W. Michael Gear

Last updated
W. Michael Gear
BornWilliam Michael Gear
(1955-05-20) May 20, 1955 (age 68)
Colorado Springs, Colorado
OccupationArchaeologist, writer
Alma mater Colorado State University
Notable works North America's Forgotten Past series
Spouse Kathleen O'Neal Gear
Website
www.gear-gear.com

William Michael Gear, better known as W. Michael Gear, (born May 20, 1955) is an American writer and archaeologist. [1] He is the author of North America's Forgotten Past series, co-written with Kathleen O'Neal Gear. In 2021 he won the Owen Wister Award for lifetime contributions to western literature, and was inducted into the Western Writers Hall of Fame. In 2023 he received the Frank Waters Award for "a body of work representing excellence in writing and storytelling that embodies the spirit of the American West." He's been inducted into the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame. His novels have been published in 29 languages.

Contents

Biography

Gear was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He's published sixty novels. He is best known for his North America's Forgotten Past series, co-authored with Kathleen O'Neal Gear, about North American prehistory. He received his B.A. (1976) and M.A. (1979) from Colorado State University. Upon completion of his Master's in physical anthropology he went to work for Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs, Wyoming as a field archaeologist.

Beginning in 1981, Michael, along with two partners, put together his own archaeological consulting company, Pronghorn Anthropological Associates. The company began doing cultural resource management studies in 1982. After he sold his interest in 1984, he started Wind River Archaeological Consultants with his wife, Kathleen O'Neal Gear. [2]

Gear's writing was inspired by historical inaccuracies he encountered in reading historical fiction. In 1978, after reading a Western novel about a trail drive that was filled with inaccuracies, he began work on his first five hundred and fifty page novel. According to him, it "reads wretchedly - but the historical facts are correct!" [3]

Gear currently resides in Wyoming along with author and co-writer Kathleen O'Neal Gear.

Notable works

Forbidden Borders trilogy

People Books - First North Americans (with Kathleen O'Neal Gear)

German only

Way of Spider

The Richard Hamilton Duology

Anasazi Mysteries (with Kathleen O'Neal Gear)

Other Novels

The Battle for America series.

Donovan Series.

The Wyoming Chronicles

Team Psi Series.

Flight of the Hawk trilogy

Saga of the Mountain Sage quartet

ANASAZI MYSTERIES (Updated reprints)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Selected Non-fiction

Awards and honors

List from his personal web page: [6]

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