Simon Lee is a barrister and writer with a deep appreciation for Japanese culture, history, and martial arts. He read law at the University of Durham in England and completed his Master of Laws at the University of Melbourne. Since 2005, Simon has practiced as a barrister in Darwin and Melbourne, specialising in criminal law.
Simon divides his time with his wife, Minako, and their children, Hisano and Taishi, between Melbourne, Okayama, and Tokyo. A former practitioner of both kendo and iaido, he has long been drawn to the discipline and philosophy of the martial arts. His interests range from medieval history and artificial intelligence to language learning, cycling through Japan, and enjoying good food and laughter with friends and family.
The inspiration for A Blade Between Worlds came from Simon’s desire to capture a unique moment in his son’s life. At the age of twelve, Taishi was on the cusp of adolescence, and Simon imagined what it might be like if his son were transported back 400 years into samurai-era Japan. The result is a richly detailed novel, where the main character, Joshua (later known as Hideyasu of Bizen no Kuni), reflects Taishi’s personality, curiosity, respect for tradition, and quiet strength.