SCHOHARIE — Kindred spirits who met around the ages of 12 and 13 at the Schoharie Library, Niamh (pronounced Neeve) and Rebecca Schmid have shared a home town (well, county), ideas, musical and writing talents, similar professions, family members, a last name, a publishing company, and a book series. They met when each of them was hanging out at the library while their brothers were attending chess club activities, and the girls ended up on the back stairwell creating stories together as they waited for their siblings. The girls did not initially share the same last name (Schmid)—that happened when Rebecca married Niamh’s brother, who describes himself as the third wheel in the partnership.

“Because we were kids at the time, we didn’t start out writing,” Niamh explained. “It started as us telling each other stories, or reenacting them outside” in Rebecca’s heavily wooded backyard in Esperance. The stories they created in their youth were like the games that they played, which were based in fantasy and magic. The series that evolved and continues to evolve focuses on a world they created---the Tetra World—which Niamh says “has three worlds and the world that is between them,” which represent different genres including steampunk fantasy, medieval fantasy, and a kind of science fantasy that Rebecca describes as “a sort of a blend of science fiction with some magical elements.”

As they got older, they decided to write down their stories through emails that went back and forth. Each one controlled different characters, which Niamh describes as “D&D-esque.”  Eventually they found out that they could write on the same document on Google Docs, where they communicated about their ideas, which Rebecca said, “really helped the co-authoring process.”

That is when they wondered if characters from the various separate stories could work together. “And eventually it evolved into what our book series is now, which is a couple of different genres,” Niamh said. The overall series is called A Daughter’s Ransom, which Niamh pointed out “is a sort of mystery that you discover as you go on through the series,” and eventually reach a point where the meaning becomes clear. 

The three different worlds have their own books. Those that take place in the medieval fantasy world it is called The Exiled.  When it takes place in the steampunk world, it is referred to as To Take a World.  They pair are currently working on the third world which takes place in a more science fiction fantasy setting. 

Rebecca explained. “Our thought process behind it is sort of like science as magic. If we sit down and really think about electricity or gravity or magnetism, these are seemingly magical forces within our world that we accept as law, as rules of the natural order of things.”  

She continued, “In this world, that’s how they view magic, it is just one of these elements, and this is what it does, and you can interact with it by doing certain things.”

They are working toward an eight-book series and expect to publish the seventh book this year.  After the 8th book, they have a stand-alone book, a prequel that Rebecca wrote based on a villain in the series. 

They give credit to writing groups they joined, particularly the one run by the Schoharie Library online once a week, which has produced several published authors. “That was one of the first places we started getting critique and feedback, and I think, really growing our writing,” Rebecca noted. Niamh also participated in a NaNoWriMo program—National Novel Writing Month, an international effort to get people to pledge to write at least 50,000 words in the month of November. “That’s what helped me finish my first book, and later did it a couple of times to finish some of the books we had written.”

Before any books were published, Rebecca did a deep dive exploring different avenues for publishing. Since publishers own the rights, they can wield a lot of power over whether a full series is picked up or not based on the success of the first book. Thus, the pair risked losing all access to their characters and the worlds that took 15 years to build. Without established notoriety, publishers hesitate to accept an eight-book series. So, they founded Schara Reeves Press, an LLC partnership that both own and run as their imprint (label). They work with two editors, a cover artist, and a text artist, but Schara Reeves only publishes their own books right now. Rebecca’s role is handling the legal and business side and Niamh oversees marketing and promotion.

In order to promote their books and attract dedicated readers, they have a YouTube channel mostly featuring characters from the various books. At times they draw interest by telling the stories of their characters through short video mediums. 

“Mostly it’s like cosplay things, but we’ve done some short animations to help promote them,” Niamh said. Their top performing video received close to 300,000 views. 

They sell paperback or e-book formats from their website and at in-person events such as craft fairs and harvest festivals. But Renaissance Fairs are very popular sites for them. Their books also sell online via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart, priced to be as accessible as possible.  Once they finish the series, they may approach smaller independent stores. They have also begun to do audio recordings of the first book.

Apart from their writing connection, both women work full time playing and teaching piano, as each holds a bachelor’s degree in piano performance. They say their musical background helps them in the writing and editing process. Rebecca says it puts them in a better mindset when having to handle critiques and how they seek to improve while keeping the love of their art central. 

As musicians, they also are experienced in how to process sound files, and they have some good recording equipment, which helps them in their effort to produce audiobooks.

Niamh added that music students preparing for performance are constantly critiqued, with everything they do being torn apart.  “Our editor has mentioned that we take critique so well when she is editing and tearing our story apart.” 

They also approach their series in a way that music is composed with overlapping themes. “Each book is a separate world and as you continue each book, they start to intertwine more and more, and by the end you get to the series.  It is an interwoven, complicated climax.”  

After being on maternity leave and dealing with a wrist injury, Niamh just returned to her piano work. Both teach privately, and Rebecca also works through Blue Sky Music Studios in Delmar, practicing piano about three hours a day.