Paul Ilett

Paul Ilett is from Essex, England. A member of a large extended family, he grew up in a busy household, surrounded by relatives from different generations, some older and some younger. He draws heavily from his own experiences for his stories, which often reflect his life as a gay man, his role as a foster carer of more than 20 years, and his former career as a journalist. Indeed, during his time as a reporter, which included five years with the BBC news team, he covered stories about some of the funniest, darkest and most tragic aspects of human life.

His first two books both became bestsellers, with readers praising his dark humour, believable and engaging characters, and his ability to surprise them with twists and turns from start to finish. Paul says that Five Siblings at 23 is his most personal book to date. He is 56 years old and lives in the city of Southend-on-Sea in England with his husband, Gerry, and their two cats.