Kim McMahill

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures get cooler I can no longer live in denial – summer is over and winter is just around the corner. I love summer, always have, but there is something to be said for the seasons. Some traditions just aren’t the same without them. Apple cider is best enjoyed when steam rises from the cup cradled in your mitten-covered hands and the Thanksgiving table demands a centerpiece of brightly colored fall leaves, pumpkins and gourds, not a bouquet of tulips. And Christmas—I’ve spent a Christmas in the South Pacific and a couple in Hawaii and I missed the snow. Santa just looks wrong riding a surfboard in shorts. So, as I lament the end of long warm days, I know I wouldn’t enjoy the holidays or appreciate summer as much without the changing seasons.

Niki Garat tolerates her job and the city, but she lives for her summer vacation with her grandfather at his sheep camp in the stunning Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming—until this year. When the U.S. comes under attack, including an aggressive attempt by foreign invaders to locate nuclear missiles hidden throughout remote western lands, the serenity of her mountain refuge is shattered. As area ranches are commandeered, neighbors and friends, including Deuce, her childhood infatuation, band together. Throughout their struggle to stay alive, Niki begins to understand what came between her and Deuce, but before past mistakes can be corrected they must endure a terrifying manhunt and a desperate fight for survival.   Big Horn Storm, Released August 2012, is currently available in trade paperback or e-book through your favorite on-line book retailer.

I haven’t done a lot of book reviewing, but I thought I’d give it a shot. When I saw the cover for Brenna and the Horses of Lusayana , it caught my attention, reminding me of my great aunt’s art work, and I was further interested when I learned the author, Lee Landes, was a continent away in the United Kingdom.    I was a little hesitant when I realized that Brenna and the Horses of Lusayana was a children’s book, thinking the plot would be overly simple. Not the case, in fact this book requires the reader’s full attention as the main character, a twelve-year old girl named Brenna, is drawn into a complex quest to learn about her past in the hopes of breaking a centuries-old family curse and saving her mother’s life.    The story is a fantasy set in a rugged coastal landscape in the United Kingdom where Brenna is guided through a treacherous journey by the mystical White Horses of Lusayana. Throughout this amazing adventure she unlocks the family secret...

Courtesy of Jacqueline Hopper - Thank you!

Please join me at http://canyonlandpress.blogspot.com for the first installment of a two part interview focusing on my inspiration for my romantic adventure novels, the writing process and upcoming projects (you’ll need to scroll down a bit). The second half of the interview is scheduled for October 1, 2012.

 Big Horn Storm is also a hodge-podge of experiences and ideas. I’ve always loved the Big Horn Mountains, so I wanted to set a story in that area and something involving horses made sense. Some of my favorite books and movies have those scenes in which you find yourself holding your breath until it’s over, such as when Nullah, in the movie Australia, stands at the cliff edge facing down a stampeding cattle herd or when the Man from Snowy River follows the brumbies over the edge. I wanted to write those scenes and I believe I have accomplished this, in part due to my own horseback experiences. But what would force a person into daring actions far outside their comfort zone? It would have to be something extreme, a “do or die” situation, such as a widespread invasion by a foreign enemy. But, why would any foreign military care about a sparsely populated area in Wyoming? That answer came to me after taking public tours of decommissioned missile silos at the South Dakota Ai...

Big Bend National Park It seems logical that a storyline for a novel would follow a linear path, but that’s not always the case. Most of my ideas develop through a more haphazard route. Desperate Dreams was born from a snippet of a dream. I woke one morning and the only detail I could remember was of a small group of people huddled under the camper shell in the back of a small red pickup truck, trying to sneak into Mexico. I muddled this over for a while trying to decide what must America be like to encourage a reverse border run? It seemed like there was plenty of post-apocalyptic stories out there, so I eased back a bit and created an America where current technology had become mainstream. Most citizens embraced the safety and security of the new society while a few found the loss of privacy and freedom unbearable. But was this enough to make anyone challenge authority? Probably not, but what if men were being exterminated once their usefulness was over? For the men at risk and ...

Quote of the day. . .   “You only live once, but if you do it right once is enough” Mae West  

This week I will be interviewed on  Jacqueline Hopper's blog for her weekly “Promotion Monday” feature. Please stop by on September 10 and every Monday for her fun and in-depth look at new authors and books.

For a free download of Lightening Strikes, a short-story collaboration by Prism Book Group authors, click here on Prism Book Group .   Also, Prism Book Group offers a “Book of the Month.” September is my romantic suspense novel, Desperate Dreams, which you can download for just .99. Check back on the first of each month for the newest featured release.

I just got back from my latest adventure, which was fun and exciting, but not as adventurous as I anticipated. Maybe I watch too many action flicks or police shows, because what I found in New York City wasn’t what I had expected. I’m sure an in depth probe of the city would turn up movie fodder and newscast footage, but the New York I encountered was fairly user-friendly and full of interesting opportunities, unique sites and a vibrant atmosphere. From the must-see sites of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the 9/11 Memorial, the Empire State Building and Times Square to the everyday experiences such as riding the subway, strolling through Central Park and enjoying great street-cart food in the wee-hours of the morning, New York surprised and awed me at every turn. Images of the city are everywhere and I feel it calling me back.

Authors have goals. For non-fiction it may be to enlighten or educate. For me, I strive to entertain and take readers on a new and exciting adventure.   I was very pleased with the following review of Big Horn Storm , feeling as if I may be accomplishing what I’ve set out to achieve in my writing. The review below was taken from  Carlene Havel's blog . August 29, 2012 Exciting Book What can make a book special? Lots of things for me. Good research skillfully woven into historical fiction, detailed biography, words that transport me from where I am into the story the book tells. Websites that sell books seem to operate on the premise they know what I like - they're always offering up recommendations for my reading pleasure. Generally, their selections do appeal to me. But now and then I step over the line to read something completely different from my list of "already read" books. Big Horn Storm is one such book. It's an adventure romance set in the Bi...