Parents,
Meet my friend and colleague Susan Mathis. Susan and I (and a few others) mentor moms over at MOMS Together, a Facebook page and also a Facebook group just for moms.
Susan is a versatile writer. She writes non-fiction and fiction. She writes for adults and for kids. I just read her most recently published book, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy and decided I wanted to introduce her and her writing to you.
You will enjoy getting to know Susan. No matter who you are...she has a book for you!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
With faith, hope, and love,
Lori
Meet Susan Mathis
1. How did you get into writing? How many books do you have published? What are a few of your latest titles?
My mother quips that I started my writing career when I signed my crayon drawings—on the foyer wall—with a great big “S”! Though I’m not sure that was the start I wanted, I can’t remember not writing.
My journey has been multi-faceted. I’ve taught Language Arts for nine years to 4-8 graders, had my own newspaper column, wrote missions curriculum, and have written just about anything God put in my path. As a Tyndale published author of two premarital books—The ReMarriage Adventure and Countdown for Couples, two children’s picture books—Lexie’s Adventure in Kenya: Love is Patient and Princess Madison’s Rainbow Adventure—and now a debut novelist—The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy—my writing journey has been a diverse one.
I’m also published in several compilations as well as working as a freelance writer and editor, a writing coach, and a speaker, I’m simply passionate about working with words. And as the Former Editorial Director at Focus on the Family of 12 unique publications and Founding Editor of Thriving Family magazine, I’ve done a lot of writing. It’s been a really fun journey!
2. Tell us about your book.
The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy is a story about an 1850s Irish immigrant and a 21st-century single mother are connected by faith, family, and a quilt. 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?
3. Why did you write this book?
The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy is based on my family story—my great great grandmother, Margaret, and loosely based on my story as well. The hardest part about writing Maggie’s story was not holding too closely to my story!
4. How does your book connect to the parenting journey?
Oh my! It’s all about parenting! The historical family has six children from ages nine months to thirteen years. Can you imagine immigrating on a famine ship with six kids? And how did they feel leaving Ireland and moving to the New World? The contemporary character has her own struggles. She’s a single mother who has lots of challenges, especially when her only daughter nearly dies in Africa. Yes, it is two stories of the parenting journey in one novel.
5. You said you have two children’s picture books. Why did you write them?
I’ve been a preschool owner, language arts teacher, missions curriculum writer, and am the former editor/editorial director of 12 Focus on the Family publications. Now as a grandma who has four granddaughters in South Africa, I love children’s literature, missions, and the wonder of childhood even more. I love to let my imagination run wild and create inspiring stories that matter, whether the reader is a grown-up or small child.
6. Tell us about Lexie’s Adventure in Kenya: Love is Patient.
This beautiful watercolor picture book tells the story of a little girl and her family who travel to Kenya, Africa, to visit missionaries and the Maasai tribe. Lexie meets a mischievous boy who becomes a bully to her, and she learns to forgive him and be patient. Children and adults can snuggle up together and learn how to live out 1 Corinthians 13 principles while you enjoy adventures around the globe. I hope the children in your life will find a new friend in Lexie and enjoy her story that I hope will become a special part of your lives.
7. And what about Princess Madison’s Rainbow Adventure?
Princess Madison loves rainbows. She wants her colorless kingdom to be beautiful and vibrant, like rainbows. When Princess Madison follows mysterious footprints into the forest, she meets Rainbow Roy. The two work together to grow an amazing garden, fill the kingdom with wonderful fruit, and bring beauty back to the entire kingdom. Princess Madison’s Rainbow Adventure teaches children about the colors of the rainbow and the fruits of the spirit, while enjoying a story of cooperation, friendship, and love.
7. You also have to premarital books? What’s up with that?
Shortly after my husband, Dale, and I married, we started doing premarital counseling. We looked for a good, solid premarital book to help, but all the premarital books were over ten years old. Since my husband has two masters degrees in counseling and I love to write, we co-authored our first book, Countdown for Couples: Preparing for the Adventure of Marriage. It has helped tens of thousands of couples get ready to marry and been translated into Spanish and Indonesian! A few years later, Tyndale asked us to write The ReMarriage Adventure: Preparing for a Lifetime of Love & Happiness for blending families.
8. If you were a flower, which one would you be, and why?
A daisy. Because, as Meg Ryan said in You’ve Got Mail, “Daisies are a happy flower, don’t you think?” I love making people happy and bringing joy to their world.
9. How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website is: www.SusanGMathis.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanGMathis
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@SusanGMathis
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/susangmathisaut
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108568340293012416399
Susan G Mathis is a versatile writer, creating both fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Her debut novel, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, released this month!
Before Susan jumped into the fiction world, her first two books were nonfiction, co-authored with her husband, Dale. Countdown for Couples: Preparing for the Adventure of Marriage and The ReMarriage Adventure: Preparing for a Life of Love and Happiness, have helped tens of thousands of couples. She is also the author of two published picture books, Lexie’s Adventure in Kenya: Love is Patient and Princess Madison’s Rainbow Adventure. Please visit www.SusanGMathis.com for more information.
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