Kim McMahill

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...

Here is a nice review for Refuge from the World (The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 1) from Kathryn M. (Net Galley reviewer). This was a strong start to the Beartooth Chronicles series, it had everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the world and story. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the concept of what was going on. I enjoyed the dystopian elements and left me wanting to read more in this series and from Kim McMahill

Reviews are important to writers and readers, so I plan to share them here occasionally. This one was done by N.N. Light’s Book Heaven and appeared on Amazon and a number of other sites. 5 stars for Refuge from the World (The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 1) My Review:  A chilling scenario depicting the future consequences of global warming sets the stage for this YA dystopian tale. In Beartooth, Ashley McPhee lives a quiet life with her mother, Sara, her best friend Caleb, and a small group of families in a self-sustaining small community. With water levels rising and shifting tectonic plates, the United States is shrinking, and the residents of Beartooth fear the chaos and violence in nearby settlements will find them. Especially, after they learn the government plans to use an untested, geoengineering process to cool the planet, threatening their fragile ecosystem and potentially destroying their crops. To complicate matters even further for Ashley, her mother’s health is...

I often mention how important reviews are to me, so I thought it would be nice to copy and paste reviews every now and then. This one for Refuge from the World (The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 1) was copied from Amazon. 5.0 out of 5 stars   Chilling YA Dystopian Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024 This is a wonderful, YA dystopian book for fans of Hunger Games. It depicts a future society dealing with the chilling consequences of global warming. The main character, Ashley, lives in Beartooth, a small mountaintop community, with her mother, Sara. Their town is separate and independent from the rest of the USA, including the government. But as the state of the world worsens, governments contemplate using a potentially devastating scientific experiment to cool the planet. The residents of Beartooth worry about the survival of their crops and beehives, and they also fear their small community will be discovered and attacked by outside groups looking to control their s...

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. The Beartooth Chronicles is a story of survival in a crumbling world, but unlike many dystopian novels, the series is not about fighting against the government. The series focuses on the residents of a small, isolated community who work together to find solutions to each new challenge the community faces. Though insulated from many of the problems threating the survival of humanity, their future is far from secure. They are determined to hold on to what they’ve built and will fight to protect their community and each other from outside threats, both human and animal predators. Series Blurb: In a world plagued by natural and human disasters, a gro...

Welcome to this week Book Hooks Blog Hop. Please check out the blurb below for the first novel in The Beartooth Chronicles, Refuge from the World , and epic dystopian adventure and endearing love story. The first three novels are available now (book 1 is just $0.99 to download), the fourth will be released in April 2025 and the fifth is slated for September 2025.   In the heart of Beartooth, life was simple—until the world began to change. Ashley McPhee has always found comfort in her quiet, mountaintop community. From tending honeybees with her mom to sharing childhood adventures with her best friend, Caleb Solomon, life in Beartooth has been peaceful. But when a government plan to geoengineer the planet threatens their food supply and way of life, Ash and Caleb are forced to confront an uncertain future. As Ash faces her mother’s failing health, Sara’s final wish adds a new layer of complexity: for Ash and Caleb to unite in marriage. Thrust into a relationship that’s evolving...

When I first met my husband many, many, many years ago, he taught me how to shoot a recurve bow. I enjoyed the sport, but never mastered it to the degree necessary for hunting wild game, though I have witnessed this a number of times. He also makes his own arrows which is an enjoyable activity. I hope my experience with archery helps make those scenes in the novels of The Beartooth Chronicles more believable.  You can begin the adventure 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 Amazon at https://amzn.to/3wwE9ZV or in paperback at https://amzn.to/49CiTki , or find buy links to other online booksellers in the Beartooth Chronicles’ page on this blog.  

NEW SERIES! Refuge from the World (The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 1). Embark on an unforgettable journey with Ashley and Caleb in Refuge from the World, an epic story of survival, courage, love, and finding hope in the midst of environmental disasters and humanity on the brink of collapse. Book 2, Above the Abyss, coming summer 2024. Download from you favorite online book seller or from Amazon here https://amzn.to/3wwE9ZV EXCERPT Caleb put his arm around Ashley and pulled her close. She laid her head on his shoulder and stared out at the lake. They sat like this sometimes, not as much as they used to, and she missed this too. She loved the feel of his arm around her and the warmth of his body next to hers, but never read too much into the gesture. Today, especially, she was in no hurry to break the connection. “Are you going to the community meeting tonight?” he asked, finally breaking the silence. “Yes. I keep getting these unsettling feelings, and I hope to find out if it’s j...

The Beartooth Chronicles is set in the future at a time when all of the world’s ice has melted into the oceans and inland lakes, forcing populations around the world away from the coasts. If all of the ice melted, sea levels could raise over 200 feet, which would submerge the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, and the White House in Washington, D.C The fictional community of Beartooth is located near the top of Beartooth Pass. The top of Beartooth pass is currently over 9,400 feet above sea level. In the series, after a rise in sea level and subsidence, the community’s elevation is about 8,900 feet above sea level. Currently, the road over the pass is open from approximately Memorial Day to mid-October, depending on the amount of snow (photo was taken opening day 2022). In the novels, snow no longer falls and the residents of Beartooth have been able to grow food year-round. The isolation, ability to grow food, and abundant wildlife has enabled them to c...

When I started The Beartooth Chronicles , I envisioned it as an upper young adult (YA) series, but then I came across the subcategory of New Adult (NA) fiction. NA novels explore the transition from late adolescence to early adulthood and are typically aimed towards readers in their upper teens and twenties. The main character, Ashley McPhee, is eighteen in Refuge from the World, and the love of her life, Caleb Solomon, is 20. Their story is one of embracing the challenges of learning about each other, dealing with tragedy and grief, entering adulthood, protecting their community, and trying to find solutions to a rapidly changing environment and deteriorating world.   The primary supporting characters range in age from thirteen to twenty, making the characters and themes relatable to upper YA, NA, and adult (we were all teenagers once) readers, especially as the series evolves and the characters take on more responsibilities, build families, and are forced to face how far they w...

Dystopian novels are set in an imagined world or society in the future after something terrible has happened such as war or environmental collapse. A dystopian society is characterized by human suffering and misery where people live in an unfair society where they are often dehumanized and lead fearful existences. At some point the oppressed rebel and try to gain control of their lives. I’ve written in the dystopian genre before, but The Beartooth Chronicles is my first series, and I’ve approached the topic somewhat differently than my other novel where teens were trying to escape an oppressive American government (Deadly Exodus). In The Beartooth Chronicles, a group of individuals left society decades before the world’s environmental crisis reached a tipping point, and the U.S. was still moderately functional. They built a sustainable society on a remote mountaintop that became cut off from the rest of the country after earthquakes, flooding, erosion, and tectonic shifting destroy...

Refuge from the World , the first novel in The Beartooth Chronicles is available for pre-order and will be released on March 19, 2024. The Beartooth Chronicles follows the lives of the residents of a small mountaintop community as they struggle to find solutions to the problems threatening their survival. For twenty-five years, Beartooth’s isolated location has insulated it from the problems besieging the rest of the country and the world. As environmental disasters multiply, bringing out the worst in humanity, the residents of Beartooth must work together to protect the life they have built, and to hold on to their joy and hope for the future. In book one, Refuge from the World , you’ll meet many of the residents of Beartooth, including Ashley McPhee and Caleb Solomon. Even though they have known each other most of their lives, Ash and Caleb’s relationship changes dramatically in a short period of time. As they leave school behind, they realize that life is changing, and their g...

I hope everyone is finding love this month, in person or between the pages of a great book. And, speaking of love and books, the first novel in my new dystopian series is finally here. Along with action, adventure, and a look at our society in the future, the beginning of an enduring loves story unfolds (more under writing Notes and News). As I mentioned in the January Newsletter, I embarked on an amazing whale watching adventure to San Ignacio Lagoon in Mexico. The protected lagoon provides a perfect habitat for Pacific gray whales to breed and calve. The whales in this sanctuary are curious, and the numbers of tour boats are limited, which allowed us to see the whales up close. It was a humbling experience to interact with these gentle giants. It was a trip of a lifetime.   WRITING NOTES AND NEWS Refuge from the World (The Beartooth Chronicles, Book 1) is scheduled to be released later this month. The plan is for the next three novels in the series to be released every fou...

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 ...