Photo by Nina Höhne. Bernhard Hennen was born in Krefeld, Germany. He studied archaeology, history, and German studies at Cologne University, and he traveled extensively while working as a journalist. With Wolfgang Hohlbein, Hennen published his first novel, Das Jahr des Greifen, in 1994. Since then, his name has appeared on dozens of historical and fantasy novels as well as numerous short stories. Hennen has also developed the storyline for a computer game, and he has worked as a swordsman for hire in medieval shows and as a Santa Claus mercenary. In 2000, the author returned to the city of his birth and lives there with his wife and children.