Adam Marek

Short story writer

The Stone Thrower playlist

Adam Marek 1 Comment

My new book, The Stone Thrower, just came out in North America, published by the brilliant ECW Press, who also published Instruction Manual For Swallowing over there. As part of ECW's BackLit series, this edition has bonus material at the back: my desert island books, an extra story, and a playlist of music to throw stones to. I wanted to share … [Read more...]

Check out my monkey stamp

Adam Marek 2 Comments

Naomi just bought me this ink stamp. Isn't it great? In our house I will forever be associated with monkeys and books (because my first published story was about a 40-litre monkey). This is the second reading-monkey item Naomi has given me. The first was the Christmas decoration she made a few years ago. I'm not sure what I'll stamp with this … [Read more...]

Why you should write in your pyjamas, plus a workshop and new books

Adam Marek 9 Comments

Write in your pyjamas A couple of weeks ago, I was back at Arvon's Totleigh Barton in Devon tutoring with the lovely Jen Hadfield. We were talking about our own writing habits, and discovered that one process had given us both a creative jump start. Early in our writing lives, Jen and I both read Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. Have you read … [Read more...]

Next year I will hibernate

Adam Marek 9 Comments

Hedgehogs have the right idea. Just curl up in a warm pile of leaves somewhere and sleep till the daffodils are out. I should do the same thing, because every January is the same for me - a dearth of creative energy, and self-esteem hitting rock bottom. Like some reverse Midas-effect, it feels like everything I touch in this miserable month turns … [Read more...]

One of my favourite Christmas decorations

Adam Marek 2 Comments

When Naomi and I bought our first Christmas tree together, we only just had enough money for the tree itself, and not for any decorations. Rather than buy a whole load of crappy cheap ones, we bought two or three pretty ones that we liked and had a very bare tree that year. Since then, everywhere we've travelled together, we've bought a new … [Read more...]

A week tutoring at Arvon Totleigh Barton

Adam Marek 6 Comments

I've just got back from a brilliant week tutoring a short story course and stuffing my face with Tania Hershman at Arvon's Totleigh Barton centre in Devon. What a treat! Here's my report, in bullet points: Monday • Totleigh Barton is REMOTE. It's an hour's drive from the nearest train station - Exeter St David's. When I arrive, my phone … [Read more...]

North American cover design for The Stone Thrower

Adam Marek 2 Comments

Check out the cover design for the North American edition of The Stone Thrower from ECW Press. What d'you reckon? I'm thrilled with it. This was my favourite of the three proposed versions they sent over, so I'm glad it ended up as this one. At its core, the collection is about the fragility and vulnerability of children, and the fragile and … [Read more...]