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If Paul was a pigeon his dad would probably wring his neck. The runt of the litter, the youngest of five, he grasps at life. Children struggle with different and Paul is unique. He's being raised by his dad on social welfare... It's the 1970s, toys are crap and money is short. Struggling with the constraints of poverty and desperate to fit in, obeying the rules is not easy. In a bid to gain the right sort of attention laws are broken or replaced by his own set of values. Scrumping, scampering through sewage tunnels and scrounging are just a few of the things that occupy his existence. Paul's life is PLAYING OUT.

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"The best word to describe Paul Douglas Lovell is ""unconventional"" so it makes sense that his bio would be far from typical. Coming from a motherless family of five, this runt of the litter had to scratch and scramble for attention. In Playing Out: Swings and Roundabouts, the reader finds a young Lovell in the 70s living on the margins of society. Homelife is unsteady with the threat of eviction and the struggle to pay for amenities. A cold and hungry existence. Petty criminality and abuse further distort his outlook on life. He becomes a problem child. His time at school was spent on everything, but learning. Empty Corridors: Learning to Fail finds Lovell attending school in the 80s, where he is still labeled a problem. His academic knowledge is that of an 11yo, he leaves school without a single qualification, struggling to read and lacking ambition. In Paulyanna: International Rent Boy, the reader finds Lovell living in London during the 90s and working the streets, a profession he fell into. Regardless of ethics, he feels valued for the first time in his life. Being paid for being himself is veiwed as an achievement. A friend encouraged him to take a writing course and one in media studies. Whilst some students could converse confidently, Paul felt unsure and even intimidated but when he shared his childhood stories and American street tales, he captured the attention of his peers. This ability to spin a yarn helped him obtain a job in a production and distribution company. Music television was the perfect employer of a wayward soul, partial to the odd cannabis joint. Writing synopses of the concerts to go with the photographs and publicity materials for TV listings Paul could practice his art. After moving to Switzerland in 2000, a new Paul emerged. This version was supported by a partner who bolstered his confidence and encouraged his ambition. A job was difficult to find, funnily enough, he began working two days per week in an international school. He smiles at the memory, the irony of scrawling ""Mr. Lovell"" across the blackboard. Wishing his teachers could see him. Paul now spends time writing memoirs, haiku and creating images."

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