By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

HARRISON — These days, Kim Bean sees the world through the eyes of a quirky chicken named Mabel, who “thinks outside the egg!”

Mabel is Kim’s leading character in her first venture into publishing.

“See the world around you through the eyes of this endearing character who finds a solution to every situation! Whether she is teaching her friends to garden, leading a choir or pondering life’s greatest mysteries, Mabel brings out the best in all who dare join in her adventures,” reads Mabel’s World website entry. “Boldly going where no chicken has gone before, see how Mabel manages to find a solution to each predicament along the way.”

“Mabel’s World” includes some interesting friends: Honey, Sweetheart, Marmalade, Beatrice, Melvina, Rexi, Puddy and more.

Kim hopes area readers will visit Mabel’s World and let her quirky character “bring out the best in YOU!”

The News reached out to the new author to find out how a long-time piano instructor and outdoor enthusiast evolved to raise chickens and dabble in illustration to ultimately combine those elements into a book, “Mabel’s World.”

BN. How long have you lived in Harrison?

Kim B. I have lived in Harrison for 21 years and in Bridgton for 10 years before that.

BN. Where were you raised?

Kim B. My parents are from Bridgton and Brownfield. My dad, Philip Maynard, served 20 years in the Air Force. We were stationed in California during my elementary school years and at Loring Air Force Base in northern Maine during my middle school years.  (I even picked potatoes during harvest time!) We moved to Hiram when I was in high school. We often came “home” to Bridgton to visit my grandmother, Helen Fleck, and many cousins in the summer and other holidays.

BN. When did you start playing piano; how did the passion for playing develop; and ultimately, why did you decide to teach piano?

Kim B. My grandmother, Helen Fleck, was a beautiful pianist and organist here in Bridgton at the Methodist Church for nearly 50 years. From my first memories as child, I wanted to play piano just like she did! Her daughter, my mom, Kay Maynard, sang and played the trumpet. When I was 6 years old, I told her that a piano teacher had moved in next door to us and that I wanted lessons. She completely supported my desire to play piano and went out and purchased a very old upright piano for $25. The only place it would fit in our small house was in my bedroom. I was thrilled! One night right after getting the piano, I heard the piano keys playing by themselves. The mystery was solved when it was discovered that a family of mice had come along with the piano! 

I always knew I would be a teacher of some sort because I loved teaching anything I knew how to do. When my children were very small, I took lessons with piano professor, Janet Reeves, at the University of Southern Maine. I cleaned her house in exchange for the lessons and she helped me prepare for an audition to attend their music program. Five years later, in 1997, I graduated with a music degree and have been teaching as a full-time career ever since. 

BN. Challenges of teaching/rewards?

Kim B. I love music and the piano. It is always a thrill to share something you love with others and watch them grow and blossom into musicians with their own passion for playing. The greatest challenge is helping a student learn HOW to practice with mindful strategies, making the most of their time. There are so many other things that compete for a student’s time and can be distracting for them.

BN. You mention your love for the outdoors, “I love to walk, explore the woods and various trails, snowshoe, garden and have begun to do some kayaking.” Why did you decide to raise chickens?

Kim B. I have an organic vegetable garden yearly and preserve many of the vegetables we eat in the winter. I thought it would be a wonderful addition to have fresh eggs, as well. Birds in general have always been one of my favorite animals. So, my daughter, Sarae Thibodeau, and I decided to raise chickens together. I had the coop at my house and did most of the care, but she did help with the big projects as well as with the cost.

BN. What was that experience like?

Kim B. Before getting the chickens, I read a couple of books and online forums to learn all I could. I thoroughly enjoyed researching what type of coop to get, and as well as the necessary gear. Raising the 12 baby chicks we purchased was wonderful. I bought six different varieties to see which I would like the best. They all got along great because they grew up together. I named each one and got to know their individual quirky ways. Just like people, they all have different personalities. Later, each year, when I would add in two or three young hens, the pecking order would be disrupted but eventually things would calm down again. Chickens are entertaining, easy to please and lay a ton of eggs! I loved caring for them, keeping their yard and coop clean and comfortable.

BN. Do you still have chickens?

Kim B. I had my chickens for five years. I began to have back troubles and it was increasingly difficult to keep their pen shoveled out in the winter. However, I was concerned about finding a good home for them where they would be cared for adequately. My daughter was interested in having chickens at her house and so they all went to live with her!

BN. Tell me about your art skills?

Kim B. As a young child, I was always drawing and painting. My other grandmother (also named Helen!) bought me art supplies one Christmas. I was ecstatic. I loved to draw animals and especially parakeets (since I had pet parakeets.) As an adult, I took seven years of art lessons with my mother-in-law, Lee Bean. She was an amazing artist, especially in watercolor, and made her living selling her art and teaching classes. She was one of the founders of the Norway Art Center. 

BN. What do you like to draw/paint?

Kim B. Lots of things! I have many watercolor paintings and colored pencil drawings I have done around my house. Tomatoes in the cupboard, a winter scene, a sailboat scene, seashells, colorful plants, a wild turkey, people canoeing, hands on the piano, a beautiful Victorian Inn, are some examples.

BN. So how did the world of art and chickens collide?

Kim B. During the summer when I let my chickens roam free, I would sit outside drawing just to keep an eye on them. (Hawks and foxes, you know!) I have always had a big imagination and I found myself drawing. Then, I thought, what if one chicken decided to be different and wear a hat and shoes? I began drawing furiously and Mabel was hatched!

BN. Why a chicken as your main character?

Kim B. I think many people think chickens are stupid. After watching how they worked together and lived together, I realized people could really learn from them!  Though they live in relatively tight quarters together, they establish order and harmony in their daily lives! I also realized how funny and entertaining they can be.

BN. How did you come up with the name “Mabel?”

Kim B. I was reading a post on Backyard Chickens, an online forum and there was a woman posting about her “beloved Mabel.” I was touched by her affection for her little hen and the name just seemed to fit!

BN. Why use a comic strip type format?

Kim B. As a child, I loved to read the Sunday comics. I loved Peanuts, Shoe, Garfield, Family Circus, Blondie and Dagwood, just to name a few. I liked that a lot could be said with very little. Sometimes, these comics were very funny but other times, they would be sweet or make you think. 

BN. Did you do all illustrations?

Kim B. I did. In the beginning, I had to decide what medium to use when drawing Mabel. In the end, I decided to branch out and learn to use a pen tablet, which is a computer screen you can draw on. I knew this would make transferring Mabel easier in this digital world. I use Adobe Illustrator and InDesign to create my art.  While it is digitized, I do draw and design it all. 

BN. Talk about how you went about creating story lines.

Kim B. I wanted Mabel to be family friendly and have something for all ages. All 11 of the characters represent personalities we all may know and relate to daily. For example, Sandy is very tough and hard to win over. Marmalade is very concerned with how she looks. Then, there is Rexi, a Corgi, who is always ready to join in the fun. Like everyone, all the characters have good traits and other traits that need work! Mabel is less concerned with being popular and more concerned with bringing out the best qualities in her friends…even when this completely irks and baffles them! My husband, Alan, who is very supportive regarding Mabel, often will have an idea for me. (In fact, he is one of those people who tries to bring out the best in those around him, like Mabel!)

I also try to use things I have experience with myself to give it authenticity. For example, I have comics with a gardening theme, a music theme and emphasizing the value of reading. Many of the incidents in Mabel started from something that happened with my chickens. For example, introducing the new chickens to the older ones, the abandoned rooster and the eating of the cabbage in the cabbage patch. 

Following what I noticed when reading comics as a child, I want some of my cartoon comics to be funny and others to be sweet. I want all of them to make us think about how we can truly make someone else’s world better…even at the risk of not being popular. Even as adults, it is good to revisit values we learned as a child! We all need reminders from time to time!

BN. I am sure there has been some trial and error before reaching what you hoped to create. Could you share some examples?

Kim B. I try to avoid just creating a cartoon strip to be funny. I have had to scrap some and resist using them just because they were clever. Rather, I try to keep Mabel in character. I find myself asking, “what would Mabel do in this situation?” Another difficulty was simply learning how to use the software so that the illustrations come out sharp and bright. For example, when you draw, it helps to draw things larger than they will be. However, you can’t just shrink them down or you will end up with lines that are too thick. It took a lot of adjustments to get their eyebrows and lashes to look just right!

BN. What do you especially like about Mabel’s World?

Kim B. Oh, that is a tough one! Hmmm…I really like Mabel’s character and personality. She knows how to be herself and yet continue to love friends and coop mates who may become upset with her. She has a lot of patience and yet doesn’t change just to follow the crowd. I like how she is always pondering things. I would like to be more like Mabel! 

I also really like Sunshine. She is this new little hen and is very intimidated by the older girls! Rexi is fun because he is fashioned after my own beloved corgi, Beanie.

I really like the vibrant, cheery colors of the book and the quirky font! (I created the font symbol by symbol in Illustrator and am in the process of making one I can actually type!)

BN. What do you hope readers will like?

Kim B. My hope is that readers will all find something that makes them smile and relate to. I am hopeful that readers will, like Mabel, begin to ponder the great mysteries of life. That this book will be a blessing and encourage them to go out and bring out the best in others.

BN. What did you really enjoy creating this book, and were there any particular lessons learned?

Kim B. Mabel is a tough act to follow. Her character asks us all to be introspective and stretch a bit by going that extra mile. Kind of like that childhood classic “The Little Engine that Could.” As I create these cartoons, I have to be introspective myself and that is never a bad thing!

BN. Where can the book be purchased?

Kim B. You can definitely purchase “Mabel’s World: Thinking Outside the Egg” on www.mabelsworld.com 

You can also subscribe so Mabel can send you an occasional e-mail update. She promises she will never henpeck you with lots of e-mails! You can also purchase all the characters on clothing and other merchandise.

BN. Some final thoughts?

Kim B. A big thank you and much appreciation to Justin and Pam Ward of Bridgton Books for making this book available for purchase in their store. Barnes and Noble carries the book, but only a matte version available. It is nice, but the illustrations really shine in the glossy edition. 

BN. Will you be doing any book signings? 

Kim B. I will be sharing about my book at Writers’ Day at Bear Mountain Music Hall in Waterford on Sunday, Aug. 20at 3 p.m. My book will be available there.  I do hope to do other book signings in the future!

BN. What’s ahead? 

Kim B. Book 2 of course! This first book does leave everyone with a cliff hanger.  Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe for updates on my website!