Kim McMahill

Wishing everyone a fun and safe New Year’s Eve and Day. I hope 2019 brings many joys and pleasant surprises.

“Discovery is adventure. There is an eagerness, touched at times with tenseness, as man moves ahead into the unknown. Walking the wilderness is indeed like living. The horizon drops away, bringing new sights, sounds, and smells from the earth. When one moves through the forest, his sense of discovery is quickened. Man is back in the environment from which he emerged to build factories, churches, and schools. He is primitive again, matching his wits against the earth and sky. He is free of the restraints of society and free of its safeguards too.” William O. Douglas

I hope this greeting finds everyone well and that 2018 has been a happy, healthy, and prosperous year for all. Please remember the reason for the season and have a very Merry Christmas!

I’ve always been a bit of a Nativity scene collector. I currently have six different scenes (not counting ornaments), all with a story.  My collecting began the first Christmas after I got married. My mom gave me the Holy Family group of a collectable bisque porcelain set. Each year she gave me another figurine until I had the key pieces. This set will always be special since it was the first  .   My second nativity is hand-carved in beautiful wood .  I got it in Ecuador and it took several days of negotiating to get the price down to something I could afford, but when I saw it, I knew I had to have it .  The third, my husband and mother-in-law picked up a yard sale. At least they were thinking of me while I was at work. One of my most precious will always be the one I got after my grandmother’s passing. It was hand-painted by her friend and every time I look at it, I think of my wonderful grandma. The fifth, my mom picked up while she ...

A CHRISTMAS STOLEN tells the story of Danica Jordan and her search for a missing niece. When she arrives at her sister’s house to celebrate Christmas, she finds her sister asleep and no niece. Throughout A CHRISTMAS STOLEN , Danica Jordan believes her Christmas has been stolen by circumstances she had no control over. I wonder how many of us do the same not just at Christmas but on a daily basis. We buy into the belief that if our life isn’t perfect, we can’t be happy. If we don’t have everything we want, we can’t be happy. If we don’t get what we want, we can’t be happy. I suppose that could be true for non-believers, but it should never be true for believers—especially at this special time of the year, our Savior’s birthday. Don’t let circumstances steal Christmas from you. As Danica struggles with her feelings that her kidnapped niece may never be found, she comes to a realization. Without Christmas there can be no Easter and without Easter, there can be no eternal ...

A friend and fellow author, Gay N. Lewis, has developed a delightful and fun romantic series around a true angel, Sarah. In the Sarah Series, Sarah is sent from heaven to connect couples in romance, but she's dyslexic and creates havoc before she gets her missions accomplished. For the holiday season, be sure to check out Gay’s book, Sarah Helps Santa: A Christmas Fantasy. blurb:  Nick Claus, the single son of Santa, hates cold weather. He must marry, find a southern location for the family business, and relocate the North Pole operation—all within a year! Haphazard Sarah, the bumbling angel, follows Nick from California to Florida, but discovers no mate. Can Sarah find one for Nick in Texas? Will Texas become the new North Pole? And don’t miss, Sarah and the Cowboy's Lady, which is currently on Sale for just $0.99. blurb: Sarah, the haphazard angel, returns to Texas. Her mission this time is to bring comfort to a young woman who is about to receive dev...

Thank you, Kim, for hosting me on your blog.   I’m proud to announce my 8 th book, Dream Of Me This Christmas Eve , is now available. It’s a novella, so as readers have said, it’s a bite of Christmas instead of the whole meal.   Yet, for the writer, it’s a series of small plates, for the book has to have all the elements of a full length novel 😊   Okay, how did I get off on the food analogies?   Dream Of Me This Christmas Eve is the fourth book in the Star Light ~ Star Bright bestselling and award winning series.   Each book features the star on Flagstaff mountain, and I’ve been asked why feature a man-made object. Well, first off, at night it doesn’t look man-made, it’s just magical. But more importantly as I was writing the first book Be Mine This Christmas Morn I recalled a story mom told me about it. She was at a party and one of the neighbors was grousing about the star being too Christian. Mom said she completely disagreed. That no matter yo...

Ivy has just cause to be wary of men. Her long-time fiancé backed out of their wedding. The slow fizzle of their undramatic relationship leaves her wondering if romance is a myth. Then, Adam, an intriguing new member of her pet organization, catches Ivy’s attention. Unfortunately, his cat Isis, a beautiful purebred Egyptian Mau, prefers to pick on her cat, Memnet. Ivy would like to get to know Adam better, but with her self-esteem in the gutter and feline fights at every turn, she wonders how to proceed. When Ivy agrees to help a clingy friend find her missing pet, she learns that true love doesn’t need theatrics. There’s hope for Adam and Ivy, if only their cats would approve. Meow Mayhem and Meow Matrimony, full length cozy mysteries, arrive in early 2019. Click here to download a copy for your Kindle from Amazon or here for Nook . Bio: Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin author who loves books, collects dragons, and writes inspiring fiction. She also writes short stories, f...

This Christmas trip home will be different from all the rest.  She has the cents, he the horse sense. Can they put aside their differences long enough to save the ranch? And will her fiancé let her stay in the Hill Country or drag her back to society Dallas? Check out this quick read novella from an award-winning author. 99 cents on Amazon.  https://amzn.to/2zEilLA   

Author Carlene Havel grew up in Texas and married a military man.   Courtesy of the US Air Force, she has since lived in seven US states, the Republic of the Philippines, and Turkey.   Her husband loves to travel, and the two of them have had lots of fun satisfying his wanderlust.   Although Carlene prefers peaceful mountain forests, her husband enjoys big cities, exotic locales, and archeological sites. They still laugh about an adventure in a Parisian coin operated laundry, and most likely some French housewives do, too.   The Havels now live in Texas, in the midst of a big, extended family.   Carlene had no interest in writing until 2005, when she became a believer in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world.   Along with everything else that changed, she developed a passion for writing.   Carlene loves Bible study, normally devoting most of one day each week delving into the scriptures with a small focus group.   She also enjoys sewing,...

December is full of noteworthy days. Here are a few to put on your calendar. December 2 – Advent begins December 3 – Chanukah begins December 7 – Pearl Harbor Day December 12 – Poinsettia Day December 21 – Winter Solstice (the shortest day of the year) December 25 – Christmas December 26 – Boxing Day and Kwanzaa December 27 – National Fruitcake Day December 31 – New Year’s Eve

I don’t know why this was such a surprise, but it was. There is a significant wine industry outside of Halifax in the Annapolis Valley. They grow their own grapes and produce fine wines. I guess I always assumed Nova Scotia was too far north for such an enterprise, but the moderating effect of the ocean has made it possible. The countryside was a peaceful place of quaint towns, farmers markets, and of course vineyards. As with most places I visit, I only wish I had had more time to explore.

Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have the opportunity to share this holiday with family and friends. For a twist on the traditional Thanksgiving pumpkin pie, I often make pumpkin cheesecake. If you want to give it a whirl this year, here’s my favorite recipe. Enjoy and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.     PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE Crust : Crush 10 whole graham crackers and mix with 3 tablespoons of sugar and 3 tablespoons of butter. Press into a 10 inch cheesecake spring pan (bottom and 2 inches up the sides). Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Remove. Filling : Beat together until smooth, 2 (8-oz) packages of cream cheese (works best if softened), 1 cup of light cream, 1 cup of canned pumpkin, ¾ cup of sugar, 4 egg yolks (save whites in a separate bowl), 3 tablespoons of flour, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, ½ teaspoon each of ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Beat egg whites until stiff and gently fold into the pumpkin mixture. Pour ove...

If you love romantic suspense and adventure, but your life only allows for audio books during the morning commute, precious moments of exercise, etc., four of my novels are available in audio on Amazon. I’ve posted the blurbs below. Just click on the title to go directly to each book’s page on Amazon. Enjoy! A Dose of Danger :   When researcher Grace Talbot and her team discover a possible solution for weight loss they are targeted by a group dedicated to controlling the multi-billion dollar a year diet-product industry. Her unsanctioned testing methods bring tragedy to the family ranch and the attention of the local sheriff’s deputy. With her colleagues either dead, missing, or on the run she soon realizes she must trust the deputy with her life, but can she trust him with her heart? (Risky Research Series Book 1) A Taste of Tragedy : Morgan Hunter uncovers evidence that the healthy foods she’s been hired to promote may be dangerous. To learn the truth, she must cross a d...

There were an overwhelming number of things to do and see in Boston. After checking out the scene along the waterfront, we opted for a beer and distillery tour. I always enjoy visiting local industries whether they are an integral part of the historic fabric of a city or region or a burgeoning new enterprise. Some of the stops were more interesting than others, but all-in-all, it was an interesting and entertaining look at Boston.

The last entrance fee-free day into our National Parks in 2018 is November 11 (Veterans Day). Mark you calendar and be sure to visit your favorite National Park for free. For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm .

Though I have been to New York City several times, I know little to nothing about the east coast of the United States or New England culture. I just finished up traveling along the east coast of the U.S. and Canada and was amazed at the beauty along the coast, the historic buildings, and charm of the towns and cities. Newport, Rhode Island was a special place. I got the impression it might be a little overrun with visitors during the summer, but we found it slowing down. As we walked through town, classic cars rolled by on their way to a car show out at the fort. We stumbled onto a boat restoration school and were invited in by the only student working that day to check it out. But, best of all was the food. It was exciting to finally enjoy my first lobster roll and I look forward to future visits.

Here are a few special day in November to keep in mind. November 1: All Saint’s Day November 1-2: Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) November 4: Daylight Savings time ends November 6: U.S. General Election November 11: Veteran’s Day November 13: Caregiver Appreciation Day and Sadie Hawkins Day November 20: Universal Children’s Day November 22: Thanksgiving Day

“Camp out among the grass and gentians of glacier meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of Nature’s darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”  - John Muir - 

The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. Jacques Yves Cousteau, Oceanographer The Dolphin and Me by Gail Pallotta I stood beside the pool in Sea World in Orlando, Florida, and yearned for a picture of a dolphin. Bystanders swished bottles in the water trying to get the attention of the graceful mammals. I didn’t, because I feared a container might hurt one of them. Hoping one would rise up, I focused my camera. The man beside me, who wiggled a bottle in the water, left. Lo and behold, a dolphin raised its head right in front of me. Surprised, I fumbled with the camera. The huge creature posed with the big smile typical of dolphins and didn’t budge until I snapped its picture. Then it joined the other porpoises. As soon as we returned home, I read Whales, Dolphins & Porpoises, by Ronald M Lockley. He wrote about Frank Robson, who took care of porpoises in Mareineland at Napier in Hawke’s Bay off New Zealand’s North Island. Once as...

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”  - Mark Twain-

The time has come to concede defeat and admit that summer has passed. Everything from my yard that is in a pot has been moved into the greenhouse. I don’t plan on heating it, but suspect I can eke out another month or two of fresh herbs and cherry tomatoes by moving them in. There are few things I enjoy more than gardening, so I’m thankful my husband installed a greenhouse to enable me to experience the joy just a little bit longer.

“Bears are made of the same dust as we, and they breathe the same winds and drink of the same waters. A bear’s days are warmed by the same sun, his dwellings are overdomed by the same blue sky, and his life turns and ebbs with heart pulsing like ours. He was poured from the same first fountain. And whether he at last goes to our stingy Heaven or not, he has terrestrial immortality. His life, not long, not short, knows no beginning, no ending. To him life unstinted, unplanned, is above the accidents of time, and his years, markless and boundless, equal eternity.”   - John Muir - , 1838, Yosemite, California -

Here are a few dates in October to keep in mind, especially smiling, sweet, make-a-difference kind of days. October 1 – International Day for the Elderly October 5 – World Smile Day October 8 – Columbus Day and Thanksgiving Day in Canada October 20 – Sweetest Day October 24 – United Nations Day October 27 – Make a Difference Day October 31 - Halloween

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste it, to experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”  - Eleanor Roosevelt -

The fall or autumnal equinox occurs on September 22 this year. The fall equinox is the astronomical start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the day when the Earth’s two hemispheres receive nearly equal amounts of sun. Daylight and darkness won’t be exactly equal on this day, but close, so enjoy the sun and the colors while you can.

The next to last entrance fee-free days into our National Parks in 2018 is September 22 (National Public Lands Day). The last one for the year will be November 11 (Veterans Day). Mark you calendar and be sure to visit your favorite National Park for free this weekend. For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm

What if today was "lights out?" If you knew this was your last day to live, what would you do? Would you face the end with a clear conscience? Would you fight for one more day? Look for that person you wronged and make it right? Run away? Turn and fight? What would you do? In Lights Out by Kayelle Allen, the hero knows his end is near. Instead of running, Tornahdo makes a choice. He will face death with a clear conscience and the knowledge that his death will serve mankind. He will join... GHOST CORPS He can save mankind. After he does one important thing. Die. Join the Ghost Corps, they said. You'll live forever, they said. You'll save mankind, they said. They didn't say that to do it, first he had to die. When Tornahdo signs on the dotted line, he puts his life into the steady hands of the mighty Ghost Corps. Three grisly deaths and three agonizing resurrections later, he's assigned duty on Enderium Six. He's facing his most dangerous mission ...