Kim McMahill

This year Father’s Day and the summer solstice fall on June 21 st . The first day of summer always makes me happy, but memories of my dad outshine the sun on this day. He was stern, but loving. He taught me to be independent and true to my principles. He also opened up a world of mountain adventures, which has given me the background to create realistic settings for many of my books. I miss him a lot, but I’m grateful for all of the great times and lessons. Wishing all fathers a great Father's Day!

I n 2026, the National Park Service is waiving entrance fees eight times. All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply). The first two have already passed. The next will be on June 14 in celebration of Flag Day. The remaining dates are listed below. For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm   July 3–5:  Independence Day weekend August 25:  110th Birthday of the National Park Service September 17:  Constitution Day October 27 : Theodore Roosevelt's birthday November 11:  Veterans Day   *Beginning in 2026, free entrance on these days will be for US citizens and residents only. Nonresidents will pay the regular entrance fee and any applicable nonresident fees.

When June hits, it is officially summer for me even though astronomical summer doesn’t officially begin in the Northern Hemisphere until the summer solstice on June 21, 2026. I’ve already planted my garden which is a little earlier than usual. I hope I wasn’t lulled into a false sense of the season, and we get a late freeze (not unheard of almost any time of the year). So, with the garden planted and the yard in ship shape, it’s time to turn our thoughts to camping and summer fun. I hope your summer is starting out with a bang.    WRITING Marketing The Beartooth Chronicles is an ongoing activity along with looking for ways to keep my backlist out there. I have a couple of potential opportunities hanging out there, but it’s still a little early to provide many details. Stay tuned for more information to come. WANDERINGS In late April and early May my husband and I did some epic wandering. We went to Greece and Türkiye, including spending a few nights in the Cappadocia ...

Midnight in Montana, a prequel micro-read to the Risky Research Series, is available for free download through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online booksellers. This free download was released prior to the fourth installment in the Risky Research Series, A Measure of Madness. For those who have been reading the Risky Research Series, it is the story of how Agent Devyn Nash and Sheriff Gage Harris first met while investigating a counterfeiting operation. If you haven’t checked out the series, it’s a fun short (30 to 45 minute) stand-alone read. If you are set up to download ebooks, I hope you’ll give it a try and if you enjoy the story, please consider leaving a short review. You can find the free download on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YZ53XKJ . Thank You!