People of the Owl
By Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear

In the epic tradition of The Clan of the Cave Bear comes a novel of Prehistoric North America from the USA Today bestselling authors of People of the Masks

Ask any American to name the oldest city in the United States and he or she might tell you St. Augustine, Florida (1565 A.D.) or Old Oraibi (1240 A.D.) in the Hopi Mesas. But a little known fact is that in northeastern Louisiana, just outside the small town of Epps, you can still walk the stunning earthworks of Poverty Point, the first city in North America . . . established 12 centuries Before Christ.

Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear, award-winning archaeologists and internationally acclaimed authors, vividly imagine the day-to-day lives of the inhabitants of Poverty Point, Louisiana some 3500 years ago in PEOPLE OF THE OWL (Forge Books; June 9, 2003; $25.95), the eagerly awaited new novel in their USA Today bestselling First North Americans series.

PEOPLE OF THE OWL tells the story of this vast trading empire and its people-their war stories and their fiery loves. At the center of this empire, the authors imagine a city called Sun Town (now Poverty Point) where two powers, Masked Owl and Many Colored Crow, creations from the dawn of time, are clashing to determine the future of the native peoples and one man is caught at the point where their battle lines collide.

Called Mud Puppy as a child, he grows from a shy boy who yearns to understand what makes crickets sing to a man known as Salamander, a noble warrior and shaman who has terrifying visions of the future. By his side are three incredible women thrown together by fate to help Salamander in his quest to save the People of the Owl before they destroy one another in a bloody contest for power.

Salamander must learn to see his way free of the timeless battle between Masked Owl and Many Colored Crow, adversaries as old as day and night-and order and chaos-to use his stirring visions to shape the People of the Owl, and to inspire their dreams, fire their faith . . . and lead them to a better life.

The Gears' First North Americans series, based on the latest archaeological and ethnographic information, in conjunction with the oral traditions of the native peoples, has nearly sixteen million copies in print around the world. In PEOPLE OF THE OWL, the authors breathe life once again into the vanished world of the people of Poverty Point, Louisiana, celebrating the spirit of this mysterious realm where power, love, and betrayal lurk in every shadow.

Click here to read an excerpt of Chapter 1.

Visit the Gears at www.gear-gear.com for more information about their books and their buffalo!

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