Earth’s Last Hope by Mary L. Schmidt

5/31/2026

Multi-volume, multi-genre author Mary L. Schmidt introduces us to her latest sci-fi book, “Earth’s Last Hope”:
What if you live in Denver metro, and in one day, you must find or make a bunker, filled with non-perishable food, water, and cold weather clothing to last for ten years, and manage to prevent volcanic ash particles getting into the air you breathe, when Yellowstone's caldera erupts with eruption lasting more than a year, and it starts erupting during an atmospheric river of snow and four day blizzard of up to twenty feet of snow, thrusting you into a volcanic winter of up to ten or more years, leaving behind an un-inhabitable, barren, and desolate Earth?
What would you do?

Amazing story! It could appear in worldwide headlines anytime. The author thoroughly explored the ramifications of these very possible disasters. The aid that saves the remnant of Americans is out of this world! There is a high-plausibility factor in this story.
I watched Mt. St. Helens erupt for days in southwest Washington state in May 1980. That was only one volcano! The cities downwind were buried under several feet of ash. The ash cloud circled the Earth several times.
The story gets 5 stars from me! Since I am picky about certain things, I award 4.1 stars for those things, a composite score of 4.6 for “Earth’s Last Hope.”

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Earths-Last-Hope-L-Schmidt-ebook

You can connect with the author:
https://whenangelsfly.net/
https://www.facebook.com/mary.schmidt.50
https://x.com/MaryLSchmidt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-schmidt-ab70a2361
https://www.instagram.com/mschmidtphotography/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22752201.Mary_L_Schmidt
https://www.tiktok.com/@mary.l.schmidt?lang=en
https://bsky.app/profile/maryrnbsn.bsky.social
https://www.amazon.com/stores/S.-Jackson/author/B013NRRKR2
https://www.deviantart.com/mschmidtartwork
https://www.pinterest.com/marylschmidt/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC549RC6yxc3Xm_wzVH-_GMg

I have reviewed two other books by Mary:
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/her-alibi
https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/when-angels-fly

Tags: sci-fi, science fiction, climate, weather, volcano, eruption, Yellowstone, UFO, UAP, aliens

Copyright © 2026 Mark L. Schultz, except for the author’s introduction

36 Comments

Mary Schmidt link

6/1/2026 08:48:37 am

Thanks, Mark. The story is more real than most realize. Fact: There has been considerable uplift since January 2026. Fact: That area is the size of Chicago. Yellowstone is going to blow once again, it is only a matter of time. That could be 3 to 50 thousand years.
Mt. St. Helens - I remember that. Part of the top blew as well. The problem with Yellowstone is that it is a caldera - a volcano fallen in on itself. In the future, it will erupt and cause a volcanic winter.

Mark

6/1/2026 08:56:58 am

Welcome back, Mary. Your book raised a lot of memories from the Mt. St. Helens eruption for me.

If I remember correctly, the top 1,000 feet of the mountain disappeared in the ash plume that rose for miles. Also, a big chunk of the east side of the mountain was gone at the same time. I have been to the visitor center outside of Castle Rock, Washington, several times. The devastation was so stark! Plants appeared on the mountain several months after the volcano ceased erupting.

First questions.

How long did it take you to write your first book?

How many books have you written now, published or not?

Mary L Schmidt link

6/1/2026 08:57:21 am

I should mention that when a caldera blows, it keeps on blowing as long as it wants to do so, even a year of continued lava, The amount of magma under Yellowstone is ginormous. Another chamber that was thought to contain X amount of magma showed it contained XX magma recently.

Mary L. Schmidt link

6/2/2026 02:44:27 pm

My first book was created via my personal journals I wrote at the time back in 1990. First book, When Angels Fly, came out in 2015. Talk about needing edits; I was so green. Newbie.

I have written 68 books total, 64 that have been published.

Writing books has been cathartic for me. Writing books that take place in places I've been, lived, or visited help me create books fitting for the places; helps knit it all together.

6/2/2026 03:12:24 pm

That is good production! You have been writing a lot. Your first book made my eyes sweat a lot.

New questions.

Are you planning to write more books?

If so, what genres?

6/2/2026 03:49:02 pm

My first book made me bawl like nuts. I had to do it. Sammy was real and his story needed to be told.

I've started a sequel to Earth's Last Hope - why not? In my mind, aliens can be whatever I want them to be or look like. Denver needs to be rebuilt and I can write that in easily. I have ideas that need to come out and further expand this new book.

So, sci-fi, and I have more children's picture books to write. I have a list of topics to choose from and I did publish three of those book in 2025, namely, Shadow, Horace in Space, and Clover.

6/2/2026 08:34:12 pm

Wonderful! A sequel to this book sounds like a great idea. Yes, you get to make the aliens however you wish.

More books for children sound wonderful, also. Showing children the pleasures of reading is important.

New questions.

How long did it take you to write this book?

How many drafts did your book go through before publishing?

6/3/2026 07:08:54 am

If I count research, on and of, then three years. I had to be correct in the caldera, NORAD, the Federal Center, and that information is all true. Writing the book itself took four months mainly due to the fact that I had my list of characters before I started and I knew each character from prior book.

Three drafts. Then after you went through it, another draft.

I'm on a countdown to June 8th.

Countdown is FIVE More Days!!

Thank you! Share yours, follow, be kind.

Book number 64 hit number ONE! To celebrate, I have a challenge for you. I need to sell as many paperback copies as possible between June 8th - 13th. If you buy a paperback, take a screenshot and you will be entered into a drawing that includes a new Chrome book and gift cards ranging from $10 to $100!!! I'm working towards becoming a USA Today Best Selling Author!

Universal link for paperback is https://mybook.to/ELH26Paperback
Universal link for eBook is https://mybook.to/ELH26

Thank you so very much! $16.99 Are you prepared? "Earth’s Last Hope" by Mary L. Schmidt is a really fascinating sci-fi disaster book that takes a total left turn halfway through the plot. It starts off feeling like a traditional prepper story, but quickly escalates into a deep-state military thriller. I appreciated the grounded, everyday tone the author uses to show what life would actually be like inside an underground bunker. I especially loved the focus on training the teens to take over complex operations because it adds a smart, long-term layer to the survival strategy, showing that the community is actively planning for the future instead of just waiting around. The casual, easy-flowing dialogue makes it feel like you are overhearing genuine families navigating a global disaster. By blending the harsh truths of an environmental collapse with uplifting, relatable moments, the book actually transforms into an unexpectedly touching story of survival. It’s an engaging read that avoids a ton of tech jargon while keeping the stakes high. I recommend it to fans of military sci-fi, intense environmental doomsday stories, or anyone who loves a good government conspiracy twist.
#Yellowstone #Colorado #Denver #DenverFederalCenter #DEN #NORAD #military #scifi #newrelease #bookblogger #bookstoread #mustread #BooksWorthReading #romance #bookgiveaway #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #booktok #amreading #bookworm #thriller #PsychologicalThriller #Suspense #booktok @Irishgirl692 @inspiredbylaban @loveGoldenHeart #bookboost #BookTok #IARTG

6/3/2026 09:25:31 am

Books need multiple drafts to be interesting and easy to read.

Thanks for sharing the contest! The goal is exciting and the prizes are wonderful! I wish you success!

New questions.

Is there anything unconventional about your writing technique?

If so, how does your writing technique differ from other authors?

Mary L. Scmidt link

6/3/2026 12:28:58 pm

Well, I don't plot books and I'm not a "pantser" either. I have a well-kept list of things I want to write about and include, and as the book develops, I find the places to insert what I want to add in. What would you call this?

I know many who outline, and many who write by the seat of their pants. I'm neither of those. Yet what I have is more than enough to write in the twists and turns that I have on a list.

6/3/2026 12:49:25 pm

You are a hybrid writer. You know what you want to write and you make sure to include all the scenes needed to tell the story. Not quite an outline and not really pantsing it, either.

I think a lot of writers are hybrids, emphasizing one path over another at times. I think that is a great way to write a book. There is no rule demanding or requiring a choice. The labels merely serve as a convenient means to discuss writing issues.

New questions.

Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.

How many drafts did the cover go through?

6/3/2026 05:34:47 pm

I'm a hybrid. Good to know.

I designed my cover. I worked on getting it dark enough for the topic yet light enough to see the destruction. I knew the font to use as soon as I saw it. As a graphic designer and artist, one draft was all it took.

6/3/2026 06:00:38 pm

You achieved your goal. The cover is dark and shows utter destruction! It almost looks like the aftermath of a nuclear air blast.

New questions.

Was it hard to come up with the title?

What was the process?

6/4/2026 06:52:15 am

Was it hard to come up with the title? No, not really. I had in mind Caldera for over a year. At one point in the book, Earth's Last Hope was mentioned and DING!!!! That became a much better title.

What was the process? The title came about as the writing flowed.

6/4/2026 10:04:43 am

Very nice. Some authors start with a title and little else. Other authors discover the best title while writing, as you did. Proving again that there are multiple ways to write a book.

New questions.

Were the character names difficult to develop?

How did you choose them?

6/4/2026 12:04:27 pm

Were the character names difficult to develop?

Nope. The Leawoods came from "Her Heart", a love story and memoir about my husband and myself. The Smith, Manse, and Vegorov families, and all of the governmental staff came via "Christmas in Evergreen", "Romance in Evergreen", and "Heart of Evergreen" a trilogy spy thriller romance set. I know this entire cast very well having written five books with them. For this book, I did have to age characters up a bit, especially the children.

How did you choose them?

I knew my main cast before I started. Kryonn and the Nyard, other bunkers, 9News, the president, the Denver Mint I came up with names that sounded official. Names are rather fun to do.

6/4/2026 02:25:38 pm

Pretty darn smart to use characters from other books to enlarge the universe you write in. Connecting different series can provide depth for readers.

Some writers struggle with character names. Others discover the names as they write.

There are websites devoted to names for different periods of time and regions. Some of those go back for hundreds of years, drawing from church records of births and deaths or tax records.

New questions.

Have you done any ghostwriting?

How does an author create a ghostwriting business?

6/4/2026 07:33:02 pm

Have you done any ghostwriting?

Not exactly. Together with another person we wrote a screenplay for my first book.

How does an author create a ghostwriting business?

I have no idea. I think one needs to have samples of their own books to show prospective customers. I imagine much back and forth with emails on details is a must do thing. I also think that each chapter needs to be looked over completely so that what is there is right, not wrong. Lastly, the ghost writer must be able to write a lot of dialogue. Show, not tell. It probably helps if they have people who can recommend them.

6/4/2026 07:58:20 pm

That sounds like a good start to me. Thanks for sharing those ideas.

New questions.

What do you think of the current controversy regarding AI, Artificial Intelligence and books?

Did you use AI in any of your writing or planning for your books? I am not including research in this question because most of the major browsers have embedded AI in the browser.

6/5/2026 07:27:55 am

What do you think of the current controversy regarding AI, Artificial Intelligence and books?

I don't want my books used. Two of my books are in the Anthropic large lawsuit. They took two of my books. The lawsuit is big. I was notifed that they had used two of my books via an intermediary law firm. I always file a copyright with the office in DC. Had I not done that, I would not be listed as a plaintiff. I don't want my words and voice used. I do not write with AI. But I do use the spell checker, grammar checker in Word and that is AI. I also use AI animation software for animated posts. I've been doing that since 1995 and grown with the changes. However, I can do each frame on my own and create animations. PowerPoint animates and does nice slide shows. It has been around since Y2K. That is AI.

Did you use AI in any of your writing or planning for your books?

No, I did not. And I won't. Anyone can ask me anything about any of my books and I know the answer. My soul is in each book. I wear my heart of my sleeve. I think it is obvious in my writing that it all comes from me. My books are based on characters in my life. Write what you know about, research what you don't.

6/5/2026 10:11:20 am

That Anthropic lawsuit is a huge deal! Registering the copyright for your books is something every author should do. That practice served you well.

I recently used Grok to gather information for me to fix an issue with my car. I was pretty confident about the problem and Grok gathered a lot of information including videos. The car is all better now.

New questions.

Have you encountered a troll reviewing one of your books?

How did you handle it?

6/5/2026 04:01:15 pm

My younger sister. She trolled me a lot on a review of my first book. She wrote it was full of lies and misrepresentations. None of which is true. People started writing comments back to the point she got her name removed from the review but the review still exists. She hates me to the max. She was jealous that I wrote a book and she did not. Stupid, right? I finally wrote to her that if she truly hated it, called it lies, that she ould write her own d@@@ book.

I have two who wrote pity party - those two words only.

But I had real life journals over that entire time. I was at the medical center, my sister was not. She never went.

Everything I did in my nursing career, she tried to one up me. When she found out I was working on a higher degree, she had to do the same. When she found out I was licensed to practice in Australia and Tasmania, she flipped fast.

I believe in Just Be Kind. It doesn't matter who or what, you don't know the struggle to get to where they are, so just be kind.

6/5/2026 05:22:33 pm

No question about that, your sister hates you. Family rivalries can last for a long time. I wonder if she will drop some poison into our interview. I hope not. But if she shows up, I can deal with it.

Those two-word reviews must be from a long time ago. I am guessing they are anonymous. However, you might have a good idea of who wrote those sad words. I don't think it is possible to leave an anonymous review any longer from a normal account. Amazon requires that purchases must be made before you can leave a review.

Being kind is great advice. Not letting her live rent-free in your head is important also.

New question.

What was the first paying job you worked as a kid and how old were you?

6/6/2026 01:44:44 pm

What was the first paying job you worked as a kid and how old were you?

Slave labor first, then a paying job. By age nine, I was doing slave labor by watching over four younger siblings, cooking, laundry, cleaning, living in the ruaral country at the time. An unincorporated town of just under 20 people.

At 13, I got my first babysitting (paying) job for a couple with the wife recently picking up new work. That lasted one week. The place she worked at was very hard and I was suprised she lasted a week. It was a notorious bad factory to work for and they went through people on a regular basis.

6/6/2026 08:24:18 pm

I thought I grew up in a small town. My town had a population of less than 1300. Your town beat mine by a country mile.

My first job was babysitting, also. I was in the sixth grade. After taking a Red Cross course for teenage babysitters, I watched the three kids for a neighbor down the gravel road. After that, I picked strawberries and green beans for local commercial farms in the summers.

New questions.

Have you done any public speaking?

If so, will you be doing more in the future?

6/7/2026 05:51:25 am

Have you done any public speaking? Yes, both book wise and nursing wise. I love them. I can talk toany size group and I'm fine. You can probably tell by the podcast.

If so, will you be doing more in the future? I'm up for doing them anytime.

Today counts on the week I need to sell paperback copies.
I'm on a countdown to June 8th.

Countdown is NOW!!

Thank you!

Book number 64 hit number ONE! To celebrate, I have a challenge for you. I need to sell as many paperback copies as possible between June 7thth - 13th. If you buy a paperback, take a screenshot and you will be entered into a drawing that includes a new Chrome book and gift cards ranging from $10 to $100!!! I'm working towards becoming a USA Today Best Selling Author!

Universal link for paperback is https://mybook.to/ELH26Paperback

Working hard to hit USA Today Best Seller.

Thank you so very much! $16.99 Are you prepared? "Earth’s Last Hope" by Mary L. Schmidt is a really fascinating sci-fi disaster book that takes a total left turn halfway through the plot. It starts off feeling like a traditional prepper story, but quickly escalates into a deep-state military thriller. I appreciated the grounded, everyday tone the author uses to show what life would actually be like inside an underground bunker. I especially loved the focus on training the teens to take over complex operations because it adds a smart, long-term layer to the survival strategy, showing that the community is actively planning for the future instead of just waiting around. The casual, easy-flowing dialogue makes it feel like you are overhearing genuine families navigating a global disaster. By blending the harsh truths of an environmental collapse with uplifting, relatable moments, the book actually transforms into an unexpectedly touching story of survival. It’s an engaging read that avoids a ton of tech jargon while keeping the stakes high. I recommend it to fans of military sci-fi, intense environmental doomsday stories, or anyone who loves a good government conspiracy twist.
#Yellowstone #Colorado #Denver #DenverFederalCenter #DEN #NORAD #military #scifi #newrelease #bookblogger #bookstoread #mustread #BooksWorthReading #romance #bookgiveaway #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #booktok #amreading #bookworm #thriller #PsychologicalThriller #Suspense #booktok @Irishgirl692 @inspiredbylaban

6/7/2026 07:26:05 am

You know the secret to public speaking that so many don't know. Speak only on a subject that you are an expert in. That's the number one secret to successful public speaking. The second secret is to not fight or fear the nervousness. Instead, leverage the nervous feelings to put passion in your voice when speaking in public. People will enjoy your speech so much!

Thank you for mentioning your goal of becoming a #1 USA Today best-selling author. That is a huge goal and your book already hit #1 as an Amazon new release! Congratulations on that achievement!

Your contest is exciting! Who wouldn't want a new Chromebook? Where should people submit the selfie picture you requested?

New questions.

Have you entered any writing contests?

Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

6/7/2026 08:54:21 am

Have you entered any writing contests? Sure. A gazillion. Earning medals and such validates one's book.

Have you won awards of any kind for your writing? A gazillion. All medals won are on my ebook covers only.

Update on drawing:
Countdown is NOW!!

Thank you!

Book number 64 hit number ONE! To celebrate, I have a challenge for you. I need to sell as many paperback copies as possible between June 7thth - 13th. If you buy a paperback, take a screenshot and you will be entered into a drawing that includes a new Chrome book and gift cards ranging from $10 to $100!!! I'm working towards becoming a USA Today Best Selling Author! Send email and screenshot to this page: https://whenangelsfly.net/contact-us/

Universal link for paperback is https://mybook.to/ELH26Paperback

Working hard to hit USA Today Best Seller.

Thank you so very much! $16.99 Are you prepared? "Earth’s Last Hope" by Mary L. Schmidt is a really fascinating sci-fi disaster book that takes a total left turn halfway through the plot. It starts off feeling like a traditional prepper story, but quickly escalates into a deep-state military thriller. I appreciated the grounded, everyday tone the author uses to show what life would actually be like inside an underground bunker. I especially loved the focus on training the teens to take over complex operations because it adds a smart, long-term layer to the survival strategy, showing that the community is actively planning for the future instead of just waiting around. The casual, easy-flowing dialogue makes it feel like you are overhearing genuine families navigating a global disaster. By blending the harsh truths of an environmental collapse with uplifting, relatable moments, the book actually transforms into an unexpectedly touching story of survival. It’s an engaging read that avoids a ton of tech jargon while keeping the stakes high. I recommend it to fans of military sci-fi, intense environmental doomsday stories, or anyone who loves a good government conspiracy twist.
#Yellowstone #Colorado #Denver #DenverFederalCenter #DEN #NORAD #military #scifi #newrelease #bookblogger #bookstoread #mustread #BooksWorthReading #romance #bookgiveaway #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #booktok #amreading #bookworm #thriller #PsychologicalThriller #Suspense #booktok @Irishgirl692 @inspiredbylaban

6/7/2026 11:06:23 am

You have won lots of awards for your books! Congratulations! I am only one among many who recognize your writing talent.

I have recommended to writers that short-story writing contests, especially those that provide feedback from the judges, can help a writer improve their writing skills. I do have a warning: there are a lot of shady contests out there. Some want to extract as much as they can from your wallet, others want to steal your intellectual property. Here is a copy-and-paste link about those things: Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags. https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests. You can also use the search box below to find the link. There are other blogs I have links to on my Highly Regarded Blogs page.

New question.

Among present or past family members and friends, how many are or have been writers or authors?

6/8/2026 07:23:03 am

You have won lots of awards for your books! Congratulations! I am only one among many who recognize your writing talent.

Thank you. That is so kind of you to write that.

Thank you for the link.

Among present or past family members and friends, how many are or have been writers or authors? My husband, Mike, adds in his two cents and we colaborate in that fashion. Aside from my husband, no one else.

6/8/2026 08:30:08 am

You are welcome. 64 books are a considerable achievement! So many never finish their book.

Based on my casual conversations here, not many authors know a friend or family member who is a writer. Having your husband as a writer is pretty nice, I think.

New question.

Is there anyone you know who might claim you as their inspiration for writing?

6/8/2026 09:20:25 am

Is there anyone you know who might claim you as their inspiration for writing?

A child saw every book I published since circa 2020. She wrote a book at age 11, was published age 12, now is 13, and her second book is headed to a publisher soon. That is the one I know of.

6/8/2026 03:07:46 pm

That is very cool! If there is one you know of, there are very likely dozens that you don't know about.

Last question.

I noticed that your book is not in Kindle Unlimited. Is there a reason for that?

6/8/2026 05:54:34 pm

My books are not on Kindle Unlimited. My books are not published within the Kindle and Amazon world.

Mine are published with IngramSpark/Lightning Source under M. Schmidt Productions - my own company. IngramSpark doesn't support KU - unless they just started and didn't let me know.

6/8/2026 06:08:02 pm

So many authors publish through Amazon. It's nice to hear of another path. I think it's smart to have your own imprint also.

Thank you, Mary, for hiring me to promote this book and for agreeing to do the interview. We have had many visitors. Our conversation has been quite enjoyable. Thank you for being a fabulous guest! I am rooting for you to hit that USA Today best-seller list!

A new promotion starts tomorrow and I must prepare for it.

Until next time, keep on writing.

6/8/2026 06:44:38 pm

It has been great, Mark.

One thing to add about IngramSpark - your book isn't only at Amazon. It's everywhere worldwide and any bookstore can carry it or have it on their shelf, all libraries and schools are open to your books. IngramSpark has a production plant in the UK. Through that side, I can send books at my cost to bookstores all over, including one in Ireland that carries my books.

With my own imprint, I have a zillion things under that umbrella.

Thanks again, Mark.

Earth’s Last Hope by Mary L. Schmidt

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