William attended Bell Baxter High School in Cupar, Fife. An exemplary student he obtained 6 Highers and 10 O-Grades. In 1973 he attended Aberdeen University where he met his wife Linda. He graduated with an MA in English and Politics.

After University William worked for the Aberdeen Press and Journal, starting out as a trainee reporter. He then moved to the Scotsman newspaper as a news reporter. During this time his first son Andrew was born in 1983. William started working on his debut novel 'Seasons of Revenge' at this time whilst being promoted to Senior reporter for the Scotsman.

In 1985 his second son, William, was born and his first novel was published. The following year he was promoted to features writer and published his second novel 'Mummy's Boy.' William then took a job with the Scotland on Sunday newspaper as senior writer and published his third novel 'The Hindmost.' He spent the next 13 years at the newspaper rising from Chief Reporter to News Editor to Assistant Editor and finally Executive Editor. During these years he published a further 8 novels. Most notably the crime thriller series about detective David Fyfe.

William Paul is currently working on a new novel called 'The Lightning Tree.' He is a lifelong supporter of Raith Rovers Football Club.

SEASONS OF REVENGE, Severn House, London 1985, Futura paperback 1987

MUMMY'S BOY, Macdonald, London 1987, Futura 1988

THE HINDMOST, Macdonald, London 1988, Futura 1989

THE LION RAMPANT, Macdonald, London 1989

DANCE OF DEATH, Severn House, London 1991

SLEEPING DOGS, Constable, London 1994, St Martin's Press, New York 1995

SLEEPING PRETTY, Constable, London 1995, St Martin's Press, New York 1996

SLEEPING PARTNER, Constable, London 1996, St Martin's Press, New York 1996

STRANGER THINGS, Constable. London 1997

TRIAL BY ORDEAL, Mainstream, Edinburgh 1998(ghosted biography of imprisoned Saudi nurse)

SCOTLAND SINCE 1688 - STRUGGLE FOR A NATION,CIMA, London 2000Co-author with Prof Ted Cowan and Dr Richard Finlay