Meet Mary Schmidt | Writer, Illustrator, Painter, Animator, and Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary Schmidt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary, do you have a budget? How do you make lifestyle and spending decisions?
Having a budget is essential, unless, of course, being born with a trust fund. With a budget, we actully save more money. The best things about using a budget are the rewards. For us that means we can buy a new large screen tyelevison if we want to, but more, the money is there to cushion us. If we nede to go somewhere fast, such as a unplanned family event, we have that cushion to use.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Art has been my thing since I was old enough to hold a crayon and actually use, not try to eat it.

Most of my adult life has been in major trauma centers in Denver and other states. I love nursing, loved it really. Illness took that away from me in January 2013.

In 2015, I became well enough to start taking journal notes written in 1990 and putting them into digital format. My first book, a multi-award winning memoir, was born. When Angels Fly by S. Jackson and A. Raymond is that book. Came out as a best seller and the awards were not expected. I painted the cover and designed all of it. My youngest son has cancer in this book, and it’s nor all sad. A five-year-old boy changed of lives of many for the better.

After that book, I workred on gallery pieces until I thought of kids books. First a book about bullies, then one on good touch versus bad touch, and my most recent children’s book focuses on children and shyness. Evey boook has a narrative that relate to kids and lessons learned in a fun manner.

Not every one likes my work, and that is okay. Initially, I was hurt by those comments, but now they slide right off me. I had to work on this part.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh my gosh, one week? This is easy, as my friend came to Denver on business and the we took off in my Jeep for Blackhawk first. After hitting some slots, we had a lovely steak and lobster dinner and then we went up to our room on the top floor and street side. Lori and I chatted about days of old, and new, too!

After a breakfast of fresh berries, waffles, and bacon the next morning, we headed to Nederland. Lori got a kick from learning about Frozen Dead Guy Days. I drove the scenic route to Estes Park. Since the elk were in the valley, we took pictures and the golf course is a magnet for elk. After shopping in the midle of town, we headed to Trail Ridge Road. It was partly cloudy so Lori really got to see the beauy as we went. That night we stayed in Grand Lake anbd enjoyed an old fashioned hamburger along with a bit of craft brewed beer.

Back on the road the next morning, we headed south and Lori loved seeing the beauty of the lakes and vibe. Lori thought we’d be going over Berthoud Pass and back to Lakewood, but I drove to Kremmling and over to Silverthorn. Of all things, we shopped! The stores are marvelous and after a light lunch of chicken chef salad, I showed Lori Keystone and then back and around Dillon Lake. Eventually we traveled through the fantastic Glenwood Canyon and stayed the night in Glenwood Springs. Lots of chatting as we are our chicken fried steaks before going to sleep.

After eggs and bacon the next morning, I told Lori I wanted to show her Aspen. We shopped and enjoyed refreshments befor heading towards Aspen. After some quality time, I stared the long and scenic drive towards Independence Pass. Always nice for selfies is the ghost town of Independence. When in the mountains, one does not get from point a to point b fast. One simply enjoys the beauty and laid back ways on of mountains. Lori asked me if I ever got lost in the mountains and I said no. I don’t use a map or GPS and the same with my husband as we ride trails and such with Jeeps and have simply been all over Colorado.

I know this is to be a week’s visit, and this one is just shy of a week. Lori was on a timeline and I knew we could not go south to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Ouray, or Red Mountain Pass where it snows in the middle of summer on to Durango. Had we the time, the train from Durango to Silverton and back would have been marked off her bucket list as it was already marked off mine more than once.

Instead, I took Lori to Leadville! We shopped and ate, and stayed the night! The next morning, we left for Breckenridge, back to Silverthorne and I-70 to Denver. Back at my house, Mike asked if we had fun, and of course he saw our shopping bags. That evening all of us went out for dinner at Simm’s Steakhouse. The good is fantastic, the wines are nice vintage, and the ambience perfect. Our table was near a east window so we had views of city lights.

Come morning, off we went to Starbucks for espresso followed by a side trip to Boulder and back to the Bel Mar area for a meal at Little India Restaurant Denver. Talk about food with a bit of heat to it! We shopped a bit boutiques and back to my house. Relaxing and exhausted, happy to have seen, eaten, wore, and enjoyed our time

Lori had one full day left and the following day, I drove us to the 16th Street Mall which I really couldn’t drive it since is it pedestrian traffic. After shopping and walking we ate a late lunch at the Hard Rock. Yummy! On we went to the Tattered Cover bookstore where two of my books are on display. Neat little coffee shop and the whole vibe inside is low key and antique furniture. Arriving back home, Lori started packing to go home, and we chatted about everything! That evening, Mike drove us to Sobo 151. Now Sobo 151 is a Czech-owned Denver sports bar so there is that aspect but don’t let that fool you into thinking that they can’t produce authentic Czech because they do and we went to eat. I always get the two piece Pork Schnitzel meal and share with Mike. Lori had the same. I highly recommend this place to be on your bucket list.

The day, we dropped Lori off at DIA for her flight back home. We had a wonderful time and crammed in as much as possible.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Michael, has been my biggest supporter, and he is a co-author on most books. Even though you don’t write the actualy book, Mike, you are the best at helping me expand upon an idea, and then we run with it.

My son, Gene, please know that you are my world. You’re half a continent away from me and I miss you. Love you to the moon and back a trillion times. You did your best with the memoirs about our life and losses. I love you dearly.

To Shane and Sammy, try to listen to what Jesus says in heaven as I know both of you are running around doing little boy stuff in heaven.

Jesus – thank You for being in my life as without you, I’m a lost sheep. You’re aways with me and at my side.

Website: https://whenangelsfly.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mschmidtphotography/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLSchmidt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MMSchmidtAuthorGDDonley

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC549RC6yxc3Xm_wzVH-_GMg

Other: Art Gallery: https://www.deviantart.com/mschmidtartwork Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/S.-Jackson/author/B013NRRKR2?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/marylschmidt/

Image Credits
Mary L. Schmidt