Kristy McCaffrey's Blog: Author Kristy McCaffrey, page 5
April 29, 2020
What’s New On The Writing Front
By Kristy McCaffrey
It’s a strange and heartbreaking time we’re going through, filled with anguish, boredom, sadness, irritation and fear. During this unprecedented worldwide quarantine, my family and I have been taking it one day at a time. Admittedly, some of those days have been better than others. It’s been a challenge for me to write, because I’m a worrier, and times like these have raised the anxiety level for many of us.
I had hoped to have my next novel, ANCIENT WINDS, completed by now, but I’m still mired in plot shenanigans that I’ve been meticulously unraveling. I need more time with Brynn Galloway and Dr. Tristan Magee and their adventure in the Amazon jungle, so I hope you’ll bear with me. Hopefully by June I’ll have an idea on a release date. I had planned to immediately dive into Book 4 in the Pathway series (COBALT SEA), but I’ve decided to set that aside for now and instead, once ANCIENT WINDS is done, I’ll begin working on COPPER CANYON, a new historical western romance.
In the meantime, I do have a fun treat coming – a new DEEP BLUE short. It’s currently with my editor but should be ready in a few weeks. Here’s the blurb:
DEEP BLUE COCOS ISLAND – A Pathway Short Adventure
Dr. Grace Mann is invited to participate in a documentary alongside several distinguished female marine scientists, and Alec Galloway, Double D, and Stephie come along to film them in the waters off Cocos Island near Costa Rica. Grace is still dealing with recent criticism of the film Alec made of her last year diving with great white sharks, and in the company of such accomplished women, she struggles to keep her insecurities at bay. When differing viewpoints lead to friction, Grace must learn to stand up for herself, but a bright spot emerges when Alec makes a surprise decision about their relationship.
So far, the DEEP BLUE shorts have only been available digitally, but I’ll be grouping all of them together (AUSTRALIA, REUNION ISLAND and COCOS ISLAND) for a paperback edition for those of you that prefer print.
As always, to receive the most up-to-date info on my projects, subscribe to my newsletter. (I’ll be sharing the cover for ANCIENT WINDS soon. I love it! I hope you will too, and subscribers will see it first.) You can also catch my latest news at my Facebook and Twitter pages.
I’m still working on a Wings of the West novella, THE SONGBIRD. I’ve got a bit written, but right now I’m only writing on it when I have a spare moment here and there. I’m hoping this summer to set aside some time to give it the focus it deserves. My creative well is a funny thing – it doesn’t always cooperate when I switch gears too much.
I’m also exploring a new COLD HORIZON short adventure starring Ty and Lindsey. If you recall, they spoke about a mountain called Hkakabo Razi in the short story COLD HORIZON TELLURIDE, and it keeps nudging me. I think I’ll have to write this one soon, but preliminary research has shown me that this journey will be a bit complicated, so I’m not gonna dive in just yet.
I hope you and your families are well, and if that isn’t the case then I send you my heartfelt prayers.
Brighten the day with music (and maybe a nice hot cup of orange-cinnamon tea)!! What I’m listening to: Thriller, YMCA, One Night in Bangkok, Marrakesh Express, Sweet Emotion, Sultans of Swing, Take Me Home Country Roads.
I wanted to share a favorite recipe that I frequently make because it’s so easy.
Spaghetti with Lemon and Basil
½ lb. uncooked spaghetti
2/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp. lemon zest, plus ½ cup fresh juice (from 3 lemons), divided
5 oz. Parmesan cheese, finely grated (about 3 1/3 cups)
¼ tsp. finely ground sea salt
¼ tsp. black pepper
½ cup chopped fresh basil (if I can’t find basil, I substitute fresh spinach)
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil over high heat. Add spaghetti, and cook until al dente, 9 to 11 minutes. Drain spaghetti, reserving ¼ cooking water. Return drained spaghetti to pot; cover and set aside.
Whisk together oil, lemon juice and reserved ¼ cup cooking water in a medium bowl; add cheese, and stir until mixture is thick and creamy. Stir in salt and pepper.
Add lemon sauce to spaghetti in pot; toss until pasta is evenly coated with sauce. Stir in basil and lemon zest; serve immediately.
Serves 6. Total prep time: 15 minutes.
So delicious and the citrus is great for the immune system.
Be Well. Be Safe.
Connect with Kristy
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Blog ~ Pathways
Newsletter
It’s a strange and heartbreaking time we’re going through, filled with anguish, boredom, sadness, irritation and fear. During this unprecedented worldwide quarantine, my family and I have been taking it one day at a time. Admittedly, some of those days have been better than others. It’s been a challenge for me to write, because I’m a worrier, and times like these have raised the anxiety level for many of us.
I had hoped to have my next novel, ANCIENT WINDS, completed by now, but I’m still mired in plot shenanigans that I’ve been meticulously unraveling. I need more time with Brynn Galloway and Dr. Tristan Magee and their adventure in the Amazon jungle, so I hope you’ll bear with me. Hopefully by June I’ll have an idea on a release date. I had planned to immediately dive into Book 4 in the Pathway series (COBALT SEA), but I’ve decided to set that aside for now and instead, once ANCIENT WINDS is done, I’ll begin working on COPPER CANYON, a new historical western romance.
In the meantime, I do have a fun treat coming – a new DEEP BLUE short. It’s currently with my editor but should be ready in a few weeks. Here’s the blurb:
DEEP BLUE COCOS ISLAND – A Pathway Short Adventure
Dr. Grace Mann is invited to participate in a documentary alongside several distinguished female marine scientists, and Alec Galloway, Double D, and Stephie come along to film them in the waters off Cocos Island near Costa Rica. Grace is still dealing with recent criticism of the film Alec made of her last year diving with great white sharks, and in the company of such accomplished women, she struggles to keep her insecurities at bay. When differing viewpoints lead to friction, Grace must learn to stand up for herself, but a bright spot emerges when Alec makes a surprise decision about their relationship.
So far, the DEEP BLUE shorts have only been available digitally, but I’ll be grouping all of them together (AUSTRALIA, REUNION ISLAND and COCOS ISLAND) for a paperback edition for those of you that prefer print.
As always, to receive the most up-to-date info on my projects, subscribe to my newsletter. (I’ll be sharing the cover for ANCIENT WINDS soon. I love it! I hope you will too, and subscribers will see it first.) You can also catch my latest news at my Facebook and Twitter pages.
I’m still working on a Wings of the West novella, THE SONGBIRD. I’ve got a bit written, but right now I’m only writing on it when I have a spare moment here and there. I’m hoping this summer to set aside some time to give it the focus it deserves. My creative well is a funny thing – it doesn’t always cooperate when I switch gears too much.
I’m also exploring a new COLD HORIZON short adventure starring Ty and Lindsey. If you recall, they spoke about a mountain called Hkakabo Razi in the short story COLD HORIZON TELLURIDE, and it keeps nudging me. I think I’ll have to write this one soon, but preliminary research has shown me that this journey will be a bit complicated, so I’m not gonna dive in just yet.
I hope you and your families are well, and if that isn’t the case then I send you my heartfelt prayers.
Brighten the day with music (and maybe a nice hot cup of orange-cinnamon tea)!! What I’m listening to: Thriller, YMCA, One Night in Bangkok, Marrakesh Express, Sweet Emotion, Sultans of Swing, Take Me Home Country Roads.
I wanted to share a favorite recipe that I frequently make because it’s so easy.
Spaghetti with Lemon and Basil
½ lb. uncooked spaghetti
2/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp. lemon zest, plus ½ cup fresh juice (from 3 lemons), divided
5 oz. Parmesan cheese, finely grated (about 3 1/3 cups)
¼ tsp. finely ground sea salt
¼ tsp. black pepper
½ cup chopped fresh basil (if I can’t find basil, I substitute fresh spinach)
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil over high heat. Add spaghetti, and cook until al dente, 9 to 11 minutes. Drain spaghetti, reserving ¼ cooking water. Return drained spaghetti to pot; cover and set aside.
Whisk together oil, lemon juice and reserved ¼ cup cooking water in a medium bowl; add cheese, and stir until mixture is thick and creamy. Stir in salt and pepper.
Add lemon sauce to spaghetti in pot; toss until pasta is evenly coated with sauce. Stir in basil and lemon zest; serve immediately.
Serves 6. Total prep time: 15 minutes.
So delicious and the citrus is great for the immune system.
Be Well. Be Safe.
Connect with Kristy
Website
Blog ~ Pathways
Newsletter
April 5, 2020
A Virtual Arizona Visit
By Kristy McCaffrey
We're going through a tough time worldwide. I'm fortunate to live in the beautiful state of Arizona, so let's relax our minds, take a few deep breaths, and enjoy the scenery.
View of the Grand Canyon from the South Rim
My daughter Hannah atop Black Mountain.
Behind her is the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
My dad on a hike to The Wave, a sandstone formation located along the Arizona/Utah border.
The Wave.
Downtown Flagstaff in Northern Arizona.
Desert storm near our house in Phoenix.
Lake Powell.
This photo was taken by my daughter Hannah at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Tourists like to feed the squirrels, so they're a little chubby.
The serenity of the Sonoran Desert.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
"Wild Geese" by poet Mary Oliver
All photos by Kristy McCaffrey (unless otherwise stated)
Connect with Kristy
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Blog ~ Pathways
Newsletter
We're going through a tough time worldwide. I'm fortunate to live in the beautiful state of Arizona, so let's relax our minds, take a few deep breaths, and enjoy the scenery.
View of the Grand Canyon from the South Rim
My daughter Hannah atop Black Mountain.
Behind her is the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
My dad on a hike to The Wave, a sandstone formation located along the Arizona/Utah border.
The Wave.
Downtown Flagstaff in Northern Arizona.
Desert storm near our house in Phoenix.
Lake Powell.
This photo was taken by my daughter Hannah at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Tourists like to feed the squirrels, so they're a little chubby.
The serenity of the Sonoran Desert.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
"Wild Geese" by poet Mary Oliver
All photos by Kristy McCaffrey (unless otherwise stated)
Connect with Kristy
Website
Blog ~ Pathways
Newsletter
March 7, 2020
THE WREN and THE DOVE are available in German
By Kristy McCaffrey
I'm pleased to share THE WREN and THE DOVE are now available in German.
VERLIEBT IN TEXAS (THE WREN)
Nordtexas, 1877
Zehn Jahre sind vergangen, seit ihr Zuhause überfallen, ihre Eltern ermordet und Molly Hart entführt wurde. Nachdem sie den Großteil ihrer Kindheit bei den Kwahadi-Comanche verbracht hat, kehrt sie endlich heim nach Texas. Sie findet jedoch nichts weiter vor als ein verfallenes Anwesen. Mit Schaudern entdeckt sie ihren eigenen Grabstein und trifft auf Matt, der ihr schon früher viel bedeutet hat. Entschlossen, das Rätsel ihrer Vergangenheit aufzuklären, beschließt Molly, den Mörder ihrer Eltern zu suchen. Dabei setzt sie nicht nur ihr Leben, sondern auch ihre Liebe zu Matt aufs Spiel …
Getrieben von den Dämonen der Vergangenheit steht Matt Ryan vor den Überresten der Hart-Ranch. Zehn Jahre lang hat er als Soldat und Texas Ranger sein Leben aufs Spiel gesetzt, stets auf der Suche nach Gerechtigkeit für den grausamen Mord an einem kleinen Mädchen. Nun kehrt er, seelisch und körperlich angeschlagen, zurück an den Ort, wo alles begann. Dort trifft er überraschend auf eine Frau mit denselben blauen Augen wie das Mädchen, das er nie vergessen konnte. Für ihn ist klar: Um jeden Preis will er Molly zu ihrem Glück verhelfen, auch wenn er dafür riskieren muss, sie ein zweites Mal zu verlieren …
Erhältlich als E-Book, Print-Ausgabe und Kindle Unlimited.
AMAZON DE
AMAZON US
PRINT DE
PRINT US
VERLIEBT IN NEW MEXICO (THE DOVE)
New-Mexico-Territorium, 1877
Die Enttäuschung trifft Ex-Deputy Logan Ryan schwer, als er Claire Waters inmitten einer quirligenStadt am Santa Fe Trail wiedersieht. Die Frau, an die er sich erinnert, ist verschwunden und an ihre Stelle ist eine betörende Bardame getreten, die ihn in die größten Schwierigkeiten bringen kann. Als Claire in ein Netz aus Intrigen gerät, gesponnen von gefährlichen Männern, versucht Logan sie zu beschützen. Doch er erkennt nicht, dass seine eigene Vergangenheit die größte Bedrohung für sie darstellt.
Claire hat ein Leben in Schande geführt und ist entsetzt, als sie, gekleidet wie eine Dirne, Logan im White Dove Saloon begegnet. Sie lässt zu, dass er das Schlimmste von ihr denkt. Da ihre Mutter, die Besitzerin des Saloons, verschwunden ist, bleibt ihr jedoch nichts anderes übrig, als sein Hilfsangebot anzunehmen. Verzweifelt bemüht, ihr Leben in Ordnung zu bringen, begibt sie sich mit ihm auf die Reise. Dabei stellt sie fest, dass die Versuchung, Logan ihr Herz zu öffnen, sie in größere Gefahr bringen kann, als sie für möglich gehalten hat.
Erhältlich als E-Book, Print-Ausgabe und Kindle Unlimited.
AMAZON DE
AMAZON US
PRINT DE
PRINT US
Erscheint demnächst
(Coming soon)
Connect with Kristy
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Blog ~ Pathways
Newsletter
I'm pleased to share THE WREN and THE DOVE are now available in German.
VERLIEBT IN TEXAS (THE WREN)
Nordtexas, 1877
Zehn Jahre sind vergangen, seit ihr Zuhause überfallen, ihre Eltern ermordet und Molly Hart entführt wurde. Nachdem sie den Großteil ihrer Kindheit bei den Kwahadi-Comanche verbracht hat, kehrt sie endlich heim nach Texas. Sie findet jedoch nichts weiter vor als ein verfallenes Anwesen. Mit Schaudern entdeckt sie ihren eigenen Grabstein und trifft auf Matt, der ihr schon früher viel bedeutet hat. Entschlossen, das Rätsel ihrer Vergangenheit aufzuklären, beschließt Molly, den Mörder ihrer Eltern zu suchen. Dabei setzt sie nicht nur ihr Leben, sondern auch ihre Liebe zu Matt aufs Spiel …
Getrieben von den Dämonen der Vergangenheit steht Matt Ryan vor den Überresten der Hart-Ranch. Zehn Jahre lang hat er als Soldat und Texas Ranger sein Leben aufs Spiel gesetzt, stets auf der Suche nach Gerechtigkeit für den grausamen Mord an einem kleinen Mädchen. Nun kehrt er, seelisch und körperlich angeschlagen, zurück an den Ort, wo alles begann. Dort trifft er überraschend auf eine Frau mit denselben blauen Augen wie das Mädchen, das er nie vergessen konnte. Für ihn ist klar: Um jeden Preis will er Molly zu ihrem Glück verhelfen, auch wenn er dafür riskieren muss, sie ein zweites Mal zu verlieren …
Erhältlich als E-Book, Print-Ausgabe und Kindle Unlimited.
AMAZON DE
AMAZON US
PRINT DE
PRINT US
VERLIEBT IN NEW MEXICO (THE DOVE)
New-Mexico-Territorium, 1877
Die Enttäuschung trifft Ex-Deputy Logan Ryan schwer, als er Claire Waters inmitten einer quirligenStadt am Santa Fe Trail wiedersieht. Die Frau, an die er sich erinnert, ist verschwunden und an ihre Stelle ist eine betörende Bardame getreten, die ihn in die größten Schwierigkeiten bringen kann. Als Claire in ein Netz aus Intrigen gerät, gesponnen von gefährlichen Männern, versucht Logan sie zu beschützen. Doch er erkennt nicht, dass seine eigene Vergangenheit die größte Bedrohung für sie darstellt.
Claire hat ein Leben in Schande geführt und ist entsetzt, als sie, gekleidet wie eine Dirne, Logan im White Dove Saloon begegnet. Sie lässt zu, dass er das Schlimmste von ihr denkt. Da ihre Mutter, die Besitzerin des Saloons, verschwunden ist, bleibt ihr jedoch nichts anderes übrig, als sein Hilfsangebot anzunehmen. Verzweifelt bemüht, ihr Leben in Ordnung zu bringen, begibt sie sich mit ihm auf die Reise. Dabei stellt sie fest, dass die Versuchung, Logan ihr Herz zu öffnen, sie in größere Gefahr bringen kann, als sie für möglich gehalten hat.
Erhältlich als E-Book, Print-Ausgabe und Kindle Unlimited.
AMAZON DE
AMAZON US
PRINT DE
PRINT US
Erscheint demnächst
(Coming soon)
Connect with Kristy
Website
Blog ~ Pathways
Newsletter
January 21, 2020
The Peppermint Tree is now available wide
The Peppermint Tree is a contemporary western romance long novella. (Note: it was previously published in the Amazon-exclusive anthology A Christmas Cowboy To Keep but is now available at all eBook platforms.)
Heat Level: 5/5 (but the excerpt is 1/5)
Lawyer Skye Mallory returns home for the holidays due to an unexpected inheritance, and cowboy Joe Carrigan stands in her way.
Excerpt
Joe Carrigan watched as the red taillights in the distance slid from left to right and then right even more, finally stopping. He’d been following the Prius for a while, and the driver had been conservative, but their luck had just run out. He was in his Bronco—the same one he’d driven in high school on these very roads—and it could still be trusted in bad weather. He’d been able to afford better cars over the years, but he still had a habit of jumping in this one, especially on a night like this.
He checked his rearview mirror. Thankfully, no cars behind him. He slowed the Bronco and guided it as far to the right as he could without getting stuck.
Stepping out of his vehicle, a blast of cold air hit him as heavy snowflakes engulfed him. He really shouldn’t be out in this, but he’d agreed to meet Oliver and Celeste and a friend of Celeste’s, a blind date he’d been badgered into. His life had been too busy of late for a woman, but it didn’t mean he actually needed or wanted one in his life.
He reached inside the Bronco and grabbed his heavy canvas coat, quickly pulling it on and zipping it to his neck. The snow crunched beneath his boots and his breath came out in white puffs as he crossed the beam of his headlights and approached the Prius. He tapped on the driver’s window, the shadowy figure of a woman on the other side. She hesitated a moment then rolled the window down.
“Are you all right, miss?”
As the woman’s face became fully visible, he did a double-take. “Skylar?”
Her forehead pinched into hard ridges, and her eyes registered a flash of outrage. “Carrigan?”
As if a freight train had hit him, he uttered, “It’s been a long time.”
Copyright © 2020 K. McCaffrey LLC
Learn more about The Peppermint Tree here.
Connect with Kristy
Website
Blog ~ Pathways
Newsletter
January 4, 2020
My Writing Schedule For 2020
By Kristy McCaffrey
I always begin the new year with much optimism and ambition in regard to my writing/publication schedule. I sincerely hope I can stay on track, because I’ve been known to get lost in research piles along the way, or sometimes sidetracked by a shiny new publishing venture (group projects – always a welcome challenge and great fun).
But here’s where my head is at the start of 2020.
I’m currently in revision mode of ANCIENT WINDS, Book 3 in my Pathway series. I wrote a first (very rough) draft in November, and then spent December reading, reading and more reading to figure out my characters in more depth. I’m happy to report that I’m starting to uncover what makes archaeologist Brynn Galloway and physicist Dr. Tristan Magee tick. This is my “Indiana Jones” meets “The X-Files” story, so expect adventure alongside some weirdness (ancient aliens anyone?). Stay tuned! I’m hoping to have it out by March or April.
Once I finish Brynn and Tristan’s story, I’m planning to write COBALT SEA (Book 4), which will star Chloe Mann (Grace’s sister – Grace was in DEEP BLUE) and Nick (he doesn’t have a last name yet). Chloe, like Grace, is a computer programming wunderkind and she’s working on deciphering the language of Sperm whales. She’ll travel to Dominica (a Caribbean island that has a year-round population of Sperm whales) where she’ll meet Nick, who runs the program that studies them. I can’t wait to write this one! Anyone who knows me can attest to my deep love for the whales of this world. I’m really hoping I can have this one completed by August or September.
I’ve been focused on the Pathway series for the past few years because I wanted to give it a chance to find a readership before I went back to my westerns. (Thank you so much to my western readers for being patient.) Since COBALT SEA will give me four novels in the Pathway series, I’m planning to pen the first book (a full-length novel) in a new historical western romance series in the fall. Tentatively titled COPPER CANYON, it will be set in southern Arizona in the late 1870s (my favorite old west time period) and will feature three brothers (not blood-related but adopted together) and the women who tame them. The stories will be filled with colorful characters, gritty settings, and steamy romance. I’m not sure if these will cross over with my Wings series – still trying to figure that one out.
Despite my ambitious schedule of producing three novels this year, I’m also hoping to carve out time here and there to add to the Pathway short stories. I’ve got several about Grace and Alec from DEEP BLUE in mind, and another climbing adventure for Lindsey and Ty from COLD HORIZON. Fitting them into the timeline is proving to be a bit tricky, so I may hold back on publishing them until I get the new novels completed.
I would also like to add to my Wings of the West series, as many of you have requested more stories (although the series itself really came to an end for me with THE BLUEBIRD). However, I’m exploring the possibility of side stories. I’ve had a long novella called THE SONGBIRD on the backburner for a while, and hopefully I’ll have a chance this year to spend some time on it. Stay tuned.
I really want to thank the readers for embracing my work – for reading and sharing and posting reviews. Please know that your support is so appreciated and helps tremendously in keeping my small business (with one employee – me!) going.
I wish you all a fantastic 2020!!
“I simply do not distinguish between work and play.” ~ poet Mary Oliver
I always begin the new year with much optimism and ambition in regard to my writing/publication schedule. I sincerely hope I can stay on track, because I’ve been known to get lost in research piles along the way, or sometimes sidetracked by a shiny new publishing venture (group projects – always a welcome challenge and great fun).
But here’s where my head is at the start of 2020.
I’m currently in revision mode of ANCIENT WINDS, Book 3 in my Pathway series. I wrote a first (very rough) draft in November, and then spent December reading, reading and more reading to figure out my characters in more depth. I’m happy to report that I’m starting to uncover what makes archaeologist Brynn Galloway and physicist Dr. Tristan Magee tick. This is my “Indiana Jones” meets “The X-Files” story, so expect adventure alongside some weirdness (ancient aliens anyone?). Stay tuned! I’m hoping to have it out by March or April.
Once I finish Brynn and Tristan’s story, I’m planning to write COBALT SEA (Book 4), which will star Chloe Mann (Grace’s sister – Grace was in DEEP BLUE) and Nick (he doesn’t have a last name yet). Chloe, like Grace, is a computer programming wunderkind and she’s working on deciphering the language of Sperm whales. She’ll travel to Dominica (a Caribbean island that has a year-round population of Sperm whales) where she’ll meet Nick, who runs the program that studies them. I can’t wait to write this one! Anyone who knows me can attest to my deep love for the whales of this world. I’m really hoping I can have this one completed by August or September.
I’ve been focused on the Pathway series for the past few years because I wanted to give it a chance to find a readership before I went back to my westerns. (Thank you so much to my western readers for being patient.) Since COBALT SEA will give me four novels in the Pathway series, I’m planning to pen the first book (a full-length novel) in a new historical western romance series in the fall. Tentatively titled COPPER CANYON, it will be set in southern Arizona in the late 1870s (my favorite old west time period) and will feature three brothers (not blood-related but adopted together) and the women who tame them. The stories will be filled with colorful characters, gritty settings, and steamy romance. I’m not sure if these will cross over with my Wings series – still trying to figure that one out.
Despite my ambitious schedule of producing three novels this year, I’m also hoping to carve out time here and there to add to the Pathway short stories. I’ve got several about Grace and Alec from DEEP BLUE in mind, and another climbing adventure for Lindsey and Ty from COLD HORIZON. Fitting them into the timeline is proving to be a bit tricky, so I may hold back on publishing them until I get the new novels completed.
I would also like to add to my Wings of the West series, as many of you have requested more stories (although the series itself really came to an end for me with THE BLUEBIRD). However, I’m exploring the possibility of side stories. I’ve had a long novella called THE SONGBIRD on the backburner for a while, and hopefully I’ll have a chance this year to spend some time on it. Stay tuned.
I really want to thank the readers for embracing my work – for reading and sharing and posting reviews. Please know that your support is so appreciated and helps tremendously in keeping my small business (with one employee – me!) going.
I wish you all a fantastic 2020!!
“I simply do not distinguish between work and play.” ~ poet Mary Oliver
December 2, 2019
A Christmas Cowboy To Keep
By Kristy McCaffrey
It's that merry time of year once again. Last year I published a contemporary western long novella in the anthology A Christmas Cowboy To Keep, so if you didn't have a chance to read the collection then, be sure to grab a copy now. It includes stories from Carra Copelin, Andrea Downing, Devon McKay, Hildie McQueen, Hebby Roman, and Patti Sherry-Crews.
Only 99 cents at Amazon or read it in Kindle Unlimited
The weather is cold, the atmosphere is festive, and the cowboys are hot. How do you keep a cowboy at Christmas?
CHRISTMAS, LIBERTY, AND THE THREE MINUTE MAN by Carra Copelin
Nashville event planner, Liberty Ann Hart, tries not to fall for a local carpenter, but his charisma is difficult to ignore, especially at Christmas and in the rustic setting of a Texas town called Mistletoe. Daniel Dylan Layman is determined to show the headstrong city woman a country life. Will a Christmas fundraiser spark a lifetime of love?
A CHRISTMAS CAROLE by Andrea Downing
Carrie Matheson is happy to start a new life at the Wyoming ranch she has inherited, but her six-year-old son wants to return to New York. As Christmas approaches and his pleas to Santa receive replies, it’s alarm bells not sleigh bells that start ringing. Tate Schrugge is amused by his new neighbor when she jogs over with some mis-delivered mail, but after she calls him Scrooge, she’s definitely not on his Christmas list. If these two can get together, it might be the Dickens of a romance.
THE PEPPERMINT TREE by Kristy McCaffrey
When an unexpected inheritance draws lawyer Skye Mallory home for the Christmas holidays, she’s surprised by a longing to set down roots in her Colorado hometown. Only one thing stands in her way—a cowboy who broke her heart in high school. Joe Carrigan has returned to the community he left years ago, ready to face his one regret in life—Skye Mallory. But this time, he won’t be so chivalrous.
THE DEVIL’S CHRISTMAS KISS by Devon McKay
Some things never change. Kristen Kelly’s hometown is still Christmas crazy. Her sister, Laney, will always need to be rescued. And Cole Lawson will never stop pestering her. The handsome cowboy has picked right up where they left off, teasing her without mercy. And though her head tells her to run from Cole as fast as she can, her heart has a mind of its own.
SLAY BELLS by Hildie McQueen
Carmen and Jared can’t avoid the sparks that fly between them at first sight. But when a dead body surfaces at the Christmas festival, she becomes a witness and he becomes a suspect. Not exactly the recipe for a perfect match. Can they find love amidst the mayhem and sleigh bells?
THE BEST CHRISTMAS by Hebby Roman
Sofia Rossi and Gar McCulloch meet under challenging circumstances—her estranged son has been admitted to Gar’s ranch rehab-center. Sofia is a successful New York model who had an ill-advised liaison with a wealthy, married member of New York society and lost her son to her ex’s manipulation. Gar is divorced and lost his daughter to a drug overdose. When they bond together to reclaim Sofia’s son, the last thing they expect is to find redemption in each other’s arms, making this their best Christmas… ever.
COUNTING DOWN TO CHRISTMAS by Patti Sherry-Crews
Melody Evans, a professional wedding planner, views happily-ever-after endings with a skeptical eye, but she's never lost her childlike enthusiasm for her favorite holiday—Christmas. To veterinarian rancher Leland Jennings IV, Christmas is just for kids. If he could, he'd skip the whole month of December. But he does believe there’s one woman out there for him, and he's holding out for her. Melody revives Leland's Christmas spirit, and he rekindles her heart.
An excerpt from The Peppermint Tree
Skye made the mistake of glancing at Carrigan. His hooded gaze bore into her, and she almost turned to look behind her for the woman that he was obviously shooting lusty thoughts toward, because it sure as hell wasn’t her.
On top of everything else, she now had to contend with broken radar when it came to men.
Man, she needed another drink.
“You can come to the Ball tomorrow,” Celeste said.
The Mistletoe Ball was an event her folks and many of the people in Durango and the surrounding communities attended every Christmas, and Skye had forgotten completely about it. The last one she’d attended had been five years ago.
Celeste glanced around the table. “We’re all going. I even got a ticket for Tina.”
Carrigan’s date.
An invisible anvil clobbered Skye’s chest. He hadn’t professed to having a wife and kids, so obviously Celeste was playing matchmaker. She had done it plenty over the years, meddling regularly in Skye’s own love life. It was the exact reason Skye had never confided in her best friend about Carrigan. She hadn’t wanted Celeste plotting and planning, no matter her good intentions.
But now Skye would have a front-row seat to the Carrigan and Tina show.
“I don’t have a dress,” she said quickly. “But thanks anyway.”
She avoided looking at Carrigan by draining the rest of her Whiskey Sour.
Copyright © 2018 K. McCaffrey LLC
It's that merry time of year once again. Last year I published a contemporary western long novella in the anthology A Christmas Cowboy To Keep, so if you didn't have a chance to read the collection then, be sure to grab a copy now. It includes stories from Carra Copelin, Andrea Downing, Devon McKay, Hildie McQueen, Hebby Roman, and Patti Sherry-Crews.
Only 99 cents at Amazon or read it in Kindle Unlimited
The weather is cold, the atmosphere is festive, and the cowboys are hot. How do you keep a cowboy at Christmas?
CHRISTMAS, LIBERTY, AND THE THREE MINUTE MAN by Carra Copelin
Nashville event planner, Liberty Ann Hart, tries not to fall for a local carpenter, but his charisma is difficult to ignore, especially at Christmas and in the rustic setting of a Texas town called Mistletoe. Daniel Dylan Layman is determined to show the headstrong city woman a country life. Will a Christmas fundraiser spark a lifetime of love?
A CHRISTMAS CAROLE by Andrea Downing
Carrie Matheson is happy to start a new life at the Wyoming ranch she has inherited, but her six-year-old son wants to return to New York. As Christmas approaches and his pleas to Santa receive replies, it’s alarm bells not sleigh bells that start ringing. Tate Schrugge is amused by his new neighbor when she jogs over with some mis-delivered mail, but after she calls him Scrooge, she’s definitely not on his Christmas list. If these two can get together, it might be the Dickens of a romance.
THE PEPPERMINT TREE by Kristy McCaffrey
When an unexpected inheritance draws lawyer Skye Mallory home for the Christmas holidays, she’s surprised by a longing to set down roots in her Colorado hometown. Only one thing stands in her way—a cowboy who broke her heart in high school. Joe Carrigan has returned to the community he left years ago, ready to face his one regret in life—Skye Mallory. But this time, he won’t be so chivalrous.
THE DEVIL’S CHRISTMAS KISS by Devon McKay
Some things never change. Kristen Kelly’s hometown is still Christmas crazy. Her sister, Laney, will always need to be rescued. And Cole Lawson will never stop pestering her. The handsome cowboy has picked right up where they left off, teasing her without mercy. And though her head tells her to run from Cole as fast as she can, her heart has a mind of its own.
SLAY BELLS by Hildie McQueen
Carmen and Jared can’t avoid the sparks that fly between them at first sight. But when a dead body surfaces at the Christmas festival, she becomes a witness and he becomes a suspect. Not exactly the recipe for a perfect match. Can they find love amidst the mayhem and sleigh bells?
THE BEST CHRISTMAS by Hebby Roman
Sofia Rossi and Gar McCulloch meet under challenging circumstances—her estranged son has been admitted to Gar’s ranch rehab-center. Sofia is a successful New York model who had an ill-advised liaison with a wealthy, married member of New York society and lost her son to her ex’s manipulation. Gar is divorced and lost his daughter to a drug overdose. When they bond together to reclaim Sofia’s son, the last thing they expect is to find redemption in each other’s arms, making this their best Christmas… ever.
COUNTING DOWN TO CHRISTMAS by Patti Sherry-Crews
Melody Evans, a professional wedding planner, views happily-ever-after endings with a skeptical eye, but she's never lost her childlike enthusiasm for her favorite holiday—Christmas. To veterinarian rancher Leland Jennings IV, Christmas is just for kids. If he could, he'd skip the whole month of December. But he does believe there’s one woman out there for him, and he's holding out for her. Melody revives Leland's Christmas spirit, and he rekindles her heart.
An excerpt from The Peppermint Tree
Skye made the mistake of glancing at Carrigan. His hooded gaze bore into her, and she almost turned to look behind her for the woman that he was obviously shooting lusty thoughts toward, because it sure as hell wasn’t her.
On top of everything else, she now had to contend with broken radar when it came to men.
Man, she needed another drink.
“You can come to the Ball tomorrow,” Celeste said.
The Mistletoe Ball was an event her folks and many of the people in Durango and the surrounding communities attended every Christmas, and Skye had forgotten completely about it. The last one she’d attended had been five years ago.
Celeste glanced around the table. “We’re all going. I even got a ticket for Tina.”
Carrigan’s date.
An invisible anvil clobbered Skye’s chest. He hadn’t professed to having a wife and kids, so obviously Celeste was playing matchmaker. She had done it plenty over the years, meddling regularly in Skye’s own love life. It was the exact reason Skye had never confided in her best friend about Carrigan. She hadn’t wanted Celeste plotting and planning, no matter her good intentions.
But now Skye would have a front-row seat to the Carrigan and Tina show.
“I don’t have a dress,” she said quickly. “But thanks anyway.”
She avoided looking at Carrigan by draining the rest of her Whiskey Sour.
Copyright © 2018 K. McCaffrey LLC
November 12, 2019
Write A Novel In A Month
By Kristy McCaffrey
If you’ve been on Facebook or Twitter, then you might have seen posts about National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. During the month of November writers from around the world collectively put their butts in the chair and pound out a novel. There’s a website where you can register your project, track your daily word count, and interact with your friends and colleagues who are also participating. To win NaNo, you must write 50,000 words by November 30. If you’re a writer, you know how tough this can be. And if you’re a reader, you might wonder what all the fuss is about.
I’ve successfully completed two previous NaNo’s—the first was for my western romance THE BLACKBIRD (2014), and the second was my romantic suspense novel about great white sharks titled DEEP BLUE (2016).
How does NaNo benefit a writer? It forces the internal editor to take a vacation. Believe me, this is far harder than it sounds, and is probably the biggest battleground an author will face in trying to complete NaNo. The internal editor not only encompasses good sentence structure and proper grammar, he/she also wants fully-fleshed characters right out of the gate, will insist on researching the name of the road in that western town in 1877 before allowing any more forward movement in the story, and wants to investigate every Irish surname for a secondary character who only appears in one scene. The internal editor can be the harshest of critics, and many a writer has succumbed to crippling self-doubt as a result.
But if an author has already published several novels, he/she must have found a way to work with this ridiculously overbearing boss, right? Excuse me while I laugh hysterically. Okay, I’m back. The short answer is, no. But all is not lost, and that’s where NaNo helps writers to shine. It forces us to push past the persnickety side-commentator and get the story down. NaNo is all about the first draft—those random and sometimes illogical beginnings of our stories. As a reader, all you’ve ever seen is the spiffed up final version of a project, so it’s hard to understand that it didn’t always look that way. Most first drafts would shock the spit right out of you. Just kidding. They’re not that horrifying, but they can be quite the hot mess.
To write 50,000 words in one month (and November only has 30 days), a writer must punch out 1,667 words per day. I usually round up to 2,000, because life doesn’t stop for me to write, so there will be days when I don’t hit that goal. Since my novels tend to be 75-85K in length, writing 50K won’t be the entire book. This leads to the most important advice I can offer about NaNo—make sure you get to THE END. This means that some scenes will be skipped, heavy description and backstory will be lightly touched upon, and character development will be invariably sketchy. But this is a good thing. Getting to the end offers insights that can’t be found any other way, and it will make the first revision pass much more fruitful.
One quirk I’ve learned during NaNo is that my scenes end up out of order. Since I know this about myself, I don’t spend too much time in my transitions from one incident to the next, because I’ll likely be moving them around later. I simply try to find the interior energy of a scene and expound on that as best I can. Then I move on. You can’t dilly-dally during NaNo.
And while it’s true I’ll be forced to discard large chunks of my preciously speed-written prose during the refining stages of the manuscript, it’s never wasted. I almost always learn something from the misstep, either about my characters or a plot direction that wasn’t going to work. I’ve also had delightful surprises. I didn’t find the great white shark star of my suspense book until the very end of the first draft. Her name was Bonnie, and when she arrived she changed the whole tone of the story. That’s why it’s important to get to the end. Once I knew about her, it was clear how I needed to lay the groundwork for her presence earlier in the book, and it completely informed the direction of my revisions.
This year, I’m unofficially participating and I won’t lie, it’s stressful. Some days I just can’t figure out what should happen next, and my mind’s innate tendency to wander off—online Christmas shopping! Let’s do that!—must be held in rigorous check. The manuscript (ANCIENT WINDS, the third book in my suspense series) is unfolding in a choppy and somewhat haphazard way, and it’s downright maddening. But … I’m finding those little gems along the way. (I have a fabulous scene in the Amazonian jungle with my hero and heroine and an anaconda that quite surprised me.) And this is because NaNo doesn’t let up; it forces you to write something. Anything. It inspires innovation.
So, if you’re a writer and haven’t given NaNo a try, consider it. You might astonish yourself. And if you’re a reader, have sympathy for those participating. We won’t be grumpy lunatics for long.
Connect with Kristy
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Blog ~ Pathways
Newsletter
If you’ve been on Facebook or Twitter, then you might have seen posts about National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. During the month of November writers from around the world collectively put their butts in the chair and pound out a novel. There’s a website where you can register your project, track your daily word count, and interact with your friends and colleagues who are also participating. To win NaNo, you must write 50,000 words by November 30. If you’re a writer, you know how tough this can be. And if you’re a reader, you might wonder what all the fuss is about.
I’ve successfully completed two previous NaNo’s—the first was for my western romance THE BLACKBIRD (2014), and the second was my romantic suspense novel about great white sharks titled DEEP BLUE (2016).
How does NaNo benefit a writer? It forces the internal editor to take a vacation. Believe me, this is far harder than it sounds, and is probably the biggest battleground an author will face in trying to complete NaNo. The internal editor not only encompasses good sentence structure and proper grammar, he/she also wants fully-fleshed characters right out of the gate, will insist on researching the name of the road in that western town in 1877 before allowing any more forward movement in the story, and wants to investigate every Irish surname for a secondary character who only appears in one scene. The internal editor can be the harshest of critics, and many a writer has succumbed to crippling self-doubt as a result.
But if an author has already published several novels, he/she must have found a way to work with this ridiculously overbearing boss, right? Excuse me while I laugh hysterically. Okay, I’m back. The short answer is, no. But all is not lost, and that’s where NaNo helps writers to shine. It forces us to push past the persnickety side-commentator and get the story down. NaNo is all about the first draft—those random and sometimes illogical beginnings of our stories. As a reader, all you’ve ever seen is the spiffed up final version of a project, so it’s hard to understand that it didn’t always look that way. Most first drafts would shock the spit right out of you. Just kidding. They’re not that horrifying, but they can be quite the hot mess.
To write 50,000 words in one month (and November only has 30 days), a writer must punch out 1,667 words per day. I usually round up to 2,000, because life doesn’t stop for me to write, so there will be days when I don’t hit that goal. Since my novels tend to be 75-85K in length, writing 50K won’t be the entire book. This leads to the most important advice I can offer about NaNo—make sure you get to THE END. This means that some scenes will be skipped, heavy description and backstory will be lightly touched upon, and character development will be invariably sketchy. But this is a good thing. Getting to the end offers insights that can’t be found any other way, and it will make the first revision pass much more fruitful.
One quirk I’ve learned during NaNo is that my scenes end up out of order. Since I know this about myself, I don’t spend too much time in my transitions from one incident to the next, because I’ll likely be moving them around later. I simply try to find the interior energy of a scene and expound on that as best I can. Then I move on. You can’t dilly-dally during NaNo.
And while it’s true I’ll be forced to discard large chunks of my preciously speed-written prose during the refining stages of the manuscript, it’s never wasted. I almost always learn something from the misstep, either about my characters or a plot direction that wasn’t going to work. I’ve also had delightful surprises. I didn’t find the great white shark star of my suspense book until the very end of the first draft. Her name was Bonnie, and when she arrived she changed the whole tone of the story. That’s why it’s important to get to the end. Once I knew about her, it was clear how I needed to lay the groundwork for her presence earlier in the book, and it completely informed the direction of my revisions.
This year, I’m unofficially participating and I won’t lie, it’s stressful. Some days I just can’t figure out what should happen next, and my mind’s innate tendency to wander off—online Christmas shopping! Let’s do that!—must be held in rigorous check. The manuscript (ANCIENT WINDS, the third book in my suspense series) is unfolding in a choppy and somewhat haphazard way, and it’s downright maddening. But … I’m finding those little gems along the way. (I have a fabulous scene in the Amazonian jungle with my hero and heroine and an anaconda that quite surprised me.) And this is because NaNo doesn’t let up; it forces you to write something. Anything. It inspires innovation.
So, if you’re a writer and haven’t given NaNo a try, consider it. You might astonish yourself. And if you’re a reader, have sympathy for those participating. We won’t be grumpy lunatics for long.
Connect with Kristy
Website
Blog ~ Pathways
Newsletter
October 7, 2019
An Interview With Kristy
Tell us about yourself.
I’m an Arizona native, and live with my husband in the desert north of Phoenix with our two dogs and youngest child. My three older kids are grown and gone. My education is in engineering, but I’ve been a passionate writer since I was seven years old.
Where do you get your ideas from?
Book ideas come from everywhere: the news, magazines, the internet, TV, films, and my own curiosity.
Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?
Sometimes I use real people as inspiration, but ultimately I develop the character that I need for my story. Character and plot go hand-in-hand for me.
How do you pick your characters’ names?
I often use a baby book to get started, but sometimes I’ll change a name well into writing the story if the current one doesn’t seem to fit. I also love to watch the end credits of movies. Lots of great names to choose from.
What's your writing process?
I mostly write in the afternoons. I tend to plot a little, then write, then get stuck so I’ll plot a little more again. Rinse and repeat.
Is there a drink or food that keeps you company while you write?
I drink water and tea. If I'm particularly stressed over my writing, I tend to turn to candy. Sweetarts, red licorice, and gummies are my favorite. I also chew a lot of gum.
Who are your top 5 favorite authors?
Jane Austen, Katherine Neville, Anne McCaffrey (no relation), Marion Zimmer Bradley, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes.
If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Katherine Neville, author of THE EIGHT, an ambitious and complicated novel that I love so much. I’d simply want to talk craft with her.
Were you a big reader as a child?
Yes. Nancy Drew books and Charlotte’s Web were favorites.
When did you start to write?
I’ve been writing compulsively and for fun since I was a child, but I didn’t write my first novel until I was 32 years old and had four children under the age of five underfoot.
If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?
If you mean one of my own books, I wouldn’t. I’m pretty happy with how each of them ended. As for other books, I’m going to extend the criteria a bit to include the season finale of ‘Game of Thrones.’ I hope I’m not spoiling it for anyone since plot points have been plastered all over the internet, but I would change Dany’s character arc. She wouldn’t die, and she’d be on the throne.
Is there a book you wish you had written?
Yes, THE EIGHT by Katherine Neville.
If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?
The Art of Sleeping-In
If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?
This was harder than I thought it would be. I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to choose film characters. I’m a sucker for a strong female lead in a movie. Here’s a few of my favorites: Bess Armstrong from Jaws 3-D; Kate Bosworth from Blue Crush; Sandra Bullock from Practical Magic; Reese Witherspoon from Legally Blonde; Brie Larson from Captain Marvel. Where would we go? A girl’s weekend at a nice resort—hit the spa, eat out, and have a great time chatting about life.
Do you take a notebook with you to write down ideas?
No, but I do take notes on my phone.
Have you considered writing in a different genre in the future?
No. I currently write in two genres (romantic suspense adventure and historical western romance) and it keeps me very busy.
Which genre do you not like at all?
I'm pretty open to reading anything that catches my eye, so I try not to limit myself.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on Book 3 in my Pathway Series, ANCIENT WINDS. This will feature Brynn Galloway and Dr. Tristan Magee as they search for an ancient artifact. It will be a mix of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and ‘The X-Files.’
Any release news?
I'm about to release my first western romance, THE WREN, in German. I'm very excited to expand into a new market.
What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?
My husband takes me to lunch.
How can readers keep in touch with you?
Website: https://kmccaffrey.com/
Newsletter: https://kmccaffrey.com/subscribe/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristy...
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/McCaffreyKristy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristymccaf...
August 28, 2019
Jumping Genes and an Excerpt from COLD HORIZON
By Kristy McCaffrey
Jumping genes, or transposons, are small pieces of DNA that have the unusual ability to copy and insert themselves in random places within a genome. These genes—long known as junk DNA—were thought to be nothing more than genomic parasites, but research is beginning to show their importance in evolution.
Most cells in our body contain DNA, a molecule composed of a double helix that carries the genetic instructions required for life. (Mature red blood cells are the only ones that lack DNA, having gotten rid of it to pack themselves full of more hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein). For cells to access the information contained in DNA, they must transcribe it onto a related molecule called RNA. Despite that the same DNA is in almost every cell, not every cell is expressed in the same way, otherwise we would be one giant blob of undifferentiated matter.
Jumping genes were first discovered by geneticist Barbara McClintock in the 1940s. At the time, most scientists dismissed them, but McClintock suggested they might play a regulatory role by determining which genes are turned on and when.
Barbara McClintock
Transposons have been found to jump across plants, animals and fungi as well. The process is known as horizontal transfer, as opposed to the normal parent-offspring transfer, and has had an enormous impact on mammalian evolution. For example, 25% of the genome of cows and sheep is derived from jumping genes.
One such jumping gene is called LINE1, abundant in almost all genomes of mammals. It’s repeated half a million times in the human genome, making up nearly a fifth of the DNA in every cell. Studies of mouse embryos have shown that LINE1 is especially active during early development of the organism, suggesting that the segment might play a key role in coordinating the formation of cells. Researchers believe that LINE1 RNA particles act as a molecular “glue,” switching off the two-cell stage of early development and jump-starting it to the next phase.
There are many different types of jumping genes, including some that drive the evolution of genomes, thereby creating more genetic diversity in a species.
In my book COLD HORIZON, Lindsey Coulson is a chemist who studies jumping genes.
Two years ago, Lindsey Coulson lost her sister on K2, the second highest mountain on earth. Searching for answers, she sets out to climb the Savage Mountain. Mountaineer and freelance writer Ty Galloway has assembled a small team to conquer K2 and welcomes the esteemed climber. But K2 is a force unto itself, as is Lindsey. Both will test his limits. Both will test his heart.
“Blending romance, suspense, adventure, and action, it really was a great thrill ride of a book and one that I gladly recommend.” ~ Jamie, The Romance Studio
Excerpt from Cold Horizon
Lindsey scooped more snow into the pan and set it atop the stove. Ty was all business with her, giving no indication that they were more than friends. A few times she had to stop herself from touching him, or leaning into him, or standing too close. Not that there was any big reason to keep it a secret. Still, she was tempted to kiss Galloway in full view of Fiske if only to get the jerk off her case.
“Ty, you still planning to go to the South Pole?” Beck asked.
“Maybe. It depends on my schedule.” He drank from his water bottle, flinching from the hot liquid.
“You wanna go?”
“I’m interested. Let me know when/if you settle on a date. Maybe you should come too, Lindsey.”
“Why’s that?” she asked.
“It’s the last great frontier. A real feather in any explorer’s cap.”
“I thought space was the last frontier,” Packer said from his spot just outside their circle.
Beck ripped open the wrapper on a candy bar. “We’re nearly in space on this mountain.”
Packer laughed. “That’s for damned sure.”
Fiske took a bite of a power bar. “Mountains are more difficult,” he said around the food in his mouth. “The South Pole is just dragging a sled for miles.”
“It’s all about the mind, Fiske.” Beck broke off a piece of chocolate and popped it in his mouth.
“Seeing if you have the mental capacity to do it.”
Was it Lindsey’s imagination, or did Beck’s voice hold a hint of sarcasm?
If Fiske noticed, he gave no indication, and said, “I think it a waste of time. Climbing has better goals. Will you climb while you are there?”
Ty shook his head. “No. It would be a trek across ice.”
Beck’s attention shifted to her. “So, what do you think?”
If for no other reason than to irritate Fiske, she answered, “I’ve always wanted to visit Antarctica.”
Ty gave her a sidelong glance, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Then you should come.”
She smiled and looked away before she did a happy jig over the open invitation.
Packer moved to stand beside her and said, “But please, by all that’s holy, don’t go near any strange creatures and try to study their DNA. We all know what happened in ‘The Thing.’”
“Because that was a completely true story,” Ditch said in a dry tone.
“Did you know that the dot on an ‘i’ is called a tittle?” Packer chuckled.
“Do you get whiplash?”
“From what?”
“Your ADD,” Ditch said.
Lindsey looked over her shoulder at Packer. “That movie wasn’t really that farfetched. The alien functioned like a virus, infecting its host and taking over. Viruses like to jump around, and we humans are ripe for the picking because we like to take a lot of risks. We eat things we probably shouldn’t, and we poke around in places where maybe we should stay away.”
Packer’s eyes widened. “Like here?”
Lindsey smiled. “We do like to push those boundaries. It’s evolution, baby.”
Copyright © 2019 K. McCaffrey LLC
COLD HORIZON is available in ebook and print.
Kindle
Nook
Apple
Kobo
Google Play
Print
Jumping genes, or transposons, are small pieces of DNA that have the unusual ability to copy and insert themselves in random places within a genome. These genes—long known as junk DNA—were thought to be nothing more than genomic parasites, but research is beginning to show their importance in evolution.
Most cells in our body contain DNA, a molecule composed of a double helix that carries the genetic instructions required for life. (Mature red blood cells are the only ones that lack DNA, having gotten rid of it to pack themselves full of more hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein). For cells to access the information contained in DNA, they must transcribe it onto a related molecule called RNA. Despite that the same DNA is in almost every cell, not every cell is expressed in the same way, otherwise we would be one giant blob of undifferentiated matter.
Jumping genes were first discovered by geneticist Barbara McClintock in the 1940s. At the time, most scientists dismissed them, but McClintock suggested they might play a regulatory role by determining which genes are turned on and when.
Barbara McClintock
Transposons have been found to jump across plants, animals and fungi as well. The process is known as horizontal transfer, as opposed to the normal parent-offspring transfer, and has had an enormous impact on mammalian evolution. For example, 25% of the genome of cows and sheep is derived from jumping genes.
One such jumping gene is called LINE1, abundant in almost all genomes of mammals. It’s repeated half a million times in the human genome, making up nearly a fifth of the DNA in every cell. Studies of mouse embryos have shown that LINE1 is especially active during early development of the organism, suggesting that the segment might play a key role in coordinating the formation of cells. Researchers believe that LINE1 RNA particles act as a molecular “glue,” switching off the two-cell stage of early development and jump-starting it to the next phase.
There are many different types of jumping genes, including some that drive the evolution of genomes, thereby creating more genetic diversity in a species.
In my book COLD HORIZON, Lindsey Coulson is a chemist who studies jumping genes.
Two years ago, Lindsey Coulson lost her sister on K2, the second highest mountain on earth. Searching for answers, she sets out to climb the Savage Mountain. Mountaineer and freelance writer Ty Galloway has assembled a small team to conquer K2 and welcomes the esteemed climber. But K2 is a force unto itself, as is Lindsey. Both will test his limits. Both will test his heart.
“Blending romance, suspense, adventure, and action, it really was a great thrill ride of a book and one that I gladly recommend.” ~ Jamie, The Romance Studio
Excerpt from Cold Horizon
Lindsey scooped more snow into the pan and set it atop the stove. Ty was all business with her, giving no indication that they were more than friends. A few times she had to stop herself from touching him, or leaning into him, or standing too close. Not that there was any big reason to keep it a secret. Still, she was tempted to kiss Galloway in full view of Fiske if only to get the jerk off her case.
“Ty, you still planning to go to the South Pole?” Beck asked.
“Maybe. It depends on my schedule.” He drank from his water bottle, flinching from the hot liquid.
“You wanna go?”
“I’m interested. Let me know when/if you settle on a date. Maybe you should come too, Lindsey.”
“Why’s that?” she asked.
“It’s the last great frontier. A real feather in any explorer’s cap.”
“I thought space was the last frontier,” Packer said from his spot just outside their circle.
Beck ripped open the wrapper on a candy bar. “We’re nearly in space on this mountain.”
Packer laughed. “That’s for damned sure.”
Fiske took a bite of a power bar. “Mountains are more difficult,” he said around the food in his mouth. “The South Pole is just dragging a sled for miles.”
“It’s all about the mind, Fiske.” Beck broke off a piece of chocolate and popped it in his mouth.
“Seeing if you have the mental capacity to do it.”
Was it Lindsey’s imagination, or did Beck’s voice hold a hint of sarcasm?
If Fiske noticed, he gave no indication, and said, “I think it a waste of time. Climbing has better goals. Will you climb while you are there?”
Ty shook his head. “No. It would be a trek across ice.”
Beck’s attention shifted to her. “So, what do you think?”
If for no other reason than to irritate Fiske, she answered, “I’ve always wanted to visit Antarctica.”
Ty gave her a sidelong glance, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Then you should come.”
She smiled and looked away before she did a happy jig over the open invitation.
Packer moved to stand beside her and said, “But please, by all that’s holy, don’t go near any strange creatures and try to study their DNA. We all know what happened in ‘The Thing.’”
“Because that was a completely true story,” Ditch said in a dry tone.
“Did you know that the dot on an ‘i’ is called a tittle?” Packer chuckled.
“Do you get whiplash?”
“From what?”
“Your ADD,” Ditch said.
Lindsey looked over her shoulder at Packer. “That movie wasn’t really that farfetched. The alien functioned like a virus, infecting its host and taking over. Viruses like to jump around, and we humans are ripe for the picking because we like to take a lot of risks. We eat things we probably shouldn’t, and we poke around in places where maybe we should stay away.”
Packer’s eyes widened. “Like here?”
Lindsey smiled. “We do like to push those boundaries. It’s evolution, baby.”
Copyright © 2019 K. McCaffrey LLC
COLD HORIZON is available in ebook and print.
Kindle
Nook
Apple
Kobo
Google Play
August 15, 2019
Win a print copy of Blue Sage
Don't miss my August website giveaway - a print copy of my long novella Blue Sage, a contemporary western romance.
Braden Delaney has taken over the family cattle business after the death of his father, but faced with difficult financial decisions, he contemplates selling a portion of the massive Delaney ranch holdings known as Whisper Rock, a place of unusual occurrences. Archaeologist Audrey Driggs arrives in the remote wilderness of Northern Arizona looking for clues to a life-altering experience from her childhood. Together, they’ll uncover a long-lost secret.
Click here and enter today.
Blue Sage can be found at these eBook vendors.
Amazon
Nook
Apple
Google Play
Kobo
Smashwords
Braden Delaney has taken over the family cattle business after the death of his father, but faced with difficult financial decisions, he contemplates selling a portion of the massive Delaney ranch holdings known as Whisper Rock, a place of unusual occurrences. Archaeologist Audrey Driggs arrives in the remote wilderness of Northern Arizona looking for clues to a life-altering experience from her childhood. Together, they’ll uncover a long-lost secret.
Click here and enter today.
Blue Sage can be found at these eBook vendors.
Amazon
Nook
Apple
Google Play
Kobo
Smashwords
Author Kristy McCaffrey
Kristy McCaffrey writes western historical and contemporary romances. She and her husband live in Arizona with their two dogs. Visit her online at kristymccaffrey.com.
- Kristy McCaffrey's profile
- 518 followers
