Margie Markarian is a children’s book author and freelance editor/writer based in Franklin, Massachusetts. The Princess and the Café on the Moat (Sleeping Bear Press) is her first picture book. Margie has also written several nonfiction books for kids. She specializes in content for kids, teens, parents, and teachers
Like the main character in the Princess and the Café on the Moat, Margie enjoys keeping busy and connecting with people, far and wide. If she’s not writing (or chatting!) at a local café, it’s probably because she’s exploring a nearby New England city, town or seaside village. Her favorite modes of transportation are her own two feet and a hybrid bike. Her favorite companions are her husband Richard and two grown-up kids—Rebecca and Peter.
For many years Margie was a children’s book editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, where she focused on developing books for beginning readers in the Green Light Readers line. Her projects included these delightful easy-to-read series:
- Woof & Quack by Jamie Swenson with illustrations by Ryan Sias
- Lana’s World by Erica Silverman, illustrated by Jess Golden
- Bradford Street Buddies by Jerdine Nolen, illustrated by Michelle Henninger
- 50 States to Celebrate by Marion Dane Bauer and Jane Kurtz, illustrated by C.B. Canga
Prior to her career in children’s book publishing, Margie worked in both magazine and educational publishing. She wrote frequently for classroom magazines published by Weekly Reader and Scholastic on a variety of topics, ranging from health, fitness and emotional well-being to careers, college planning, and friendship. She was also a regular contributor to numerous print and digital products for parents and teachers including American Baby, Healthy Children, Parents, Moms on Call (Woman’s Day), Scholastic’s Online New Teacher Survival Guide and PTO Today.
Margie has a passion for instilling a love of reading and writing in children. Within her community, she spent five years running creative storytelling events for children in grades K-5 through the Reading Is Fundamental program. In addition, she planned and presented writing workshops to help elementary school students develop, research, and write editions of the Boston Sunday Globe Fun Pages, a newspaper supplement for kids.
