Charles Tidler was born in Ohio and grew up in Indiana. He studied literature with William Gass and completed a degree in English and philosophy at Purdue University. His jazz-inspired plays Straight Ahead and Blind Dancers were hits in Toronto, the Edinburgh Festival, and London's West End, and were awarded the Chalmers Canadian Play Award. Tidler's play Red Mango and his novel Going to New Orleans are published by Anvil Press. Charles is the father of two sons and makes his home in Victoria.