

 

Endlessly conducting internet searches and reading just about every self-publishing book there is, Magarrell is on the brink of his dream becoming a reality. He established his own publishing company and his illustrator is nearly finished with the imagery to accompany his story.

 

“It’s coming along slowly, but surely,” he said.

 

Nowadays, Magarrell is perfecting the readings of his book in preparation for its publication and subsequent book tour.

 

“I want to perfect the way I read it,” he said. “When I go out to readings I want to have it completely memorized and have the perfect tone in my voice. I love to get animated and entertain.”

 

As for the future, Magarrell has a vision in mind.

 

“I see Mr. Cat stories becoming something families have in their homes,” said Magarrell. “One thing I’d like to do is inspire people to follow their dreams. If I can do it, you can do it.”

 

An inspiration for Magarrell is the creativity and uniqueness tied to the writings of Dr. Seuss.

 

“Here’s a quote for you,” said Magarrell, pulling a Dr. Seuss card out of his pocket that his daughter had given him. “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

 

“Mr. Cat and the Mat” is tentatively scheduled to publish in October.

 

His book is dedicated in memory of his father.