Daniel Rifenburgh was born in Elmira, New Work in 1949, attended the University of Louisville, then served three years in the US Army during the Vietnam War Era. He received a B.A. from Florida Atlantic University, the M.A. from the University of Florida and pursued graduate coursework at the University of Houston. He has worked as a journalist, college adjunct professor, salesman and 18-wheeler truck driver. He lives with his family in Houston.