Frances Hunter is the pen name of two sisters, Mary Clare and Elizabeth Clare, who have put their lifelong love of storytelling to work writing historical fiction. They live in Austin, Texas. Their latest book is The Fairest Portion of the Globe, a novel of conspiracy, betrayal, and international intrigue on the early American frontier. The Fairest Portion of the Globe was published in February 2010. "The Fairest Portion of the Globe abounds with great set pieces, fascinating period details, and a compelling “backstage” look at history in the making, but none of those things will absorb you the way Hunter’s sheer bravura writing ability will. The characters here leap off the page...and the end result is nothing less than wonderful. Urgently, wholeheartedly recommended." - Historical Novels Review Online Their first novel, To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis & Clark, won the 2007 Violet Crown Award for fiction from the Writers' League of Texas. It was also a silver medalist in the 2007 Independent Publisher awards, and a finalist for ForeWord Magazine's historical fiction Book of the Year. Both novels were published by Blind Rabbit Press.

To the Ends of the Earth was the winner of the 2007 Violet Crown Award for fiction, a silver medalist in the 2007 Independent Publisher awards, and a finalist for ForeWord Magazine's historical fiction Book of the Year.