Joseph Sutton was born in Brooklyn and raised in Hollywood. He played football at the University of Oregon and graduated with a degree in philosophy. He earned a teaching credential and a degree in history at California State University Los Angeles and taught high school history and English for many years. Sutton, who has been writing for almost 50 years, has published a total of 14 books. His essays and short stories have appeared in numerous national magazines and journals. He lives in San Francisco with his wife Joan.