Books, music, movies, travel, gym, gardening, snorkeling/diving. Two of the greatest experiences of my life were diving with great white sharks in South Africa and swimming with dolphins in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.
Music
Marc Almond, The Associates, David Bowie, Blondie, Kate Bush, Vanessa Daou, EBTG, Elvis, Marianne Faithfull, Fleetwood Mac, Human League, Grace Jones, Kraftwerk, Joni Mitchell, Morrissey, Pet Shop Boys, Prince, Pulp, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, Scissor Sisters, Siouxsie, The Smiths, Soft Cell, Suede, Donna Summer, David Sylvian, Velvet Undergound, Scott Walker, Amy Winehouse and many more.
Movies
Alien, All About Eve, All That Heaven Allows, Boys In The Band, Brokeback Mountain, Carrie, Clueless, Crash, C.R.A.Z.Y, Echo Park, Exorcist, Hedwig, Imitation of Life, King Kong, Mysterious Skin, Night of the Hunter, Pink Narcissus, Querelle, Romy and Michelle, Sunset Boulevard, Team America, Time To Leave, Valley of the Dolls, Volver.
Television
Six Feet Under, Blue Planet, Dexter, 24, The Office, Buffy, Victoria Wood, Frasier, League of Gentlemen, The Simpsons, Coronation Street, Creature Comforts, Planet Earth, Prime Suspect, Property Ladder, Dr Who, Medium, Nighty Night, Californication, Family Guy.
Books
Oscar Wilde, Jacqueline Susann, Michael Cunningham, Paul Magrs, Marian Keyes, Clive Barker, Neil Bartlett, Andrew Holleran, David Sedaris, Quentin Crisp, Stephen McCauley, Dorothy Parker, Stephen King, Armistead Maupin, Alan Bennett.
Heroes
Oscar Wilde, Quentin Crisp, David Bowie and David Hoyle.
St Mary's College
Middlesex, HC
Graduated: 1987
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: Drama
Minor: English
1984 to 1987
Brynteg Comprehensive School
MID GLAMORGAN, WA
Graduated: 1984
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Other
Major: English
Minor: History / Religious Studies
Clubs: Reading, writing, drama
I'm an award-winning author, journalist, curator and accidental DJ whose books include my best-selling first novel 'Shameless'.
My last novel, 'Lovers & Losers', was shortlisted for the Stonewall Award for Best Writer 2007.
My new novel 'The Gay Divorcee' is out now, selling well and getting great reviews!
'Immensely enjoyably' - Julian Clary
'I absolutely loved it. Paul Burston is the nearest thing the UK has to Armistead Maupin. They share a warmth for their characters, have that same page turning quality, a nice light comic touch and deft plotting' - Jonathan Harvey
'Wonderful, wicked and witty, laugh-out-loud funny and touching. Burston’s best yet. Loved it!’ - Marc Almond
'I found myself saddened then gladdened by this novel that has the lightest of touches and the deepest of meanings. Burston can go from waspish to wise and back in a sentence. Bitchy, funny, acute and moving. A triumph' - Suzanne Moore
'A fascinating portrait of Soho in the noughties: vivid, charming and romantic' - Susie Boyt
'Accomplished entertainment...a rollicking, steamy, witty saga steeped in love, sex and no small amount of cocaine... Social politics underscore the delicious froth... the maelstrom of modern gay life (from drugs to online sex, vanity to homophobia) is concisely deconstructed by Burston' - Tim Teeman, The Times
'Gay London's Jane Austen... a fearless chronicler of modern gay life in all its glory and grotesqueness.. up-to-the-minute, unashamedly commercial and absolutely in-yer-face...' Suzi Feay, The Independent on Sunday
'Burston expertly handles entwined storylines and evokes the energy and anxiety of gay London nightlife. This incisive writer mostly reserves a light, tender touch... Moving and witty... "The Gay Divorcee" is a diverting read to settle down with' - Metro
In June 2009, I made The Independent's Pink List of the 101 most influential gay and lesbian people in Britain for the third year running.
When I'm not making up stories, I edit the Gay & Lesbian section of Time Out. In November 2008 I received the Stonewall Award for Time Out's coverage of gay and lesbian life in London.
I also freelance for various newspaper and magazines including The Independent on Sunday and The Times.
PLEASE NOTE: If you wish to contact me about coverage in Time Out, please email paulburston@timeout.com. I don't take listings requests via myspace.
I also host Polari ('London's peerless gay literary salon' according to The Independent on Sunday), and am co-curator (with Rupert Smith) of The House of Homosexual Culture at the South Bank.
See House Of Homosexual Culture and Polari in my Top Friends below.
There's a filmed report on Polari at www.homovision.tv/pump-up-the-polari/
Who I'd like to meet:
Not in the market for sex or romance, but new friends/fans/stalkers are always welcome.
WEDNESDAY JULY 15 - Polari Porn Night at Freedom. 6.30pm.
THURSDAY JULY 16 - Stonewall 40 event at at the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre.
TUESDAY AUGUST 25 - Manchester Pride - reading and book signing at Barge on the Canal, Eden Bar, 12noon-2pm. Followed by Polari event 4-6pm. To book email nicola.fisher@manchesterpride.com
FRIDAY AUGUST 28 - Cardiff Pride - reading and book signing,
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9 - Polari In Concrete at the Southbank Centre. 7pm. Free. With readings by myself and Rupert James.
SEPTEMBER 17 - Gay Icons at the National Portrait Gallery. Talk and book signing.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 9 - Guest speaker at Gay & Lesbian Humanist Association, Red Lion Square. Reading and book signing. Bookstall kindly provided by Gay's The Word.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28 - Reading at 'Work in Progress' Writers Course, Totleigh Barton, Devon
HI SEXY, GUTTERSLUT IS BACK THIS SATURDAY@IMAGES, JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM LOVEBOX@VICTORIA PARK, WITH SPECIAL GUEST PRINCE NELLY(CARPET BURN).
E-MAIL US AT GUTTERSLUTUK@YAHOO.CO.UK FOR CONCESSION LIST.
SEE YOU THERE!!!!
Was great to meet you too Paul, and thanks again for having me perform, it was such a great night. Back in grim Manchester now, but will defo's keep in touch - take care for now matey xx
I think u'll enjoy this one. It's pretty cool but also a little creepy too LOL. You'll need to follow these directions EXACTLY to get the proper results. Put the followwing into the address-bar of your web-browser. Type ur favorite number between 1 and 999 & then type a dot & then type your favorite color & then type a dot & then type one word that best describes your mood & then type a dot & then type the word retwistic & then type a dot & then type com & then click enter. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Hi Paul! Hope you have a lovely day spent with Paulo on his 40th..I wonder what his secret is to having such a youthful look!!! What a lovely profile pic of you both..Yvonne x
gay club opened in governmental building courtyard here in Belgrade. went there on Saturday, couldn't believe my own eyes!! and the gatekeepers were having so much fun, some gay celebs showed up and the place was packed!
I have heard such wonderful things about the gay divorcee! I am going to get it very soon. Is it also available from amazon.com? I saw its on the uk site, im not in the uk.
Hi Paul, after all this waiting to meet you my body has decided to do a wobbly and to be honest i feel like ...well crap actually. i am hoping to meet you but am doubtful at the moment.Seriously pee'd off to say the least. Oh well, enjoy Brum, good luck tomorrow and i hope to meet you sometime soon. Wayne xxxx
HIya paul, looking forward to meeting you at Prowler in Brum Saturday. Do you mind signing my other books to ? cheeky bitch aint i ? but that's us brummies for ya xxxx
Hi Paul, I am really looking forward to Prowlers on Sunday! My good friend from my teens and one of my oldest friends Craig is quite bemused at the book title being a Gay Divorcee himself..he looks forward to meeting you! Love Yvonne x
Have a fab fun night with your novel launch party, Paul! Good luck and all wishing you more great success with your writing! What a boy you are, ha! Kelv
I'd love to but i have a prior engagement, but lets get together soon. I'm around till maybe August, so we have plenty of time. Look forward to catching up.
