Kim McMahill

I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year, and that 2024 brings all that you work for and dream of to fruition. 

Another one is in the books. I hope 2023 treated you well and that 2024 is even better. Have a safe and fun New Year’s celebration. 

No matter how you choose to celebrate the holidays this year, I hope the season brings you peace, joy, and happiness. Cheers!

  “Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself.”  Edward Abbey 

Winter is in full swing. The days are short, the temperatures are chilly, and we’ve already seen plenty of snow. I always look forward to the winter solstice, which falls on December 21 this year. It will be the shortest day of the year, but after that, the amount of daylight increases ever so slightly from there on out. It kind of feels like we’re over the hump on the solstice even though it is technically the first day of winter. The holiday season has not started out well, but I anticipate the month ending on a very happy note. I’ve always been relieved once we’re into the new year and the holidays are behind me, but I try to stay upbeat for those who are all in when it comes to the festivities. Whether your celebrations are tepid or over the top, I hope you’re finding joy in the holiday season. WRITING NOTES AND NEWS I received the final round of edits from my editor for, A Refuge from the World (The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 1) . It’s looking like we’ll have a February 2024

I hope everyone enjoyed Black Friday and is ready for a more relaxing Cyber Monday. If you’re in the mood for action, adventure, romance, or crime fiction, please check out my Amazon page. There is something for everyone—cowboys, former Army Rangers, FBI agents, CIA, archeologists, and teens on the run in a dystopian world. Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kim-McMahill/

In keeping with what has become a bit of a blog tradition, I’m sharing my pumpkin cheesecake recipe with readers since I’m not a huge fan of the traditional pumpkin pie. Enjoy the cheesecake, if you choose to give it a try, and I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. 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 times vary, so

I've traveled all over the world, but until last month, I've never visited the West Coast of the United States. We headed southwest until we reached California's redwoods, and then drove Highway 101 north to Astoria, Oregon before heading home. It was an amazing trip filled with amazing scenery, interesting wildlife, fantastic food, and diverse weather (we had sun, rain, and snow at Crater Lake National Park). It was a truly remarkable trip that I hope to repeat soon.  

If it weren’t for the fact that winter is just around the corner, fall might be my favorite season. I love the colors, temperatures, and the lull after a busy tourist season. Everything in the garden has been harvested, frozen, dried, canned or otherwise dealt with. It’s been a lot of work, so I’m kind of glad that’s behind me for now, though by the first of the year, I’ll be itching to start planning next year’s garden. With slower times associated with the season, we’ were able to get out and take a road trip to the west coast while the roads and high-mountain passes were still in good shape. It was my first drive along the Oregon and Washington coasts, and the scenery and wildlife were amazing. We also dipped into Northern California to take a peek at the redwoods-well worth the effort. I hope everyone is having the opportunity to enjoy their fall favorites, and I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. WRITING NOTES AND NEWS I’ve finished the latest round of edits on, A Refuge from

I hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween.

This summer flew by. We got the van out in May and down into southern Utah for a few days. We didn’t come up for a breath of air again until the middle of August and made a quick trip to Canada and the Eastern Seaboard. We saw some beautiful scenery, but I’m a little spoiled with all the amazing landscapes close by in Wyoming and Montana. But, we did get some delicious seafood, which isn’t quite as easy to come by at home and a real treat.

Fall is here. I had a good run with the garden this year despite a slow start. It was cool and rained the entire month of June. July and August saw a few 100-degree days, and hints of fall in the air were showing up in September. I already miss the long days, but I’m enjoying the mild temperatures and college (and local high school) volleyball. I hope your fall is off to a good start and you’re enjoying the changing of the seasons. WRITING NOTES AND NEWS I’m just wrapping up the first draft of the fifth novel in the Beartooth Chronicles, my new, action-adventure, dystopian series. And, just in the nick of time. It’s in a good spot to set it aside for a while and return my focus to book 1. I have a new editor, and I’m very excited to work with her on this project. I am so anxious to share this saga with everyone. The first novel is slated for an early 2024 release. I’ll keep you posted on its progress and hope to have a cover to share with you soon. Meanwhile, I continue to write

The garden is all but done for the season. Only a few hardy plants remain. I had decent production despite an odd summer. I had to plant a couple weeks later than usual due to cold overnight temperatures. It stayed cool and rained pretty much the entire month of June. July and August turned hot, some days reaching over 100 degrees. I had a good harvest of beans, bell peppers, lettuce, cabbage, and chilis/peppers (Anaheim, Serrano, Jalapeno). I got enough corn, tomatoes, zucchini, peas, and cucumbers to enjoy, but not enough to brag about. And, the brussel sprouts never matured. The one big surprise was our grape vines. It’s our vines fourth year and we finally got enough wine grapes to attempt a few bottles of wine. Overall, I’m satisfied, but I’m already looking forward to gardening season 2024.

Despite being a poor swimmer and having a healthy respect for water, I'm fascinated by it. I also understand its vital role in the survival of humanity and our planet. Access to clean water is essential for the health of people around the world, and is necessary for growing food and maintaining a healthy and function ecosystem. But on a less serious side, water has a calming influence on the soul. Nothing is more relaxing than sitting on a beach or lakeshore watching the water or floating down a lazy river. And often, I just enjoy its beauty and am mesmerized by its power.   

I may have posted about this hidden gem before, but it is so interesting, that I wanted to share some more photos. Legend’s Rock Archeological State Park in Wyoming has some amazingly well-preserved petroglyphs. The site is located far from anything and not well advertised, but worth the effort of going a little out of the way.            

As summer winds down and we begin to feel the subtle shift of the seasons, I look back with a little disappointment. Summer is usually my favorite season, but it didn’t start out well and ended even worse. Last summer was consumed with sadness and emotional upheaval. I didn’t think it could get worse, but it did. I won’t go into details since everyone has their own issues to deal with. Instead, I’ll share a few highlights. I’ve always loved to garden, and I think this year’s garden is one of my best ever. I also got to spend a lot of time with my sister this summer, but unfortunately, not under the best of circumstances.  Based on temperature, I always think of summer in Wyoming as running from June through August. Technically, the first day of fall this year is September 23, so I guess the summer isn’t over yet, and I’m still hopeful that things will pick up. WRITING NOTES AND NEWS Editing on the first of four novels in the Beartooth Chronicles, my new young-adult/new-adult acti

When I can't get too far away, I look for a few moments to enjoy the peace, solitude, and beauty of the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway and the Beartooth Highway. Here are a few photos I'd like to share of this spectacular place .

The Risky Research Series is about a deadly group, known as Coterie, that is out to control the diet, nutrition, and health product industry worth billions, and those who will stop and nothing to end their dangerous game. Each book in the series focuses on a different aspect of the industry from miracle weight loss pills, artificial sweeteners, to politics and lobbyists. It all starts with A Dose of Danger . Coterie had operated under the radar until a researcher and her team discover what they believed to be a miracle weight loss pill, which makes them the target of this dangerous crime syndicate. With the researcher’s colleagues either dead, missing, or on the run she soon realized she must trust the local deputy with her life, but is uncertain if she can trust him with her heart.    Next, in A Taste of Tragedy , with Coterie’s trail growing cold, FBI agents Devyn Nash and Nick Melonis get a lead in an unexpected place. Nick’s ex-wife, Morgan Hunter, reaches out to him when she u

I hope everyone is enjoying summer. It’s been an odd one for me so far with lots of ups and downs. We’ve had an uncharacteristically rainy start to the season, but it’s been wonderful for my garden which is always a highlight for me. My writing has taken on a more therapeutic role in my life, but it seems to be helping me create some of my best work. It hasn’t been a happy summer overall, but I’m hoping I can turn that around and find some joy in August, and I can end the season on a positive note.    WRITING NOTES AND NEWS As I anxiously await the next steps involved with the early 2024 release of the first novel of the four currently scheduled in my forthcoming new young adult/new adult action-adventure dystopian series, I’ve begun writing the fifth novel. This fifth novel pushes the characters into new environments and challenges that I hope will thoroughly entertain my readers. I also continue to write Kindle Vella episodes. My first Vella, Professor of Lies (Renegades’ Redem

“Through travel I first became aware of the outside world; it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into becoming a part of it.”   Eudora Welty, One Writer's Beginnings

For those who are not familiar with Kindle Vella, it is a way to read stories in short episodes from your phone or Kindle Fire. The first three episodes of any Vella are always free, so it’s a good way to find a story that appeals to you without spending a cent. Each author posts new episodes as different intervals. I generally post two to three times per week. I currently have three stories available.   Professor of Lies. find out what happens when a reluctant Russian spy settles in the heart of Utah’s military facilities with a woman who is already on the FBI’s radar.   https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BPYNQQY9/     Lessons in Deception. To elude Russian assassins, orchestrate an escape from the U.S. and stage her own death Megan must master lessons in deception. https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BWNS7KKD   While excavating Mayan Temples, they collide with looters, and Madison flees into the jungle. The more desperate her situation becomes, the more deter