Kim McMahill

I’m so pleased to announce the release of the third novel in The Beartooth Chronicles, Isolated from Anarchy . It is scheduled to be released on November 26, but you can pre-order your copy now at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DMV1QS9Q/ If you are following the series, I hope you will enjoy this latest installment in the saga. If you haven’t jumped in, you can download the first two novels in the series, Refuge from the World and Above the Abyss , at special discounted rates offered in anticipation of the release of the third novel. Here’s a bit more about the series and Isolated from Anarchy . Series Blurb: In a world plagued by natural and human disasters, a small group establishes a community high on a mountain. The home they’ve created has provided a safe and comfortable existence, b ut as the environmental disasters continue to multiply, bringing out the worst of humanity, the residents of Beartooth find themselves faced with a series of challenges that will test their abil

I’m not only an avid traveler, but I’m a huge fan of stories set in out-of-the-way places, different countries around the world, and areas with unique or beautiful scenery. And, who doesn't love a good romance. So, needless to say, I am very excited to welcome J. Arlene Culiner to my blog. Please read on to learn more about her and her incredible work. J. Arlene Culiner: I love setting my romance books in out-of-the-way places — the Nevada desert, a forgotten cove on the California coast, or in backwoods towns no one has ever heard of. But it was time I wrote about the country I know best: France. After all, France is where I live and work as an artist. And why not create a heroine — and hero — who are both artists? The result is, The Unpredictable Colors of Love. The Unpredictable Colors of Love Contemporary Romance in the French Countryside  by J. Arlene Culiner In her late forties, Callie Patterson, an amateur artist, craves success in the art world. Opportunity presents

In 2024, the National Park Service has six entrance fee-free days where all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. Five have already passed. The last free entrance day is November 11, 2024 in celebration of Veterans Day. For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm  

With Halloween in the review mirror, it’s time to look forward to Thanksgiving. However you choose to celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful holiday. WRITING I just got the cover for Isolated from Anarchy ( The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 3) . I love the way the designer kept the common elements from the covers of the first two novels in the series, Refuge from the World (Book 1) and Above the Abyss (Book 2) , but used a completely different color scheme to mix things up and added a helicopter which hints at an event that will forever change Beartooth. I think it’s pretty awesome. My publisher also indicated that the prices on the first two novels may be reduced prior to release of the third novel, so watch for that. If you haven’t started the series, you’ll be able to jump in for a very low cost. I hope you will j oin Ashley and Caleb as they embrace the challenges of learning about love, dealing with tragedy and grief, protecting their community from deadly predators and ruthle

I’d like to welcome Mary Martinez to my blog. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, suspense, and women’s fiction, and she has just begun to dabble in young adult mystery. Mary also writes as  ML Foxx . This is her first jaunt into Fantasy and Sci-Fi, and she loves it.     Mary lives in Magna, a little town west of Salt Lake City, Utah. She loves to spend time with family and friends--she includes good books as friends! She and her husband love to travel, especially to the Caribbean for relaxing, Ireland and Scotland for her heritage, and Italy for the wine. One of her favorite US destinations is New York/Brooklyn, where her beloved Beckett's live. When she visits, she can wander their neighborhoods, favorite parks, and visit their favorite pub,  Putnam's . Mary and her husband are also enthusiastic college football fans. They have season tickets to the UTES; University of Utah Football and they tailgate every game. They love tailgating so much, that they were

  “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

When I was a kid, it was a rare thing to see a turkey in the wild. The numbers have increased significantly over the years in western states, and it seems like they can be found nearly everywhere now. When we lived in South Dakota we had a lot of them on our property (photo at left). They can be difficult to hunt and are much smarter than they look, but are fun to watch. In The Beartooth Chronicles, hunting turkeys for the community's annual Thanksgiving feast is a tradition that Ash and Caleb share and the resident’s appreciate.

“A man practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, traveling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints.” Wilferd Peterson

I hope everyone is settling into fall nicely. My only problem with fall is that it is the precursor to winter. I’m not a fan of the cold and have aspirations of becoming a snow-birder one day. So far that hasn’t happened, but a girl can dream. WRITING While I wait for the next round of edits to come back for Isolated from Anarchy ( The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 3) . I’m working on book 6. The first two novels in the series, Refuge from the World (Book 1) and Above the Abyss (Book 2) , are out, so if you haven’t jumped into this epic series, there is no better time than the present. I hope you will j oin Ashley and Caleb as they embrace the challenges of learning about love, dealing with tragedy and grief, protecting their community from deadly predators and ruthless neighbors, and experiencing amazing adventures while trying to find solutions to a rapidly changing environment and deteriorating world. Here's a very short excerpt from Refuge from the World : Caleb stowed

A trip to Ecuador (Photo taken in Quito, Ecuador) many years ago ignited my fascination with llamas. They were used for a variety of purposes including meat, milk, and to haul heavy loads. I bought a llama-wool sweater. It was hand-dyed and hand-woven, but it was nearly too itchy to wear even with a turtle-neck underneath it, but every time I took it out, it brought back a lot of found memories of the comical creatures. In Book 2 of The Beartooth Chronicles , Above the Abyss , three geologist arrive in Beartooth on horseback, leading a pack string of six llamas. Find out what they brought and how the new arrivals and llamas fit into the community. 

In 2024, the National Park Service has six entrance fee-free days where all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. Four have already passed, September 28, National Public Lands Day, is the next, and November 11, 2024 is the last of the year. For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm

Here’s one of my favorite Mark Twain quotes, though I have many.  “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

In Above the Abyss , book 2 in the series, the residents of Beartooth construct cold frames along the side of one of the log structures to help them continue to grow greens year-round after the first stratospheric aerosol injection lowers the temperatures at their high-elevation home. In agriculture and gardening, cold frames are transparent-roofed enclosures, generally built low to the ground . The transparent top allows sunlight in and prevents heat from escaping, particularly at night. Cold frames are a great way to extend the growing season in areas with short seasons.

I can’t believe that summer is almost over. I generally love summer, but this one has been a season of rollercoaster temperatures, lots of smoke from wildfires, and a host of other not-so-pleasant issues, so I won’t be a sad as I am most years to see it go. As an avid gardener, it is fun to watch the garden grow all summer and to be able to enjoy fresh produce as it matures, but there is something special about fall. It is a time to take stock of the garden’s bounty, assess successes and failures, and stow all the supplies for next year. It’s also time to slow down and enjoy the cooler temperatures and changing colors. I hope this fall can also be a time of rejuvenation for all. WRITING Six of my backlist titles were featured in Amazon’s August daily deals. Each book was discounted on the scheduled day, but I noticed that the discounted price stuck around for few days to weeks afterward. So, if you’ve missed any of my novels or want to give one a try, check now. Some ebooks may s

Over the years, I’ve posted Theodore Roosevelt quotes fairly often. I find he had a great deal of wisdom on a number of topics from conservation to patriotism to doing what’s right. Here’s one of my favorites.   “Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”  Theodore Roosevelt  

Celebrate your love of books all month long at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven Binge-Worthy Book Festival. 25 books, 17 bestselling and award-winning authors, $100 Amazon gift card up for grabs plus authors share what their first binge-worthy book they read and recommend. Join in the fun! My newest novel, Above the Abyss (The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 2) , will be featured on August 26. Stop by early and often, and be sure to visit on August 26. One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.  Enter to win below or visit the Binge-Worthy Book Festival page at    https://www.nnlightsbook heaven.com/binge-worthy-book-festival a Rafflecopter giveaway

The mine that I based the abandoned Avalanche Mine on in Above the Abyss , book 2 in The Beartooth Chronicles , is located in southwestern Montana. This mining site traces its origins back to 1917. The mine was an underground mining operation with veins producing gold, but mostly copper. The mine is located at about 9,600 feet in elevation. Many years ago, we often rode our ATVs up the steep, winding, dirt forest service road to the top of the high-elevation pass where the mine is located. Many relics from the active mining era were visible on the surface at that time. The climate at this elevation makes the mine accessible for only a few months in the summer. I hope you'll check out my dystopian series and discover more about the fictional mine and the crater that swallowed up the town below the mountain.

I’ve been stuck close to home. I’m itching to get out and explore, but sometimes things are out of our control. Fortunately, I live in an area where close to home (what I define as 100 miles or less) has a lot of amazing scenery and wide-open spaces for recreation. I was very excited to learn that six of my backlist titles have been selected as Amazon Daily Deals for August, which means for one day only the book will be available for download for just $1.99 on Amazon. Check the list of titles and dates below under “MY BOOKS.” Whether you’re spending your summer close to home or far away, I hope you’re having a wonderful break and you will pick up one of my new or discounted novels. Happy reading! WRITING I’ve been working on edits for book 3 in The Beartooth Chronicles , Isolated from Anarchy . I think we’re looking at an early fall 2024 release. In case you missed it, book 2, Above the Abyss , was released in June, and the first novel in the series, Refuge from the World , is

It’s been a weird year so far in the garden. We’ve had overnight lows dip to 36 degrees in June and quite a few daytime highs over a hundred. The garden has been a bit confused to say the least, but barring any more bizarre weather events, I think we’ll do okay. We’ve been eating a lot of salad greens. Many of the tomato, chili pepper, zucchini, and cucumber plants have small vegetables that need time to ripen. The corn is a little iffy, but we already have small heads of cabbage. Fortunately, it looks like we have tons of bees and other pollinators. If you’re a fellow gardener, I’d love to hear how the season has been elsewhere in Wyoming or other parts of the country.

My family always had horses. I learned to ride a horse before I learned to ride a bike. We participated in rodeo, and my dad’s idea of a family vacation was a pack trip into the mountains of Wyoming. I’ve included horses in a number of my novels, including each novel in  The Beartooth Chronicles . Every horse has its own personality, and it’s hard not to form a deep connection to the right horse. I’ve seen horses that seem to have a sense of humor, are grumpy, or that love attention. Most are loyal and strong, and I’ve encountered many who have so much heart that they would never give up, a trait which can’t help but inspire awe.   Horses play a practical role in the series. Not everyone is comfortable with the powerful animals, but those who are, depend on them often for survival. I hope you will join in the adventure starting with,  Refuge from the World (The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 1).  It is available in ebook and print from most major online booksellers. Order your ebook from A