Kathleen O’Neal Gear Books

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Kathleen O’Neal Gear is an American author that was born in 1954. Kathleen would describe herself first as an archeologist and a historian who spent many a year working for the government. The author’s foray into this realm, at least professionally, began with her work at the Museum of Cultural History in Los Angeles where Kathleen was working to catalogue the statues of saints from Guatemala. From there, she moved to the United States Department of the Interior before finding a place at a private firm as a co-principle investigator.

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Kathleen has loved history for a very long time. However, that love pales in comparison to her love for writing. Born in Tulare, California, Kathleen O’Neal Gear hails from a family of writers. Even with six kids and demanding jobs, Kathleen’s parents always found the time to write. And it didn’t matter if they had to write while they cooked and cleaned and played with the kids. From what Kathleen saw, her parents were happiest when they were writing.

It was inevitable that the writing bug would eventually infect the author who was eventually influenced by the likes of Frank Waters, Margaret Mitchell and John Steinbeck.

Interestingly enough, while she always held a passion for writing, it was Kathleen’s interest in history and archeology that drove her to take the necessary steps to become a published author because of all the stories that her work inspired.

Even in this, Kathleen O’Neal Gear cannot ignore the importance of her parents; it was her Dad who endeavored to take her to archeological and historical sites all around the country when she was a child. She even had the opportunity to visit and explore a ghost town in which her father was working. Besides visiting museums, the family spent many a vacation around a campfire listening to stories about Native American Legends. Kathleen developed a keen interest in the ways of life of prehistoric people.

She was also influenced by a professor by the names of Dr. Charles Kegley who taught Kathleen to think critically.

All these factors and influences, along with Kathleen O’Neal Gear’s experience in the field of archeology and history, have come together to produce numerous fictional novels that reach back into prehistoric time periods, exploring the lives of different tribes and characters.

Kathleen is married to W. Michael Gear who is also a writer. The couple has co-authored several books.

Kathleen O’Neal Gear Awards

The biggest accolade attached to Kathleen’s name as an author is the Spur Award which she won in 2005 for People of the Raven.

Best Kathleen O’Neal Gear Books

Kathleen’s novels always stand out because they are so educational, perfectly manifesting her experience as a historian and archeologist, with some of the best books in the author’s bibliography including the following:

The Visitant: Doctor Maureen Coles is a physical anthropologist from Canada with extensive knowledge in her field. Maureen’s attempts at excavating a Mass Grave filled with women and children in New Mexico place her on the path to understanding a series of events involving a woman in search of a Spirit Helper, an old man looking to locate a murderer and an ancient village that is consumed by an unbelievable crime.

The Visitant is the first book in the Anasazi mystery series. The story begins at an archeological dig in modern times. Then it leaps back to the ancient times of the Anasazi. There, Kathleen O’Neal Gear delves into all the murder, mayhem and supernatural evil that assaulted a local community. Kathleen switches back and forth between these two time periods, using the perspectives of the characters in the past and the present to add pieces to a puzzle that slowly but surely comes into focus.

People of the Lakes: The Mound Builder people of the Great Lakes Region are fast approaching the end, this resulting from all the conflicts that a powerful totemic mask has elicited. But Star Shell could be the key to peace.

The daughter of a Hopewell Chief, Star Shell, with the help of her companions, seeks to save her people by destroying the curse that is consuming them. But destroying the totemic mask won’t be easy, not with Star Shell’s clan members seeking to stop her.

North America’s Forgotten Past: The sixth book in a series called North America’s Forgotten Past, this Kathleen O’Neal Gear novel falls firmly within the fantasy genre, following the exploits of a girl that must go on a journey to destroy a great evil. The elements of fantasy are compounded upon by the archaeological and historical data Kathleen injects into the story.

When Does The Next Kathleen O'Neal Gear book come out?

Kathleen O'Neal Gear doesn't seem to have an upcoming book. Their newest book is No Quarter and was released on December, 22nd 2022. It is the newest book in the Kathleen O'Neal Gear Short Stories/Novellas.

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