Lawrence Schoonover was an American novelist. Born in Anamosa, Iowa, Schoonover attended the University of Wisconsin, then worked in advertising before becoming a novelist. Writing mostly historical fiction, his attention to detail and historical accuracy won him great praise by his contemporaries. Among his many well-known books are Queen's Cross, The Burnished Blade, Gentle Infidel, The Spider King, and The Prisoner of Tordesillas.