Ann Swinfen spent her childhood partly in England and partly on the east coast of America. She read Classics and Mathematics at Somerville College, Oxford. She had a variety of jobs, including university lecturer, translator, freelance journalist and software designer. She is the creator of:
1. 'Christoval Alvarez', a physician, code-breaker and agent in Sir Francis Walsingham's secret service in 16th century England.
2. 'Nicholas Elyot', a bookseller and amateur sleuth in 14th century England.