Born in Newfoundland, Bill Rowe graduated in English from Memorial University and attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, obtaining an Honours MA in law.

Elected five times to the House of Assembly, Rowe served as a minister in the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and as leader of the Official Opposition. He practised law in St. John's for many years, and has been a long-time public affairs commentator, appearing regularly on national and local television, as well as hosting a daily radio call-in show on VOCM and writing weekly newspaper columns.

Rowe has written seven books: Clapp's Rock, a bestselling novel published by McClelland and Stewart and serialized on CBC national radio; The Temptation of Victor Galanti, a second novel published by McClelland and Stewart; a volume of essays on politics and public affairs published by Jesperson Press of St. John's; the critically acclaimed political memoir Danny Williams: The War With Ottawa, which appeared on the Globe and Mail's bestsellers list in 2010; and Danny Williams, Please Come Back, a collection of newspaper articles covering social, political, and economic issues; and Rosie O'Dell, a critically acclaimed crime novel published by Pennywell Books, a literary imprint of Flanker Press.

Rowe is a member of the Writers' Union of Canada and has served on the executive of the Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador. He is married to Penelope Ayre Rowe CM of St. John's. They have a son, Dorian, a daughter, Toby, and three grandchildren.