Kathleen O’Neal Gear is a bestselling American author and award-winning archaeologist known for her historical fiction rooted in Native American history.

She has co-authored over 50 novels with her husband W. Michael Gear, most notably the North America’s Forgotten Past series, which vividly reconstructs prehistoric cultures through archaeological insight and storytelling. Her work has sold over 18 million copies and been translated into 29 languages. Gear holds degrees in history and archaeology, studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and conducted Ph.D. research in American Indian history at UCLA. She’s received multiple honors, including induction into the Western Writers Hall of Fame and a Special Congressional Recognition for her literary contributions. Her career bridges rigorous scholarship and compelling fiction, making her a unique voice in historical and speculative literature.