Kim McMahill

Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day are observed on the second Monday of October, which falls on October 13 this year.   Columbus Day is a U.S. federal holiday that recognizes the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. It is also increasingly marked by Indigenous Peoples' Day, which recognizes the contributions and history of Indigenous peoples in the Americas. Indigenous Peoples' Day celebrates and honors Native American peoples and their histories and cultures. It recognizes the resilience and strength of Native Americans throughout history, while acknowledging the negative impacts of colonization on Indigenous communities. While Indigenous Peoples' Day is not a federal holiday like Columbus Day, it has been recognized as an official holiday by various cities and states. Indigenous Peoples' Day is for recognition, reflection, and promoting understanding and respect for the Indigenous peoples of the Americas.

  OCTOBER 2025 WRITING AND WANDERING #Newsletter Happy Fall! It would be my favorite season if it weren’t for the reality that winter is just around the corner. But until it freezes and snows, I’m enjoying the slower pace in an otherwise tourist town, reaping the harvest from my garden, watching college volleyball, and transiting to seasonal flavors like apples, pumpkin, and cinnamon. WRITING I’m waiting for the edits from my editor on the final novel in The Beartooth Chronicles, Winter Resurgence . I’m very excited about this story, but sad that the series will end. I will miss Ash, Caleb, and the rest of the resilient residents of Beartooth. If you haven’t started the series or aren’t caught up, I hope you will come onboard. It will be worth the time investment. WANDERINGS We took a road trip in September. We were anxious to go to the 2025 Pueblo Chile Festival and were lucky enough that we could attend University of Wyoming volleyball matches coming and going. We stock...

“There is nothing so American as our national parks. The scenery and the wildlife are native. The fundamental idea behind the parks is native. It is, in brief, that the country belongs to the people, that it is in process of making for the enrichment of the lives of all of us. The parks stand as the outward symbol of the great human principle.” Franklin D. Roosevelt (Photo: Grand Teton National Park)

In 2025, the National Park Service will waive entrance fees on six days. The next entrance fee-free day will be September 27, 2025, National Public Lands Day. The last free day in 2025 will be on Veteran’s Day, November 11. All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm  (Photo: Theodore Roosevelt National Park)

Marked in Mexico is still one of my favorite novels and continues to be my best-seller. It has 97 ratings/reviews on Amazon with an average of 4.5. This romantic thriller is fast-paced, gripping, and steeped in danger, and will hopefully keep you turning pages long into the night. Here’s a short blurb. It’s available through most of the major online booksellers, including Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PXLNWC9/ What begins as a dream vacation in the Caribbean turns into a nightmare when armed kidnappers seize tourists at one of Mexico’s most famous Mayan ruins. Their plan is simple—trade the hostages for the release of a jailed comrade in Texas. But when they discover their captives include the daughter of a powerful U.S. senator and a battle-hardened ex-Army Ranger, their scheme spirals out of control. Jessica never imagined her escape from paradise would leave her running for her life through the dense, unforgiving jungle. Jack has survived warzones before, and he refuse...

When something excites me, I tend to fixate on it. Since the first novel in The Beartooth Chronicles, Refuge from the World , came out, I’ve been so thrilled about the series and focused on getting it out there that I have neglected my backlist. I’ve had fifteen novels published (twelve of which are still in print) and the final novel in The Beartooth Chronicles, Winter Resurgence , is coming late fall 2025. So, starting with my next blog post I’ll randomly post a bit about my other novels until I’ve mentioned them all. I hope everyone will enjoy learning a bit about my other work. Thanks so much for your continued interest and support. It's been an exciting journey.

I hope everyone is enjoying the last remnants of summer. It went too fast, and my garden was a huge disappointment. On the upside, we did have some epic adventures. WRITING I’m waiting for the edits from my editor on the final novel in The Beartooth Chronicles, Winter Resurgence . I’m very excited about this story, but sad that the series will end. I will miss Ash, Caleb, and the rest of the resilient residents of Beartooth. I hope if you aren’t caught up on the series you will do so soon. WANDERINGS My husband and I spent most of July in Alaska. It was an incredible adventure involving trains, boats, float planes, and buses. We saw gorgeous scenery and lots of amazing wildlife. Here are a few of my favorite photos, and others have been included in the August 16 and 30 blog posts. WHAT I’M READING AND NOTABLE NOVELS I finished Burning Sky by John Darnton. It was a good dystopian novel, but it didn’t really have me on the edge of my seat. Next, I read The Darkest Winter: A ...

The vast and stunning landscapes are truly amazing. Here are a couple of my favorite photos from a recent trip.  

“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

We recently spent some time in Alaska. The scenery was spectacular, but the wildlife in the waters, espcially in Kenai Fjord and Glacier Bay national parks was stunning. Here are a few of my favorites. An Orca swimming alongside the boat, a group of sea otters, and a pod of Humpback wales bubble feeding nearby.

“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”   Henry David Thoreau

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." Mark Twain

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. I’ve been enjoying my garden, though it seems to be way behind last year, and all the fun community events happening in our small town. It’s been hot, but I’m not complaining since, in Wyoming, winter is never far away. WRITING Evil Under the Mountain ( The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 4 ) has been well received, but I’m anxious to share more about the fifth and final novel in the series, Winter Resurgence . Until then, here’s a review for Evil Under the Mountain .   Posted by an Amazon reader on June 28, 2025 “Another gripping story from an author who never disappoints. This one will keep you turning those pages to find out what happens. But the best part of McMahill's writing are the characters she creates. It's as if I'm living the adventure right along with them and experiencing their emotions as the story unfolds. Another winner! Don't miss out on this exciting book.” WANDERINGS Late June and July were excitin...

“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  

Book Reviews serve a variety of purposes and are very important to readers and writers. Reviews help other readers choose books. A review provides information about a book that a marketing blurb may not. Sales and reviews factor into a bookseller’s algorithm. More book sales and reviews help a book achieve a higher ranking on a bookseller’s site, which provides more exposure for a book and its author. Additionally, more reviews may get authors noticed by book clubs, blogging communities, book review sites, and other promotional venues. Lastly, many authors do read reviews and may find helpful feedback in articulate reviews to improve their craft. For example, saying “I hated the book” isn’t helpful, but explaining that you find multiple points of view confusing, there were too many grammatical errors, there was too much detail and it slowed the story down, or there was too much profanity, gives the author feedback to consider. Conversely, pointing out what you liked about a book is...

Here’s the first review for Evil Under the Mountain . It was posted on Goodreads on June 16, 2025. Another great read from one of my favorite authors. I love the worlds Kim McMahill creates and populates with memorable characters who melt your heart, scare you to death, and make you want to scream, "No, don't do that!". Yet, there is an underlying optimism that reassures the reader that the bad guys won't win. Ash and Caleb will stay with me for a long time. Don't miss the experience of this excellent book. You can find all of my books at your favorite online book seller or on Amazon at  https://www.amazon.com/Kim-McMahill/e/B007IK0EJW/  

With a full month of summer behind us, it’s time to enjoy. The garden is up, and I’m already harvesting lettuce and a few other veggies. Mostly though, I’m just loving the warm temperatures and watching the landscape transition from winter brown to brilliant shades of green dotted with colorful flowers. I hope everyone is having a fun and exciting summer. WRITING The release of Evil Under the Mountain ( The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 4 ) has been going well, but there’s no time to rest. I’ve been working on the fifth and final novel in the series, Winter Resurgence . In the meantime, here’s more on Evil Under the Mountain . Summary: After Beartooth’s first encounter with an extremist faction turns deadly, a small group embarks on a mission to prevent the fanatics from returning. They discover a much more disturbing place than they ever imagined; however, predators, natural disasters, and an environmental crisis may prove more difficult to overcome than the evil under the mountai...

They had no doubt the continuous shaking and the sound akin to a sonic boom would have roused their cadre of geologists along with the rest of the community. When they reached the flatbed trailer, there were dozens of residents including Dan, Graham, Fiona, and Melora, standing and looking southwest. Ash and Caleb turned and could see a huge, brilliant, orange, glow in the distance with massive streaks of orangish-red colors shooting high into the sky, choreographed to a cacophony of roaring and rumbling blasts. As they stood staring at the epic pyrotechnic exhibition, people trickled in until nearly everyone in Beartooth huddled together in the center of the community, looking toward the fireball in the sky. Olivia, Owen, Miranda, Ryan, Dillon, and Evelyn crowded in around Ash, Caleb, and Sara. For a moment, no one spoke. The most extreme forces of Mother Nature were showcased against a black sky ablaze with a humbling display of supremacy. Caleb held Sara tight to his chest a...

I’ll be sharing reviews occasionally for each book in  The Beartooth Chronicles . Here’s another one for book 3, Isolated from Anarchy , from an Amazon reviewer,  Above the Abyss . 5.0 out of 5 stars  Suspense at its best Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2025 A threat from four-legged predators and human invaders is never far away in Beartooth. While the residents including Caleb and Ash prepare for the winter months ahead, danger comes calling. After sighting a helicopter, the council sets up an evacuation plan, and a safe place for residents to shelter. While summer turns to fall the fear lessens, and the community enjoys the holidays, and Ash and Caleb await the birth of their first child. Then their idyllic life is shattered. Ms McMahill invests the reader in her characters with a great deal of action and suspense.

In 2025, the National Park Service will waive entrance fees on six days. The next entrance fee-free day will be June 19, 2025. All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm (photo: Yellowstone National Park) The remaining entrance fee-free days for 2025 are: August 4 – Great American Outdoors Act Signing Day September 27 – National Public Lands Day November 11: Veterans Day

If you haven’t checked out my latest release in The Beartooth Chronicles , here’s an from Evil Under the Mountain (The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 4). I hope you’ll check out this epic dystopian adventure series. Enjoy! “It definitely can’t…” Ash stopped in mid-sentence and flung out her arm to stop Miranda from going any further. She was momentarily frozen in place, her brain frantically trying to process the sight in front of her as hives one and two came into view. The two honey Supers on each hive were toppled over. The boxes were broken up and the frames were scattered. The two brood boxes on each hive were tipped over but appeared to still be intact. She usually checked the hives multiple times a day ever since she could remember but hadn’t checked last night. She’d never seen anything like this. “What could do this?” Miranda whispered. Hearing Miranda’s voice brought Ash out of her shock. “Here, take Sara and get behind me.” They quickly transferred the baby sling fro...

Welcome to my first newsletter of summer! This is the busiest time of year for me. I’m working on the yard and enjoying being able to finally get outside to recreate. We’ve planted the garden which is something I love tending to and harvesting throughout the summer. On top of the usual spring activities, I’ve released the fourth novel in The Beartooth Chronicles (more on that below). Mostly though, I’m just loving the warm temperatures and watching the landscape transition from winter brown to brilliant shades of green dotted with colorful flowers. I hope everyone has weathered the winter and has fun and exciting plans for the summer. WRITING The fourth novel in The Beartooth Chronicles , Evil Under the Mountain, was released on May 19. I am so excited for this one. It’s my favorite in the series so far, and I think it could be read as a stand-alone without much confusion if you don’t want to start with book 1, Refuge from the World . You can download all of the books in the ser...

I’ll be sharing reviews occasionally for each book in  The Beartooth Chronicles . Here’s one for book 3, Isolated from Anarchy , from an Amazon reviewer,  Above the Abyss . 5.0 out of 5 stars  Reader of Post-Apocalypse Books Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2025 Ash and Caleb seem to have a lovely, peaceful life in their isolated, mountain community. But nothing ever stays the same as you discover in Ms. McMahill’s third book of the Beartooth Chronicles, Isolated from Anarchy. It’s a recommended read that will carry you through their journey which requires strength and courage for them to face the unknown.

With each new release in The Beartooth Chronicles , I post a few excerpts, and when reviews come in, I try to post a few of those as well. So, here’s my first excerpt from Evil Under the Mountain (The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 4). I hope you’ll check out this epic dystopian adventure series. Enjoy! After she finished her tea, she stepped out onto the porch. Before long the sound of approaching horses cut through the silent early morning air. Bob and Maggie Thorn’s ranch was the next place over from Ash and Caleb’s cabin, so it didn’t take them long to arrive. As she watched Caleb ride up astride the big black stud, she had to smile. He was so strong, handsome, kind, and caring that she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have him in her life. She prayed that situation would never change. He got off his horse, and Ash quickly stepped into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his passionate kiss. When he finally let her go, she was breathless. “Thank you...

Memorial Day in the United States honors all of the men and women who gave their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is formally known as Decoration Day, the day that commemorated the Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the American Civil War, and was later extended to honor all American soldiers who died while in military service. On the last Monday in May every year, please take a moment to remember and honor all those who died in service to their country. 

I’ll be sharing reviews occasionally for each book in  The Beartooth Chronicles . Here’s one from an Amazon reviewer of Book 2,  Above the Abyss . 5.0 out of 5 stars  Can't wait for book 3! Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2024 OH My Gosh! When I read the last page, I’m thinking Ms. McMahill had better hurry and write the next book. I can’t wait for Book 3, Isolated from Anarchy. The journey of Ash and Caleb has been a page turner as unexpected situations arise keeping this couple on their toes. At one point they feel safe in their secluded mountain community, but there’s always the fear of invasion from the outside world…including rabid animals. Keep the stories coming Ms. McMahil. 

The Beartooth Chronicles follows the story of Ashley McPhee, who arrived in Beartooth with her mom, Sara, when she was three years old, and Caleb Solomon, who arrived about the same time. They have been best friend ever since, but as the story begins, their relationship enters a new phase as they navigate the challenges of adulthood. Series Blurb: In a world unraveling from relentless natural and human disasters, a determined group of individuals forms a cooperative community built on sustainability and hope. Their mountain haven, Beartooth, offers safety and solace, but as environmental catastrophes escalate and humanity's darkest instincts emerge, their fragile sanctuary is threatened. Now, the residents must confront an unyielding wave of challenges—both from within and beyond their borders—that will push their resilience, unity, and will to survive to the brink. Will their vision of a better future endure, or will the chaos of the world consume all they’ve built? Ref...