A Long Walk with Mary: A Personal Search for the Mother of God

by Brandi Willis Schreiber

The Orthodox Church's reverence for Mary the Mother of God can be a stumbling block for converts, and a fulfilling relationship with her can prove elusive for converts and lifelong Orthodox Christians alike. In this deeply personal but beautifully universal memoir, Brandi Willis Schreiber relates her own quest to know and love the Virgin Mary and to incorporate her as a vital participant in her spiritual life. Brandi's sparkling, vulnerable account invites the reader to join her in this quest.

Genres: Spirituality, Christian, Memoir, Religion, Church

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2021

About the author

Brandi Willis Schreiber is the author of poetry, prize-winning fiction, and nonfiction that reflects the landscape in which she writes. A native to West Texas, her work has appeared in Author's Publish Magazine, St. Katherine Review, New Texas: A Journal of Culture and Literature, The Texas Review, Red River Review, All Things Dickinson: An Encyclopedia of Emily Dickinson's World, and elsewhere.

"A Long Walk with Mary: A Personal Search for the Mother of God" was published by Ancient Faith Publishing in 2021 and is a memoir the explores relationship with the Theotokos in Schreiber's Eastern Orthodox faith. This was followed by "Behold a Great Light: A Daily Devotional for the Nativity Fast Through Theophany," also by Ancient Faith Publishing (2023).

Her first children's book is forthcoming with Ancient Faith Publishing in 2026. Visit her and learn more at www.brandiwillisschreiber.com.

Reviews

[jes olga alspach · Rating 5 out of 5]

What poetry can evoke beauty but the life seeking the Theotokos? Brandi Schreiber has written the most beautiful memoir of her search for the Mother of God. Often, I appreciated her welcoming the me into her experience for me to feel her joy and pain, several times crying along with the sentiment of her journey. As a convert and mother, reading of her journey to the heart of God through His Mother carries so much meaning for me. To think of our Lord and His human temperament brings light to who Mary was, her humility, her humanity, what hope there is for me as a human mother. I dearly enjoyed this personal insight to Schreiber’s walk through life and into motherhood through the lens of the Theotokos. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us!

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memoir punctuated with theology
Personal and realistic
It has lots of good anecdotes to point to beautiful friendship to St Mary

I learned a lot that I didn't know about the story of St Mary, which led to a greater adoration of her and her role in the salvation of the world.

Overall, It's very encouraging to develop a personal relationship with St Mary and to get to know her more.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always difficult to rate a memoir, but I appreciated this quiet story of Brandi's search to get to know the Theotokos better during her journey to motherhood. Having said that, and there are some very lovely meditations and quotes about the history of Mary and her life, it is also a lot of nature writing - almost reminds me of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek (but much less violent.)
Sweet, heartwarming, quiet.

[Alex of Yoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a rather unique devotional book. It wasn't what I was expecting, which isn't a bad thing, and I enjoyed getting a look into the author's life.

The book follows a year in the life of the author as she pursues understanding Mary, the mother of Christ, in a deeper and more personal way. Each chapter gives a glimpse into the author's life and struggles during that part of the year, as well as how she met Mary in each of them. It's very personal and poetic, an interesting blend of spiritual devotional and autobiography.

Honestly, I enjoyed the journey. I liked reading about the author's life and how genuine she was about the things she was facing (difficulties with family relationships, pregnancy struggles, fear and anxiety etc). It doesn't feel forced or too "happily ever after". She's relatable and vulnerable in ways that make her tangible to the reader. She's not offering any big theological treatises or sermons; she's just being herself and inviting the reader to step into what she's learned and where she's struggled, while offering a space for the reader to contemplate their own spiritual journey. Each chapter is small enough to use as a daily devotional, and the reflection questions in the back of the book were a nice touch.

My one complaint, which I know is just a matter of opinion, is that I felt like there was too much background description. She spends a lot of time in every chapter describing the various flora and fauna and local weather, and, personally, I dislike that kind of writing. A bit is fine, but I don't like when those sorts of descriptions persistently feature. Now, again, I recognize that this is a style preference and not a writing issue, because she writes very well and the descriptions are lovely, but as a reader I just don't enjoy reading about those types of things. It's why I can't get into Tolkien much either: I just get too lost in the background details and don't appreciate it. BUT many people love Tolkien, many people find that type of writing beautiful and an enjoyment to read, and that's perfectly fine. I'm just not one of those people, so that's where it lost a star for me.

But, all of that to say, I did appreciate the tone and the way she comes alongside the reader in a gentle and understanding way. If you're looking for a nice devotional to help you reflect on your journey and how Christ and His mother feature in it, I would definitely recommend this book. It's an easy read, soothing, honest, and full of grace. Much like Mary. :)

[Ali M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lovely memoir that has led me to all sorts of further reading on Mary the Mother of God. I enjoyed Schreiber’s descriptions of the Texas countryside where she lived very much. She is clearly very moved by nature and her interactions with her surroundings at this time were freighted and touching.

Nonetheless, I would have liked to have her been more explicit about what her struggles were. Obviously she had conflict with her mother and was having trouble conceiving her first child, but I also sensed she was holding back, leaving me wanting more. I wanted more connection to her as a writer and a more visceral connection to Mary. There was no doubt Schreiber was very drawn to Mary and that Mary was a helpful guide at this point in her life, but the how and why of that connection was missing. As a fellow orthodox convert I wondered what it was about Mary in particular that was so compelling as opposed to any of the other Saints? Maybe it was entirely obvious and I just missed it, but in my reading that line connecting it all just wasn’t there.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful walk with Brandi Willis Schreiber as she took me along her journey to discover the Mother of God. My knowledge of Mary was very limited from my upbringing in various non-denominational churches that paid her little attention. After reading this book, I can now connect to Mary as a real human being who took on the enormous task of bringing Jesus into the world. As a mother of two daughters, I was able to relate to Mary as a mom and how it must have been for her to love her son but also know he was the Son of God sent to save the world and die on the cross. What a tremendous sorrow and blessing. I'm now very interested in reading more historical accounts of Mary and her life.

[Aubriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful & unique memoir!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Long Walk with Mary is not necessarily the pinnacle of Orthodox writing, or writing in general, but it is genuine and profound (albeit a little saccharine). But at the end of the day, I’d rather read this or something like it over something cerebral and impractical, no matter how brilliant it is. I’m grateful God brought it to my attention.

May it be a blessing to all those who read it.

[Radcheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

True Wellness

Newly released, A Long Walk With Mary will resonate with so many of us on this faithful journey of life. I converted to Orthodoxy in my late twenties after growing up Catholic and attending a Protestant college. My grandparents and parents had great respect, love and veneration for the Mother of God, so I knew of her, and just as I gleaned from this beautifully-written book, she started to gently welcome me to grow closer to her by learning about the Orthodox Church, seeing her Icons, becoming Orthodox, visiting monasteries and reading more and more about her. This book is about discovering Mary, whether in a random store encounter or while walking at dawn. I love the author’s style, which feels so full of wellness for the soul, like a comforting tea that warms your heart, nourishes you and leaves you at peace with enriched understanding. I was gifted this book after volunteering to read this book as an Ancient Faith Publishing reviewer, and I already know that I will be purchasing it as a gift for others with spiritual thirst for meaning. Books like this one are like water in my hands. I buy a copy only to encounter someone who needs it right at that moment. May everyone meet our Holy Mother, our greatest example of how to live, who intercedes and prays for us as our closest friend would, and then so much more.

[w gall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I also have sought, as a refugee from Protestantism, to relate to Mary, the Theotokos, in a personal and Orthodox Christian fashion. There has been, I believe, progress. Brandi's walk with her has been significantly different than mine. We learn in this book that Brandi has come to trust the Theotokos and seeks her aid and prayers, believing that Mary cares about her and will effectively help her through her struggles in life, giving the reader a good example of how to honor Mary in one's daily life. More than a few chapters of the book are about Brandi's struggles, with a nod to Mary as her prayer champion. But there are chapters that speak of Mary's life and resplendent virtues to substantiate why we should trust her. I have to confess that some the stories that have been passed down seem to me to be embellished, though they certainly could be completely true. With God all things are possible. I thought the book would touch on the uncertainties of Protestants who have become Orthodox, in regard to Mary, toward growing certainty in regard to her place of highest honor short of worship in the Orthodox Church. But this wasn't the thrust of the book. I believe ladies could relate to Brandi's walk with Mary more than men could. Of course that's pretty much a given, if you take a little time to think about it.

[Kevin Godinho · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice, devotional, and edifying read. Schreiber takes her reader on a journey through a period of her life where she was meditating, reading, seeking, and learning from the Mother of God.

What I really liked is that she is a woman who is legitimately seeking God and prays. You can tell by the "God moments" or "epiphanies" she has as she's praying and walking through nature while meditating on the life of Mary and the Incarnation. God speaks through creation. She paints pictures that demonstrate that truth without telling you that it's there.

She is a great writer, and she does a great job of bringing you along for the ride through her thoughts and feelings so that the reader can not only mentally grasp her words but also experience her life. There were times where I experienced the stillness and life lessons that she led me through along with her. Very well done.

The writing is a bit flowery, but that is the point. It is a memoir written by a woman who normally writes fiction. She does a great job and, at the very least, helps her reader walk away with a new perspective on Mary and how edifying and encouraging a role she can play in our lives if you choose to meditate upon her and, for that matter, the lives of all the saints.

[Melissa Cleaveland]

I don't know what I expected when I began listening to this book on Audible. I guess I thought it would be an academic book, with lots of historical references. That is not what this book is. It is a beautifully told story of the author's experience seeking to be closer to the Mother of God. In the audible book, the story is told by the author herself. Brandi has a very pleasant voice and the story she tells is very endearing. I felt like I had become a personal friend to the author and I could relate to her story in many ways. Brandi is a wonderful storyteller and paints very detailed images with her words. The way she describes how she sees things inspires me to see more beauty in the everyday occurrences in my own life. During her account, Brandi gives not only her personal reasons of why it's important to her that she seeks to become closer to the Theotokos, but she gives quotes, stories, and teachings of the Orthodox Church and others. I wanted to read this book because I still don't really understand the role of Mary in my own life. Brandi helped me to see that Mary's intercessory prayers are another (beautiful) way that we can seek our Lord, Jesus Christ.

[Laura Wining · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long walk with Mary
By Brandi Willis Schreiber
I was given a copy of this book to listen to via audible by Ancient Faith Publishing in exchange for a review. I found it to be a short, easy to listen to book. The author is also the narrator and adds a nice touch to this memoir.
Brandi takes us along on her journey of learning to include Mary, The Theotokos, into her every day life. She shares her personal experience with how she learns to lean on Mary, while she experiences joy and grief. I found this book to be very relatable with many of the stories she shared about relationship struggles, marriage, babies, church, life during Covid shutdown. Also being a convert myself, I always have felt a lack of understanding of Mary in my life. If you are a convert to orthodoxy, a mother, a wife, a daughter you will find this book helpful.
I think this would also be a great book for a woman’s book club as well because Brandi includes discussion questions after each chapter to help reflect on the chapter and how it relates to your life.

[Hannah Rouley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My love for the Theotokos was not one that bloomed at first sight. I come from an agnostic background, and found evangelical Christianity in college. When I became an inquirer, I knew one of the thresholds I’d have to cross was one pertaining to my relationship with Mary.

Brandi’s prose is stunning. On a literary level, her writing is descriptive, poetic, emotional, tender, and soft. I enjoyed the smoothness of her words as she walked through her own experience and journey to the center of Christ, truly to His love, through His mother. She captures so much of the closeness I seek each day, and in sharing her own personal insight, she brings readers along in an almost maternal way.

I cannot recommend this book enough for the Orthodox Christian, protestant, inquirer, or anyone looking to read a beautiful narrative about the ultimate Mother in learning more about themselves.

[Niklas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book full of beauty, emotion, and poetry, but most especially the Grace of God. Brandi Willis Schreiber is a young author who converted to Orthodoxy around ten years before the beginning of her memoire and now relates her journey of growing in the faith through the tender mercy of the Allholy Mother of God. This memoire contains 15 episodic chapters (+ Introduction & Epilogue), each exploring its own facet of the Orthodox Faith and how this translates into the practical reality of Brandi's life.

I learned a lot from this book and most especially did Brandi inspire me to praise God for His wonderful creation and all-encompasing love towards us little ones.

May God bless you abundantly, and may the Most Holy Theotokos remember you in her petitions before our LORD. 🙏

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Everything earthly about Christ’s body, everything that’s us was supplied by and through Mary’s own body.” Frederica Mathews-Green.

A Long Walk With Mary by Brandi Willis Schreiber is the story of the author’s year long search to better understand the Virgin Mary and her purpose in her life and faith. I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed it very much because the author read it. Throughout the year of her journey the author experiences, joy, wonderment, sadness, and grief in her life. You hear all these emotions in her voice. At times it seems like you are experiencing these emotions with her. The book is well researched and she lists additional resources at the end. She also has exploratory questions which would make this an excellent book club selection. Although the author is a convert to the Eastern Orthodox faith, this book is an excellent study for anyone who wants to know more about Mary and her life and purpose. I also purchased the book because I enjoyed the audiobook so much.

I received a copy of this audiobook for an honest review.

[Liza Nahas · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Mary reminds me, in her unfailing example, to have patience and compassion with this situation, just as she has compassion on the entire world.”
This is a lovely book, one woman’s intimate journey with discovering the Holy Mother Mary. Schreiber is a convert to Orthodox Christianity so her experience with Mary is new to her, and it unfolds slowly, but with a great depth of knowledge and comfort.
This book was a wonderful reminder as a Christian woman, to turn to Mary as a role model and for prayerful intercession.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a wonderful practical glimpse into how faith fits into the ordinariness of everyday life. It was also a very honest look at the struggles of faith. I especially loved how the author gave practical examples from her own life of what honoring The Mother of God looks like in whatever circumstance she found herself in. Its obvious she did her homework and I appreciated the information on the customs of cultures of Mary's day. This is worth every minute spent listening and I always enjoy it when the author reads their own work.

[Dawid L Crook · Rating 1 out of 5]

just not for me

I’m not sure I learned much helpful to me about Mary. I’d say I learned a lot about the author though. I struggled with the style, got even more freaked out about Orthodoxy and Mary (not orthodoxy itself) and returned back to my priest (much better, phew!)

I really wanted the book to be helpful but it just didn’t get any better and I was relieved to put it down (I don’t like doing that).

If you want to learn, to understand, to be fearless with Mary, talk to you priest 😁

[Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a wonderfully written memoir about a year in the author’s life where she purposed to get to know Mary, the mother of Christ or as we Orthodox call her, the Theotokos. Like many Protestants, including myself, learning about Mary is a learning experience. The author has immersed herself in Orthodox teachings on this subject and has many notes from where she drew her material. She takes us with her on a beautiful journey.

[Teesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Long Walk with Mary is beautiful and inspiring. It is a memoir written by an Eastern Orthodox convert, who is seeking a relationship with the Mother of God, as this is central to the Eastern Orthodox faith. This was my first real exposure to Eastern Orthodox theology and I thought it was beautiful. Brandi’s faith is tangible and her hunger for a relationship with Mary made me want to seek God and be a better person.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and thought provoking memoir. The author uses stories from her own life, to show how we can relate to Mary. The book is an interesting and relaxing read. The reader learns more about Mary, and her role in our lives. This book seems to more targeted towards women readers, but men can get something out of it. I enjoyed this, well enough to give it four stars.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing in this book is so beautiful! I actually wasn't all that interested in the book for its content - I wasn't exactly looking for Mary- but as soon as I started in, I was very interested in just reading more of the writing. It was a pleasure to read and a pleasure to participate in the author's personal journey, even though it's different than my own.

[Elizabeth Bullard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was deeply relevant for me as I share a lot of similarities with the author (Texan, Protestant background, desire for connection). I appreciated the rawness and honesty. She really drove home the point of the journey that is the relationship, and just like our earthly friendships, a relationship with the Panagia or other saints must be built.

[Danie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Protestant who has been drawn to the Orthodox Church, grappling with the venerations of Saints and reverence for Mary was something I wanted to dive into. This books author dealt with the same. I loved how this is a journey of a woman’s soul and also a look into Mary. Poetic and practical memoir.

[Daniel O'Leary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had more "I'm not crying, your crying" moments than I'd like to admit. This memoir is a fantastic story recounting Brandi's relationship with a shop keeper, her friends, her mother, her husband, her son, and of course, the Theotokos. Well done.

[Angie Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a beautiful book. As an Orthodox convert myself, so much of it rang true for me...tears in my eyes several times for sure. I'm looking forward to delving into some of the works Brandi listed in her references section.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely mix of memoir and theology. A gentle introduction to the Theotokos from the Eastern Orthodox understanding. A book that will be accessible to every Christian.

Highly Recommended

[Stacy L · Rating 2 out of 5]

For some reason this did not resonate with me. But it thoroughly moved my Goddaughter.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read that was just on Mary. I learned a few new things; it just was nice to feel like I had a friend (who is also a convert) sharing her "walk" getting to know Mary.