He spent many quiet half-hour bus rides to high school imagining scenes, watching characters in his mind interact with their surroundings, and piecing together how their stories connected. Over time, he arranged these ideas into a fully realized narrative that would lay the groundwork for his first book.

Mason credits God, the Holy Trinity, as his greatest source of inspiration. He believes many of history’s greatest works were divinely influenced, and his own faith shapes how he understands his characters and their motivations. He thinks deeply about themes of good and evil, the struggles people face, and the strength that can emerge from those battles. His hope is that those who feel themselves slipping under the weight of their challenges find courage to change for the better, for themselves, their loved ones, and for God.

For his McEllister Boys series, organization is essential. Mason always begins with an outline before writing a draft. Because some writers worry that outlines make stories predictable, he has beta readers review his outline first. Once they approve the story, he dives into the pacing, description, and dialogue. After completing a draft, he revisits it several times to revise and refine it before passing it along to beta readers again.

When he writes, Mason prefers solitude and listens to ambient sound that matches the setting of his scene. This helps him visualize and describe his fictional world more accurately. His favorite part of the process is when his characters begin to feel real. Hearing from readers who connect with them in the same way he does is one of his most meaningful rewards.

Mason hopes to continue building his series and sees where it takes him. Like many writers, he would love to be a full-time author one day, though he keeps his expectations grounded. Still, he believes starting young may give him an advantage, and he’s determined to keep going. He especially hopes his work resonates with his own generation, Gen Z, and that it becomes something they can feel proud of. Already, he sees how the book has shaped his life; he keeps copies and bookmarks in his car so he’s always ready to share his work with anyone who expresses interest.

Being recognized as an Emerging Artist means a great deal to Mason. He hopes to embody the energy and ambition associated with young creatives. He knows older generations often assume “zoomers” are lazy or unmotivated, but his book serves as his personal testimony to the opposite. In his experience, his generation is ambitious across many different interests.

Writing has also deepened his appreciation for academic subjects he once overlooked. Through storytelling, he has gained a new love for mathematics, science, theology, history, and literature. He wasn’t a strong student in grade school, but now excels in college because he has developed passion for these fields. One of his biggest challenges is balancing “showing” and “telling”, a struggle familiar to many writers. While he strives to favor showing, he’s still learning how to strike the right balance without disrupting the pace of the story. He continues to improve at spotting each approach in his drafts.

His advice to emerging creatives is encouraging and direct: find the time, it’s worth it. Whether the reward is emotional, academic, or artistic, dedication to your craft always pays off. He encourages others to keep working until they are proud, to share their work with loved ones, and to be ready to stand confidently behind the decisions they’ve made.

Beyond the Page

If he had to describe his book Anything You’ve Never Seen? in three words, he would choose deep, luring, and traditional. He sees the story as layered and interconnected, able to hold a reader’s attention, and rooted in a style supported by a carefully crafted fictional history.

Mason treasures feedback from both readers and fellow authors. Compliments about his writing’s rhythm from author Jeff Schnader, and a remark from his great uncle calling his work “Tolkienesque,” are among his proudest moments.

His favorite writers include Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, J. K. Rowling, David McCullough, George Orwell, Stephen King, Steinbeck, Dostoevsky, and Luo Guanzhong, an eclectic mix reflecting his love of history and unique fantasy.

Outside of writing, he enjoys programming and jokes that writing a full novel has made him much faster at typing. Creating his book has given him a better sense of the world and a deeper appreciation for both visible and invisible things.

As for dream collaborations, Mason would choose Studio Ghibli to adapt his work. While he admits it will likely never happen, he loves the care and attention the studio puts into its art and believes his world and characters would be safe in their hands.

As we celebrate Matthew Mason as our December Emerging Featured Artist, we are honored to share the voice of a young writer whose dedication, faith, imagination, and commitment to growth stand out at every stage of his journey. We look forward to watching his work evolve and to seeing where his stories take him next.