What is the title of your latest release?
VESPER
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
An anti-romance literary novel about independence, love, and self-discovery. For those who enjoy a layered, voice-driven story with philosophical depth and an unconventional perspective on the NYC dating scene
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I chose New York. Partly as a homage to the film that inspired the story (Alfie; and the Bill Naughton play), and partly because the city has been my home for the last decade, and there are a lot of perspectives to share
Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
If she could get her act together with her text messaging, probably
What are three words that describe your hero?
Witty, intelligent, and impulsive, making for never a dull moment
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
That Antarctica doesn’t have any polar bears
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
Wait until I’m totally done
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
The coconut crab curry from Fish Cheeks in Soho is up there
Describe your writing space/office!
It’s a mix of my home office in downtown Manhattan and wherever I’m travelling
Who is an author you admire?
Alex Garland. He wrote THE BEACH and then went on to write and direct a bunch of great films, including Ex Machina and Devs; two of my favorites
Is there a book that changed your life?
Ayn Rand’s THE FOUNTAINHEAD. It didn’t quite change my life, but it brought a whole new appreciation for literary depth at a young age
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published). Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
When I realized that it would take at least two years for my book to hit the shelves, which is a lifetime for someone with my attention deficit. So I decided to create my own press (Kinderspiel Press), partner with a bunch of industry experts, release my book in a timely fashion, and do it in exactly the way I want. It’s been great because I now have the advisors and processes in place to efficiently release other authors that are a good fit
What’s your favorite genre to read?
It depends on the day, though I’m most often reading literary fiction
What’s your favorite movie?
Alfie with Jude Law, naturally
What is your favorite season?
Spring. Everything is on the way up: weather, daylight savings, festivities
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Low-key. A nice bottle of wine with good friends does the trick
What’s a recent book you highly recommend?
RIPE by Sarah Rose Etter or GOOD GIRL by Aria Aber
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Italian
What do you do when you have free time?
Anything that broadens my perspective. Travelling, reading, conversing with people, meditating; it doesn’t take much
What can readers expect from you next?
I’ve got four more stories in me that will pair some type of philosophical/research interest with a genre framework. I just can’t make up my mind which one to start developing. In the meantime, I’m looking for the next release on Kinderspiel so if anyone has a good story that pairs entertainment with provocation, please send it my way.
Fiercely witty and sharply narrated, VESPER is an anti-romance literary novel about independence, love, and self-discovery through the eyes of consultant Vesper. Blending the cultural zeitgeist of Sex and the City with the philosophical depth of Milan Kundera, it's perfect for fans of Dolly Alderton, Sarah Rose Etter and Adelle Waldman.
Vesper Elsegood is in love with being single and can't understand why any of her friends would settle down. In New York's ruthless dating scene, she's learned that love is an ever-changing concept, a silly game, and there are rarely any winners. But when Caspian, an enigmatic entrepreneur launching a prestigious global prize to celebrate philosophical thinking, enters her life, Vesper is momentarily undone. As their chemistry intensifies, she begins re-examining everything—her relationships, her career, and her ability to rewrite her own story.
A bold and unapologetic observation of what it means to be a single woman in New York City, Marks' debut novel is equal parts emotional portrait, cultural inquiry, and contemporary coming-of-age—a story about subverting gender norms, dismantling inherited narratives, and choosing a life that is wholly one's own.
Fiction Literary [ Kinderspiel Press, On Sale: May 26, 2026, Hardcover, ISBN: 9798993486109 / ]
Evan Marks, an Australian-born writer working in New York City’s financial sector, brings a fresh and quietly incisive perspective to questions of identity, desire, and self-knowledge in the big city.
No comments posted.
© 2003-2026