William R. Forstchen was born in New Jersey in 1950. He was educated by Benedictine monks and graduated from Rider College in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. He taught history for ten years and ran workshops on creative writing in Maine. In 1989 he returned to graduate school at Purdue University, where he gained an MA in European history. He is currently finishing a Ph.D, specializing in nineteenth-century American military history.

His first novel, Ice Prophet, was published in 1983, and since then he has written many others. He has also written numerous short stories, fiction for young adults, science articles and a number of guest editorials, including a publication with the Chicago Tribune.

He has always enjoyed travelling and has ventured to Russia and visited a fair part of Europe. Other interests include scuba-diving, cycling, travel by train, pinball machines, classical music and historical re-enactment as a private with the 20th Maine Volunteer Regiment.