Paul Cuddihy was born in 1966. His parents told him he was born in Bethlehem, although that was simply the name of the labour ward at St Francis’ Maternity Hospital in Govan, Glasgow. Sadly, it was many years before he realised this, and he would now like to apologise to everyone whom he told that he shared Jesus’ birthplace.
In 1969, he moved to Bishopbriggs – with his family of course – and in August of that year found himself in the town’s Quin Pub for the first (but not the last) time. Having decided to go and meet his dad coming home from work, Paul took off unannounced to the train station.
While a full-scale search for him was launched by his anxious mum and neighbours, Paul was sitting in the pub enjoying a packet of crisps and a glass of lemonade courtesy of one of Quin’s regulars who realised this future novelist was lost but figured that, eventually, someone would turn up at the pub to claim him. Paul would now like to apologise to his mum for causing her unnecessary worry.
There are no tales of woe to report over the next few years. Indeed, it was a very happy childhood for Paul and his sisters, where a love of books was fostered, along with encouragement from his parents when he began writing stories from the age of seven. Thankfully, none of those early creative efforts survive.
Turnbull High School provided another platform for Paul’s writing, no more so than in fifth year, where teacher Peter McGhee encouraged the English Higher class in their creative endeavours. Turnbull was also where a lifelong friendship with Stephen Maule began though, almost thirty years later, it’s clear that the intervening period has been kinder to Stephen.
What can only be described as a series of rubbish jobs followed before a Social Science degree was completed at Glasgow College (now Glasgow Caledonian University).
From there, Paul began a career in journalist, joining the Scottish Catholic Observer in 1990. After five enjoyable years there, he moved to the Evening Times, spending a further five years there before joining the Sunday Herald for a brief period. In January 2001, he signed on with the Celtic View and began working for the only football club he ever wanted to write for.
He is currently the editor of the Celtic View, the official magazine of Celtic Football Club. In 2009 he wrote the bestselling a biography of Tommy Burns. He was the co-author of The Best of the Celtic View and he has also edited a number of books for the club including The Road To Seville and The Official Tribute To Henrik Larsson. In 2004 Paul was one of the prize-winners of the inaugural Scotsman/Orange Short Story Competition. Saints and Sinners (Black & White, 2010) was his first published novel. The Hunted, published in October 2011 (Capercaillie) is his second novel, and a sequel to Saints and Sinners.
In 1991 he married Karen, and they have three children, Louise, Rebecca and Andrew. Not long after they started going out, Paul told Karen that his ambition was to become a writer. He would now like to apologise to Karen for having taken so long to fulfil that ambition.
He still lives in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow with his wife and three children. He’s not been in Quin’s pub for a long time now.
