Carol Ryles began her professional life as a registered nurse and then moved to Hainan Island, China, where she worked in occupational health, learned Mandarin and tutored English at various institutions. She now holds a BA in English (Hons 1) and a PhD focussing on the process of writing in the sub-genre of steampunk.
She is a graduate of Clarion West 20083, and has worked as a Steering Committee member and editorial consultant for "Trove" (renamed Tenderfoot) an online journal of creative arts from The University of Western Australia. Her stories have appeared in a number of Australian publications including Eidolon 1, Aurealis #145 and The Year's Best Australian Fantasy Horror (2013). When not writing, Carol enjoys the art of quilting and is also turning her backyard into a forest. The Eternal Machine is her debut novel.