Kathleen O'Neal Gear & W Michael Gear

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“Inspired Recommendations for Kids from the Indie Booksellers…”

Hi Everybody, It’s been a wet July here in northern Wyoming. We’ve gotten lots of rain, and it’s been a pleasure to sit in front of our computers and listen to it pattering on the roof, and watch it drenching the red sandstone cliffs that surround us. Our high temp today was 68 degrees. Perfect weather for reading and writing. We just received word from the American Booksellers Association that booksellers throughout the country have voted and CHILDREN OF THE DAWNLAND, our first book for children, was selected for the Fall 2009 Kid’s Indie Next List, “Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers” (http://www.indiebound.or/indie-store-finder). We sincerely appreciate the effort that booksellers put into reviewing the book. We know it’s gets harder and harder to find time for such activities. Thank you all. For those who’ve asked, Little Evening Star, the buffalo calf, is doing well. Right this instant, she’s out frolicking in the meadow, running like the wind… Best Regards, Michael and Kathleen

Thrillerfest ’09 — Wow!

Greetings, all: We’re freshly returned from the 2009 Thrillerfest in New York. This is the yearly meeting of the International Thriller Writers, and our annual professional fix. You see we spend most of our year in small town Wyoming, or traveling for promotional events, researching archaeology, doing “life stuff” and writing. Sure, we see lots of book people: think editors, sales reps, retailers, distributors, and other folk in the business. The key word is business. What Thrillerfest allows us to do is rub elbows with colleagues–peers who, like us, make their living crafting bestselling novels. We can relax, attend the sessions, and actually learn new tricks, rediscover old ones, and rethink our technique. Listening to long-time masters discussing villains in a give and take conversation really puts the subject into focus. Later, over a beer, the two of us reviewed what we’ve been doing with our bad guys over the last five of six books. For instance, we instinctively understood what David Morrell, Sandra Brown, George Dawes Green, and David Baldacci were saying–it’s just that we hadn’t actually codified it. Thrillerfest is in New York. For years we traveled around to places like Spokane, El Paso, and Oklahoma City to attend the Western Writers of America. The World Science Fiction Conference is held in cities like L.A., Boston, Denver, and San Diego. Bouchercon, the big mystery conference is in Baltimore, Chicago, Seattle and other places. Perhaps because of the caliber of writers who administer Thrillerfest, it is held in New York, which after all, is the capital of publishing. The editors, agents, publishers, marketers, and publicists need only hop a cab–or in some instances, take a short walk–to attend or host panels with their authors. This is how books are sold, through connections, discussions, and getting to know people in the industry. Authors find it convenient. Our walk to the Simon & Schuster building on 48th and Avenue of the Americas only took fifteen minutes. We did a filiming for their website, had lunch with our editor, looked at cover art, and walked back to the Grand Hyatt in time for an afternoon panel. Can’t do that at any other conference. While the business opportunites are significant, what Thrillerfest really does is serve to recharge our creative batteries. We come home anxious, even desperate to revise what we’ve written, add new twists, artfully meddle with our characters, and hopefully knock the novel right out of the ballpark. So, to Steve Berry, James Rollins, Andrew Gross, Heather Graham, Lee Childs, Kathleen Antrim, and the rest, thanks. It was a super conference. But, most important of all, was Liz Berry who orchestrated another absolutely smashing production. Liz, you have our sincere gratitude. And what’s the news from New York? CHILDREN OF THE DAWNLAND, our first and only children’s book is available at bookstores around the country. Note: It’s shelved in children’s fiction, so don’t look for it with our other novels. Also the PEOPLE series is being repackaged–publisher speak for the old titles getting new covers. The first reworked covers arrive in November on PEOPLE OF THE WOLF, PEOPLE OF THE FIRE, and PEOPLE OF THE EARTH. We think it’s about time and they look gorgeous. With that said, we’re back to work. Mike is downstairs taping keys on the second de Soto book. Turns out that he didn’t need any help making Hernando de Soto into a worse villain. Nothing in fiction could be scarier than the man himself. Kathleen is upstairs putting new twists to the evil witch, Gannajero, and adding to the difficulties of Odion, Koracoo, and Gonda. You’ll meet them in person next July when PEOPLE OF THE FOREST is published. So, there, guys, that’s what we’ve been doing. If we could have one wish, it would be that everyone who reads this is healthy, employed and happy with their job, and seeing their investments increasing. Finally, we ask that you send thanks and good wishes to Zack Lehman, Marine helicopter pilot, currently taking the fight to the Taliban in Afghanistan. To quote George Dawes Green, “True evil is perpetrated by those who exploit others until they are entirely destroyed.” Which, when you think about is, is what the Taliban do. Any thoughts? All the Best, Michael and Kathleen Gear

IN MEMORY OF DON COLDSMITH

Dear Readers, Don Coldsmith passed away this morning. He was the author of over 40 books, including our favorite series, the “Spanish Bit Saga.” He was one of our heroes. It’s hard to imagine a world without Don’s kindness and sense of humor. The universe is less today. But he lived an amazing life. When it’s all said and done, how many of us will be able to say that we saved lives, brought new lives into the world, fought for this country’s freedom, and changed the face of Western writing? Few, we suspect. He had a rare kind of soft-spoken courage, the stuff legends are made of. We’re going to miss him very much. If you’ve never read a Coldsmith novel, pick up “Runestone,” or “The Changing Wind.” You’ll enjoy them. We guarantee it. And since today is June 25th, the anniversary of the battle of the Little Big Horn, we want to say definitively that Custer REALLY did have it coming. Regards, Michael and Kathleen

Children’s reviews of Children of the Dawnland

Hi Everybody! We are getting in the initial reviews for our first children’s book, due out July 7, 2009. We want to thank the great young readers at Flamingnet.com for giving CHILDREN OF THE DAWNLAND the Flamingnet “Top Choice Award.” Adult reviews of the book are, of course, important, but it’s what young readers have to say that is really important to us. In our world today, and especially in our educational system, it’s very difficult to write about the spiritual beliefs of the native peoples without being accused of–no, really–preaching satanism. It’s nice to know that there are still young people who care about the beliefs and traditions of others. Perhaps the greatest challenge for teachers in the future is to give children the multi-cultural education that is essential to the survival of our world. We believe it is primarily a lack of knowledge about other cultures that leads to hatred and aggression. We want to thank every teacher who has the courage to tell their students that the traditions of others are as important as our own. We know it’s not easy in today’s educational environment. Cheers, Mike and Kathy

Archaeological Field School Here…

Hi Everybody, We had a fun weekend. Dr. Laura Scheiber from the University of Indiana, and Dr. Judson Finley from Northwest Community College (soon to be from the University of Memphis), brought their field school to the ranch, and we had a chance to walk around and talk about the archaeological resources, as well as about writing fiction based on archaeological information. We’ve worked as professional archaeologists for 36 years now, so it’s always especially enjoyable for us to be around students. Their interests, after all, are the heart of the discipline, and chart its future. One of the rarities in scientific education today is the understanding that art has a place. We’re grateful that Dr. Scheiber teaches a course called, “Archaeology through Fiction.” We started writing novels twenty-three years ago because we believed that allowing readers to see through the eyes of prehistoric peoples could educate at the same time that it created an emotional tie to archaeology itself. Archaeology is about people. When our readers visit Moundville, Alabama, we want them to see it through the eyes of Two Petals and Old White (from People of the Thunder) as a living, bustling community–not as quiet piles of dirt filled with stones, bones, and pot sherds. We genuinely believe that prehistoric peoples have a good deal to teach modern peoples. We’d like to say a special thanks to Aaron and Eric for helping to flip burgers–you guys were great–and to Matt for stunning us with his question: “Is archaeological fiction the culmination of Post-Processualism?” We’re still ruminating on that one, Matt. And we’d like to send our best wishes to Maureen who is working on archaeological poetry, and may write a novel. Please, let us know if we can help. Also, Katie, the Nostrum Springs site is yours to dig if you want it. Laura and Judson, it’s always a delight to spend time with you and your field schools. We’re already looking forward to the next one. Mike and Kathy —

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