A Searing Wind by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear

Now available, Book Three of the Contact: The Battle for America series...

BY W. MICHAEL GEAR AND KATHLEEN O’NEAL GEAR

Fire the Sky, Book Two:

“As always, the adept Gears embed a large amount of fascinating historical, anthropological, and cultural information into the narrative, illuminating another forgotten chapter in Native Americana as they leave readers eagerly anticipating the next episode in the compelling saga.”

—Booklist

“Powerful…Historical accuracy and political parallels with present-day events lend additional drama to scenes of domesticity, politics, and battle.”

—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Coming of the Storm, Book One:

“An irresistibly intriguing story that brings the past vividly to life…Nobody does Native Americana better than the Gears.”

—Booklist

“The riveting plot leaves the reader intensely engaged and thirsting for the next book.”

—Library Journal

New York Times bestselling authors W. Michael and Kathleen O’Neal Gear richly portray a clash of cultures and a native peoples’ struggle to protect their world in the eagerly awaited third installment of the Contact: Battle for America series, A SEARING WIND (Gallery Books; March 6, 2012; $26.00). Set against the tragic war sparked by Hernando de Soto’s brutal invasion of the American South, A SEARING WIND heightens the historical action in this series hailed as “magnificent” (Douglas Preston) and “exciting, skillfully crafted, and fast-paced” (Publishers Weekly).

Black Shell is an exile, banished by his people for his cowardice in battle. To his fearsome patron spirit, Horned Serpent, however, he is imbued with the courage and keenness to stop the Kristiano onslaught. He and his beautiful wife, Pearl Hand, have fought them from the Florida Peninsula through the very heart of native America. A trader by profession, Black Shell now dedicates his soul to destroying the invaders, with their impenetrable armor, their swift cabayos, and their flashing, razorsharp swords.

Black Shell and Pearl Hand have seen the shackled, naked, starving slaves, heard the broken promises—and learned de Soto’s plans. While the battle of Mabila cost many Kristianos life and limb, the marauder does not retreat. Now he heads for Chicaza and the people from which Black Shell was once exiled.

Wounded and pursued by memories and visions, Black Shell is obsessed with setting the perfect trap. To do so, he must use the Chicaza and their stockpiles of food and supplies. And he must gamble everything on his people’s pride, traditions, and failings. As winter sets in, new dangers abound—that of a family’s shame, a woman’s anger, and a betrayal that may force Black Shell to forfeit his last chance to save their world from utter destruction. But, worst of all, he and Pearl Hand must walk boldly into de Soto’s camp and engage the cunning monster in a desperate game of wits that will decide the fate of a continent. Powerful and pulsing with authenticity, A SEARING WIND is an unforgettable tale of humanity and cruelty, passion and ignorance—and of historical events burned into America’s history and soul.

ABOUT KATE EMERSON:

W. MICHAEL GEAR and KATHLEEN O’NEAL GEAR are the New York Times bestselling authors of Coming of the Storm and Fire the Sky, the previous books in the Contact series, and more than thirty international bestsellers that have been translated into twenty-eight languages. Their novel People of the Raven won the Golden Spur Award. In addition to writing both fiction and nonfiction together and separately, the Gears operate an anthropological research company, Wind River Archeological Consultants, and raise buffalo on their ranch in Wyoming. W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear welcome visitors to their website at www.gear-gear.com.

Book I Book II Book III

A SEARING WIND by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear

Gallery Books; March 6, 2012; ISBN: 9781439153901; $26.00

Gallery Books is an imprint dedicated to publishing a wide variety of must-read books on a wide array of topics. The imprint was designed to showcase established voices and to introduce emerging new ones—in both fiction and nonfiction, and across a variety of genres. Some of Gallery Books’ bestselling titles include Gunn’s Golden Rules by Tim Gunn, High on Arrival by Mackenzie Phillips, Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler, Uncharted TerriTORI by Tori Spelling, Assholes Finish First by Tucker Max and Left Neglected by Lisa Genova. Upcoming titles include Lothaire by Kresley Cole, I Am Better Than Your Kids by Maddox, and Fairy Tale Interrupted by Rosemarie Terenzio.

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