An Interview with Maggie McCoy & James Schmitt

My brother and co-author James Schmitt is a videographer providing the video feed to local, college and professional sporting and civic events. As a paralegal, I worked mostly in real estate law, through which I eventually became the president of a multi-million-dollar non-profit corporation. We both spent our downtime at work imagining or writing stories.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Jim had the idea for the book and the title when he brought the story to me. He called it Santa Retires. It was my suggestion to call it Santa’s Last Ride for two reasons. I didn’t think children could relate to ‘retirement’ and they might pick up on the implication that Santa would never fly again – a scary thought that might pique their interest. It actually scared some parents.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

The cover pleased us so much. It was exactly as we imagined it. Holding your first printed book in your hands is like holding your newborn baby – indescribable.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

Jim began this book by telling his children stories to amuse them on their long drive to Grandma’s house for Christmas. I have always told stories, imagined stories, wrote them down in notebooks and even illustrated one of them.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

Jim’s early training was as a welder, but it was the video camera that really got a hold on him. I have had many jobs over the years. I worked in movie theaters and drive-ins for so long that I didn’t have to buy a ticket to see a movie until I was out of college. I earned an A.S. degree and became a paralegal working in family law but mostly in real estate.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

We spend many years first writing the book, then looking for a publisher or agent. Finally, Patti Isaacs, author of The Second Long March, told us about Atmosphere Press. We went with them, and they gave us the most rewarding experience, which was a finished book we could actually hold in our hands.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

It would have to be Christmas songs! What else?

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

Our perfect reader is a middle-schooler who gets the intent of the book – you can accomplish much even if you have limitations. And who also has a high-flying, adventurous ride.

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

We have been asked by those who have read the book, “What happens next?” So, we have begun discussing a sequel. Though I have other manuscripts nearly finished.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.