Kim McMahill

I doubt there has ever been a year that so many are so glad to see behind them than 2020. I hope 2021 will be a new beginning for all, we can get back to the people and things we love, and we can embrace a new era of hope and compassion. Even though the actual New Year’s Eve celebrations will still need to be scaled back, may the anticipation of better things to come give us all the strength to be diligent just a little bit longer.   

Boxing Day is generally celebrated on December 26 th ; however, if Christmas falls on a Friday or Saturday it is recognized on the following Monday. Boxing Day is a legal holiday in England, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and other former British commonwealth countries. The roots of the holiday go back to the Middle Ages. On this day, members of the merchant class would take boxes filled with food and fruits, and give them to servants and the less fortunate. In the case of servants, since they would have to work on Christmas Day, it was only fitting that immediately after Christmas, they would be given a day off to celebrate. Today, in celebration of Boxing Day, people often fill boxes with food and clothing for the needy and perform volunteer work or give monetary gifts to charity.

To many, including myself, this Christmas will be uneventful and the much-anticipated end to a very bad year. Despite the situation in the world, I hope everyone can find a way to have a happy and safe holiday and hold on to as many traditions as possible. Most of all, the reason for the season has not changed, and there is hope for the year to come. Blessings to all this holiday season.

Time is running out on the N.N. Light Book Heaven sixth annual Holiday Gift Guide. This year there are 137 books featured in different themed gift guides. You can find each guide on the Holiday Gift Guide main page at https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/holiday-gift-guide . The Holiday Gift Guides will run from November 6 – December 31.

  Even in a normal year, I’m not really gung-ho about all the commercial trappings associated with Christmas. We generally put up a tree that we trim with handmade ornaments or ornaments that were acquired during our travels or that have other special meaning. But what I enjoy the most, is my nativity scenes and this year they happen to all fit in the same cabinet. Each one has a special meaning. My mom started one set for me the first year I was married (34 years ago), giving me an additional piece each Christmas until the company discontinued the set. One belonged to my grandma, one was handmade in Ecuador and I purchased it in a local village market, and one my mom bought me in Juarez, Mexico while we were there doing volunteer work many years ago. The smallest one was purchased during a major event that occurred in our lives eighteen years ago that we overcame, so it symbolizes triumph. This year, though, the nativity sets are what makes this Christmas feel just a little bit normal

 Across the Miles: Poems of Fantasy, Faith, and Fun by Annie Douglass Lima Watch a violinist spin stars and snowflakes into existence and wake dragons. Step into a bookstore full of dusty treasures, and wander through a graveyard for poems that died before their birth. Join a solitary star treading the measures of its stately dance above a rainbow like a stream of dripping jewels. Then mourn with the alien who crash-landed on Earth and can’t get home - but be careful to avoid the deadly shadow creatures slinking through the darkness. Grab your copy of this volume of poetry now and embark on an unforgettable journey across the miles! cover photography by Lisa Douglass These poems touch on themes such as travel, friendship, nature, God, music, fantasy, music, animal encounters, and school. Some whimsical, some serious, they include specific, lesser-known varieties of poetry such as pantoum, rondeau, triolet, roundel, and villanelle.  Read on to sample two of the poems in Across the Mile

My publisher suggested I write a short story to give away (as a downloadable ebook) to compliment the Risky Research Series in advance of releasing the fourth installment, A Measure of Madness, on April 9, 2021. I feared I wouldn’t have time to write a story with everything else going on in my life right now, but the exercise turned out to be very cathartic. At a time when finishing a novel seems overwhelming, this project provided a wonderful distraction and stress relief valve. So, I jumped in with both feet and the ideas poured out. I’m pleased to report that I finished it and submitted it to my publisher ahead of schedule. The story flashes back five years to a counterfeiting case Devyn worked on with Wyoming Sheriff Gage Harris (mentioned in book 1 in the series, A Dose of Danger). The title will be Midnight in Montana. I’m very excited about this little story. I think it turned out well and adds to the series. I’ll let everyone know just as soon as it is available. Thanks for you

  “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” ―  Robert F. Kennedy

Here’s what’s on tap for December. Hopefully all will find a way to celebrate in a safe and thoughtful way. 7 th - Pearl Harbor Day 10th - Chanukah lasts 8 days 12 th - Poinsettia Day 21 st - Winter Solstice (shortest day of the year) 25 th - Christmas 26 th - Kwanzaa 27 th - National Fruitcake Day 28 th - Boxing Day 31 st - New Year's Eve

Time is running out to enter the Pre-holiday Giveaway for a chance to win ebooks, print books, and $462 in gift cards. There are 79 participating authors representing a broad spectrum of romance subgenres and heat levels. The giveaway runs from October 1 – December 1, 2020. a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope everyone can find a way to celebrate safely with family this unusual holiday season. For those who will be staying local and baking, here is one of my favorite pumpkin cheesecake recipes, a fun twist on the traditional pumpkin pie. Enjoy and have a nice 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 over prepared crust and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Baking time

I finally have a little writing news to share. The release date for A Measure of Madness, the fourth book in the Risky Research Series, is set for April 9, 2021. In the meantime, my publisher has me working on another perma-free short story download to accompany the series, similar to what I did in A Formidable Foe. A Formidable Foe goes all the way back to Devyn’s college years and provides some background into the events that shaped the woman FBI Special Agent Devyn Nash has become. It is still free to download. The one I’m working on now will flash back five years to when Devyn originally crossed paths with Wyoming Sheriff Gage Harris. No title or release date as of yet. And lastly, the fifth and likely final installment in the Risky Research Series, A Recipe for Revenge, is coming along nicely and will hopefully not get derailed too much as the holidays approach. Thanks for your continuing interest in my work.

There are so many social media options available and blogs to follow, that if you’re reading this post on my blog, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you spending a little time with me. If other social media formats are more your thing, you can also find me at the following sites. Thanks again for stopping by. Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimmcmahill Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimMcMahillAuthor/ Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kim-mcmahill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimmcmahill/   Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/849945.Kim_McMahill Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kim-McMahill/e/B007IK0EJW/

  N.N. Light’s Book Heaven has its sixth annual Holiday Gift Guide up and running, so I hope you’re ready for some exciting shopping fun. This year there are 137 books featured. Below you will find the schedule for each themed gift guide (a few have already released. Each themed guide will go live on the below dates and their links will be on the Holiday Gift Guide main page at  https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/holiday-gift-guide . The Holiday Gift Guide runs from November 6 – December 31. Check it out and I hope you find what you are looking for.   11/6 – Fantasy, Cookbooks 11/9 – Romantic Suspense, Mystery 11/10 – Western Romance 11/11 – Suspense/Thriller 11/12 – Women’s Fiction 11/13 – Self-Help/New Age, Nonfiction (general) 11/16 – Science Fiction, Historical Fiction 11/17 – Paranormal Romance, Paranormal 11/18 – Contemporary Romance 11/19 – Fiction/Literary Fiction 11/20 – Steamy Romance 11/23 – Holiday Fiction/Romance 11/24 – Cozy Mystery 11/25 – H

Each year the National Park Service has a number of entrance fee-free days where all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. The last one for 2020 is November 11, Veterans Day. Be sure to check out your nearest National Park Service site on this free day. For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm

Book reviews are very important for authors for a number of reasons including increasing a book’s visibility and chances of being found by readers. On many websites, books with more book reviews are more likely to be shown to prospective readers than books with few or no reviews, and reviews may help increase a book’s reach among bookstores, book clubs, blogging communities, etc. So, if you like what you read, please consider penning a few simple sentences. Authors everywhere, including me, will be eternally grateful. Thank you!

  “A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.” ―  Nelson Mandela

November has a lot of days of note and various happenings. Here are a few to keep i n  mind. 1 st -   All Saint's Day and Daylight Savings time ends 1 st -2 nd - Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) 2 nd -  All Soul's Day - usually on the 2nd 3 rd  - U.S. General Election Day - please exercise your right to vote 11 th - Veteran's Day 13 th - Caregiver Appreciation Day, Friday the 13 th , and Sadie Hawkins Day 19 th - Great American Smokeout 20 th - Universal Children's Day 26 th - Thanksgiving Day 27 th - Black Friday  29 th - Advent begin s

"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous," Aristotle. I can think of no better way to describe Yellowstone in the fall. The park is always amazing, but nothing compares to the opportunity to enjoy its wonders without the hordes of people and to find complete solitude in much of its diverse landscape.

Make a Difference Day was initiated in 1990 and is observed on the fourth Saturday in October (October 24, 2020). This is a national day devoted to helping others by doing volunteer work in the community. On this day, millions of Americans participate in community improvement projects, including tasks to cleanup, fixup, paint, and conduct repairs in poorer neighborhoods, parks and municipal facilities. It doesn't matter whether you help a non-profit organization, parks, your community or town, a nursing home, a church, a food kitchen, or any other group in need, or what project you undertake. What matters is that you participate.  

  A recent day trip to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area left me asking myself why I don’t go there more often. Being past the summer boating and tourist season, we had the place nearly to ourselves. The scenery was stunning and spotting bighorn sheep and wild horses up close was a special treat. There are a number of cultural sites as well, including tepee rings and historic ranches. And, after a few overnight freezes and cool daytime temperatures to force the rattlesnakes into hiding or at least into a more sluggish behavior as they search for warming sunshine, I felt a little more comfortable hiking.

Sweetest Day was started in 1922 by Herbert Birch Kingston, a Cleveland, Ohio philanthropist and candy company employee. He gave candy and small gifts to orphans, shut-ins, and the under-privileged to bring happiness to these people and show them that they were not forgotten.   The popularity of this holiday quickly spread; however, the tradition morphed into people giving chocolates, candies, and other sweets to loved ones and friends. While this is nice, if you want to follow the original selfless intent of this special day, find ways to give candy and small gifts to those in need. In 2020, Sweetest Day is on October 17.

“Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.” ―  Kahlil Gibran

Check out the Pre-holiday Giveaway for a chance to win ebooks, print books, and $462 in gift cards. There are 79 participating authors representing a broad spectrum of romance subgenres and heat levels. The giveaway runs from October 1 – December 1, 2020. Enter below.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

  “Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.” ―  R.J. Palacio,  Wonder

October has a number of days that remind everyone to be kind. I hope we can all exhibit empathy for others and look for what unites us during this very divisive month this year. Here’s what’s happening in October. 1 st – International Day for the Elderly 2 nd – World Smile Day 4 th – Oktoberfest ends in Germany 12 th – Columbus Day, Indigenous People Day, and Thanksgiving Day in Canada 16 th – Boss’s Day 17 th – Sweetest Day 24 th – United Nations Day and Make a Difference Day 31 st – Halloween

  I’ve noticed a growing trend lately of people accusing others who don’t share their views of “hating America.” This generalization is melodramatic and most likely extremely erroneous, and I would caution not confusing a single policy, law, handling of an issue, person, or party with America. Equating a dislike of a politician or disagreeing with how a crisis is handled with hating America makes no more sense than equating the dislike of a minister or how a church handles a controversial issue with hating God. Clearly the terrorists who hijacked planes and flew them into the World Trade Center hated America, but having differing opinions on politicians and issues is not a “you see it my way or you hate America,” scenario. We can have different views and still love America.

Each year the National Park Service has a number of entrance fee-free days where all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. There aren’t many left in 2020, so make sure you take advantage of these two remaining dates. September 26: National Public Lands Day November 11: Veterans Day For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm

This Monday’s meme is from Deadly Exodus, which explores a time when U.S. citizens feel compelled to undertake dangerous measures to escape into Mexico. Learn why in this dystopian action-adventure.

I’ve posted a lot about my garden this summer. This is the first year since growing up helping my mom with giant gardens that I haven’t had to rely on small raised beds. I’ve always made the most of those small plots, but this year I had enough space for everything I wanted. I think I can do even better next year by different crop placement, altering some planting times, and more soil amendment but overall, it was a great year. So, here’s where it ended up: Lettuce - produced enough to last two families until September. Peas – snacked on fresh while grazing in the garden and froze six bags. Green beans - enjoyed all the fresh we could eat and froze about ten bags. Cucumbers - made many salads and two batches of refrigerator pickles. Bok Choy and spinach – all we could eat through July. Potatoes - dug about fifteen pounds that we’ll store for use throughout the winter. Corn - had about five meals of fresh corn on the cob (got a late start, which we’ll remedy next year).

Here’s this Monday’s meme. Big Horn Storm is a contemporary western thriller. Think Red Dawn with adults on horseback in beautiful rugged mountain country.

  “Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.” ―  Roy T. Bennett,  The Light in the Heart

  “It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” ―  Anne Frank,  The Diary of a Young Girl If Anne Frank could believe, so can I, and I do. Let's all be the best we can be and try to bring out the best in others.

September is a month of transition from summer to fall, and there are a number of dates worth remembering. Here’s what’s happening in September.   7 th – Labor Day 11 th – 911 Remembrance 13 th – Grandparents Day 17 th – Constitution Day 18 th – Rosh Hashanah (begins at sundown) 19 th – Oktoberfest begins in Germany 21 st – International Peace Day (UN) 22 nd – Fall Equinox 25 th – Native American Day 27 th – Yom Kippur

The best part of social media is connecting with readers, travelers, and adventurers from around the world. For those who enjoy other platforms you can also find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kimmcmahill/ , Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/849945.Kim_McMahill , Book Bub at https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kim-mcmahill , or follow my blog at http://KimMcMahill.blogspot.com . Thank you for sharing in my fictional and real-life adventures.

Each year the National Park Service has a number of entrance fee-free days where all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone.  A couple have already passed, but here’s what’s left. August 25: The National Park Service’s Birthday September 26: National Public Lands Day November 11: Veterans Day

  My first book was published in 1999. I can’t believe I’ve been writing for over twenty years. Sometimes the rapidly changing face of publishing and marketing makes me want to throw in the towel, but that’s easier said than done. After dedicating nearly every free moment of my time for over two decades it has become a part of who I am as much as what I do. I’m proud of my body of work and I believe that each project has evolved in the right direction. I can only hope that some piece of it has touched someone or at least provided an escape from the everyday by taking the reader on an exciting adventure. Thank you for sharing in my journey and I hope you will continue along for the ride for years to come. And, if you like my work, recommending it to others is the highest compliment you can give and is greatly appreciated. You can also follow my author Facebook page at   https://www.facebook.com/KimMcMahillAuthor/ 

This Monday’s meme is from Marked in Mexico.

How far will a deadly group go to control the nutrition and diet product industry worth billions, and can anyone stop them? Find out in the Risky Research Series. Book 1 - A Dose of Danger, Book 2 – A Taste of Tragedy, Book 3 – A Foundation of Fear, and the prequel novelette, A Formidable Foe is #FREE to download. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clZIRJ1s-Fo&feature=youtu.be