Kim McMahill

Last week was a wonderful time with family. I hope everyone had a great Christmas holiday and will enjoy a new year filled with exciting adventures, whether actual experiences or virtual encounters through a good book. Friday, December 28, Desperate Dreams was featured at http://BlurbsinBloom.com . Thank you to those who stopped by to check it out.   In other writing news, After the Storm is now available for free download at the Prism Book Group website. After the Storm is a romantic novella and a sequel to, Lightning Strikes , also available for free download.   What could be better? Have a safe and happy 2013.

Please stop by  Blurbs in Bloom  ( www.blurbsinbloom.com ) today, December 28, to explore Desperate Dreams .   Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday new books and authors are featured and it’s a great way to see what’s new in romantic fiction.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by http://justromanticsuspense.com on December 22 and left a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of Big Horn Storm. This past week leading up to Christmas has been consumed with tying things up at work, trying to kick a stubborn cold and finishing that last minute shopping. Now it’s time to relax and enjoy time with family and friends while finding a few minutes to finish up the initial round of edits for my next novel. I hope everyone has a Christmas filled with happiness, joy and love. Be safe!

Please join me today at http://justromanticsuspense.com where I talk about how the unpredictable elements of nature and the diverse, and often unforgiving, natural landscapes provide an extra layer of suspense to a story. A winner will be chosen at random from those who leave comments to receive a free digital copy of Big Horn Storm.

I was asked recently why I write adventure stories. My initial response was, “it’s what I enjoy reading and watching at the movie theater.”   Many questions later I realized my bias toward the action-adventure genre goes deeper and developed at an early age.     I grew up with unlimited access to open spaces. I rode ponies, horses or dirt bikes from as far back as I can remember.   My dad’s idea of a family vacation involved a pack trip into rugged mountain country, and I was an avid downhill skier. I probably took those experiences for granted, but each one helped shape my perception of entertainment.   Even as my leisure-time exploits inevitably tame, I can always live vicariously through my stories and I hope everyone who picks up one of my books can escape into a world of action-packed adventure.

It was bound to happen.   I was hoping this year would be different, but keeping true to form I’ve caught my Christmas cold. On the upside it’s a week earlier than usual so maybe I’ll feel human by the big day.   I’ve begun round one of many of the edits for my international adventure thriller this week, which is due to be released in early 2013.   Edits are always a mixed bag for me. It’s exciting to see the final product take shape, but frustrating when I realize that perfect final manuscript I submitted to my editor isn’t so perfect after all.    On December 22, I’ll be a guest blogger on Just Romantic Suspense . I’ll provide more details closer to time, but be sure to stop by and leave a comment for a chance to win a download of Big Horn Storm.

I wanted to share the following offer with everyone. I haven't read all of these books, but the ones I have were wonderful. Shelia has a special way of telling a story and I'm sure you will enjoy her work. Merry Christmas! Wishing all of you the special joys of the season. As a special gift I am offering all four of my novels (eBooks) FREE to you and yours now through midnight Sunday, December 17. You may electronically download all of my novels for yourself and any individual on your Christmas list simply by clicking here: http://tiny.cc/9y61ow     And please, if you enjoy any of my novels, leave a review on Amazon. TRANSMUTARE . A good girl gone bad. Erotic. Dark. Romantic. Redemptive.   BAGGAGE . Modern-day Fairytale. Widowed mother, divorced father learn to cope with their teenage daughter’s chaos. CHILD OF MY HEART . Childless pediatric nurse discovers atypical motherhood.   AUSPICIOUS DREAMS . Three children come...

In keeping with the theme of this blog here’s an ode to Christmas Adventures. We’ll start with decorating, which often involves forays into those dark places most try to avoid—under the stairwell or house or in the attic, where dust, cobwebs and spiders make the jaunt feel like a Halloween dare rather than a Christmas ritual. Next, there’s shopping. Surviving the mobs, high-pressure sales tactics and parking lot demolition-derby is like preparing for battle—outline your objectives, don’t get distracted from the mission and if shopping as a team using the divide and conquer method, be sure to have a communication plan and an exit strategy.   After shopping you may look forward to a day at home with your holiday baking, but don’t get lulled into complacency. There are choppers, blenders, mixers, knives, scalding bubbling sugary mixtures, hot ovens and the ever present temptation to overindulge. So get a good night’s sleep, stay hydrated and keep the fire extinguisher handy. Finally...

Yahoo! I’ve finished my Christmas shopping early this year and it wasn’t too painful. Though I’ve always been a fan of the tactile, touching before buying, I must admit I do understand why some prefer to shop online. And, if you’re one of those, don’t forget that Big Horn Storm , Desperate Dreams and Marked in Mexico are not just inexpensive ($2.99) eBooks available from your favorite online retailer, but all my books are also available in paperback and make great gifts. With my not-so-subtle plug out of the way, here’s the, “week in review.”   It’s finally starting to feel like Christmas. We still haven’t seen any of the white stuff, but the temperatures have dropped low enough to make it possible. On the writing front, not much to report, but I did get to see one of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Regional Tournaments. The matches were exciting and the crowd was amazing. It was a great time, but I can’t help but feel bad for those eliminated after so much hard work. I’m not sure...

Every now and then I like to give a shout out to an artist, singer or author who surprises me and who isn’t widely recognized for their talent or potential. So rather than jump on the bandwagon and downloading the latest sensation, I recently put a couple I-Tunes votes behind Colby Yates. This former professional bull rider turned country singer is an unexpected surprise and anyone who loves traditional country music might just find what they’re looking for in Colby.

Three Gifts by Claire Sanders is not only a great holiday read, but this inspirational novella has particular relevance during these difficult economic times our country is facing.   The main characters, Molly and Jack, seem like a perfect couple, completely in love, dedicated to family and sharing common goals and beliefs.   So what could be holding up a long-awaited wedding?   Jack wants to start his life with Molly on solid financial ground, but even with a college degree finding a good-paying job is proving elusive. He is also driven by the need to care for his grandmother, who raised him after the death of his parents, making relocation a less than attractive option. On the cusp of losing the love of his life, Jack receives three Christmas gifts which open his eyes and his heart to the blessings of true love. Three Gifts is a heartwarming story of hope, love, and keeping one’s faith when facing the inevitable curveballs life throws.

I can’t believe it’s already December. To get into the holiday spirit I’ve been reading Christmas novellas (see post below and stay tuned for my review of Three Gifts ). We dug out the Christmas decorations from under the stairwell and spent the day decorating. I’m exhausted, but the house really looks festive. In continuing with the theme of getting into the holiday mood, I spent a day at a local artists’ Christmas open house signing books. It’s always fun to get out and talk to readers about my work and learn more about other crafts such as glass blowing, painting, sculpting, weaving, metal work, wood carving, etc.   The weather continues to be too mild to feel like Christmas, but I’ve experienced enough white Christmases to last a lifetime, so I won’t complain and I’ll continue to enjoy the temperatures while they last. Have a great week.