As a child, Lois Szymanski says, "Misty of Chincoteague was my favorite book. I read it again and again. I loved horses, and when I read about Misty, I became Maureen Beebe. I was no longer plain 'ol Lois... a girl with stick straight brown hair and a space between my front teeth. I was Maureen Beebe, living on a wild island, riding the magical Phantom, and chasing after a wisp of a pony named Misty!"

Szymanski says, "Years later, my husband took me to the island of Chincoteague. I stood on the island of Assateague, breathing the salty ocean air, inhaling the scent of pine trees, hearing the gulls calling and watching a herd of wild ponies in the distance, and I started to cry! My husband, Dan asked if something was wrong, but I told him that everything was right. I had come home. That is how I want my books to make children feel!" Szymanski writes horse books, because it is always best to write about the things you know and love. Many of her horse stories are true tales from her own life.

In the 1990s, Szymanski teamed up with her high school friend and fellow author, Shelley Sykes to create a new series called The Gettysburg Ghost Gang. The series, centers around a group of friends living on a Gettysburg, PA campground. While planting a garden, they dig up more than they had planned for! The ghost friend they meet is a character from the past, a Civil War cavlryman. Corporal Jared Scott becomes a friend and confidant who stays with them as they meet other ghost characters from history.

Szymanski says, "Co-writing is a blast," she says. Whenever you get bogged down you pass it to your cowriter, who is sure to get you fired up again!"

With her school presentations, Szymanski aims to inspire children to write down their own stories. She says to start out writing about the things you know and love, and to consider writing with a friend!