Book one of the Marc McKnight Time Travel Adventure series

SYNOPSIS:

Time Limits is a fast‐paced, multi‐layered time‐travel thriller that follows Captain Marc McKnight and his specialized HERO (Historical Event Research Organization) team as they grapple with the promise—and peril—of sending human travelers back in time to study historical events. Set in the near future, the story is divided into three distinct acts.

In Act I the novel introduces the HERO project, a top‐secret government program. The Senate Oversight committee is chaired by Senator James Lodge, Jr, and overseen by the enigmatic General Drake. McKnight is chosen to lead a team that has developed a breakthrough time‐travel engine. With support from Lieutenant Tyler, Doctor Kathy Wu, and a small group of military and civilian experts, The Team’s first mission is to travel to 1985 and observe a pivotal event: the violent murder of Jim (James C.) Lodge Sr., a cold case that has been unsolved for fifty years. As the HERO team prepares for their journey, they must adhere to strict noninterference protocols while contending with unpredictable power requirements—a quirk of time’s “fold” that forces travel in fixed, quantized intervals. The stage is set for a daring expedition into the past, packed with both cutting‐edge technology and imminent moral dilemmas.

Act II follows the plunge into 1985, where McKnight encounters unforeseen complications. On landing in 1985, McKnight sets out to install a covert ceiling camera (a “C-cam”) in the “to be” crime scene in the executive offices of NewT Center while his teammates work to keep watch and log any anomalies. Almost immediately the mission unravels: a recall of McKnight triggers “recombination” effects that alter individuals on a personal level. Lieutenant Tyler—McKnight’s longtime friend—undergoes a startling change in appearance and personality, hinting at deeper disruptions in the fabric of time. Moreover,
McKnight encounters a mysterious female security guard, whose presence grows increasingly ambiguous. She appears to be Merrie McAllister (Tyler’s grandmother) as a young woman. As McKnight struggles to install the C-cam and document the event without influencing history, he inadvertently encounters her in emotionally charged, unpredictable ways. Meanwhile, evidence at NewT Center begins to diverge from its known history—a vandalized office instead of a brutal murder, a glowing newspaper clipping, and the existence of a ledger that holds the answers to many questions—all forcing the team to reassess their original mission. The HERO team scrambles to orchestrate secondary recall jumps in order to repair the timeline to avoid personal betrayal and the ethical costs of interfering with history.

In Act III the narrative shifts back to the present as McKnight and his team debrief and piece together the altered past. At headquarters, tensions run high as General Drake and Doctor Wu review recorded discrepancies between their mission logs and the historical record—evidence that McKnight’s actions in the past, including his unsanctioned personal encounter with the elusive guard, have created profound repercussions. Senator Lodge’s relentless pursuit of his father’s ledger and his own dark legacy is revealed to be driven not only by corruption but by personal vendettas that now threaten to disrupt political power. In the final moments, McKnight reflects on the high personal and ethical costs of time manipulation. As he reconnects with close allies—a changed Lieutenant Tyler, supportive colleagues, and even a potential new romance with a resurfacing, enigmatic guard—the novel ends on a note of uneasy resolve: time travel offers the promise of rewriting history, but not without irrevocable consequences. Time Limits ultimately asks whether one man, no matter how well‐intentioned, can bear the weight of changing the past without shattering the future.

Kim Megahee is the creator of the high-octane Marc McKnight Time Travel Adventure series, blending military-grade pacing with speculative science fiction. A retired computer consultant with a degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Georgia, he spent decades teaching, programming, securing software systems, and consulting across four continents.

A lifelong musician and former rock band bassist, Kim writes with the same rhythm and drive that defined his stage presence. His award-winning time-travel thrillers draw on real-world technical expertise and a storyteller’s flair for “what if” scenarios. He began writing later in life after a student encouraged him to pen the tales he’d spent years sharing–a leap into a second act that has become his legacy.

Now retired and living in Gainesville, Georgia, Kim spends his days writing, playing live music, and debating politics with friends. When he’s not crafting timelines and adrenaline-soaked plot twists, he’s boating on Lake Lanier, reading science fiction, bingeing nostalgic films, or playing bass in a classic rock quartet. He shares his home with his soulmate, Martha, and their brilliant—if stubborn—red-headed toy poodle, Leo. Find out more at AuthorKimMegahee (dot) com and on Facebook at author.kmega.

FROM THE AUTHOR:

I started writing Time Limits after a former student urged me to turn the stories I’d been telling into a book. That spark grew into a whole series. Now, as a retired IT geek and lifelong musician, I get to spend my mornings blending rock-band energy with time-travel thriller plotting—and it’s everything I ever wanted.

So many time-travel tales take liberties with the rules. In my world, your jumps are limited—you can only visit times about 25-year increments from the present, and your window is short. That structure adds pulse-pounding urgency.

I write for fans of adventure, alternate history, and moral dilemmas where the clock is always ticking. It’s a nod to Clancy and Crichton, but with one step forward—and then one step back in time.

These characters—I feel like I know them. Marc McKnight, especially—I’m part him: the self-doubt, the devotion to duty, the regret over choices made. Writing these stories is like catching up with old friends.

Thanks for everything, Kim

Q&A

Q: What inspired you to write the Marc McKnight Time Travel Adventure series?
A: A former student once challenged me to put my stories into a book. I’d already lived a few careers—math teacher, musician, IT consultant—but writing gave me a way to tie it all together.

Q: Why time travel and history?
A: I’ve always loved history and science fiction. Time travel lets me explore the “what ifs” of history—what if we could bring George Washington into today’s divided America? Pair that with military precision and you get high-stakes adventures rooted in realism.

Q: Your books feature soldiers, presidents, even George Washington. How do you manage such a cast?
A: I keep a lot of notes! But I also believe characters drive plot. Marc McKnight is at the center, but the HERO Team—and even the villains—each bring their own story threads that ripple across time.

Q: Your novels echo today’s politics and personalities. Is that deliberate?
A: Absolutely. Good speculative fiction reflects the world we live in. If readers see modern divisions in the fractured America of 2037, that’s intentional. I like weaving in familiar (and real) figures so readers can instantly connect.

Q: What do you hope readers take away?
A: Entertainment first. I want people to enjoy the ride. But beneath the action, I’m always asking bigger questions: What does it mean to serve your country? What’s the cost of changing history?

Q: What do you enjoy outside of writing?
A: Music has always been part of my life—I still play bass in a classic rock band. My wife Martha and I spend time boating on Lake Lanier, reading, watching sci-fi movies, and keeping up with our red-headed toy poodle, Leo.