Kim McMahill

I saw this quote today and decided to take it to heart since every moment of   happiness is too precious to squander.   "For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

As the Southeast begins cleaning up from the torrential rains and destructive winds brought by Tropical Storm Debby, Colorado and other western states continue to battle wildfires.   My thoughts go out to all those affected by these natural disasters. Hopefully Mother Nature will soon cooperate and help ease the suffering of so many.

CHAPTER ONE               When Dr. Santiago Ramirez heard the twig snap, his hammer froze in mid-swing. As the thud created from the metal head hitting the iron stake stopped, so did the rustling in the jungle. He strained his eyes and ears, trying to pick up some sound or sight that would identify the source of the noise. He prayed it was just an animal, but whenever he began a project of this magnitude, he became extra alert to the possible dangers that lurked behind every tree, especially when he was responsible for the safety of others.             Santiago glanced at his watch and realized he had to leave soon if he hoped to make it to the airport in time to greet the first student arriving in Mexico. He was always anxious to meet his interns each summer. Some were disappointments--too young, immature, social, or soft to live the life of a field archeologist. Bu...

A once in a lifetime treasure hunt is a dream come true for archeology intern, Kay Gerard. On the fringes of the ancient Mayan city of Cobá, Kay and her mentor begin excavating two remote temples. The treks into the site reveal the local population’s curious ties to the ruins and Kay’s interactions with the people they encounter, especially the children, are unnerving, yet she ignores the ominous feelings due to the excitement of the dig. As they get close to entering one of the temples they collide with dangerous looters, forcing Kay to flee into the jungle. The more desperate her situation becomes, the more determined she is to survive and soon finds herself in a situation with no other option except to fight for her life in the Deadly Ruins of Mexico’s unforgiving jungle. PROLOGUE               As the sun set the evening transformation began at its usual pace.   The jaguar god allowed itself one last glimpse b...

The clock showed 8:20 and Roland still hadn't shown up. Edward continued to pace, the employees fidgeted and the guests began to get restless.   Kay’s stomach growled in protest as her mind sent it messages about the pending crab.   She kept thinking about all that good food getting cold and silently cursed Roland for being so inconsiderate.   She had practically starved herself all day in anticipation of the party.   Despite Rob being so near, all she could think about was food. Roland was never late on a movie night.   Edward could take it no longer and asked if someone would go see what was keeping him. Tony volunteered, uncharacteristically, to go to the old man’s cabin.   Tony had been gone for what felt like an eternity.   As the minutes ticked by Edward became convinced that something was wrong. Just as he started for the door to check it out for himself, Tony ran back into the room out of breath, ghostly pale, and mumbling frantic indecip...

After the last post, I thought it might not hurt to provide a little information on a couple of my earlier books since I’ve been pretty obsessed this past year with my two latest releases. The Lodge , the first novel I ever wrote, is the first in a two-book series with Deadly Ruins being the second.   Below is the back cover blurb and over the next couple days I’ll post an excerpt or two and then move on to Deadly Ruins. The Lodge is only available through Amazon.com. The lodge is everything Kay Gerard has dreamed of and more.   But as the tranquil beauty of the remote setting begins to work its magic on her tortured soul, a guest is brutally murdered.   Isolation and lack of law enforcement on the island heighten the fear and distrust felt by employees and guests.   Existence at the lodge takes a sinister turn as everyone tries to cope with the knowledge that a murderer must live among them. While doing her job and trying to support her uncle, Kay discovers ...

Marked in Mexico, Desperate Dreams and Deadly Ruins are available in trade paperback and ebook formats through Amazon.com and other on-line retailers.   The Watch, The Lodge and On the Brink of Paradise (non-fiction) are available in trade paperback through all the usual on-line retailers and some or all of my paperbacks are available at the following bookstores and gift shops.   Bookstore, 109 N. Bent Street, Powell, Wyoming The Bookworm at 8702 Pacific Street, Omaha, Nebraska Hotel Terra, Teton Village, Wyoming Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa, Teton Village, Wyoming The Wild Burro Bookstore, Hot Springs, South Dakota Probst Western Store, Greybull, Wyoming Cooke City Store, Cooke City, Montana Thanks to all those who have followed along on my adventures.

I've used  http://QueryTracker.net for years to research and view statistics on agents and publishers, but hadn't visited their blog until I saw a note from a fellow writer mentioning an especially good post. So, I thought I'd pass on the links to this great site and its associated blog, http://querytracker.blogspot.com .

Has America become the safe, predictable utopia claimed by the authorities or a prison? With a ruling authority too powerful to challenge, only the most courageous will dare to defy the new order and embrace forbidden love. Join Nyla and Ethan while they struggle to understand their deepening feelings for each other as they embark on a deadly quest for freedom through the inhospitable Big Bend region of Texas in Desperate Dreams .

There are few things I enjoy more than the opportunity to listen to great music at non-arena venues such as county fairs, festivals, small music halls, etc. Though I’ve heard them live many times I was thrilled to experience the music of Brulé, a Contemporary Native American group, again today at an outdoor arts festival.   Their unique sound is always soothing, incredibly beautiful and inspirational, not to mention wonderfully entertaining.  

Whether a daring run for the border through inhospitable desert terrain in order to escape a totalitarian government and save those you love or escaping into the jungle and fleeing for your life, Desperate Dreams and Marked in Mexico will keep your pulse racing and the pages turning.

As Nyla watched Ethan snuff out the candle and flick on his flashlight a wave of panic hit her, making her feel nauseous. If they made a mistake they might not just be captured, they could be killed. In fact, there was very little doubt in her mind that Ethan and Jared would be executed if caught. The authorities had zero tolerance for males who broke the law. Claire snatched the flashlight out of Ethan’s hand and started toward the cave’s mouth. Nyla knew her friend was anxious to leave since Claire had always been a bit claustrophobic and no huge fan of the dark. Like Claire, Nyla wanted to get out of the cave and start putting the past behind them, but doubts plagued her. She grabbed Ethan and Jared by the arm. Both stopped and turned to look at her. “If we get caught, Claire and I will be sent to the Facility, but you two probably won’t fare so well,” Nyla whispered. “We know. They won’t be bringing us back here alive,” Ethan stated as Jared nodded in agreement. Nyla foug...

Dawes Glacier Alaska in May was a bit wet and chilly, but on the up side,  the wildlife was abundant, the views stunning and the number of visitors in the coastal areas were few, intensifying the remote feeling of being in towns accessible only by boat or air. Almost everything we saw and did made me feel small, but in a good way. The vastness of the landscape is incomprehensible, the size of the glaciers inspiring even though evidence of their retreat is etched on the terrain and seeing whales nearly the length of one’s boat can be intimidating. I could go on for pages with hundreds of adjectives and still not do justice to this amazing wilderness state. Alaska is clearly one of those places you must see to believe.