Robert Simonišek (1977), PhD, Slovenian writer, critic, poet, translator and art historian. His novel The Room below the Castle (2013) was nominated for Kresnik, the Slovenian Booker. He was invited to several international festivals in Ireland and Italy. During his studies, Simonišek worked as a journalist for distinguished Slovenian newspapers, such as Finance and Delo. For several years he has been a tour guide travelling all over Europe.

After achieving MA and PhD in Art History, he taught at University of Ljubljana and has conducted literary workshops in Slovenia. Simonišek’s literary works interweave travel motifs with existential issues and the author’s individual experience of nature, society and art. His prose often underlines character’s inner life, to explore and to juxtapose the relationship between present and past, individual and society, ideal and real. He lends a voice to intellectuals being excluded or having difficulties with the everyday life, political ideas and regimes.

His writings have been translated into Croatian, Serbian, Czech, Spanish, English, etc. and have appeared in a number of anthologies. He lives in Celje.

In November 2015, Wales Literature Exchange in partnership with Literature Across Frontiers will welcome Robert Simonišek to Aberystwyth for a month-long residency. He will meet with writers, translators, publishers and academics.