Janae Marks is the New York Times bestselling author of From the Desk of Zoe Washington, A Soft Place to Land, and On Air with Zoe Washington. She has an MFA in Writing for Children from The New School, and lives in Connecticut with her family. Learn more at janaemarks.com.
150 Word Bio
Janae Marks is the New York Times bestselling author of middle grade novels From the Desk of Zoe Washington, A Soft Place to Land, and On Air with ZoeWashington. She is also part of the middle grade anthology Hope Wins, edited by Rose Brock. Her novels have been named Best Book of the Year by Parents Magazine, Chicago Public Library, the Boston Globe, the Bank Street College of Education, and others. From the Desk of Zoe Washington is currently in development with Disney Branded Television to become an original movie, executive produced by Kerry Washington.
Janae grew up in the New York City suburbs, where she loved to read and write. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Tufts University and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children from The New School. She lives in Connecticut with her family. Learn more about her at janaemarks.com.
Janae was named one of Connecticut Magazine's 40 Under 40 in 2022.
From the desk of zoe washington
Indie Bestseller
4 starred reviews (Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, School Library Journal)
Named a Best Book of the Year by Parents Magazine, Book Riot, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Chicago Public Library, the Boston Globe and the Bank Street College of Education
NPR 100 Favorite Books for Young Readers
#1 Kids' Indie Next List Title
Junior Library Guild Selection
Project LIT Book Club Selection
2020 Cybils Award Winner
2021 Edgar Award Nominee
2021 Agatha Award Nominee
2021 Anthony Award Nominee
Finalist, NEIBA New England Book Award (2020)
Finalist, Connecticut Book Award (2021)
Finalist, GoodReads Choice Awards (2020)
Amazon Best Book of the Month and Teachers' Pick
2021-2022 Lectio Book Award Nominee
State Honors:
Arkansas: 2022-23 Charlie May Simon Book Award nominee
Connecticut: 2023 Intermediate Nutmeg Book Award nominee
Florida: 2021-22 Sunshine State Young Readers Award nominee
Georgia: 2022 Georgia Children's Book Award runner up
Illinois: 2022 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award nominee
Indiana: 2021-22 Young Hoosier Book Award nominee
Iowa: 2021-2022 Children's Choice Award List
Louisiana: 2022-23 Reader's Choice Award nominee
Maine: 2021-22 Student Book Award reading list
Michigan: 2021-22 Great Lakes Great Book Award honor book
Nebraska: 2021-22 Golden Sower Award nominee
Oklahoma: 2022 Children’s Sequoyah Masterlist
Oregon: 2022-23 Battle of the Books title
Pennsylvania: 2021-22 Young Readers Choice Award nominee
Rhode Island: 2022 Rhode Island Children’s Book Award nominee
South Carolina : 2021-22 Junior Book Award nominee
Texas: 2022 Lone Star Reading List
A soft place to land
2 starred reviews (Publishers Weekly, Booklist)
September/October 2021 Kids Indie Next Pick
2021 Project Lit Book Club Selection
2022 Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year