Michael Niemann is an award-winning author with a longstanding interest in the intersection of global processes and ordinary people's lives. Growing up in a small town in western Germany, Niemann's curiosity about the world was sparked at a young age through his frequent crossings of the Dutch border. He pursued this interest in higher education, studying political science at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität in Bonn and international studies at the University of Denver, where he received his PhD in International Studies.
Niemann's thrillers, featuring UN investigator Valentin Vermeulen, are published by Coffeetown Press. His first two books, Legitimate Business and Illicit Trade, were published in March 2017, followed by Illegal Holdings in March 2018, and No Right Way in June 2019. His fourth book, Illegal Holdings, won the 2019 Silver Falchion Award for Best Thriller at Killer Nashville. The fifth Vermeulen thriller, Percentages of Guilt, is due for publication in 2020. Niemann's short stories have been featured in several publications, including Vengeance, the 2012 Mystery Writers of America anthology edited by Lee Child, and Mysterical-E. His Kindle singles include "Africa Always Needs Guns," "Big Dreams Cost Too Much," and "Some Kind of Justice."
In addition to his fiction work, Niemann has also published non-fiction pieces. His book "A Spatial Approach to Regionalism in the Global Economy" was published in 2000, and his academic articles have appeared in numerous journals and edited books. Throughout his academic career, Niemann has helped students of all ages and backgrounds understand their role in constructing the world they live in and to take this role seriously. He currently resides in southern Oregon with his dog, Stanley.