The author is the son of a Greek mother and a Cherokee father.

Thomas King failed his first year of university, then worked in a variety of jobs that included - among other things - craps dealer and bank teller. He then found employment in New Zealand and Australia as a photographer and journalist, after having worked his way across the pacific ocean on a streamer. He later returned to the USA where he attended Chico State University. King later worked as a teacher and administrator at Humboldt State University and the University of Utah, where he received a PhD in 1986.

King immigrated to Canada in 1980, accepting later on a position in Native Studies at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta. During this time he began writing fiction. King’s first novel, Medicine River - written in 1990 - was well received by the critics, and was later transformed into a movie. A Coyote Columbus Story (a book for children written in 1992), and Green Grass, Running Water (a novel written in 1993)—were both nominated for a Governor General’s Award, with Green Grass, Running Water winning the Canadian Authors Award for fiction in 1994. The collection One Good Story, That One (1993) includes ten short stories, including King’s often anthologized “The One about Coyote Going West.” Coyote Sings to the Moon (another children’s book) was published in 1998, and Truth and Bright Water (another novel) was published in 1999.

King’s first novel, titled Medicine River, was published in the year 1989. It gained almost immediate recognition for its style and meaning. In the novel, the use of humour and dialogue (mastered by the author because of his interest in oral tradition), and a transparent representation of the day-to-day life of Indigenous people made the book an important piece of literary fiction.

King also tried to give a new definition of Native literature in 1990. In his article "Godzilla vs. Postcolonial”, King goes against the idea that Native literature is the continuation of native/indigenous tradition, and instead redescribed it as a natural response or reaction to colonialism. Postcolonial, as a term, only reinforces and strengthen the legacy and effects of colonization.

King announced his candidacy for the New Democratic Party (NDP) in March 2007 - candidate for Guelph, Ontario. This was because of a by-election resulted from the resignation of the Liberal MP Brenda Chamberlain. King had the endorsement of the party’s leader Jack Layton.

The by-election, though, was cancelled since a federal election was called in October 2008. King lost behind the Liberals, Conservatives, and Greens. King was made member of the Order of Canada in 2004. Having taught at the School of English and Theatre Studies department, he later became professor emeritus at the University of Guelph.