Patience and Persistence

Author Janae Marks Encourages Young Readers and Writers at the 2023 Literature Festival

Abstract

On October 4, 2023, author Janae Marks served as the featured writer at the Literature Festival in Topeka, Kansas. Held annually on the campus of Washburn University, the Literature Festival brings together young readers, their teachers, and authors in an effort to celebrate and promote reading and young readers. In this interview conducted during the Literature Festival, Marks discussed a variety of topics on the subject of literature written for young readers, including the importance of storytelling in the lives of students as well as the challenges and rewards related to writing for an audience of young readers. Over the course of her time at the Literature Festival, Marks emphasized the importance of persistence and patience in the life of a writer, and she encouraged young readers to explore a wide range of genres in order to continue to grow throughout their reading lives.