Interview: Janae Marks

SARAH STEINBACHER: Named Best Book of the Year by Parents Magazine, School Library Journal, Kirkus, and Chicago Public Library, your middle grade debut FROM THE DESK OF ZOE WASHINGTON “packs both depth and sweetness, tackling a tough topic in a sensitive, compelling way. An extraordinary, timely, must-read debut about love, family, friendship, and justice” (Kirkus, starred review). How has achieving such success with your debut novel impacted your career?

JANAE MARKS: I was not expecting for my debut novel to achieve this level of success, especially after I spent eight years writing four different manuscripts before I finally landed a literary agent and book deal. What a dream come true! I was thrilled that so many readers connected with Zoe’s story. Publishing FROM THE DESK OF ZOE WASHINGTON has brought me so many fun opportunities—school visits, book festivals, and even news interviews. Its success also allowed me to leave my part-time day job and focus on writing full-time. Four published books later, and it’s still my most popular. I am grateful that young readers continue to discover it.

SARAH STEINBACHER: School Library Journal called FROM THE DESK OF ZOE WASHINGTON “a smart, necessary, and hopeful middle grade debut that expertly balances a gentle, heartwarming tone with searing insight into systemic racism” (starred review). Publishers Weekly added, “Marks seamlessly weaves timely discussions about institutional racism into this uplifting and engaging story that packs an emotional punch” (starred review). How do you balance hopeful themes in the face of tough realities?

JANAE MARKS: When I set out to write a story featuring a possible wrongful conviction, I knew I wanted it to have a hopeful tone. That’s what I love about middle grade literature; even when it touches on tough topics, it’s still ultimately hopeful. I didn’t want FROM THE DESK OF ZOE WASHINGTON to come off as didactic, so when writing scenes where Zoe is thinking about systemic racism, I focused on making them feel authentic for the age group. Zoe is trying to make sense of how our world works, just like young readers!

I also knew early on that I wanted to balance out the tougher themes in the story with a lighter subplot. That’s why Zoe is an aspiring pastry chef, and the book is filled with many baking scenes. It took many rounds of revisions to nail the balance of light scenes and tougher ones, but I’m glad I was able to also show Zoe pursuing her passion and having fun.

SARAH STEINBACHER: FROM THE DESK OF ZOE WASHINGTON “illustrates profound cracks in the American criminal justice system while telling an affecting story grounded in the middle-grade experience. The troubling ways race affects the characters…will facilitate important conversations about racial profiling and incarceration rates for people of color” (Booklist, starred review). Bulletin added, “Marks delivers a spirited central character whose determination to get to the truth is admirable. An involving family story, this novel could also serve as an introduction to social justice for elementary schoolers.” Why do young readers need access to books about systemic racism?

JANAE MARKS: As soon as I came up with the idea to feature a possible wrongful conviction in the book, I knew I couldn’t ignore the impact that systemic racism has on this issue. It is an unfortunate reality. I worked hard to incorporate this topic in a kid-friendly way. What I love about middle grade literature about difficult topics is they give young readers the opportunity to think about them in a “safe” space—within the pages of a story about a relatable character. I always encourage parents to read this book alongside their child, so they can have these discussions together.

SARAH STEINBACHER: Your second book in the series, ON AIR WITH ZOE WASHINGTON, was an instant New York Times bestseller. It’s “a delightful and inspiring read” (School Library Journal) and “a thoughtful sequel that revisits an admirable protagonist and accessibly explores challenging subjects” (Kirkus). How did you approach revisiting Zoe’s world?

JANAE MARKS: A fun fact about ON AIR WITH ZOE WASHINGTON is that I did not originally plan to write it! The first book has an epilogue that was meant to wrap up Zoe’s story entirely. But as I got to hear from readers at school visits, their number one question was whether I’d write a sequel. I resisted at first, because I didn’t know how I would continue Zoe’s story. Would she try to solve another mystery? Would a second book focus more on her baking? I wasn’t sure. But then I realized that there was more to share about Zoe’s and Marcus’s relationship after his release. Many previously incarcerated individuals have a hard time adjusting back to regular life, and in true Zoe style, she would want to help Marcus however she could. It was also fun to return to her baking and friendship storylines.

SARAH STEINBACHER: In ON AIR WITH ZOE WASHINGTON, Booklist said you captured “the exuberance and energy of early teens in [your] prose and delicately balances Zoe as a likable protagonist—one with room to broaden her horizons.” What tips do you have for kidlit writers who also hope to capture a middle grade voice/perspective in their stories?

JANAE MARKS: The most important thing is to be authentic. As an adult writer of child protagonists, that doesn’t mean using the current slang or trying to seem trendy. It means tapping into what you remember about being a kid or teen. So much of what I experienced in my youth is universal. Kids today are navigating the same kinds of struggles—family changes, friendship drama, first crushes, etc. I also recommend reading a lot of middle grade novels and studying how other authors successfully captured experiences in this age group.

SARAH STEINBACHER: Your middle grade novel, A SOFT PLACE TO LAND, is “a bittersweet story of silent perseverance and kids working for themselves” (Kirkus). “[P]oignant and affirmative, this sophomore novel by Marks…imparts invaluable messages on growing up, being honest, and communicating feelings to loved ones” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Why was it important for you to show your young protagonist as both needing space and taking action?

JANAE MARKS: I think that all protagonists have to take some kind of action in a novel. They have to show agency and be the hero of their own story. So, when I came up with Joy and her predicament of moving with her family into a new residence that doesn’t feel like home, I knew I wanted her to try to solve that problem. For example, since her parents can no longer afford her piano lessons, she starts a dog walking business to earn the tuition. This doesn’t mean everything goes smoothly! I also wanted to show Joy’s emotional journey, and how she’s able to come to terms with her new reality and find happiness again.

SARAH STEINBACHER: BookPage said A SOFT PLACE TO LAND “confirms Marks’ status as one of the brightest new stars of contemporary middle grade. Whereas Zoe Washington explored injustice and systemic racism, A Soft Place to Land explores class in a story-driven way that never feels heavy-handed.” How do issues related to class impact young readers?

JANAE MARKS: What I love about diverse literature is how they are windows, mirrors and sliding glass doors for readers. Books featuring all kinds of characters, family dynamics and living situations show young readers that there isn’t just one way for people to exist. A SOFT PLACE TO LAND was inspired by personal experience; when I was a teenager, my parents separated and quickly sold my childhood home. I moved into an apartment building with my mom. While I did not experience the same financial hardships as Joy, I did struggle with the changes within my family and home. I would’ve loved to have had a book like this to read back then, because it would’ve helped me feel less alone.

SARAH STEINBACHER: School Library Journal called A SOFT PLACE TO LAND “an engaging coming-of-age story that will appeal to a wide range of readers.” “Blending mystery with realistic fiction, Joy’s story of how complicated life is for a kid will resonate with readers in tender and poignant ways” (Booklist, starred review). How do you craft a specific, grounded story to have universal appeal?

JANAE MARKS: I think the themes of A SOFT PLACE TO LAND are what make it universal. Kids move, make new friends, and make mistakes all the time. Even if a young reader can’t relate to Joy’s move, they can still connect with the general friendship and family themes. I also try to write books that kids will have fun reading. It’s one reason why I like incorporating mysteries into my stories, because then there’s a big question the reader has to read to the end to answer.

SARAH STEINBACHER: Your most recent middle grade novel, A SPLIT SECOND, is “a beautiful story about being brave and finding your people” (Booklist, starred review) that will “appeal to fans of light magical tales.” (Kirkus). This timey-wimey story “delves into the consequences of the social isolation many young people experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic” (Kirkus). How did writing magical realism compare to your contemporary fiction stories?

JANAE MARKS: It was much harder to write A SPLIT SECOND because of the light fantasy elements! Normally, when I get stuck writing a realistic novel, I can do research to figure out how to solve the problem. But when the plot involves magic spells and time travel, I can only use my imagination to figure out the details. I leaned on my editor a lot, who gave me great advice throughout the revision process. Since this book is set in our world, I was still able to include contemporary friendship themes, which I love to explore.

SARAH STEINBACHER: Releasing on 10/13/26, your next middle grade book, STARTING NOW, explores themes of kinship care, familial estrangement, medical emergencies, mystery, and friendship. What else can you tell us about it?

JANAE MARKS: In STARTING NOW, 11-year-old Addy is stuck in the middle of two conflicts. The first is between her mother and half-brother, Julian, who haven’t spoken to each other in years. The second is between her two best friends, Thea and Luz, who no longer want to be friends with each other. Addy doesn’t know how to handle either situation. She cares about all of these people and wants them to work out their issues so they can all spend time together. But is that even possible?

I enjoy writing about non-traditional family dynamics and complicated relationships as a way to destigmatize them. When I set out to write STARTING NOW, I wanted to open a conversation for young readers on how to cope when loved ones no longer want to be around each other. This is also a story about how to deal with boundaries, which can be hard, especially for kids. I wrote this for the readers who can relate to what Addy experiences, so they know they aren’t alone. It’s also for readers who love stories about family, friendship and big feelings—with a mystery sprinkled in. I’m excited for readers to get their hands on it this fall!

SARAH STEINBACHER: Do you have any other projects you’d like to share?

JANAE MARKS: I co-write a middle grade novel with authors Lorien Lawrence and Adrianna Cuevas called THREE IN A MILLION and it will be out in April 2027! It tells the story of three seventh graders who jump at the chance to change their lives after an armory truck crashes and the money flies out, but when the consequences become real, what happens when each friend has a different idea of how to do the right thing? It was a lot of fun to write this story together and I can’t wait for it to release.

Follow Janae through her website, Instagram, Bluesky, and Facebook.

*****Order Janae’s most recent middle grade novel, A SPLIT SECOND, available now.*****

*****Preorder Janae’s next middle grade novel, STARTING NOW, available now.*****