The Treacherous Thousand Island Shipping Channel

During the Gilded Age, the Thousand Islands occupied a unique position between leisure and industry. While the region became renowned for opulent summer estates and grand hotels, it also lay along the St. Lawrence River shipping channel. The movement of cargo vessels through this island-filled corridor shaped daily life.

By the late nineteenth century, the St. Lawrence River was a critical link between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic world. Steam-powered freighters carrying grain, timber, and ore passed through the Thousand Islands on their way to international markets. These working vessels shared the river with excursion steamers and private yachts, creating a contrast between industrial purpose and Gilded Age leisure.

Navigating the shipping channel through the islands was challenging and dangerous. Strong currents, fog, narrow passages, and hidden shoals made precise navigation essential at night. Lighthouses became the backbone of river safety. Strategically placed on exposed points and isolated islands, they marked channel edges, warned of hazards, and guided ships through tight turns. Range lights worked in pairs, allowing pilots to align vessels accurately within the dredged channel.

Governments on both sides of the border invested heavily in lighthouse construction and maintenance, recognizing that safe passage was vital to commerce. Lighthouse keepers and their families lived year-round in remote conditions, tending lamps, cleaning lenses, and monitoring weather to ensure the lights never failed.

For island residents and vacationers, the lighthouses became familiar landmarks. At night, their steady beams traced arcs across the water, a reassuring presence amid the river’s movement. Watching freighters follow these lights underscored the balance between beauty and industry.

In the Thousand Islands during the Gilded Age, lighthouses symbolized connection. They made possible the coexistence of grand leisure estates and global trade, ensuring the same river carrying elegance and escape could safely carry the commerce of a modernizing world.

ABOUT EMMA’S ENGAGEMENT

Book 3 of the Love in a Lighthouse series:

Emma Row yearns to build a loving family. But becoming the Rock Island Lightkeeper's wife brings treacherous waters of isolation and the bitter rejection of her new stepdaughter, Ada. Michael Diepolder, the widowed lightkeeper, had hoped marriage would simplify life but realizes that the path to happiness is far more turbulent than he ever anticipated. Emma and Michael must confront the tempestuous waves of doubt, jealousy, and isolation that threaten to extinguish the light of their love. Can they weather the storm and find the strength to keep their family together, or will the darkness consume them all?

ABOUT SUSAN:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has sixteen in her fiction line. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan lives in Northern Virginia and enjoys traveling the world. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.

Castles of the Thousand Islands

Scattered among the pine-clad islets of the St. Lawrence River, the castles of the Thousand Islands stand as some of the most romantic—and revealing—remnants of the Gilded Age. Built between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, these dramatic structures were not medieval fortresses, but expressions of wealth, ambition, and imagination in an era when America’s elite sought to leave a lasting mark on the landscape.

The most famous of these is Boldt Castle, commissioned by hotel magnate George C. Boldt on Heart Island. Conceived as a grand tribute to his wife, the six-story castle blended Rhineland romanticism with modern luxury, complete with tunnels, towers, and formal gardens. When Mrs. Boldt died suddenly in 1904, construction halted overnight, leaving the castle unfinished for decades and turning it into a poignant symbol of love and loss.

Just downriver, Singer Castle on Dark Island offered a more fortified vision. Built by Frederick Bourne, president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, it combined Old World styling with modern engineering. Secret passageways, hidden staircases, and thick stone walls reflected both Bourne’s desire for privacy and the era’s fascination with security and intrigue. Unlike Boldt Castle, Singer Castle was fully completed and remains remarkably intact today.

Completing the trio is Calumet Castle, perched on Calumet Island and commissioned by Chicago industrialist Charles G. Emery. Smaller and more restrained than its neighbors, Calumet Castle nevertheless embraced medieval European design, with crenellated towers and solid stone construction. Emery envisioned it as a dignified summer residence rather than a public spectacle, emphasizing exclusivity and permanence. Though privately owned and less accessible, Calumet Castle adds an important counterpoint to the region’s grander showpieces.

Together, these castles helped shape the Thousand Islands’ identity. Steamship tours highlighted their turrets and towers, reinforcing the region’s reputation as a place where American wealth met European fantasy. Built of stone in a landscape dominated by wooden cottages, they signaled endurance in a seasonal world.

Today, the castles of the Thousand Islands remain enduring landmarks. They tell stories of immense fortune, personal aspiration, and the Gilded Age belief that architecture itself could declare legacy—rising from the river as timeless monuments to ambition and imagination.

ABOUT MADISON’S MISSION:

Step into the captivating world of Boldt Castle in 1903, where dreams are forged in the fires of adversity and love. 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?

ABOUT SUSAN:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has sixteen in her fiction line. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan lives in Northern Virginia and enjoys traveling the world. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.

 

Gilded Age Cruising the Thousand Islands

During the Gilded Age, cruising the Thousand Islands was far more than transportation—it was a symbol of elegance, leisure, and social standing. Stretching along the St. Lawrence River between New York and Canada, the region became a fashionable summer retreat for industrialists, politicians, and wealthy families seeking scenic escape and refined recreation. To arrive by water was part of the experience—to cruise was to belong.

Steam-powered vessels defined the era. Graceful side-wheel and screw steamers carried visitors from hubs like Clayton and Alexandria Bay through a maze of islands and shorelines. These boats served as floating parlors, featuring polished interiors, attentive service, and spacious decks designed for sightseeing and socializing while the river scenery unfolded around them.

For the elite, private yachts became the ultimate status symbol. Built by premier shipyards, they blended luxury and innovation with brass fittings, upholstered lounges, and shaded decks for afternoon conversation. Cruising routes often became social stages where travelers admired—and quietly judged—one another’s vessels, clothing, and grand island estates.

Excursion cruises opened the experience to middle-class tourists eager to sample the glamour of island life. Narrated tours highlighted famous summer homes and landmarks like Boldt Castle, adding romance and mystique to the journey while allowing ordinary visitors a glimpse into elite society.

Cruising also shaped daily life throughout the region. Steamers connected islands, hotels, and mainland towns, delivering mail, supplies, and guests on dependable schedules. Beneath the elegance, however, navigating narrow channels and hidden shoals required expert pilots and expanding lighthouse systems.

Gilded Age cruising captured the spirit of the time: faith in technology, celebration of leisure, and the pursuit of beauty best enjoyed from the deck of a well-appointed boat. Gliding across the sparkling river at sunset, passengers embraced the era’s romance, privilege, adventure, and confidence in modern progress and luxury.

ABOUT A SUMMER AT THOUSAND ISLAND HOUSE:

Addison Bell has always had an enduring love for children, so she nannies at the renowned Thousand Island House on Staple’s Island? As Addi thrives in her work, she attracts the attention of the recreation pavilion’s manager, Liam Donovan, as well as the handsome Navy Officer Lt. Worthington, a lighthouse inspector, hotel patron, and single father of mischievous little Jimmy. But when Jimmy goes missing, Addi finds both her job and her reputation in danger. How can she calm the churning waters of Liam, Lt. Worthington, and the President, clear her name, and avoid becoming the scorn of the Thousand Islands community?

ABOUT SUSAN:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has sixteen in her fiction line. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan lives in Northern Virginia and enjoys traveling the world. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.

Spotlight: Kimberly Keagan

     

Unlike many authors, I didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a writer. I was a good student and enjoyed writing book reports and research papers (history was my favorite subject!), but I didn’t wander around with stories swimming in my head. I did, however, wander around with my nose in a book. Literally. Bumping into furniture and people was a frequent occurrence. So was my mother having to repeat herself because I was so caught up in a story that I never heard what she’d said.

I grew up in a military household, and we moved often, which meant constantly having to make new friends. Books—and the characters living inside them—became my most faithful companions.

When I was thirteen, while visiting my grandmother, I picked up one of the many historical romances she kept on her bookshelf.

And I was hooked.

In my late teens (yes, I was young), I married my own handsome hero and, four years later, earned a degree in accounting—not exactly the most romantic field of study. Around that time, I took a writing class taught by a historical romance author at a local community college. Soon, I had filled a notebook with story ideas set in another time and place. I even bought a stack of history books for research (before e-readers). I started a dozen different manuscripts and finished exactly none of them.

Then we had two children, and writing was quietly set aside.

During those years, I discovered another passion alongside reading romance: genealogy. I became quite good at tracking down records and breaking through brick walls. I also helped friends research their own family trees. During one of my many historical rabbit trails, I stumbled across an article in an 1895 New York newspaper about the growing conflict between department stores and small bookshops. The idea for my Hearts on Display series was born.

Yet I still didn’t write the book.
 

2020 arrived. My children were grown. The world ground to a halt. Like so many people suddenly finding themselves at home with time to think, I finally became serious about writing. It took five years of studying the craft, joining author groups, attending conferences, and praying my way through countless challenges before I independently released my first novel, Perfect, in June 2025.

As for that unromantic accounting background? It turns out a detailed, analytical mind is a genuine asset when writing historical romance. I love diving into old maps, period advertisements, newspapers, and archival records—anything that helps build a world that feels authentic. And the patience and persistence required to work through financial reports? Those qualities have saved more than one story from the delete key.

On May 20, 2026, one year after publishing my first book, I published my fifth. 

 

Click on the graphic, or here, to go to my series page on Amazon.

When I’m not writing, you can still find me enjoying a good book or disappearing down a family-tree rabbit hole. I also love to bake, organize closets (yes, really), watch sports, and go for walks. Although I’ve lived in nine U.S. states, as well as Germany and England, I’m now happily settled in Arizona with my husband and an adorable—but very talkative—corgi. Best of all, our two grown children live nearby.  

One of my favorite things about being a published author is connecting with readers. I'd love to connect with you too! Look for me here:

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If you go to my website at KimberlyKeagan.com and sign up for my monthly newsletter, I'll send you a free Gilded Age romance novelette you can download right away for free!  

Gilded Age Fire Safety in the Thousand Islands

During the Gilded Age, the Thousand Islands emerged as a glittering summer retreat for America’s wealthiest families. Palatial riverfront “cottages,” grand hotels, and elaborate boathouses dotted the St. Lawrence River, affording leisure and permanence. Yet beneath the elegance lurked a constant threat: fire. In an era before modern building codes and professional fire departments, fire safety in the Thousand Islands was a daily concern shaped by geography, technology, and social class.

Most Gilded Age structures were built of wood, often richly paneled and finished, and heated by coal or wood-burning stoves. Open flames were everywhere—lamps, candles, fireplaces—and electrical wiring, when present at all, was primitive and unreliable. Add to this the isolation of many islands, reachable only by boat, and a small spark could quickly become catastrophic. If a fire broke out, help might be miles away across open water.

Wealthy homeowners responded with a mix of innovation and improvisation. Some estates installed early fire alarms or gravity-fed water systems, drawing directly from the river to supply hoses and standpipes. Stone towers, iron doors, and firebreak walls were incorporated into the designs of larger mansions, not only as architectural flourishes but as defensive measures. Boathouses often doubled as emergency response hubs, stocked with buckets, axes, and hand pumps.

Hotels and resorts faced even greater risks. With dozens—sometimes hundreds—of guests, managers enforced strict rules: no smoking outside designated areas, lamps extinguished at certain hours, and night watchmen tasked with patrolling hallways. Despite these precautions, devastating fires still occurred. Several grand hotels burned to the ground in a single night, their losses underscoring how fragile Gilded Age luxury could be.

For local communities and service staff, fire safety relied heavily on cooperation. Bucket brigades were common, with neighbors rushing by boat to assist when smoke was spotted. The river itself was both a hazard and a lifeline—isolating properties, yet providing the water that made firefighting possible at all.

Fire safety in the Gilded Age Thousand Islands was ultimately a blend of privilege and vulnerability. The same ambition that built opulent retreats also heightened their risk, reminding residents that even amid wealth and beauty, nature and chance could not be fully controlled.

ABOUT MARY'S MOMENT:
It’s 1912, and Thousand Island Park’s switchboard operator Mary Flynn is the community heroine saving dozens of homes from a terrible fire. Less than a month later, when another disastrous fire rages through the Park, Mary loses her memory as she risks her life in a neighbor's burning cottage.

Widowed fireman George Flannigan is enamored by the brave raven-haired lass and takes every opportunity to connect with Mary. But he has hidden griefs of his own that cause him great heartache. When George can’t stop the destructive Columbian Hotel fire from eradicating more than a hundred businesses and homes, he is distraught. Yet George’s greater concern is Mary. Will she remember their budding relationship or be forever lost to him?

ABOUT SUSAN:
Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has sixteen in her fiction line. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan lives in Northern Virginia and enjoys traveling the world. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction.

Summer Galas in the 1900 Thousand Islands

By Susan G Mathis

The turn of the twentieth century witnessed an era of opulence and grandeur, especially in the scenic splendor of the Thousand Islands. Nestled between the United States and Canada, this area became a haven for the elite seeking respite from the bustling cities. Among the many extravagant events that defined the social calendar, the Summer Galas of the 1900s emerged as glittering spectacles that combined luxury, leisure, and the charm of the Thousand Islands.

Affluent families and socialites from both sides of the border would sail on luxurious yachts to reach the enchanting islands. Hosted in sprawling mansions or elegant resorts, these galas were a celebration of the natural beauty surrounding the guests. The allure of the Thousand Islands Summer Galas was not just the picturesque setting but also the high-profile attendees. Industrial tycoons, politicians, and celebrities of the time would grace these events with their presence. The social elite would converge on the islands, showcasing their latest fashion trends and engaging in lively conversations against the backdrop of the shimmering St. Lawrence River.

Women adorned themselves in elegant evening gowns with high necklines, delicate lace, and elaborate accessories. Men, on the other hand, sported impeccably tailored tuxedos and top hats, reflecting the refined tastes of the Gilded Age.

Live orchestras would serenade the guests as they danced under the starlit sky, the gentle rustle of the leaves and the lapping of the river creating a symphony of nature. Fireworks displays over the water added a magical touch to the evenings, making the Summer Galas unforgettable affairs.

Lavish feasts were prepared, featuring the finest ingredients of the time. Fresh seafood from the surrounding waters, exotic fruits, and delectable desserts graced the tables, tantalizing the taste buds of the privileged attendees.

These events became a symbol of the luxurious lifestyle enjoyed by the elite during the Gilded Age. Today, remnants of that opulent era can still be seen in the grand mansions that once hosted these galas, standing as silent witnesses to a bygone era of elegance and extravagance.

As we reflect on this era, the remnants of the opulent gatherings continue to captivate our imagination, reminding us of a time when the Thousand Islands truly lived up to its name as a paradise for the privileged.
Have you ever been to a ball? Leave your answer or comments on the post below and join me on February 19th for my next post.

ABOUT PEYTON’S PROMISE:

Peyton Quinn is tasked with preparing the grand Calumet Castle ballroom for a summer gala. As she works in a male-dominated position of upholsterer and fights for women’s equality, she’s persecuted for her unorthodox ways. But when her pyrotechnics-engineer father is seriously hurt, she takes over the plans for the fireworks display despite being socially ostracized. Patrick Taylor, Calumet’s carpenter and Peyton’s childhood chum, hopes to win her heart, but her unconventional undertakings cause a rift. Peyton has to ignore the prejudices and persevere or she could lose her job, forfeit Patrick’s love and respect, and become the talk of local gossips.

ABOUT SUSAN:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has eleven in her fiction line. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan lives in Colorado Springs and enjoys traveling the world. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.

Heroes of the 1912 Great Fire (part two)

By Susan G Mathis

As mentioned in my January 19th post, the Great Fire razed the Columbian Hotel and more than a hundred businesses and cottages in the Thousand Island Park. Firefighters bravely fought the fire for many terrible hours. But the residents who also tried to save their beloved Thousand Island Park, were heroes in their own right.

Grandma Tousey was a special resident of the Park. At age 92, she took charge of volunteers, urging them to save others. She was known to save at least two people—Mrs. Anna Nunn and Mrs. Eager—who were caught in a burning cottage. She found them on the floor unconscious and called for help. Once they were dragged into the fresh air, they revived.

Marion Mayer, a twelve-year-old girl, saved a large boarding house on Garden Avenue with a garden hose. And many countless folks risked life and limb to save businesses, cottages, and most importantly, their fellow TI Park residents and volunteers.

After the fire had consumed those hundred structures and an entire section of the Park, others stepped up to help those left homeless and devastated. The Murray Hill Hotel on Murray Island as well as other hotels took in more than a hundred and twenty guests left homeless when the Columbian Hotel burned to the ground. Some welcomed victims into their unburned cottages.

Commodore Gillespie and Herbert Copelle provided $300 of food to form a bread line and provide for the basic needs of the victims. Joseph Wittman of Isle of Pines and T. A. Gillespie of Basswood Island sent their private yachts to Clayton to purchase all the baked goods available and anything else useful for the fire sufferers. These goods were placed in the pavilion on the dock and divided among those who needed them.

And there were others, unnamed folks who helped any way they could. In my novel, Mary’s Moment, I tell their stories—firemen, friends, neighbors, doctors, nurses, and a telephone switchboard operator at the center of it all.

What makes a hero? Leave your answer or comments on the post below and join me on February 19th for my next post.

ABOUT MARY’S MOMENT:

It’s 1912, and Thousand Island Park’s switchboard operator Mary Flynn is the community heroine saving dozens of homes from a terrible fire. Less than a month later, when another disastrous fire rages through the Park, Mary loses her memory as she risks her life in a neighbor's burning cottage. Widowed fireman George Flannigan is enamored by the brave raven-haired lass and takes every opportunity to connect with Mary. But he has hidden griefs of his own that cause him great heartache. When George can’t stop the destructive Columbian Hotel fire from eradicating more than a hundred businesses and homes, he is distraught. Yet George’s greater concern is Mary. Will she remember their budding relationship or be forever lost to him?

ABOUT SUSAN:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has eleven in her fiction line. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan lives in Colorado Springs and enjoys traveling the world. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.

Heroes of the 1912 Great Fire (part one)

By Susan G Mathis

The Great Fire of 1912 in the Thousand Island Park is seared into Thousand Island history, especially into the hearts and memories of the Park community. The summer of 1910 was unseasonable hot and dry, and the population of TI Park had grown to about 12,000. The area was primed for trouble, and that summer, three major fires nearly destroyed the Park.

In May, eleven boathouses and three launches were destroyed in a riverfront fire. In June, an entire block of new cottages burned down. Then, in July, the Great Fire razed the Columbian Hotel and more than a hundred businesses and cottages to the north and east of today’s Commons. Firefighters from Alexandria Bay, Clayton, and Ganonoque responded to the call for help, bravely fighting the conflagration for many terrible hours. Residents also came to their aid, trying to save their beloved Thousand Island Park. Many were injured, but thankfully, only one person died.

As the Columbian Hotel burned, William Tousey, Robert Van Lingen, and Frank Sweeny worked their way to the top floor of the hotel where they rushed from room to room. On the top floor in one of the furthest rooms in the southeast corner of the hotel, they found Miss Mary Buster of Watertown, who had fainted. Mr. Tousey threw her over his shoulder, soon carried her to safety.

Paul Crouch of Cortland stood on the peak of the Wellesley Hotel with a blanket thrown around him and ripped the burning shingles from the roof for two hours. His efforts, coupled with the volunteers on the ground, saved the Wellesley Hotel from destruction. Though badly scorched, the hotel reopened the next day.

Next month on February 19th, you’ll read the rest of the story. You’ll learn about a ninety-two-year-old grandmother, a twelve-year-old girl, and others who were heroes during this terrible time. Their stories are penned in my novel, Mary’s Moment.

What makes a hero? Leave your answer or comments on the post below and join me on February 19th for my next post.

ABOUT MARY’S MOMENT:

It’s 1912, and Thousand Island Park’s switchboard operator Mary Flynn is the community heroine saving dozens of homes from a terrible fire. Less than a month later, when another disastrous fire rages through the Park, Mary loses her memory as she risks her life in a neighbor's burning cottage. Widowed fireman George Flannigan is enamored by the brave raven-haired lass and takes every opportunity to connect with Mary. But he has hidden griefs of his own that cause him great heartache. When George can’t stop the destructive Columbian Hotel fire from eradicating more than a hundred businesses and homes, he is distraught. Yet George’s greater concern is Mary. Will she remember their budding relationship or be forever lost to him?

ABOUT SUSAN:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has eleven in her fiction line. Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan lives in Colorado Springs and enjoys traveling the world. Visit www.SusanGMathis.com/fiction for more.

Staples Island Entertainment Pavilion

by Susan G Mathis


During the Gilded Age, entertainment pavilions were all the fad, and at the Thousand Island House Resort in Alexandria Bay, New York, the lavish facilities were set on a tiny island—and they were amazing.

The Thousand Island House hotel was finished in 1873, the year after President Grant visited the islands with George Pullamn that began the Golden Age of the Thousand Islands. Col. Orin G Staples built the establishment in less than a year, and it quickly became a popular destination.

In 1902, the Thousand Island House built a spectacular recreation facility for hotel patrons on Staples Island—that was less than an acre—adjoining the hotel property. The recreation facility was exclusively for hotel patrons, though some esteemed visitors not staying at the hotel, still visited now and then, including President Chester Arthur.

The pavilion boasted the most modern facilities for entertaining those on summer holiday. The two-story building housed a billiard hall, a bowling alley, card and game rooms, a children's nursery, a swimming pool, men's and women's bathing rooms, and a dance pavilion. The garden roof hosted an area for women to enjoy afternoon tea and a grill area for men to enjoy conversations about business and their fishing exploits. Young children were attended by a nursery worker and older children had their own recreation leader.

Hotel patrons had only to cross the small footbridge connecting the pavilion's island to the mainland where the hotel stood to enjoy even more activities. On the mainland, there were tennis courts, badminton, croquet, and other sports as well as opportunities for boating, fishing, and regular music and dancing.

In this tiny summer community, such lavish entertainments rivaled those of the big cities of New York, Chicago, D.C., and Philadelphia, among others, from which many of the guests escaped the heat of summer in the city.

And the views of the St. Lawrence River were just as wonderful. From the island they could see Casa Blanca, Friendly Island, Hart Island, and further north, Sunken Rock Lighthouse, among others. Regular boat tours, including the famous Searchlight Tours, added to the fun.

Indeed, the Staples Island Entertainment Pavilion, and others like it, gave the rich and famous a summer full of enjoyment as well as much needed employment to the locals. Wouldn't it be interesting to live in such an age?

About A Summer at Thousand Island House:

Part-nanny, part entertainer, Addison Bell has always had an enduring love for children. So what better way to spend her creative energy than to spend the summer nannying at the renowned Thousand Island House on Staple’s Island? As Addi thrives in her work, she attracts the attention of the recreation pavilion’s manager, Liam Donovan, as well as the handsome Navy Officer Lt. Worthington, a lighthouse inspector, hotel patron, and single father of mischievous little Jimmy.

But when Jimmy goes missing, Addi finds both her job and her reputation in danger. How can she calm the churning waters of Liam, Lt. Worthington, and the President, clear her name, and avoid becoming the scorn of the Thousand Islands community?

About Susan G Mathis:

Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than twenty-five times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has eleven in her fiction line including Mary’s Moment. Find out more at www.SusanGMathis.com.

 

Introducing Donna Wichelman

Donna Wichelman

Weaving History and Faith Into Tales of Intrigue and Redemption

Growing up as an only child in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, I learned early on that God, books, and my imagination were my three best companions when friends couldn't be found. By the time I could read and write, I wrote poems and stories for the elementary school newspaper, and as I moved into junior high, my love for reading and writing grew stronger as I also developed a great fascination for history. 

Never in my wildest imagination could I have guessed at the age of fifteen, entering high school, that a year later, my intrigue in history and writing would take me across the Atlantic Ocean to experience my own fairytale dream to live in a real castle. Indeed, I was accepted into the United World College of the Atlantic (aka Atlantic College), an international college outside Llantwit Major, Wales on the Bristol Channel, where I completed my last two years of high school and received the International Baccalaureate degree.

While most of the students lived in dormitories on the hill, I lived in a two-room, ten-girl dorm housed inside the thirteenth-century St. Donat's Castle donated to the school by William Randolf Hearst. Though it was nothing like Hogwart's of Harry Potter fame, rumors circulated that a historical figure by the name of Lady Ann actually haunted the castle looking for her lost love. I'm still in touch with many of the students and attend periodic reunions.

Weaving history and faith into stories of intrigue and redemption grew out of my love of history and literature while attending Atlantic College. There, my true passion came to light as I focused on English literature and discovered a love for the classics, reading books by Jane Austin, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, and many others. These authors awakened a desire to write books that spoke to the condition of the human spirit.

One of the greatest adventures in Britain occurred while doing research on Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights and visiting the Brontë parsonage in Haworth, England. While walking the moors on a drizzly day, I happened upon an old man with a cap and a cane whose ancestors knew the Brontës. He delighted me with his stories and charmed me with his words. A copy of Emily's poem No Coward Soul is Mine sits framed on my desk.

Old Man in a Cap and Cane Walking Down the Lane in Yorkshire: Donna's Gallery 1976

Photo 42855303 / Bronte Parsonage © Steve6326 | Dreamstime.com

I still love to explore peoples and cultures of the world and enjoy developing plots that show how God's love abounds even in the profoundly difficult circumstances of our lives. I want my stories to reflect the hunger in all of us for love, forgiveness, and belonging in a world that often withholds second chances.  

Before turning to full-time writing, I graduated from San Jose State University with a master's degree in Mass Communication and worked as a communications professional in the non-profit and corporate worlds. My short stories, essays, and articles have appeared in various inspirational and secular publications, including Focus on the Family Magazine, Standard Publishing for Adult Sunday School papers, and LIVE Magazine. Two of my devotionals appeared in A Cup of Comfort Devotionals for Mothers and Daughters.

In 2015, I indie-published Light Out of Darkness, a contemporary Christian suspense novel that revolves around the unique story of faith and valor found in the pre-reformation Christians of the French and Italian Alps known as the Waldensians. The sequel, Undaunted Valor, once again weaves Waldensian history around a contemporary story of intrigue and suspense. The Waldensian Series is available on Amazon.com. 

I am currently marketing my Gilded Age historical romance, A Song of Deliverance, to agents, but I've also become captivated by time-slip novels and am working on another project with a dual timeline.

My husband of thirty-nine years and I have lived in Colorado for more than thirty-five years, and one of our greatest joys is to spend time with our grandchildren. We also do ministry at our local church, where I am involved in an outreach to low-income families as well as women's ministry. We have also traveled, hiked, and kayaked in many parts of the United States and around the world.