Meet Susan Mathis

Meet Susan Mathis

by | Feb 11, 2025 | Author Interviews

It is my pleasure to introduce to you a new-to-me author, Susan G. Mathis. 

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has thirteen in her Thousand Islands fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Peyton’s Promise, Rachel’s Reunion, Mary’s Moment, A Summer at Thousand Island House, Libby’s Lighthouse, and Julia’s Joy, and Emma’s Engagement. Find out more at www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction.

You can connect with her through:  Website  |  Amazon  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Goodreads  |  BookBub

Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Susan with rapid-fire.

 

CC: Pineapple pizza or candy corn?

SGM: Pineapple pizza (with Canadian bacon please)

CC: Test the waters or dive in the deep end?

SGM: Test the waters

CC: Guacamole or salsa?

SGM: Guacamole 

CC: Silly hats or silly socks?

SGM: Silly socks

CC: Passwords or secret handshakes?

SGM: passwords

I’m such a silly socks person too. In fact, many of our answers would match!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

SGM: I taught Language Arts to middle schoolers for nine years, wrote curriculum for ACSI for five years, then became editor/editorial director at Focus on the Family for nearly a dozen years. So, I’ve had over 1,000 articles and fifteen non-fiction books published. I guess I’ve always had that desire, but when I started writing fiction, I was hooked!

CC: Holy moly! That is a LOT of writing.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

SGM: Well, I had thumb reconstruction surgery in December on my primary writing hand so that’s been a challenge. But generally, I stick to my schedule and work through any obstacles that come my way.

CC: Youch! I bet that is not a fun recovery!

What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?

SGM: Marketing. It’s an endless task but oh so necessary. If only I could jump into my story world and hang out with my characters all the time, it’d be heavenly. But…as we know…heaven comes later.

CC: I think marketing is the bane of every writer’s existence. LOL

Now I’m excited to talk about Emma’s Engagement.

Emma Row embarks on a journey that will test her resilience and love. She marries Michael Diepolder, the Rock Island Lightkeeper and widower, a man who seeks a companion for both himself and his eleven-year-old daughter, Ada. But as she steps into the role of lightkeeper’s wife with a heart full of hope, little does she know that the idyllic setting conceals challenges that will shake the foundation of her happiness. Isolation creeps in, compounded by Ada’s determination to keep her father all to herself. As a storm looms, Emma must grapple with the difficulties of being a stepmother and lightkeeper’s wife. Will she find her place, or will the tumultuous waves of doubt and isolation tear them apart?

For Michael, Emma is not just a wife but the hope for his future. But the lighthouse life and being a stepmother proves harder for Emma than he ever imagined, and Ada’s animosity only intensifies it. When the lighthouse inspector questions Emma’s place due to her Canadian heritage and Ada become deathly ill, the very foundation of their family is shaken. Can their family find solace and unity on this tiny island? Amid the swirling tempest of challenges, Emma, Michael, and Ada must discover the strength within themselves and each other to weather the storm. Emma’s Engagement is a poignant tale of love, resilience, and the enduring bonds that can form in the most unexpected places. This fictional story is based on the actual lives of Michael and Emma Diepolder.

Purchase your copy at  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

CC: Which readers will be the ones who most love your book?

SGM: Because I write about real places and people, I want to be as accurate as possible, so I have a Thousand Islands historian who read my story for accuracy. I also like to incorporate as many historic details to make sure my details were correct, and this one took a lot of research since it’s now a privately owned island and lighthouse. Though it’s extra work, it always helps to check with the experts. My readers love that they can depend on the factual history of the story.
CC: Historical accuracy is so important to so many readers!
Who was the most challenging character to create?

SGM: It’s always hard to inflict pain on the characters you’ve grown to love, so having Emma in so much pain from Ada’s rejection and the adjustment to a new marriage and stepparenting was difficult. As readers journey with her, they witness the challenges and the adjustments necessary. Her trials not only reveal Emma’s character but also influences her decisions and relationships throughout the story. 

CC: That would be difficult to write!
What do you hope readers will take away from your story?

SGM: All fourteen of my Thousand Islands’ stories have hope as the central theme. Hope for a better future. Hope for love. Hope for healing. Emma’s Engagement also focuses on a stepfamily family, healing broken hearts, forgiving those who hurt you, and embracing God’s redemption.

CC: Hope is such a beautiful thing to display and share in our stories.

I always like to end with a fun question so . . . 

If you were stuck on an island, what three items would you have with you?
SGM: My Bible, my computer, and a solar charger. That way, I can keep on writing and reading the word of God. 

CC: No rest for the weary when it comes to writing, right? 
Readers, I hope you’ll check out Emma’s Engagement and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.  

Reader, what stories have you read that include stepfamilies?

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