SWANSONLee Swanson has enjoyed a lifelong interest in medieval history. He lived in Germany and England for over twenty-five years, first as a soldier and then as a teacher before returning to the United States. Graduating summa cum laude from the Universit of North Florida with a master's degree in European History, Lee's thesis centered on the Hansa, a confederation of merchants from primarily northern German cities. Many of the colorful characters who populate his novels are drawn from the lives of these resolute wayfarers who traveled the waterways of Europe in search of profit and prestige. Lee, his wife Karine, and their dog Banjo now split their time between the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Read More Read Less