By Michelle Zimmer

Ken Mochizuki (’76) remembers the moment as if it were yesterday. In his elementary school classroom on Seattle’s Beacon Hill, the teacher has the class spellbound with Charlotte’s Web. Then the bell rang and the children were out the door.

An hour later they learned that President Kennedy has been slain. It was November 22, 1963.

Later that day Mochizuki mentioned to his teacher that it was ironic that Charlotte the spider had passed away in their story on the same day they learned that the president had died.

The teacher responded, uttering a mantra that would stick with him to adulthood: That’s the value of fiction; sometimes it can prepare you for what happens in life.

Today, Mochizuki is a journalist and a renowned author of children’s literature. An alumnus of the Department of Communication, he made his first trek back to campus in three decades to visit with aspiring journalists on November 30.

“It is like déjà vu,” he said as he entered the classroom.

Mochizuki has seen his share of the world of writing. He speaks quickly, the words almost not coming out of his mouth as fast as his brain is forming the thoughts.

His visit was part of Karen Rathe’s course, Community News Lab. Students in Newslab write for local neighborhood papers and newsletters. Rathe brings in journalists and other writers to talk to the class and the students benefit from personal interaction with successful professionals working in areas the students might be considering for careers.

Rathe elected to have Mochizuki speak to the students due to his extensive writing background. “Ken also works as a journalist, and he has taken his interest in writing to other areas that I think students should be aware of,” said Rathe. “Perhaps you can’t imagine writing a book when you’re 22, but 10 or 20 years later, things can change.”

Mochizuki took a wide range of courses during his time as a student. From radio and TV broadcast, to cinema studies and mass media law; he found it important to try many areas. His biggest regret was not taking college seriously enough. “I was more interested in having fun than going to school,” said Mochizuki.

Mochizuki outlined his extensive work history to the class, beginning with his dream of being an actor. Moving to LA shortly after graduating, Mochizuki learned quickly that most actors were unemployed. Many did odd jobs to make some sort of wage just to survive.

“I think I’ve done everything except being a taxi driver and department store Santa,” said Mochizuki with a laugh.

After a dare from a fellow acting buddy, Mochizuki started writing what would later become his book “Beacon Hill Boys.” Eventually, realizing acting wasn’t his calling, Mochizuki moved back to Seattle to become a writer. He started out taking menial jobs due to Seattle’s economic recession at the time, but soon began freelancing for the International Examiner. It was under the tutelage of then editor Ron Chew ( UW Communication ’02) that Mochizuki honed his writing talent.

“I learned more in one day from Ron Chew than I did in my five years in the Department of Communication,” said Mochizuki.

After proving himself as a successful free-lancer, Mochizuki received a full-time position at the Examiner as a reporter, where he remained for a number of years.

His career as a children’s book author began when Philip Lee , the husband of a former colleague, offered him a chance to write a book for Lee’s newly created publishing house.

“I never thought of doing this [writing children’s books],” said Mochizuki.

Lee published Mochizuki’s first book, “Baseball Saved Us,” in 1993; it was one of the first books published by the multiethnic children’s book company. The book has won him numerous forms of recognition, including a spot in the December, 2006 issue of Columns magazine, a University of Washington Alumni Association publication. The story, “100 Top Books by 100 UW Authors” features Mochizuki and 11 other authors connected to the Department of Communication. Mochizuki also wrote a screenplay of “Baseball Saved Us” that ran at the 5th Avenue Theatre.

Over the span of his career, Mochizuki has written several children’s books, one novel for young adults, and countless newspaper stories. His newest children’s book, “Be Water, my Friend: the Early Years of Bruce Lee,” was published in September, 2006. Like several of his other books, it was illustrated by the artist Dom Lee.

It is because of his writing successes that Mochizuki has traveled all across the U.S. Drawing upon his acting background, Mochizuki has performed school presentations for children for 13 years. He is known for his real-world approach, showing kids overheads of pages from his books that have been picked over by editors.

“Ninety percent of writing is rewriting,” explains Mochizuki.

Over and over again, Mochizuki encourages writers young and old to continue with their craft.

“What you do goes a long way,” said Mochizuki seriously. “You don’t know who’s going to read it.”

Rathe was very pleased with his visit.

“Ken is a wonderful storyteller, whether in person or on the printed page,” wrote Rathe in an email.

The students of News Lab seemed just as impressed.

“I thought Ken did an awesome job telling his life story in an innovative way,” said Junior Erin Launius via email. “He has had a lot of crazy experiences, and really tried hard to relate them to all of us.”

Story by Michelle Zimmer, a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory, November 30, 2006