Local author releases second novel

Local author Carol Schmidt works at the Stanwood/ Camano NEWS and writes in her free time. Author Carol Schmidt tries to weave realism into her novels.

She pulled on both her childhood experiences and research to create a fantasy as real as any has the right to seem in "My Dakota Boys," as well as her first book, "Dakota Breezes."

During high school, Schmidt, of Stanwood, lived near the Black Hills of South Dakota. Her father was a row-crop farmer, and they used horses to herd cattle.

She was born and raised in Hardin, Montana, where a rodeo was held each July for several days.

Her experiences fueled her interest in the cowboy way of life, as well as providing needed background to make a cowboy story lifelike.

When Schmidt started her first book, she wrote to the postmaster of Kadoka, South Dakota, as it was close to where she placed her fictitious town of Silverdale. Three of the town's residents wrote back.

Roy Stout, a retired rancher in his 80s, was able to tell Schmidt that there had once been a town in that location. In their correspondence, he answered questions she had in the process of writing "Dakota Breezes," such as whether or not a swimming pool on a ranch was realistic.

For "My Dakota Boys," Schmidt did additional research on food and restaurants in the area. She started writing it about six years ago.

"My Dakota Boys," is the second book in Schmidt's planned series of four inspirational romance novels. The story centers on Robin Hudson, a widow and owner of the Sweet Schoppe, a café in Silverdale.

At the beginning of the story, Robin struggles with finances as she tries to meet bills and keep the café open.

In her plots, Schmidt said she makes sure she has a beginning, a middle crisis, and an end, with characters growing along the way. By the end of the book, she wants readers to like her characters.

When she started writing "My Dakota Boys," Schmidt admits she didn't like investigator Bryce Martin much herself. His playboy nature rubbed her wrong.

With Bryce and Robin, they conflict over religion - she is Christian and he isn't - and their differing views on dating. Robin has two young sons, Jeremy and Jason, and can only see dating someone she would be serious about. Bryce takes her refusal as a challenge, and does his best to get under her skin, Schmidt said.

Schmidt was surprised to see how much Jason and Jeremy took over the story. But in a way, she said it makes sense. Adults shape their lives to act as role models for children.

For Bryce, that is part of his character growth.

Robin grows as well, as Bryce tries to help her see that she needs to let go a bit with her sons, Schmidt said.

Schmidt can remember wanting to be a writer since grade school. However, she pursued other interests, and it wasn't until she started writing newspaper articles that she contemplated starting a novel.

Schmidt has worked for the Stanwood/Camano NEWS for 37 years, first as a reporter, and then as the Family and Friends editor. Prior to the NEWS, she worked as a stringer for the Skagit Valley Herald in 1972.

Like "Dakota Breezes," "My Dakota Boys" was published by Publish America, a print-on-demand company. The company makes Schmidt's books available on www. barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.

Her stories didn't get the way they are without a lot of editing and revision, both on her part, and from Jackie Matthias, of Camano Island, she said. In addition, the Blue Heron Writers, of which Schmidt is a member, played a large part.

Schmidt has already started her third book in the series, and has plans for a fourth.

One thing readers can count on in Schmidt's books is a happy ending.

"I love happy endings," Schmidt said. "And if people want to call me a Pollyanna, I'll take it."

Schmidt's book is available at the Stanwood/Camano NEWS office, 9005 271st St. NW, in Stanwood.

Staff Reporter Kristi Pihl: 629-8066 ext. 125 or kpihl@scnews.com.