Mary L. Schmidt, known by her pen names S. Jackson and A. Raymond, has been immersed in storytelling since childhood. With a background in nursing and a passion for writing, she has authored 57 books. In this interview, she shares her journey, influences, and insights on writing and storytelling.

Mary, thank you for joining us. Could you start by sharing a bit about yourself in your own words—your background, what led you to writing, and what you hope to achieve with your books?

I write under the pen names S. Jackson and A. Raymond. I grew up in a small town in Kansas, USA, and have lived in more than one state since then. These days, my husband and I split our time between Kansas and Colorado—we love the mountains and off-road 4-wheeling! Traveling is one of my favorite things to do, and I always have a book—or even three books—that I’m reading in the same week.

As a child, I drew paper dolls and designed clothes for them, using watercolor as my medium when painting scenes, especially flowers. In high school, I continued exploring a wide variety of arts and loved every bit of it! My creative side also led me to become an amateur “shutterbug,” and I have an online art gallery.

In college, I pursued the sciences and earned a bachelor’s degree in the Science of Nursing. My nursing career was phenomenally successful, and I officially hung up my nursing hat in December 2012.

I am a member of the Catholic Church and have taught kindergarten Catechism. Over the years, I’ve worked in various capacities for The American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Cub and Boy Scouts (my son, Gene, is an Eagle Scout), and I have sponsored trips for high school music students. Art remains one of my favorite pastimes.

So far, I have written fifty-seven books, with others in various stages of production, and I’ve been included in four anthologies.

I started writing small stories in grade school and even wrote a screenplay in the 6th grade. Writing and reading have always been my favorites. After retiring in 2012, I decided to capture some early journals in digital format, which led to my freshman book, When Angels Fly, in 2015. That book is now in its third edition. From that point on, my writing career took off.

Your book Shadow deals with pet loss and childhood grief. What inspired you to write this story, and why do you think this topic is so important for young readers?

Shadow was a real pet, and the story was written from my heart. As a registered nurse, I was able to incorporate other aspects into the story. The entire family is affected. Children and parents must keep open dialogue and realize grief is normal and understand what they can do to help with the process. This story, and the picture, are of the real Shadow, a real pet who did learn the tricks in the book and has since passed away.

Grief can be difficult for adults, let alone children who may not have experienced loss before. What are some common reactions children have to losing a pet, and how can parents help them cope?

Both children and parents must deal with pet loss at the same time, and doing so together is much healthier than trying to do this alone. Children need to know that mom and dad also grieve. Children might shout, hole up in their room, refuse to talk, not wish to eat, or lose interest in prior activities.

Parents can cry with their children and show that they miss their pet, too. Lots of hugs go a long way. Validate each child’s feelings—each child will react differently based on their age and maturity level. Talking about good times and memories helps bring out the positive things their pet did, and eventually, a child smiles. Children are happier when they reach this level in pet loss.

In Shadow, you highlight different ways children can process their grief, like drawing pictures and planting a tree. How did you decide on these strategies, and are there any other helpful approaches families can use?

Both children and parents deal with grief when losing a pet, and going through the process together is much better than facing it alone. Children need to know that their parents grieve too.

Drawing pictures of a pet is a positive coping mechanism—it allows children to see their pet in a happy light. Hanging the drawing on the wall or refrigerator can bring comfort. Planting a tree, rosebush, or flower named after the pet can symbolize new life and hope. My background and life experiences taught me how to help my own children with pet loss.

You’ve had a successful career in nursing. Did your experiences as a nurse influence the way you approach the themes of loss and healing in your writing?

Nursing did influence my approach, but I also drew from real-life experiences—what worked and what didn’t. Children’s feelings must be validated.

Beyond Shadow and pet loss, I’ve written books on important social issues, including bullying and good touch versus bad touch. Nursing played a significant role in shaping these books, and once a nurse, you’re always a nurse at heart.

Your book includes parental guidance on helping children deal with grief. What are the key takeaways you hope parents and caregivers will gain from reading Shadow?

Grief is a shared experience—it affects adults in one way and children in another. Let your child express their grief. Let them know it’s okay to be angry but not to stay angry.

Encourage positive activities as a family to move past the acute stage of pet loss into a healthier stage of acceptance. Feelings must be expressed in a safe environment and manner. Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s grief cycle was spot on in helping understand this process.

Shadow recently won the Beyond Boundaries Reads Award—congratulations! What does this recognition mean to you, and how do you feel it highlights the book’s impact on readers?

To the award organizers, thank you for the award. Seeing an award on a book cover makes people take a second look. They wonder: What is the award? Why was it given? What is the book about?

Winning awards is a powerful tool that helps promote book sales and readership—it sparks conversations on social media and beyond.

Beyond pet loss, do you see Shadow as a tool that can help children understand other forms of grief, such as losing a loved one or a friend’s pet?

Most definitely! Shadow helps children understand loss and how others process grief. Whether it’s the loss of a pet, a grandparent, or a friend’s loss, the book provides comfort and guidance.

Your creative interests go beyond writing—you have a background in art and photography. How does your love for visual storytelling influence your approach to writing children’s books?

I’ve illustrated all 30 of my children’s books. Shadow was a real dog, and I portrayed the real family in the story.

For my book about bullying, I created a character based on a real-life squirrel with a stubby tail. That became a mouse with only half a tail, ridiculed for his appearance but ultimately celebrated for his bravery. My visual storytelling always connects with my themes.

Finally, what’s next for you? Are you working on any new books or projects, and do you have any advice for parents and educators who want to help children navigate emotions through storytelling?

I have multiple projects in the works, including a new adult book coming out later this year. Last year, I completed an adult love story/thriller trilogy set in Evergreen, Colorado.

I also plan to finish Clover, a book about bunnies, and a 250-page adult sci-fi novel. Additionally, I’m illustrating four more children’s books for another author and working on cover designs and animations.

For parents and educators, storytelling should include gestures and facial expressions—these help children connect emotionally to the story.

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