Giles Ryan was born in Virginia, where he also graduated college. He joined the Peace Corps in 1969 and went to Korea as a school teacher. He spent over twenty years working for American companies in Asia, then returned to the US where he now lives in Bellevue, Washington.
In 2016 he retired and now spends part of each day walking and writing. Also, whenever possible, he enjoys the company of a dog or a bird, but usually not at the same time.