One could argue she is just a character that has made her way to the page. She tells he fanciful stories that give some indication of where the nursery rhymes most of us know and love come from. Her stories are everything from hysterical to heartbreaking.
As the seasons continue, they will only continue to grow more in-depth and personal as you see how she becomes who she is. A sassy country girl, that is more than happy to speak her mind.
Now that I’ve told you things that you already know about Matta if you are fans of The Matta Goose Stories, perhaps I should tell you a less known story.
How did I meet Matta Rhymes?
I will never forget that day. I was sitting in the chair that had been delivered to me all the way from Kokomo Indiana. It was sent to me from my grandfather’s house after he passed.
My entire childhood was spent in that chair listening to music and concocting stories in my head to take me to far off places. (Anywhere that was far more interesting than where I was.)
Being in my apartment in Los Angeles, was one such an occasion. I was working on my next novel of the The Second Side Series. In my minds eye a scene was playing out in front of me so I could write it down on paper.
When out of no where (an from outside the Beanstalk world I had created) an older woman with a bonnet on her head was walking across my thoughts like she had no cares in the world. Following right behind her was a white goose.
I know my brow furrowed and the thought, “What on earth is this?” crossed my mind.
As soon as it did, the woman abruptly stopped and looked right at me. I didn’t have time to do or say anything.
As she approached she asked me, “Would you like to hear a good story?”
It didn’t take me but half a breath to say “Of course, if you’ve got one.”
“If I’ve got one,” she scoffed. “I’ve got one most got wrong. I’m happy to make it right.”
Then she proceeded to tell me the entire story of Little Miss Muffet. It was the 1st of The Matta Goose Stories I put to paper at a later time.
“Are you Mother Goose?” I asked her.
She took a moment in thought like she wasn’t sure exactly how to answer that.
Finally she said, “I am, but you can’t call me that. It’s not my actual name.”
“Well then what is it?”
She gave me a smirk and said, “You’ll figure it out. You’re a smart one I can tell. Now if you’ll excuse me, I got to see a man about some Waka Melon.”
She adjusted her hat and off she went. Her goose diligently following behind her.
The whole exchange took about 20 mins in my thoughts, I would guess. As soon as she left, I sat back in my chair replaying the encounter over and over again.
I must of sat there for a solid thirty minutes when I abruptly sat up and said, “I’m supposed to write her stories down, aren’t I?”
And that was that. I put away the novel I had been working on for the last 2 years and began writing The Matta Goose Stories.
Let me tell you what, it took me looking up different languages on how they said the word Mother before I stumbled across the word Matta. It’s Sanskrit btw.
It took a little time writing the stories before her now famous dialect developed in my mind and way of speaking.
The whole world of Matta Rhymes started with that moment. And as she’s told me story after story, that world has gotten bigger and bigger. If you asked me if I know exactly when or where something happened, well I would have to tell you, only if Matta wants me to know.
Otherwise, I just hope people enjoy her tales. Some would say they are sweet while others might think them nefarious. As for me, I think Matta has lived an interesting life and I just can’t wait to tell the next tale.