M.K. McClintock's Blog, page 13

Snowy Peaks and Icy Waters in Glacier Park

I sat down on Saturday morning, ready to write. Then the sun peeked through the blinds, teasing and beckoning me away from the computer. I checked the Glacier Park webcams, saw the entrance empty of cars, and decided nature took precedence.

One cannot control a world in chaos, and staying home to feel helpless helps no one, and so I sought the comfort of nature with an understanding that like the weather, change in all things is constant, and the only way is onward.

And so I ventured to a plac...

Is a Hero Made or Born?

Heroes, heroes, heroes, so often on my mind. Every time I think of a new story idea, it is usually the hero who speaks to me first. Many of us writers use the term "hero" to describe our leading men, but are they heroes because we create them, or were they heroes already and we simply opened our imaginations enough to realize they were waiting to be born into our stories?

Is a hero made or born? What makes any one hero special for a specific story?

I don't know how it works for all writers, bu...

Binge Great Books and Enter to Win

Some of my favorite books are part of series because I love spending more time with characters I've come to think of as friends.

If you're in the mood to escape everyday craziness, and meet a lot of great new friends, LiRing has a fun and fabulous series finder giveaway featuring a variety of genres.

Head over anytime before Feb 24, 2022 to download some awesome books and you’ll be entered to WIN an e-reader or one of two $25 Amazon gift cards!

→ Books to Binge: Series Finder Giveaway

F...

Get to Know the Character: Brenna Cameron

The website faeries have discovered a few "hidden" extras languishing deep within the recesses of this site. Among them is this chat I enjoyed with Brenna (Brenna Cameron of Gallagher's Pride) many years ago.

For those who are new to the Gallagher family, you can get to know Brenna a little. For those who have long enjoyed the company of the Gallaghers, you already know Brenna, and may like looking back to a glimpse of her early days.

While we are careful to try and not share spoilers, if you...

Chocolate Fudge Cookies - Writer in the Kitchen

Continuing with love for chocolate and books, we have a chocolate, fudgy cookie. I'm one of those people who loves love and romance, but has never gotten behind the idea our modern Valentine's Day. Love, chocolate, and books should be celebrated every day . . . in my humble opinion.

According to the Santa Barbara Chocolate company's website, "Chocolate is considered aphrodisiac food since the time of Aztecs. Chocolate is said to contain substance that inflames desire and make the beloved one mor...

Shaping the West

This post is originally from Nov 2015, less than a month before the release of An Angel Called Gallagher, book four in the Montana Gallagher series. I am now writing book nine simultaneously while I write the next Crooked Creek installment, and find myself delving once again into Montana's history. The post originally contained cattle and mining, but I have added timber and immigrants.

MONTANA IS STEEPED in rich history and fascinating stories. It was built by settlers who saw what the land cou...

Chocolate Cinnamon Twists - Writer in the Kitchen

They say February is a month of love, but since I think love is for every day of the year, I'm going to narrow the focus down to love of chocolate and books . . . okay, those are all year, too.

Twisty, chocolaty, and cinnamony, chocolate twists, whether made with dough or puff pastry, are a delicious treat for a Valentine's Day get-together, dessert for two, or just because.

It has also been a long, strange winter with extreme ups-and-downs, so some bright color was in order. The lovely napkin...

Researching the Civil War

This post is originally from Oct 2015 while I was finishing up "Briley of Crooked Creek." All these years later, I am now writing the first Crooked Creek novel, Clara's full story, which, as it happens, will feature someone from Briley's past. Yes, it took this long to come up with the right story not only for Clara, but for the people of Crooked Creek. We had a lot of false starts until we all came together and clicked.

Here is "Researching the Civil War" with updates . . .

Set in post-Civil ...

Tangy Orange Citrus Pound Cake - Writer in the Kitchen

Have you been looking for a light and tasty treat to enjoy any time of the day? This recipe is a variation (Thanks, Mom!) of a coconut pound cake recipe my mother has been making for a few years.

Not too sweet, not too tangy, and just the right consistency, this pound cake is a delicious with a cup of tea for breakfast, snack, or dessert. According to What's Cooking America, "The name (Pound Cake) comes from the fact that the original pound cakes contained one pound each of butter, sugar, eggs,...

10 Thoughts on Beauty

To me, beauty is . . .

1. Beauty is waking up each morning to who and what you love the most.

2. Beauty is the face of a child when they first learn how to read.

3. Beauty is standing on top of a mountain and understanding what it took to get there.

4. Beauty is an intelligent mind working for the good of others.

5. Beauty is remembering the beauty of those who came before, and knowing they are with us always, no matter how long ago they left this earth.

6. Beauty is a heart which is al...