Catch-Up with:
Paul Burston
Paul Burston
(Photo by Dean Stockings)
H: Paul, it's been while since I last saw you; how have you been?
P: I've been well - busy with various projects, writing, reading a lot, spending too much time on Facebook. The usual.
H: The Gay Divorcee was published in 2009; what was the overall response to the book?
P: Overall, the response was really positive.
A lot of people seemed to identify with the characters, which is always encouraging.
And my readership seems to have broadened, which is a bonus.
I've never written for an exclusively gay male readership, but it's good to have it confirmed that other people read my books - male and female, gay and straight.
Paul Burston by Trademark
H: Last year, you were immortalised by Trademark, how did this come about and how did it feel to have your portrait done by him?
P: Mark approached me. Obviously I said yes. I was thrilled. It's such an honour.
I love his work, and to see my portrait hanging in a gallery in Pall Mall along with the likes of David Bowie and Grace Jones was a thrill.
And Mark makes you look wonderful.
If I could have him paint my face every day, I would.
Paul Burston - Boys & Girls
H: In 2010, you edited "Boys & Girls", followed by "Men & Women" in 2011,
can you tell a little about this?
P: A publisher called Bobby Nayyar asked if i'd be interested in editing a collection of short stories.
I'd written a couple of stories, one of which was published in a previous book of his called 'Bloody Vampires'. And I knew a lot of authors who had stories to tell.
Finding the material wasn't hard - there are a lot of talented writers out there.
The challenge was in balancing more established names with new or up-and-coming writers.
I wanted to give a platform to people who hadn't been published before.
Encouraging new talent is very important to me. 'Boys & Girls' did well so Bobby asked me to do a sequel.
Paul Burston - Men & Women
It's too early to say how the new book is doing, but the early signs are good.
Polari
H: You started Polari back in 2007, can you explain what Polari entails?
P: It's a literary salon. People read, drink, share stories, buy books, and generally have a gay old time.
It's not a dry, dusty book event. It's more fun than that.
There's usually a bit of performance, some music, and a fair amount of dressing up.
Paul Burston Presents: Polari
The New York Times called Polari "London's most theatrical salon", which is partly a reference to my shameless exhibitionism.
We started in Nov 2007 and it's grown way beyond my expectations.
We've had special guests, not only authors but also performers like Andy Bell, Fenella Fielding, David Hoyle and David McAlmont. And we encourage new talent - there always a spot for someone to try out something new or unpublished.
The Autumn season is going to be fantastic. We have some great names lined up.
Polari First Book Prize
And there's the Polari First Book Prize, which I'm really excited about.
The short list will be announced on Sep 19, and the winner will be announced at the Polari 4th Birthday in November.
See the Southbank website for details. But people need to book in advance.
We tend to well out very quickly.
Time Out
H: You still work with Time Out on a weekly bases;
do you feel Gay Issues have changed over the years and if so, in what way?
P: That's a very big question! Short answer - things have changed a lot, certainly in terms of the fight for equality.
We're not there yet, but we've made a lot of ground.
There are still issues that need addressing, and I try to address them.
But things are far better than they were. When I started at Time Out there were no gay civil partnerships, no effective drug treatments for HIV, Section 28 was still in force and the age of consent for gay men was 21. A lot has changed.
Photo by David Gwinnutt
H: And now the killer question: How is the new book coming along and can you divulge anything about it (Title, characters, expected publish date........)?
P: I can't say very much, I'm afraid. I'm still working on it. I have a working title, and I can tell you that the main characters are a married couple.
There are gay themes and characters, but it's quite different to my previous novels. It's darker and, dare I say it, more ambitious.
I've promised my agent that I'll have something ready by the end of the year, so publication date would be late 2012 at the earliest.
Paul Burston
H: Paul, there was rumour that one of your books was to be used for a TV production; is this true?
P: It is true. We sold the rights to a production company, and there is a screenwriter attached.
That's all I can say for now.
Watch this space ! ! !
Finally:
H: Paul, have you ever considered writing a theatre play?
P: I studied drama at university, and I wrote a couple of plays when I left - which was a long time ago!
If memory serves, they weren't terribly good. I think I'll stick to what I know.
With HUGE thanks to Paul; cheers babes!
H.Xx
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