Brenda Schmidt sits down with Doug Garfield to discuss her new book, She Heard Her Footsteps.

DG: Let's start with the Big Why, Brenda. What inspired you to write "She Heard Her Footsteps"?

BS: As a child, I experienced a sense of excitement and wonder about hearing new sounds that I didn’t know existed. I wanted to capture that experience and share it with others who may be going on the same journey of getting hearing aids for the first time. I’ve had the book “in my head” since I was a young adult, and I finally decided the time was now to write this bucket list item of mine.

DG: Tell us about Lily. What makes her a special character?

BS: Lily represents me learning from some of my experiences with hearing loss. When my illustrator created her, it felt right. I tried to leave her character’s personality “open” so that many people and children might identify with her.

DG: I love your themes of self-discovery and embracing differences. Why are they important for children?

BS: As I wrote the book, I wanted to convey a message of acceptance, diversity, and empathy. I wanted to show that differences should be celebrated (like the family delighting in making the sounds on the dishes together). I also wanted people to be able to see different perspectives on what having a hearing loss may be like. I hope this book will spark discussions that make the reader question things and find ways to empathize. I think these messages are important for children to learn because they won’t often come across kids with hearing loss. Hopefully, when they do, this story might give them a context and background on how to interact.

DG: What did you imagine for the book's illustrations?

BS: The illustrations are beautifully done and depict the emotions Lily felt when discovering new sounds. The bright colors help define the brightness of the sounds Lily experiences. This is how I envisioned the book. I wanted to impart a sense of wonder.

DG: Lily discovers a variety of sounds in her world. What about you? Are you still making discoveries?

BS: I still hear new sounds with each new set of hearing aids I get to this day. Some recent examples include water boiling in a pot, soda fizzing after opening a can… My family does humor me, and they listen when I call them over to say, “Do you hear this?” or “What’s that sound?” I still ask them questions to this day.

DG: While your book is aimed at children aged 3-18, what messages do you hope adults take away from your story?

BS: I hope to instill empathy in adults and encourage them to express it with anyone experiencing hearing loss.

DG: What's your professional background, Brenda?

BS: Funny how life works. When I was figuring out what to do with my life, my hearing loss wasn’t just a hurdle—it became my compass. (Let’s just say the younger me wasn’t the confident advocate I am today!) I needed a career where my hearing could change over time and I could still thrive. That’s how I stumbled into teaching deaf and hard-of-hearing kids—and honestly, it was like finding my superpower.

Turns out, helping DHH students discover their strengths is wildly inspiring—for them, their families, and me. (Shout-out to my high school counselor who said I’d never get into college. Two master’s degrees later, I’m still petty enough to mention it!)

Over 20+ years, I’ve worn every hat: road-tripping as a traveling teacher, running my classroom, and shaping programs as an administrator. Along the way, I got to lead the Illinois Teachers of the DHH (three years of conference-planning chaos!), serve on a governor-appointed commission, and geek out at conferences talking about hearing loss strategies. Oh, and I’ve been a Lions Club junkie forever—those pancake breakfasts count as networking.

My favorite gig? Running an annual event celebrating DHH teens who OWN their self-advocacy. Later, I even taught future DHH teachers at Illinois State. Retired in 2020? Technically. But schools still drag me back as a consultant—turns out you can’t quit a passion project cold turkey.

My kids nailed it: “Mom, you won the job lottery.” They’re not wrong.

DG: Any tips for parents reading this book with their children? What discussions or activities do you suggest to enhance their understanding of the themes?

BS: I hope this book sparks conversations about daily experiences and feelings about hearing aids and hearing loss. I do have a list of discussion questions available for teachers/parents. Just email or look at the IG account.

DG: Are you planning other projects or books in the future?

BS: I envision two more books. I would like Lily to continue to discover more new sounds in her community and other places, but not only that, I would like her to discover there are other kids out there just like her! Kids who have hearing aids, cochlear implants, BAHAs, no amplification, kids who speak, kids who sign, kids who don’t sign… the possibilities are endless.

DG: I understand that a portion of your book sales supports SSHC. Could you explain why this cause is important to you?

BS: Sertoma is one of the only non-profit organizations I know of that genuinely wants to help people to become the best they can be. I have been a client for a long time, and I feel their mission to improve the quality of life for people at risk or impacted by hearing loss matches mine.

DG: Is there anything else you’d like to add about "She Heard Her Footsteps" or your experience that we haven’t covered?

BS: When I wrote this book, I thought it was just going to be for me to get my bucket list item checked off. When it took off in popularity, I was so pleased and surprised. I am happy to be able to help inspire others in any way that I can.

DG: Brenda, your work supporting children, parents, and educators in understanding hearing loss is truly inspiring. Thank you for your generosity to Sertoma Speech & Hearing Centers.