Kim McMahill

“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself.”  Edward Abbey 

The inspiration for Big Horn Storm came from multiple places. Storm, Niki’s trusted steed, is loosely based on a horse we had when I was young, and I’ve spent a lot of time in the Big Horn Mountains on horseback and ATV. While helping my dad move cattle while riding Storm’s inspiration, he sent me over a steep hill after a small group of stubborn cows. The descent seemed terrifying at the time (though I’m sure it was not as scary as I remember) that helped me write Niki’s harrowing horseback escapes. The name Deuce is a longer story than I have room for here, but when I heard it, I knew I had to write a book with Deuce and a tough and handsome rancher. The novel is set against the rugged backdrop of Wyoming’s mountains. This pulse-pounding survival story blends danger, resilience, and a second chance at love in a world turned upside down . Here’s a short blurb. It’s available through most of the major online booksellers, including Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Big-Horn-Storm-Kim-...

Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day are observed on the second Monday of October, which falls on October 13 this year.   Columbus Day is a U.S. federal holiday that recognizes the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. It is also increasingly marked by Indigenous Peoples' Day, which recognizes the contributions and history of Indigenous peoples in the Americas. Indigenous Peoples' Day celebrates and honors Native American peoples and their histories and cultures. It recognizes the resilience and strength of Native Americans throughout history, while acknowledging the negative impacts of colonization on Indigenous communities. While Indigenous Peoples' Day is not a federal holiday like Columbus Day, it has been recognized as an official holiday by various cities and states. Indigenous Peoples' Day is for recognition, reflection, and promoting understanding and respect for the Indigenous peoples of the Americas.

  OCTOBER 2025 WRITING AND WANDERING #Newsletter Happy Fall! It would be my favorite season if it weren’t for the reality that winter is just around the corner. But until it freezes and snows, I’m enjoying the slower pace in an otherwise tourist town, reaping the harvest from my garden, watching college volleyball, and transiting to seasonal flavors like apples, pumpkin, and cinnamon. WRITING I’m waiting for the edits from my editor on the final novel in The Beartooth Chronicles, Winter Resurgence . I’m very excited about this story, but sad that the series will end. I will miss Ash, Caleb, and the rest of the resilient residents of Beartooth. If you haven’t started the series or aren’t caught up, I hope you will come onboard. It will be worth the time investment. WANDERINGS We took a road trip in September. We were anxious to go to the 2025 Pueblo Chile Festival and were lucky enough that we could attend University of Wyoming volleyball matches coming and going. We stock...

“There is nothing so American as our national parks. The scenery and the wildlife are native. The fundamental idea behind the parks is native. It is, in brief, that the country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us. The parks stand as the outward symbol of the great human principle.” Franklin D. Roosevelt (Photo: Grand Teton National Park)

In 2025, the National Park Service will waive entrance fees on six days. The next entrance fee-free day will be September 27, 2025, National Public Lands Day. The last free day in 2025 will be on Veteran’s Day, November 11. All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm  (Photo: Theodore Roosevelt National Park)

Marked in Mexico is still one of my favorite novels and continues to be my best-seller. It has 97 ratings/reviews on Amazon with an average of 4.5. This romantic thriller is fast-paced, gripping, and steeped in danger, and will hopefully keep you turning pages long into the night. Here’s a short blurb. It’s available through most of the major online booksellers, including Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PXLNWC9/ What begins as a dream vacation in the Caribbean turns into a nightmare when armed kidnappers seize tourists at one of Mexico’s most famous Mayan ruins. Their plan is simple—trade the hostages for the release of a jailed comrade in Texas. But when they discover their captives include the daughter of a powerful U.S. senator and a battle-hardened ex-Army Ranger, their scheme spirals out of control. Jessica never imagined her escape from paradise would leave her running for her life through the dense, unforgiving jungle. Jack has survived warzones before, and he refuse...