Alex Stone

Alex Stone is a writer, poet and artist based on Waiheke Island in New Zealand.

Alex's writing spans feature journalism, weekly newspaper columns, performance poetry, and creative short story writing - for which he has been acknowledged in eight New Zealand literary awards.

Prepare to be inspired, moved, challenged, informed and stimulated by Alex's distinctive writing.

His short stories are often inspired by snippets of history, upon which Alex expands fictionally. Within his crisp and unique prose form, Alex's stories and mini-essays are witty, full of symbolism, always rewarding.

Alex is also a specialist in interpretation design and writing - the blurb on information panels at museums, zoos, walkways, parks and visitor centres.

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On Alex's writing:

"A writer of striking originality with qualities of daring and humour that are rare. Like Lloyd Jones, Alex has the ability to create a landscape so vivid the reader feels he is walking down a dusty road or in the hold of a ship." - Elizabeth Smither, former poet laureate of New Zealand.

"Alex's perspective is unusual. This gives his stories their outstanding quality: they are original. I have not read stories like this before. If one of the objects of good writing is to move the reader to a different place, then he succeeds very well."  - Bruce Ansley, acclaimed New Zealand author.

“Stone has that essential and sometimes under-respected quality of writing stories that engage you till the end. He likes his people and enjoys his eccentrics…” - David Hill, Weekend Herald.

 “It was a very impressive collection: the best stories are outstanding.” - literary editor Stephen Stratford on jesus of the credit cards.

“I was very impressed with Alex’s collection, and particularly the story They. With its lyrical language and daring concept, this was a piece of writing that truly stood out from the crowd. I invited Alex to submit a novel...”

Taken looks to be a bold and imaginative concept. Writing samples I have seen have a musicality and dignity...” - Katie Hayworth, Penguin Books NZ editor.

“I was greatly impressed by his entry Taken – an accomplished and poignant story. Here was a writer of considerable potential should he decide to write longer fiction...”- Tessa Duder, judge, AUT creative writing competition.

"I was struck by their originality, particularly by Came to Talk and Noun and Verb." - Carl Nixon, New Zealand novelist.

“A robust and multi-faceted talent.” - NZ Listener.

"...his poems are wistful little gems in the Thurber tradition." - Otago Daily Times.


Genre:

  • Adult Fiction
  • Adult Non-Fiction
  • Autobiography / Memoir
  • Feature Articles
  • Film Scripts
  • Freelance Writer
  • Journalism
  • Poetry
  • Short Stories
  • Web Writing

Skills:

  • Corporate Writing
  • Competition Judging
  • Editing
  • Freelance Writing
  • Journalism
  • Novelist
  • Poetry Readings
  • Public Speaking
  • Readings (adults)
  • Research
  • Short Story Writing
  • Technical Writing
  • Website Content

Branch:

Auckland

Location:

Waiheke Island

Publications:


In the Wind

For more than 25 years, Alex has written In the Wind, a weekly column for Gulf News, the feisty wee newspaper of Waiheke Island - and never missed a deadline! Well, once, while battling a full-on oceanic storm during a sailboat crossing of the Tasman Sea.

In the Wind, the book, is a selection of the best of the first ten years. It was published in 2009.

Three hundred pages of musing about the island condition, the turning of the seasons, of sailboats, good friends and good ol' dogs. The perfect gift for anyone who's ever asked, "What's it like to live on Waiheke?"

jesus of the credit cards

A collection of Alex Stone's best short stories from 30 years of writing. jesus of the credit cards was described by literary editor Stephen Stratford as "...a very impressive collection: the best stories are outstanding.”

Other reviewers were David Hill in the Weekend Herald: "Stone has that essential and sometimes under-respected quality of writing stories that engage you till the end. He likes his people and enjoys his eccentrics…”

And acclaimed New Zealand author Bruce Ansley wrote, ""Alex's perspective is unusual. This gives his stories their outstanding quality: they are original. I have not read stories like this before. If one of the objects of good writing is to move the reader to a different place, then he succeeds very well."

jesus of the credit cards includes stories that were either winner, runner-up or shortlisted for eight New Zealand literary awards. It was published in 2016, and is available on Amazon.