John Tully came to Australia with his parents as a young child, and grew up in Tasmanian hydro-electric construction towns. Apart from his novels and short stories, Tully has also written a number of scholarly monographs on Cambodia, book reviews and articles in academic journals, and The Devil's Milk: A Social History of Rubber (New York: Monthly Review Press, January 2011).
In a 'previous life' he worked as a rigger in construction and heavy industry, which has influenced his outlook on life profoundly.Tully has also been a left wing activist since his teenage years. While his writing does reflect his socialist values, he hopes that these do not intrude in a gratingly didactic way in his writing
Tully has lived and worked in Melbourne for 25 years, but his heart is in Tasmania, where he plans to retire. Both of his novels are set partly in that state. He is a Lecturer in Politics and History at Victoria University in Footscray and has an MA and a PhD in History from Monash University. He lives with his family, three cats and his golden retriever in Yarraville (2010).
