Bio: 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
Her first two
books of The Thousand Islands Gilded Age series, Devyn’s Dilemma, and Katelyn’s
Choice have each won multiple awards, and book three, Peyton’s Promise, comes out May 2022. Rachel’s Reunion is coming soon. The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, Christmas Charity, and Sara’s Surprise, and Reagan’s Reward, are award winners, too.
Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, two children’s
picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published
articles. Susan makes her home in
Welcome back, Susan. Tell us about your salvation experience. I became a Christian when I was twenty after a long and challenging bout of rejecting the faith I was raised in. In the first year of my faith walk, I devoured the Bible from cover to cover three times—first just reading it like a book. Then I went through it again with The Daily Walk. Then someone gave me Halley’s Bible Commentary, and I plowed through it again. I couldn’t get enough of God’s word, His people, and His promises.
You’re planning a writing retreat where
you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why? Actually, I am planning a retreat with a
few of my Beta readers who are also authors. We’ve shared the joys and
challenges of our writing careers and just want to love and encourage one
another.
Do you have a speaking ministry? If so,
tell us about that. I’ve
had a busy speaking ministry in the past, but I’ve let is slow down quite a
bit. Now, I basically speak at my ACFW and other groups, and I enjoy books
talks in person and on Zoom.
What is the most embarrassing thing that
has happened to you and how did you handle it?
Goodness…just
one? I often have embarrassing moments, but I chalk it up to being human, grin,
blush, and move on.
People are always telling me that they’d
like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell
someone who came up to you and said that? I have people saying that very thing on a regular basis.
I’ll listen to why they want to write a book and what the book would be about.
Then I guide them to the appropriate place to begin the journey—educating
themselves in the craft with conferences, books, seminars, etc. After all, it
is a journey, and I love encouraging new writers to start the journey right!
Tell us about the featured book.
About Colleen’s
Confession:
Summer 1914
Colleen Sullivan
conceals secrets when she joins her aunt on
Austrian
immigrant, Jack Weiss, enjoys being the island’s groundskeeper and is smitten
by the lovely Irish lass. But Colleen dismisses him at every turn, no matter
how much he admires her art, tries to keep her safe, and waters the blossoms of
love. Perhaps introducing her to the famous impressionist, Alson Skinner Clark,
will brighten her opinion of him. But rumors of war in Europe means Jack must
choose between joining his homeland’s army or staying safe in the
Please give us the first page of the
book.
Colleen Sullivan
gazed at the rainbow of colors filtering through the bedsheet billowing in the
river’s breeze. The setting sun’s rich yellows, oranges, and reds melded
together to produce the prettiest piece of cloth she’d ever seen.
“If only I could
paint it one day.” She moaned as she pulled the clothespins from the nearby
pantaloons and placed it in the laundry basket. She huffed her angst.
“Inconceivable.”
She shielded her
eyes from the source of the sunset’s beauty, the enormous yellow orb casting a rippling
path upon the
What a joy if it
would be if she could capture such wonder. She had tried her hand at painting
in the orphanage, plucking a few hairs from the old mare, Milly, and tying them
together on a stick to make a crude paintbrush. She attempted to create her own
paints, too, crushing dandelions, blueberries, strawberries, and the like. But
the process never really worked, and she finally gave up, settling for hoarding
the nubs of pencils the other children discarded and saving every scrap of
paper she could to sketch on when no one was looking.
As a child, she
happily volunteered for trash duty, for she sometimes found several sheets of
barely used paper, especially in the nuns’ bins, which she squirreled away.
There were few secrets at the institute, so scrounging a few sheets here or
there became a challenge of sorts. To create a genuine artist’s sketchpad like
she’d seen when a man passed through to sketch something he called waif
scenes—although none of the children she knew would be considered such—now,
that would be a coup. But the result for her attempt? A shoddy replica of a
sketchpad tied with a string and hidden under her mattress for safe
keeping—still proved a prize worth risking a beating for.
“Colleen? Are
you there?”
I already love the story. How can readers
find you on the Internet?
Website: www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanGMathis
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@SusanGMathis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susangmathis
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/susangmathisaut
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6044608.Susan_G_Mathis
Amazon: Susan
G Mathis author
Thank you, Susan, for sharing this book with
my blog readers and me. I love reading books with Irish characters in them. I’m
eager to read it.
Readers, here’s a link to the book.
Leave a comment
for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these
instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least
the state or territory or country if outside
Void where
prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the
giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer
in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only
notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to
check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from
the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
9 comments:
A book set in a captivating, extraordinary and wonderful place. 1000 islands is so special, beautiful and unforgettable. When I lived in Quebec we used to vacation there, took the boat tour, and the visits were memorable. I miss the 1000 islands and those days.Anne in NM.
Hi Anne,
Quebec is lovely. I grew up in Watertown so I love the 1000. Hope you enjoy this and all seven of my Thousand Islands stories.
Susan
I would get lost within the pages of your book. Another world, era, and locale which would weave its spell. Travel to a unique and picturesque setting. I know the 1000 islands as a summer escape which I had the opportunity to enjoy when I was young. Way back when from another day and time. Pearl was from Ont. Not now.
Oooh! Sounds good!
Elly -Indiana-
Hi Petite and Elly,
Thanks for connecting. Hope you enjoy my story.
Smiles,
Susan
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Nichols SC.
This sounds like my kind of book! I'm an artist, too. :)
Thank you for sharing as this sounds great. Thanksgiving blessings from WV.
I cannot wait to read this book! Have a Happy Thanksgiving & a Blessed Christmas.Barb in Ohio
Post a Comment