Anthony McDonald studied history at Durham University.  He worked very briefly as a musical instrument maker and as a farm labourer before moving into the theatre, where he has worked in almost every capacity except those of Director and Electrician.
His first novel, Orange Bitter, Orange Sweet, was published by Gay Men’s Press in 2001 and his second, Adam, in 2003. It became one of the best selling books GMP ever published.
Adam was then republished in a new edition by BIGfib Books in 2006.
McDonald's short stories have appeared in the Gay Times anthologies, Bend Sinister and Death Comes Easy.  He has also written the scripts for several Words and Music events, based around the lives and works of composers including Schubert and Brahms, which have been performed in Britain and in Portugal. 
His travel writing has appeared in the Independent newspaper.
After several years of living and teaching English in France McDonald is now based mainly in London.

Bibliography

2001 Orange Bitter, Orange Sweet (Novel)               
2003 Adam (Novel)          

Selected Press Reviews:

Orange Bitter, Orange Sweet

A story full of passion. Here we have s disparate bunch of beautiful people, flushed with the vibrancy of young adulthood, who are living in Seville – language teachers, musicians, poets. All are looking for that most elusive of things, ‘a future’ in their careers, in their personal lives, and with their lovers. The most intense relationship is that between James and Borja – a passionate, three-year affair that is thrown into sharp relief when James meets fellow Englishman William, an achingly needy and beautiful young man…
- Sebastian Beaumont: Gay Times

McDonald cleverly weaves the plot lines and characters together with surprising and often intriguing devices, a stolen window, a musical theme or a plane flight that seamlessly moves the narrative forward in surprising and startling ways. But where the book really excels is in the wonderful, dense descriptions of Spain and its intoxicating culture. McDonald fills the narrative with tantalising and exotic street names, local customs, food, drink and Spanish guitars that gives the book an exquisite detail and evocatively brings it to life…
- Stephen Beeny: Rainbow Network

Adam

Whilst tramping through the woods near the French village where he has been living for the past year, 16-year-old Adam has a disturbing encounter with Sylvain, a local youth, an ill-educated farm labourer who is somewhere between satyr and faun. Yet, that initial encounter leads to others, and soon a passionate physical relationship ensues. However, matters are complicated when Sean and Michael, two of Adam’s friends from England arrive… Adam is assured, vividly imagined (terrific on food, scenery and sex), and reminiscent of the sensuousness of Colette at her best.
- Peter Burton: Gay Times

Rather unusually for a coming of age saga, Adam deals with the exciting and intense passions of first love and not the angst and hatred more often associated with it. The easygoing and beautifully descriptive language artfully blends cultural intelligence into the relaxed, simple charms of rural France, creating an evocative and highly enjoyable read.
- Stephen Beeny: Rainbow Network

A thoughtful and compassionate novel about the infuriating and painful confusion between love and sex, between romantic idealism and the demands of the real world during adolescence. Tastefully handled and never exploitative, the novel manages to be sympathetic whilst rigorously honest at all times. …A fine and elegantly written work deserving a wide readership regardless of sexual orientation.
- What’s On UK

Anthony McDonald's novel; Adam was republished by BIGfib in 2006. Buy it <here>.

Read Anthony McDonald's article on books that influenced him <here>

Support your local bookstore <here>

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