Paul Almond in 1963, on whom Paul Alford is based

 

Paul Almond began his career producing and directing over 120 television dramas for the CBC in Canada, the BBC, ABC and Granada TV in England (where he created the landmark documentary 7Up) and many other networks in the United States. His numerous awards include 12 Genies (Canadian Academy Awards) including Best Feature Director and Best TV Director, a Hollywood Golden Globe Nomination for Best Foreign Picture and another by his peers in the DGA as Best Feature Director. He has written or adapted a dozen plays for television and five screenplays for motion pictures, as well as having made pictures for such major studios as Paramount, Universal and MGM. His trilogy starring Genevieve Bujold, Isabel, Act of the Heart, and Journey, is considered part of the Canadian film canon. A retrospective of his films toured Canada in 2000-2001.

 

Paul Almond was recently appointed to his country’s highest honour, the Order of Canada, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of Canada. In 1990 he turned to full-time writing, and recently began publishing novels in The Alford Saga, romantic adventures from 1800-2000.