Ryan Van Winkle took up the position of the first Reader in Residence at the Scottish Poetry Library and the Edinburgh City Libraries in 2008. He runs a monthly literary cabaret called The Golden Hour and is an Editor at Forest Publications. He lives in Edinburgh but was born and spent most of his life in America. His work has appeared in New Writing Scotland, The American Poetry Review, Northwords Now and The Oxford Poet series.

He won Salt's Crashaw Prize, resulting in the publication of his first collection, Tomorrow, We Will Live Here, in 2010. He has also been shortlisted for the Bridport and Ver Poetry Prizes.