Kim McMahill

The Beartooth Chronicles was published by Fire & Ice Young Adult Books, which is in an imprint of Melange Books, LLC, that focuses on young adult/new adult books. The series was primarily marketed under young adult since there don’t seem to be many new adult (between 18 and 25-30 years old) specific marketing option, though I sometimes wonder if that was the correct approach. Similar to The Hunger Games which garnered the interest of teens and adults alike, the primary characters, Ashley (Ash) and Caleb are eighteen and twenty respectively in book one. The supporting cast fall in a wide range of ages. The series takes place in a small isolated community, so the founders of Beartooth are adults who established the community only decades ago to give their families a better life. Ash and Caleb’s age group came to Beartooth at a young age so have varying recollections of life before Beartooth. Those born in Beartooth know no other way of life. My original vision for the series was ...

Fishing stories have become synonymous with exaggeration. No harm is ever intended, but after countless retelling of the story, it often morphs into something much more interesting and exciting than the original. The two-pound fish that took several minutes to reel in evolves into an eight-pound monster which battled valiantly for hours before succumbing to skill.  This is how many of my real-life adventures have infiltrated my adventure novels. I’ve explored numerous Mayan ruins tucked into steamy bug-infested jungles in several countries, yet I’ve always managed to avoid running into looters or ruthless kidnappers; I’ve pondered the current of the Rio Grande, but have suppressed the urge to jump into the churning mud and attempt an illegal border crossing; and I have ridden horseback down a terrifyingly-steep slope in which stopping was not an option as scenes from Man From Snowy River flashed through my mind, all without a single gunshot from a foreign enemy aimed at me or...

In nearly all novels, especially mine, there are multiple themes that determine the genre. All of the books I have written contain an element of romance or a love story, an epic adventure, and a third element which is the commonly expected elements of the genre the book is categorized under. I love the romantic element. It makes the characters more relatable and provides a strong motivation to do things that may be risky, extraordinary, poorly thought out, or outside the hero’s comfort zone. Watching a relationship progress provides pacing, a logical thread to tie the story together, and something to cheer for. Adventure just comes naturally. I grew up in an area where outdoor activities ruled. My family hunted, fished, hiked, camped, rode horses into the wilderness, and grew our own food, just to name a few. Not only are many of my stories set in my “backyard,” I’ve had the opportunity to travel and work across the U.S. and around the world. All of which have provided inspiration ...

Here’s an Irish Blessing for you. Have a great St. Patrick’s Day!   May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.  May there always be work for your hands to do, May your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane, May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

I hope you have been enjoying these posts on my backlist. The next one, A Measure Of Madness (RISKY RESEARCH, BOOK 4) , is the last in the Risky Research series. I had a lot of fun writing this one because it takes the reader to Puerto Rico and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This installment of the Risky Research series delivers danger, betrayal, and a heroine who refuses to quit. It is available at all the major online book sellers including here on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Measure-Madness-Risky-Research-ebook/dp/B08TX7C1BZ/ . FBI Special Agent Devyn Nash has spent years chasing Coterie, a shadowy organization profiting from death and deception in the multi-billion-dollar diet and nutrition industries. When a high-profile fundraiser in Washington, D.C. exposes key members, Devyn seizes her chance to strike. But bringing down Coterie won’t be easy. In Puerto Rico, a joint FBI operation to capture the group’s elusive mastermind erupts in a violent shootout—leaving Devyn’s partner...

When March hits, I always feel like we are on the downhill side of winter. Unfortunately, Wyoming weather doesn’t necessarily agree. Often it is the month with the highest snowfall and most unpredictable and harsh conditions. Nonetheless, the days are getting longer which gives me hope that spring is on the way.    WRITING My main focus continues to be promoting The Beartooth Chronicles . The fifth and final novel in the series, Winter Resurgence , was released late in 2025, so I’m trying to spread the word. Any help with that would be much appreciated. Here’s a bit about the series. In a world unraveling from relentless natural and human disasters, a determined group form 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...

I love to travel, to see the world, to learn about other cultures. But there is so much more to travel than beaches, pretty scenery, checking off iconic sites, or participating in exciting activities. It’s also about changing how we see the world and our place in it. In one of my favorite PBS travel shows, the host closes each episode with the following quote. It struck a chord with me. I saw a lot of truth and wisdom in these words.     “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Innocents Abroad, Mark Twain