Alys Clare is the pen name of British author Elizabeth Harris, who has established herself as a successful writer of historical mystery novels. She has more than 20 published literary works under her name, with many of them being acclaimed additions to the mystery genre. Clare was raised in the countryside near where her Hawkenlye series is set in Kent, which has provided her with a deep understanding and appreciation of the setting she writes about.
Clare's educational background includes studying English at the University of Keele and archaeology at the University of Kent. This academic background in archaeology has been instrumental in her ability to create authentic and believable historical settings in her novels. Clare spends her time between Kent and an ancient stone cottage in Brittany, France, where she is surrounded by Neolithic and primeval relics, as well as the marks left by the legendary Knights Templar. This remote cottage provides her with a rich and inspiring environment for her writing.