Paul is the author of the acclaimed comedic coming-of-age novel, Planet of the Dates, published by The Permanent Press, New York, in early 2008. His previous books are Unplugged, a novel published by John Daniel & Co. in 2002, and the short story collection Twenty Questions, published by Daniel & Daniel in 1998. He also edited and contributed work to the fiction anthologies First Person Imperfect (iUniverse, 2003) and Further Persons Imperfect (iUniverse, 2007).
Paul teaches fiction writing both in his own workshop-style class and through the adult education program at Northwestern University, which in 2004 awarded him the Norris Student Center Director’s Award. He is also an instructor in Film Studies/Screenwriting in the same program, and he teaches writing and literature at the graduate level as an adjunct faculty member at National-Louis University. Paul has been a Visiting Artist at 20 universities, academies, and performing-arts high schools across the country, and he lectures widely about both writing and current events.
Since 1987, Paul has presented his performance art and monologues at more than 70 theaters and other venues nationwide, including the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City, Chicago’s Around the Coyote Fall Arts Festival (receiving the Chicago Reader’s “Critic’s Choice” in 2003 and 2006), N.A.M.E. Gallery, and twice at the International Performance Art Festival.
Paul’s full-length feature film screenplay adaptation of his novel Unplugged recently placed third in national competition through The Writer’s Place. His films and videos have been screened at film festivals worldwide, receiving awards from the American Film Institute, the Alliance for Community Media, the Association of Cinematic and Video Arts, and the San Francisco Poetry Film Festival, among others. His work has been broadcast on both public and cable television. A recipient of a Mental Health Association Distinguished Service Award, Paul has received grants from the Illinois Arts Council, the Evanston Arts Council, and Northwestern University.
Paul was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He received his BA in English from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and his MA in Film from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Since 1983 Paul has lived in Evanston, where he is co-authoring the novel Logan’s Quest with Logan’s Run author William F. Nolan. Paul is engaged to fellow Evanston writer Heather Swartz, to whom Planet of the Dates is dedicated.
For additional information, go to www.paulmccomas.com.