Kim McMahill

"One final paragraph of advice: Do not burn yourself out. Be as I am-a reluctant enthusiast... a part time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it is still there. So get out there and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, encounter the grizz, climb the mountains. Run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, that lovely, mysterious and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to your body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much: I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those deskbound people with their hearts in a safe deposit box and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this: you will outli...

I’m pleased to welcome author Rochelle Weber to my blog. To get to know Rochelle and her work, I’ve put together a little question and answer segment. So, let’s get started. Rochelle, Q: Tell us about yourself, your family, where you live… A: I live in Round Lake Beach, Illinois—a far north suburb of Chicago, close enough to Wisconsin to smell their dairy airs. I have two daughters, both of whom are engaged.  I have four grandkids, three step-grandkids and one step-great-grandchild.  Two cats allow me to live in their apartment and wait on them leg and paw. Q: What is the best thing about being a writer? A: I get to daydream and interact with other people who don’t think that’s a bad thing.  Many of the authors I admire are now friends of mine and some of them are making the best seller lists.  How cool is that? Q: Has your life changed since you became a writer? A: Not a whole lot.  I became disabled and now I have something to d...

When I first caught sight of the towering magical spires of the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis or more commonly known as the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, I thought it was a castle. The cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans and is among the oldest cathedrals in the United States. It's located in the French Quarter next to Jackson Square facing the Mississippi River. Framed by the beautiful gardens of Jackson Square it looked like a scene from a fairy tale.

“The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone, is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been.”  - Albert Einstein-

Roatan, Honduras is a small island, only about 33 miles long and four miles wide, located about 30 miles off the north coast of mainland Honduras. It’s an idyllic spot of unsurpassed tropical beauty and pristine waters for diving and snorkeling. Beneath the beauty lurks one of its less attractive, but equally fascinating inhabitants, iguanas.  

There are so many great new books hitting the shelves all the time, making it difficult to single one out.  So, I’ve included a few recent releases that sounded interesting from writers I’m familiar with. For more, just click on each title which takes you directly to the Amazon listing. Amanda Running Scared ( Contemporary Romance/Suspense) by Georgina Sellwood. Someone wants her dead... But why?  When Amanda Vanderbilt is attacked at a party, she hides in a cowboy’s horse trailer to elude the masked man suddenly stalking her relentlessly.  Bruce Palmer is on a mission to pick up horses for his boss across country in Seattle. A loner, he wants nothing to do with the pretty blonde he finds stowed away.  But like it or not, he’s been lassoed into the mess, and it’s now his duty to protect her.  Who is the masked man and why is he chasing them in a semi?  The Last Princess of Meigen ( Historical Romance/Medieval) by Rachel A. James...

  Belize is home to many Mayan ruins of varying size, complexity, and importance. Not far outside of Belize City, is Altun Ha, an early classic site which is considered one of the smaller historic Mayan sites in the area, yet one of the richest. Among the treasures discovered at Altun Ha are a jade skull of Kinich Ahau, the Maya Sun God, and the residue from a codex (fragments left after the organic material has rotted away). Only three codices and one fragment of a codex have been discovered, so even the remains of one of these rare Mayan books is a significant find. 

Just released, Gold Nuggets , a young adult historical romance by Lynn Lovegreen. In the shadow of Denali, she has a home, and he finds adventure.   Charlotte Cooper wants to stay near her parents' home in Alaska. But her dreams of being a writer call her away to college or work, and she has to choose her own path in life.  Henry Reeves is a wealthy New Yorker seeking a summer adventure when he travels to Kantishna near the proposed Mt. McKinley National Park. He discovers two passions, one for Charlotte, and the other for keeping Alaska wildlife from being wiped out like the buffalo.  Charlotte and Henry find an attraction they can’t deny, but can they build a new life together between the wilderness and high society? Lynn Lovegreen grew up in Alaska, and still lives there. She taught English for 20 years before retiring to make more time for writing. She enjoys reading, hanging out with friends and family, and hitting targets with a cowboy action ...

There are few places on earth more spectacular than Grand Teton National Park. The scenery alone is enough to take your breath away, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. The geological and human histories tell an amazing story, and recreational opportunities abound. Grand Teton is home to an abundance of plant and animal life including some of the West’s most iconic species such as bears, wolves, elk, moose, pronghorn, deer, and bison. If you find yourself in the area this summer, don’t miss out on a visit to this amazing place.

With knowledge, he believed he could find answers. She had only faith. Derrick, a surgeon, is haunted by his brother’s death. When his prayers went unanswered, he turned his faith to science. He believes studying with an esteemed surgeon in England will return meaning to his life. Margaret’s fiancé died at the hands of a doctor who bled him to death. On board the Prosperity, she meets the arrogant Doctor Fortune who considers her no less than a milkmaid. She considers him a butcher. Though she must journey to England to hear the reading of the will of her grandfather, the Earl of Broadcraft, she finds herself constantly confronting Derrick on his methods of healing. Yet, there is something about his soulful eyes that attracts her. When a British ship presses the Prosperity’s sailors into service, Margaret and Derrick must work together if they are to reach England. But can they ever learn to trust each other enough to allow love into their hearts? Of this sequel to PATRI...

I hope everyone has a happy, fun, and safe 4 th of July holiday. Independence Day is also a great opportunity to thank all those who are serving and who have served, and their families, for their sacrifices for our freedom.  Thank you!