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Reich: How did you meet Michael Waddell, and how did the book idea come about?

Schoby: A few years ago I was working as the executive producer for Gander Mountain’s “We Live Outdoors with Michael Waddell.” As the show’s name states, he was the host of the show. We traveled quite a bit together and became good friends. One night, during a 10-hour drive to North Dakota, Michael was telling me his history—and I suggested we do a book about it.

Reich: How long did it take to write about Michael’s story?

Schoby: From start to finish, it took a little more than a year. It was tough to coordinate and organize with him in Georgia and me living in Wisconsin at that time, but I interviewed him while we were on the road together, during hunts, during the SHOT Show and at his house.

Reich: What is your favorite chapter?

Schoby: My favorite chapter is about his Alaska adventure hunt with Rhett Akins. They got snowed in during a 10-day hunt that turned into a 20-day adventure. They got their moose, but they had to work hard for them. The entire hunt—and coordinating chapter in the book—is a true adventure from start to finish.

Reich: Did anything surprise you when writing the book?

Schoby: Michael’s family upbringing was the biggest shock. I met his dad while working on the book; he is a prince of a man. But what I found shocking is how Michael really got to where he is simply through hard work. He wasn’t born “privileged,” and he wasn’t given any special treatment while working at Realtree—he worked, and worked hard, for everything he currently has.

Reich: What was the most challenging aspect to writing the book?

Schoby: Working around Michael’s crazy schedule was a huge challenge. I couldn’t just sit down and spend a couple hours with Michael; he has countless meetings and his phone rings non-stop.

The only way I could get his undivided attention was to get him somewhere (such as a remote hunting camp) where there was no one else around—and his cell phone didn’t have any reception.

Reich: What was the most rewarding aspect to the project?

Schoby: The fact that Harper Collins, a major New York City-based publisher, picked it up. It was great to see that Michael transcends the hunting and outdoor industries into the mainstream public, and Harper Collins’ excitement about this book is a testament to that. Michael really has the power to get [the hunters’ message] to the everyday public.

Reich: Is there a funny story about Waddell that you didn't include in the book?

Schoby: Not really—I included everything. Michael really is “warts and all” in everything he does. Put another way: what you see is what you get. He doesn’t hide anything, and he’s not always politically correct. Michael is who he is––he opened up completely for this book.

Reich: What do you hope readers “come away with” after reading the book?

Schoby: There is a lot to learn from this book, which is why it’s subtitled, “Life Lessons from the Field.” There are obviously lessons directly about hunting, but the true undercurrent of the book is how Michael got to where he is, the value of friendships, the importance of family and the all-being important lesson of trust, hard work and being a man of your word.

Reich: What is your next big book project?

Schoby: I’m done writing books for a while. Petersen’s Hunting is taking all of my time. It’s a dream come true to run such a classic magazine as Petersen’s Hunting, and it’s something I want to give my full attention to. Michael and I have talked about doing a second book—and we might someday—but for the immediate future we are both too busy with other projects to get serious with another book right now.