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Niall Williams was born in Dublin in 1958. He studied English and French literature at University College Dublin before graduating with a Master's degree in Modern American Literature. He moved to New York in 1980 where he married Christine Breen, whom he had met while she was a Master's student also at UCD, and took his first job opening boxes of books in Fox and Sutherland's bookshop in Mount Kisco. He later worked as a copywriter for Avon Books in New York City before leaving America with Chris in 1985 to attempt to make a life as a writer.

His first four books were co-written with Chris and tell of their life together in Kiltumper in west Clare. In 1991 Niall's first play 'The Murphy Initiative' was staged at The Abbey Theatre in Dublin. His second play, 'A Little Like Paradise' was produced on the Peacock stage of The Abbey Theatre in 1995. His third play, 'The Way You Look Tonight,' was produced by Galway's Druid Theatre Company in 1999.

Niall's first novel was Four Letters of Love. Published in 1997, it went on to become an international bestseller and has been published in over twenty countries. His second novel, As it is in Heaven was published in 1999 and short listed for the Irish Times Literature Prize. His third novel, The Fall of Light was published in Britain and Ireland, France, Italy and America. His fourth novel, Only Say The Word, was published in 2005 in several countries and his fifth novel, Boy in the World was published in 2007. Boy in the World is dedicated to Joseph, Niall's son. He wrote chapters and sent them to Joseph who was away at boarding school. Niall continued the story in the sequel, Boy and Man. Niall's most recent novel, his seventh novel, is entitled John. At present he is at work on a novel, and a screenplay, and a book of short stories.

He currently lives in west Clare with his wife and two children. He works as a mentor for MFA students of Carlow University in Pittsburgh. He was also the writer-in-residence for Co. Sligo, for the previous two years.

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