Adam Marek

Short story writer

My Edinburgh Book Festival experience in seven souvenirs

Adam Marek 2 Comments

I just got back from three days at the Edinburgh International Book Festival where I was talking about The Stone Thrower at an event with Rodge Glass. It was my first time there and I was overwhelmed by the size of it. The EIBF camp on Charlotte Square is a mini-village with a market square in the middle filled with deckchairs bearing quotes by … [Read more...]

Work it out on the page

Adam Marek 5 Comments

At the moment I've got two fiction projects underway. The first is a novel I've been working on since the beginning of the year. I don't like to talk about the actual subject of the work while I'm still writing it (it lets all the hot air out), but what I did want to share was a realisation I had while working on it. Sometimes, writing feels … [Read more...]

Writing tools I can’t live without #2: Fisher Space Pen

Adam Marek 3 Comments

You know that feeling of excitement and joy you get when you first buy a new gadget or beautiful item? And how, after a very short time, that initial excitement starts to fade, and eventually, the item just becomes part of your background stuff? Well, that feeling of excitement never faded for my Fisher Space Pen. I love it every time I use it. It … [Read more...]

Shortlisted for the Edge Hill Prize

Adam Marek 6 Comments

Last week, while I was away tutoring at Arvon Lumb Bank with the brilliant Kate Clanchy, I got the news that The Stone Thrower has been shortlisted for the prestigious Edge Hill Short Story Prize, previously won by Colm Tóibín, Claire Keegan, Chris Beckett, Jeremy Dyson, Graham Mort and Sarah Hall. I'm thrilled. Just look whose company I'm in on … [Read more...]

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...]