Douglas was born and raised in The Bronx, New York, attended university there where he earned a B.A. in English Literature, and an M.A. in Russian Studies. He served for many years abroad as a CIA case officer, including Beirut in the late 1970’s. Later, he was the president of a Saudi-owned international security firm from which experiences he wrote The House of Sand. He has also published three books of poetry, a self-help book on grief, and posts daily meditations on his website. He is currently working on a screenplay adaptation of Ganymede, his first novel, entitled Cedars of Lebanon.