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 fifteen in her 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, Julia’s Joy, Emma’s Engagement and Madison’s Mission. Her book awards include four Illumination Book Awards, four American Fiction Awards, three Indie Excellence Book Awards, five Literary Titan Book Awards, two Golden Scroll Awards, a Living Now Book Award, and a Selah Award.
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 Northern Virginia and enjoys traveling around the world but returns each summer to enjoy the Thousand Islands.
Visit Susan G Mathis online
Madison's Mission: A Boldt Castle Story
Step into the captivating world of Boldt Castle in 1903, where dreams are forged in the fires of adversity and love. Madison Murray, the devoted maid to the legendary Louise Boldt, harbors a singular mission—to care for her ailing mistress while hiding her own painful past. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Emmett O’Connor, the distinguished foreman overseeing Boldt Castle’s extravagant construction. Their connection sparks with promise, yet the chasm of class difference and hidden secrets loom large. Just as their budding romance begins to flourish, tragedy strikes, shattering their world. A deadly accident leaves Emmett wrestling with guilt and at the center of an investigation that could unravel everything he holds dear. Then Madison finds herself ensnared in a dangerous coverup that threatens her very life. When Mrs. Boldt passes away, Madison is left reeling—jobless and burdened by the weight of her perceived failures. In a world filled with uncertainty, can she summon the strength to move forward and confront her past? Will Emmett rise above his challenges to forge a future alongside the woman who has captured his heart?
- ISBN: B0F9TCSP51
- Publisher: smWordWorks, llc
Interview with Susan Mathis 2025
Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning historical fiction author who loves to travel and whose books take readers on journeys of healing and hope.
If she wasn’t involved in the publishing world, Mathis said she would “be traveling even more than I already do.”
“I’ve been to more than fifty-six countries and still have quite a few more on my Dream List,” she shared. “When I’m not globe-trotting, I love FaceTiming with my four granddaughters and spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy hiking, swimming, and ticking off items on my Dream List—which is very long.”
Thankfully for all of us, Susan G Mathis gets to do both.
Although her stories fall under the general category of historical fiction, the more specific, lesser-known sub-genre she writes in is known as “faction”—factual fiction.
“The setting and owners of that castle, mansion, or resort are all real characters and stories, and then I overlay fictional servants who tell the story,” Mathis shared. “It’s rather complicated, but it’s oh so much fun. This gives me so much ‘scope for the imagination’ as Anne Shirley would say. I focus on character growth. But I’m sucker for romance and happy endings, so if a relationship is part of my main character’s storyline, all the better!”
The Road to Faction
As much as Susan likes to travel, it’s her homeland roots in upstate New York that have proven to be the biggest inspiration for her stories. She grew up Watertown, the “North Country,” just twenty minutes from the Thousand Islands—the setting for all her stories. One of her favorite memories of her early years involves the average ten feet of snow they’d get every winter.
“Needless to say, we had to get used to the cold and snow,” she said. “The neighborhood elementary schools all had ice-skating rinks with a little shed and a potbelly stove where we could warm up. I spent endless hours skating outside in below freezing temperatures, but I loved it. What I didn’t love was the shoveling that never seem to end.”
While winters were filled with snow-filled adventures and cozy fires, the summers were when her love and knowledge of the greater area, especially the Thousand Islands, really expanded.
“Actually, half of the 1,864 islands are in NY and the other half in Ontario, Canada,” Mathis informed me. “So, I spent every summer and more exploring the beautiful region. I’ve stayed on several of the islands and camped and rented cottages there. So, after I wrote my debut novel about the largest island, Wolfe Island, I couldn’t stop. There are so many fascinating stories to tell. Now, I take an annual Thousand Islands Book Tour to the islands where I meet with fans, friends, and family. I’ve stayed in Singer Castle, Casa Blanca, and other places that are the settings of my book. I’ve talked with the owners of the islands, local historians, and researched in the Thousand Islands archives. All my novels are based on a specific place in the Thousand Islands and are the true stories of the owners of that island. So, my plot is generally true. Then I overlay the storyline of the fictional servants to create the story. This makes my stories a bit more challenging, but I love a good challenge.”
But the ideas and desire to write these stories didn’t come right away. Like many authors, Susan says she always loved writing. But it took several years before that love took shape in novel form. First, her desire to write took her to Regis University where she graduated magna cum laude with a double major in English and journalism. While those degrees allowed her to share her joy of words with kids and adults in various non-fiction contexts, she stated that she couldn’t say her formal studies had as much of an impact on her writing. Instead, she credits the same sources that are open to other authors, regardless of their educational background.
“My writing education was more organic through my work, conferences, webinars, book studies, and author organizations like ACFW and more. I taught Language Arts to middle schoolers for nine years, wrote curriculum for five years, had a newspaper column, and 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. All that was a great foundation for my writing and publishing present and future.”
After years of successfully navigating the world of nonfiction, Mathis, who had never, up to that point, really considered writing fiction, attended a friend’s book talk. Her friend had just published her first novel about a quilt. The aftermath of that event included a conversation and a dare.
“When we got in the car, I said to my husband, ‘I can write a quilt story.’ I outlined the plot for my debut novel, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy. He dared me to write it. I did. And fifteen stories later, I’m loving every new one I write!”
Once Susan stepped into the realm of fiction, she discovered she didn’t want to leave.
“I was hooked! I had found my happy place. My imagination has become my playground and the characters my friends. And since I love research, faction is perfect for me. I love the challenge, the freedom, the fun of creating with the Creator. But…I only tell this to those who love fiction—or they might lock me up as a crazy person. Smiles.”
Mathis’ Latest Faction: Madison’s Mission
About the book: Madison Murray, maid to Louise Boldt, harbors a singular mission—to care for her ailing mistress while hiding her own painful past. She meets Emmett O’Connor, but just as their relationship grows, tragedy shatters their world, and Madison is ensnared in a dangerous coverup. When Mrs. Boldt passes away, Madison is left reeling, can she move forward? Will Emmett forge a future alongside the woman who has captured his heart?
Setting: Madison’s Mission is set in Boldt Castle, the most famous Thousand Islands tourist attraction.
Inspiration: “Every year, nearly a quarter million visitors enjoy its beauty, including me,” Susan told me. “Ever since I was a child, Boldt Castle’s story has fascinated me. It’s a story of love and loss and begins with the talented businessman, George C. Boldt, a German immigrant who became proprietor of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City and the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. In 1900, Boldt embarked on an ambitious project to construct a six-story, 120-room castle inspired by the grand architecture of European châteaux. He meticulously planned every detail as an expression of his love and devotion, with hearts everywhere. You’ll experience its construction throughout my story and wonder at those who put so much of their hearts into it. When you visit there, your perspective will never be the same. I’ve always wanted to write a story about it and Heart Island. But it wasn’t until recently that I finally developed a compelling storyline.
Personal Experience: With her historical research well in hand, Susan pulled deep into her own experiences to develop the fictional plot and characters.
“My faith walk is reflected in each of my stories to one degree or another,” she said. “In Madison’s Mission, the idea of a young woman grieving her past while uncovering purpose in the present came to me as I stood looking out over the water. I’ve lived the challenge of grieving the past and finding purpose in the present, and when I paired that with themes of healing, faith, and unexpected love–which I’ve also experienced—the story unfolded naturally.”
Major Themes: “Madison’s Mission is ultimately a story of hope, reminding us that love rooted in faith can overcome even the deepest sorrow and that purpose often rises out of pain.”
“I hope readers are reminded that no matter the hardships we face, God is always at work behind the scenes—restoring, healing, and guiding us toward His best. At its heart, this story is about letting God heal your heart. Madison is terrified of opening herself up again because of all the pain she’s endured. But God gently leads her to realize that love and community are part of the healing process. Through Emmett, and through unexpected circumstances, she learns that God is not finished with her story. That’s something I think many readers will relate to.”
As Susan explored Madison’s and Emmett’s story, she was reminded of how resilient the human heart can be.
“Each book I write teaches me something new. Madison lost so much—her family, her sense of belonging—but through faith, new friendships, and a slow-building love, she finds purpose again. Her journey reminded me personally that God can bring beauty from ashes.”
Best experience since publishing Madison’s Mission: As of the moment this interview is being written, Madison’s Mission has been the #1 new release since it came out about two and half weeks ago. “I’m thrilled that folks are scooping it up, and I’ve already heard from several that they couldn’t put it down. I’ll be taking my annual Thousand Islands Book Tour this month and have eight events in six days—including a book signing in Boldt Castle!—so I look forward to meeting my readers in person and hearing what they think.”
A Factional Author’s Life:
Favorite facet of writing: “I love the excitement of writing. I plot my stories, but my characters take on a life of their own and do things I didn’t expect. Writing can be such a fun experience, especially when a character grows in their life and sees how God changes his or her life.”
Writing routine: “That’s easy. A cup of tea in a pretty china teacup when I’m writing. I usually get all comfy and cozy, have a scented candle, and slip into my writing world. When I’m editing, I sit at my desk with a cold drink and chop away. No sweet-scented candle there.
Most significant influences in the publication journey: “The encouragement of my late husband (whose been in heaven for five years now). My debut novel, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, is loosely based on my family story. I traveled to Ireland, Wolfe Island, and the St. Lawrence River for research and got to read it to my 94-year-old mother just months before she went to heaven. Here’s a little about the story: After struggling to accept the changes forced upon her, Margaret Hawkins and her family take a perilous journey on an 1851 immigrant ship to the New World, bringing with her an Irish family quilt she is making. A hundred and sixty years later, her great granddaughter, Maggie, searches for the family quilt after her ex pawns it. But on their way to creating a family legacy, will these women find peace with the past and embrace hope for the future, or will they be imprisoned by fear and faithlessness?”
Greatest moment of Susan’s writing/publishing career: “A couple of summers ago at two of my book tour signings, not one but three women came up to me and said they’d come to the Lord because of my stories! Wow! What more can I say?”
Funniest thing that has happened as an author: “Two summers ago on my book tour, my brothers and I had gone to a parade, and afterward, we were walking down the street and a lady came running down the middle of the street screaming ‘Susan G Mathis! Susan G Mathis!’ She had a large backpack full of something, so I was a little concerned. But when she got to me, she pulled out all of my books and sweetly asked me to sign them! Crisis averted.”
What’s next: “I’m developing a new series, also based in the Thousand Islands. I currently have four book ideas, but it may end up being several more before I’m all through.”
Information for other travelers: Boldt Castle is accessible to tour seasonally from mid-May to mid-October by ferry or tour boat from various locations, including Alexandria Bay, NY, Clayton, NY, and Gananoque, Ontario. Private boaters can also dock at Heart Island. As the island is a U.S. port of entry, visitors arriving from Canada must present appropriate identification for customs processing. For more information visit the official Boldt Castle website: https://www.boldtcastle.com/visitorinfo
If she wasn’t involved in the publishing world, Mathis said she would “be traveling even more than I already do.”
“I’ve been to more than fifty-six countries and still have quite a few more on my Dream List,” she shared. “When I’m not globe-trotting, I love FaceTiming with my four granddaughters and spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy hiking, swimming, and ticking off items on my Dream List—which is very long.”
Thankfully for all of us, Susan G Mathis gets to do both.
Although her stories fall under the general category of historical fiction, the more specific, lesser-known sub-genre she writes in is known as “faction”—factual fiction.
“The setting and owners of that castle, mansion, or resort are all real characters and stories, and then I overlay fictional servants who tell the story,” Mathis shared. “It’s rather complicated, but it’s oh so much fun. This gives me so much ‘scope for the imagination’ as Anne Shirley would say. I focus on character growth. But I’m sucker for romance and happy endings, so if a relationship is part of my main character’s storyline, all the better!”
The Road to Faction
As much as Susan likes to travel, it’s her homeland roots in upstate New York that have proven to be the biggest inspiration for her stories. She grew up Watertown, the “North Country,” just twenty minutes from the Thousand Islands—the setting for all her stories. One of her favorite memories of her early years involves the average ten feet of snow they’d get every winter.
“Needless to say, we had to get used to the cold and snow,” she said. “The neighborhood elementary schools all had ice-skating rinks with a little shed and a potbelly stove where we could warm up. I spent endless hours skating outside in below freezing temperatures, but I loved it. What I didn’t love was the shoveling that never seem to end.”
While winters were filled with snow-filled adventures and cozy fires, the summers were when her love and knowledge of the greater area, especially the Thousand Islands, really expanded.
“Actually, half of the 1,864 islands are in NY and the other half in Ontario, Canada,” Mathis informed me. “So, I spent every summer and more exploring the beautiful region. I’ve stayed on several of the islands and camped and rented cottages there. So, after I wrote my debut novel about the largest island, Wolfe Island, I couldn’t stop. There are so many fascinating stories to tell. Now, I take an annual Thousand Islands Book Tour to the islands where I meet with fans, friends, and family. I’ve stayed in Singer Castle, Casa Blanca, and other places that are the settings of my book. I’ve talked with the owners of the islands, local historians, and researched in the Thousand Islands archives. All my novels are based on a specific place in the Thousand Islands and are the true stories of the owners of that island. So, my plot is generally true. Then I overlay the storyline of the fictional servants to create the story. This makes my stories a bit more challenging, but I love a good challenge.”
But the ideas and desire to write these stories didn’t come right away. Like many authors, Susan says she always loved writing. But it took several years before that love took shape in novel form. First, her desire to write took her to Regis University where she graduated magna cum laude with a double major in English and journalism. While those degrees allowed her to share her joy of words with kids and adults in various non-fiction contexts, she stated that she couldn’t say her formal studies had as much of an impact on her writing. Instead, she credits the same sources that are open to other authors, regardless of their educational background.
“My writing education was more organic through my work, conferences, webinars, book studies, and author organizations like ACFW and more. I taught Language Arts to middle schoolers for nine years, wrote curriculum for five years, had a newspaper column, and 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. All that was a great foundation for my writing and publishing present and future.”
After years of successfully navigating the world of nonfiction, Mathis, who had never, up to that point, really considered writing fiction, attended a friend’s book talk. Her friend had just published her first novel about a quilt. The aftermath of that event included a conversation and a dare.
“When we got in the car, I said to my husband, ‘I can write a quilt story.’ I outlined the plot for my debut novel, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy. He dared me to write it. I did. And fifteen stories later, I’m loving every new one I write!”
Once Susan stepped into the realm of fiction, she discovered she didn’t want to leave.
“I was hooked! I had found my happy place. My imagination has become my playground and the characters my friends. And since I love research, faction is perfect for me. I love the challenge, the freedom, the fun of creating with the Creator. But…I only tell this to those who love fiction—or they might lock me up as a crazy person. Smiles.”
Mathis’ Latest Faction: Madison’s Mission
About the book: Madison Murray, maid to Louise Boldt, harbors a singular mission—to care for her ailing mistress while hiding her own painful past. She meets Emmett O’Connor, but just as their relationship grows, tragedy shatters their world, and Madison is ensnared in a dangerous coverup. When Mrs. Boldt passes away, Madison is left reeling, can she move forward? Will Emmett forge a future alongside the woman who has captured his heart?
Setting: Madison’s Mission is set in Boldt Castle, the most famous Thousand Islands tourist attraction.
Inspiration: “Every year, nearly a quarter million visitors enjoy its beauty, including me,” Susan told me. “Ever since I was a child, Boldt Castle’s story has fascinated me. It’s a story of love and loss and begins with the talented businessman, George C. Boldt, a German immigrant who became proprietor of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City and the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. In 1900, Boldt embarked on an ambitious project to construct a six-story, 120-room castle inspired by the grand architecture of European châteaux. He meticulously planned every detail as an expression of his love and devotion, with hearts everywhere. You’ll experience its construction throughout my story and wonder at those who put so much of their hearts into it. When you visit there, your perspective will never be the same. I’ve always wanted to write a story about it and Heart Island. But it wasn’t until recently that I finally developed a compelling storyline.
Personal Experience: With her historical research well in hand, Susan pulled deep into her own experiences to develop the fictional plot and characters.
“My faith walk is reflected in each of my stories to one degree or another,” she said. “In Madison’s Mission, the idea of a young woman grieving her past while uncovering purpose in the present came to me as I stood looking out over the water. I’ve lived the challenge of grieving the past and finding purpose in the present, and when I paired that with themes of healing, faith, and unexpected love–which I’ve also experienced—the story unfolded naturally.”
Major Themes: “Madison’s Mission is ultimately a story of hope, reminding us that love rooted in faith can overcome even the deepest sorrow and that purpose often rises out of pain.”
“I hope readers are reminded that no matter the hardships we face, God is always at work behind the scenes—restoring, healing, and guiding us toward His best. At its heart, this story is about letting God heal your heart. Madison is terrified of opening herself up again because of all the pain she’s endured. But God gently leads her to realize that love and community are part of the healing process. Through Emmett, and through unexpected circumstances, she learns that God is not finished with her story. That’s something I think many readers will relate to.”
As Susan explored Madison’s and Emmett’s story, she was reminded of how resilient the human heart can be.
“Each book I write teaches me something new. Madison lost so much—her family, her sense of belonging—but through faith, new friendships, and a slow-building love, she finds purpose again. Her journey reminded me personally that God can bring beauty from ashes.”
Best experience since publishing Madison’s Mission: As of the moment this interview is being written, Madison’s Mission has been the #1 new release since it came out about two and half weeks ago. “I’m thrilled that folks are scooping it up, and I’ve already heard from several that they couldn’t put it down. I’ll be taking my annual Thousand Islands Book Tour this month and have eight events in six days—including a book signing in Boldt Castle!—so I look forward to meeting my readers in person and hearing what they think.”
A Factional Author’s Life:
Favorite facet of writing: “I love the excitement of writing. I plot my stories, but my characters take on a life of their own and do things I didn’t expect. Writing can be such a fun experience, especially when a character grows in their life and sees how God changes his or her life.”
Writing routine: “That’s easy. A cup of tea in a pretty china teacup when I’m writing. I usually get all comfy and cozy, have a scented candle, and slip into my writing world. When I’m editing, I sit at my desk with a cold drink and chop away. No sweet-scented candle there.
Most significant influences in the publication journey: “The encouragement of my late husband (whose been in heaven for five years now). My debut novel, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, is loosely based on my family story. I traveled to Ireland, Wolfe Island, and the St. Lawrence River for research and got to read it to my 94-year-old mother just months before she went to heaven. Here’s a little about the story: After struggling to accept the changes forced upon her, Margaret Hawkins and her family take a perilous journey on an 1851 immigrant ship to the New World, bringing with her an Irish family quilt she is making. A hundred and sixty years later, her great granddaughter, Maggie, searches for the family quilt after her ex pawns it. But on their way to creating a family legacy, will these women find peace with the past and embrace hope for the future, or will they be imprisoned by fear and faithlessness?”
Greatest moment of Susan’s writing/publishing career: “A couple of summers ago at two of my book tour signings, not one but three women came up to me and said they’d come to the Lord because of my stories! Wow! What more can I say?”
Funniest thing that has happened as an author: “Two summers ago on my book tour, my brothers and I had gone to a parade, and afterward, we were walking down the street and a lady came running down the middle of the street screaming ‘Susan G Mathis! Susan G Mathis!’ She had a large backpack full of something, so I was a little concerned. But when she got to me, she pulled out all of my books and sweetly asked me to sign them! Crisis averted.”
What’s next: “I’m developing a new series, also based in the Thousand Islands. I currently have four book ideas, but it may end up being several more before I’m all through.”
Information for other travelers: Boldt Castle is accessible to tour seasonally from mid-May to mid-October by ferry or tour boat from various locations, including Alexandria Bay, NY, Clayton, NY, and Gananoque, Ontario. Private boaters can also dock at Heart Island. As the island is a U.S. port of entry, visitors arriving from Canada must present appropriate identification for customs processing. For more information visit the official Boldt Castle website: https://www.boldtcastle.com/visitorinfo
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