 When asked in an interview in 2003 whether she regretted declining the Nebula Award, Tuttle said, "I think my main regret is that people may assume that I object to awards on principle, and never nominate anything by me for anything again!I would love to win some awards, especially ones with money attached ..."

In the early 1970s, Tuttle was in a relationship with fellow science-fiction/fantasy author George R. R. Martin, with whom she co-wrote "Windhaven".Tuttle lived with Steven Utley for several years before moving in January 1981 from the United States to London, England, where she married British writer Christopher Priest.