288: Find Your Community - Interview with Janae Marks

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hey there word nerds! </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Janae Marks!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Janae is an award-winning children's book author living in Connecticut. She has an MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Writing for Children and Young Adults from The New School, and is an active member of the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Her debut is the middle grade novel, </span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">From the Desk of Zoe Washington</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which we’ll be discussing today.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Janae also happens to be one of my dearest writing besties. She’s known me since before DIY MFA was even a twinkle in my eye, like back when it was still just a “crazy idea” I was kicking around on my personal blog. She and I were also in the same thesis critique group so she has seen my writing in all its many forms: from the good, to the bad, to the…</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">what the heck were you thinking, Gabriela?</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of my favorite things—one of the things that brings true joy to my heart—is when I get to introduce my favorite people to the word nerd community. I’ve known Janae for a long time; I know how much of her heart and soul she’s poured into this book and I am so excited for the world to discover Zoe Washington and this sweet, heart-felt middle grade novel.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Without further ado, welcome Janae! It’s so great to have you here.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode Janae and I discuss:</span></h3> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">How</span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Serial</span></em> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">and</span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Making a Murderer</span></em> <span style= "