Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Kristina Schoh, Catholic author, via phone and email on November 14th, 2025. Some of the questions/answers have been rearranged, edited, and paraphrased to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
Your book was inspired by noticing what your kids needed in their own faith formation. What moment first made you think, “I need to create a Catholic seek-and-find book”?
I found myself realizing that the only thing that kept my two-year old at the time quiet in Mass was a seek-and-find book. It was princess themed and I was searching for a Catholic version of it.
It is a project that took 8 years to reap that harvest. So my oldest child was 10 by the time I finished this book.
How did you find Voyage Comics?
This is one of the favorite parts of my journey. I had many mentors who helped me. But when I couldn’t find a book publisher I took to Facebook. A couple people have commented about Voyage Comics and Michael. I found out that Michael is my 6th grade teacher’s son-in-law. And this teacher was one of my all-time favorites growing up so it was just incredible to have this connection to Michael.
I had felt defeated time and time again when I was rejected from various publishing companies. It was difficult with family life, but I trusted in God’s plan that it was meant to be. Around when my third child was born one of my mentors, Sister Bridget Donaldson, had passed away and she knew that I was called to make this book. So that’s when I really buckled down to finish this project. Michael and I met for coffee in 2023 and talked to him about being an illustrator and having this publishing company, Voyage Comics.
Galatians 6:9 is one of my favorite verses. It’s so easy to grow weary in the process but when you know that there’s good in the work you are doing there will be a process.
You’ve worn so many hats—Miss Wisconsin, marketer, speaker, author, mom. Which part of that journey most prepared you for writing Seek and Find: A Catholic Sacraments Adventure?
All of it. Sometimes you look at all your life experiences and it’s the culmination and the timing aligns. I feel that all those experiences prepared me.
In your about page you quote Proverbs 19:21. How has trusting God’s plan shaped this project and the season of life you’re in now?
I have always been a believer in praising God in the hallway while you are waiting for Him to open the doorway. So a lot of that is waiting in the hallway and trusting in God’s timing and not my timing. Sometimes you are pacing and knocking. In our culture, people feel the need to plow through the door. That patience of waiting takes practice, but it’s worth it.
Catholic children’s media is exploding right now: books, comics, games, and more. What do you hope your book adds to this growing landscape, and what gaps do you still see?
First I know this is not the end of Seek and Find. The tools are coming. I am definitely committed to having additional resources to accompany the book. I love the idea of children to have symbols to hold while reading the book. I am dreaming of a matching game to pair with the book. I want activities to go with this book. Something that Michael and I talk about is adding to the Little Voyagers line.
There are still gaps in the Catholic market. I see that there’s room for Catholic board games.
Many of my readers love hearing the behind-the-scenes creative process. What was the most surprising part of developing the illustrations and interactive elements for the book?
I’m not an artist so it was an incredible process to watch Michael tell the story through drawing. I definitely underestimated the time to create a 32 page book but enjoyed seeing very small details unfold over the course of the 100+ hours it took him to illustrate it.
What’s been the most meaningful reaction you’ve received—either from a parent, child, or teacher—since releasing the book?
I have a few special meaningful reactions!
- I watched a family with five children sit in Mass and read the book. It was a “pinch me” kind of moment while I thought, “hey, that’s my book!”
- While visiting a school with my book, there was a parent that liked the book so much, she bought copies for her child’s entire class!
- I have had multiple parents thank me for creating a book that they, too, can learn from.
- The day my books arrived in the mail, my children waited for UPS with signs and cheered with anticipation for the arrival. They were so proud and in that moment I loved that it was truly a family project!
About Kristina
Kristina (Smaby) Schoh is an accomplished speaker, former Miss Wisconsin, and faithful Catholic. After a meaningful 10-year career in marketing and public relations, she decided to embrace her most treasured title in life – mom!
The first-time author’s inspiration for her book began when she discovered her children’s needs for an interactive, faith-filled seek and find book.
Kristina’s passion for goodness energizes her roles as mother, author, teacher, and advocate for safe beauty products. Despite a full plate of projects, Kristina’s love is centered at home with her husband, Jared, and their three children: Halle, Grayson, and Scarlett.
