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Gerry Burnie

Goodreads Author

Born

in Pefferlaw, ON, Canada

Website

http://www.gerryburniebooks.ca

Genre

Gay Canadian Historical Fiction, Gay & Lesbian

Member Since

May 2010

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/gerrybooks

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Some people say--correctly, I think--that I have a short span of interest. Certainly my curriculum vitae would suggest this.

I started my career as a bank teller in Sutton, Ontario, and then, at the age of 15 years (1952), I emigrated to Toronto where I landed a job as a layout artist at Simpson-Sears. The fact that I had absolutely no formal art training whatsoever didn't seem to phase me or my employer, for I functioned quite well in that position until a more 'practical' (my mother's assessment of it) job presented itself.

So, using my experience as a layout artist--which included spray painting the bulges out of men's underwear--I sought a job as a draftsman at Ontario Hydro. I mean, if one could draw pictures it seemed only logical tha Some people say--correctly, I think--that I have a short span of interest. Certainly my curriculum vitae would suggest this.

I started my career as a bank teller in Sutton, Ontario, and then, at the age of 15 years (1952), I emigrated to Toronto where I landed a job as a layout artist at Simpson-Sears. The fact that I had absolutely no formal art training whatsoever didn't seem to phase me or my employer, for I functioned quite well in that position until a more 'practical' (my mother's assessment of it) job presented itself.

So, using my experience as a layout artist--which included spray painting the bulges out of men's underwear--I sought a job as a draftsman at Ontario Hydro. I mean, if one could draw pictures it seemed only logical that one could draw straight lines and do a bit of lettering. Apparently Ontario Hydro shared my thinking, for I held that job for three years until the glamour of the theatre beckoned.

We here in Canada call it a "theatre," and so did Odeon Theatres of England, but it is more commonly termed a "cinema." Nonetheless, being a theatah manager held very little of the glamour I spoke of (except going to work in a tuxedo), and so--using my said experience as a layout artist and now as a drawer of straight lines as well--I secured a position as Creative Services Manager with Columbia Records (Canada).

At the same time, I took a part-time job as a dance instructor with Latin American Dance Studios (which was owned by a Jewish gentleman with two left feet), and using this 'experience' I then landed several gigs in actual theatre productions. "Camelot" being one of them, with Robert Goulet (who lived upstairs in the same apartment building as me and my 'benefactor') and Richard Burton.

Meanwhile I was getting older. Already, I was in my mid twenties without a secure career to speak of, and so--like Sheldon Cartwright in "Nor All Thy Tears"--I decided a university degree might help. With this in mind I enrolled at York University in political science, and for more practical experience I managed to get myself elected to the local municipal council.

By the time I graduated I was broke, and so after a brief stint as a property assessor I secured a teaching position at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology in Toronto. It was a position I held for twenty-five years, but for the last ten years of it I also occupied a position as a Justice of the Peace.

****

So what does one do with all these various experiences? Well, for me it seemed to point to writing--something that I had dabbled with throughout of my many careers. Therefore, at the age of seventy-two I started out on my latest endeavour with the publication of "Two Irish Lads," and the rest if history.

Whether it will be the last of my careers is difficult to say, but if there is a moral to my story it is this: Go where your heart directs you. ...more

182 posts
Gerry Burnie's Blog: In Praise of Canadian History

“HIGH WINE”: A Voyageur Romance by Gerry Burnie Books

The following is the preface to my new novel “High Wine” set in the latter part of the 1700s and early 1800s.

The principal character is a youth named Sicheii, a mixed-blood Native and rumoured son of Duncan McGillivray; one of three shareholders in the legendary North West Company.

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PREFACE

Simon McTavish started life as a poor boy in 1751, and at the age of thirteen, he was sent

Combine Editions
Gerry Burnie’s books

Average rating: 3.85 · 97 ratings · 21 reviews · 8 distinct works

	Two Irish Lads 3.74 avg rating — 53 ratings — published 2008 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nor All Thy Tears: Journey to Big Sky 3.83 avg rating — 29 ratings — published 2011 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Métis Boy 3.60 avg rating — 5 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Coming of Age on the Trail: Part One 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Brit, Kid Cupid, and Petunia: "The Beginning" really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Coming of Age on the Tail: Part Two it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Boy Who Makes Wooden Box Sing it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Journey to Big Sky it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Gerry is Currently Reading

Gerry Burnie is currently reading

Cruising

by Gerald Walker

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Mar 21, 2012 11:40AM

Gerry Burnie is currently reading

Scar Tissue

by G.L. Roberts (Goodreads Author)

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Feb 10, 2012 02:30PM

Quotes by Gerry Burnie (?)

“We talk so much about leaving a better planet to our kids, that we forget to leave better kids to our planet.”
― Gerry Burnie

tags: hear-hear, right-on, so-true

19 likes

“It's a sure sign of getting older when nearly every topic begins with, "I used to.”
― Gerry Burnie, Nor All Thy Tears: Journey to Big Sky

6 likes

“My looks are other peoples' problem because I don't have to look at myself.”
― Gerry Burnie, Nor All Thy Tears: Journey to Big Sky

tags: 1960s-nostalgia, gay-historical-ficion, m-f-m-romantic-fiction

3 likes

See all Gerry Burnie's quotes »

Topics Mentioning This Author

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Gay Science Fiction: * GSF group authors	5	366	May 22, 2017 09:41PM

Gerry’s Quotes

“I often wonder why, when governments and communities erect monuments to heroes, they forget to erect one to the honour of the Pioneer.”
― Frederick de la Fosse, English Bloods: In the Backwoods of Muskoka, 1878

1 likes

“My looks are other peoples' problem because I don't have to look at myself.”
― Gerry Burnie, Nor All Thy Tears: Journey to Big Sky

tags: 1960s-nostalgia, gay-historical-ficion, m-f-m-romantic-fiction

3 likes

“I always have a quote for any occasion...It saves the effort of original thinking.”
― Gerry Burnie

2 likes

“One can only pity those dirty little minds that see obscenity in the crotch of every tree.”
― Gerry Burnie

1 likes

“It's a sure sign of getting older when nearly every topic begins with, "I used to.”
― Gerry Burnie, Nor All Thy Tears: Journey to Big Sky

6 likes

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Gerry’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-5) post a comment »

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message 5: by Gerry

Jan 12, 2014 06:13PM

I am of the opinion that a one-star rating, unless unaccompanied by a reasonable review, says more about the reviewer than it does about the book.

Gutenberg made everyone a writer, and the 'customer review' made everyone a critic.

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message 4: by Gerry

Nov 26, 2012 11:58AM

In preparation for this week's book review I went looking for a gay Canadian novel in all the usual places (including Amazon.ca), but I may as well have gone looking for a unicorn. All I could find were a couple of outdated, academic, and even American choices (i.e. The Best American Short Stories 2012). Moreover, to add insult to injury, my own novels weren't even included! It's a damned good thing I write for pleasure because I get damned little support from my own country.

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message 3: by Gerry

Oct 25, 2012 03:53PM

Just received notice of the Goodreads Choice Awards 2012. I WON’T be taking part. For one thing, it is only open to “Books published for the first time in the United States,” (nothing about Canada), and of the 15 categories, not one of them is for GBLT books–fiction or non-fiction. So best of luck, but no thanks.

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message 2: by Gerry (last edited Oct 24, 2012 05:39PM)

Oct 24, 2012 05:38PM

It is with the greatest sadness I just learned of the bankruptcy proceedings of Douglas & MacIntyre Publishing. D&M were/are a Canadian owned publishing house that is a staunch supporters of Canadian authors and titles. See the story at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/b...

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message 1: by Gerry

Jan 01, 2012 09:56AM

On the topic of underage love, here's a comment from the mother of a "possibly gay 6-year-old" that merits reading, i.e.:

"It also made some people uncomfortable. Of the criticisms, the most common is that my son is six years old and doesn't know anything about sex. While I fully acknowledge this may not be the end-all-and-be-all to my son's sexual orientation, I object to the idea that being gay is only about sexual acts. Our emotions and feelings, our attractions and compulsions, all contribute, not just our body parts. If my son had a crush on the star of iCarly, I doubt people would be saying he was too young to have those sexual feelings towards a girl. I think they would think it was an innocent schoolboy crush, which is exactly what it is."

Read the whole comment: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/Amelia/...

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