J.W. Zarek
AUTHOR

J.W. Zarek

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J.W. Zarek is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose mission is simple yet powerful: to write stories that inspire kids, spark their imagination, and feed their souls by showing them they can handle life's big feelings and challenges when someone believes in them. Every children's book begins with the same dedication: "Look in the mirror and think and say aloud 'I am enough.'" Too many children never hear this essential message—but for the child who needs to read, see, and say these words, this helps make the world a better place, one reader at a time. In just 11 months (August 2024 – July 2025), Zarek created an extraordinary 12-book children's collection addressing America's literacy crisis through emotionally intelligent storytelling: 10 Bella Brown books featuring everyday adventures with seamless educational integration, The Stomp-Clomp-Clump Monster Above the Bed (a revolutionary story showing monsters afraid of children), and Pip's Epic Treasure Hunt (the first children's story to expand Slavic domovoi folklore with original mythology). The first three completed Bella Brown books have earned Literary Titan Gold Book Awards, with Chanticleer Reviews calling the series "one of the best they have reviewed to date." Currently serving as a Federal Senior Adjudicator and court-qualified expert witness, Zarek brings analytical precision to his creative work. His global adventures—teaching English Conversation in Japan, climbing Mount Fuji, getting kicked off Mount Rainier, hunting pirates in the Persian Gulf, navigating the Suez Canal, and completing the Walt Disney World Marathon—fuel his authentic storytelling perspectives. His acclaimed works include "The Happiness Code" and "The Devil Pulls the Strings" (41+ awards, including Overall Best Book of 2021). Beginning in 2027, he'll transition to full-time educational advocacy, launching school visits to directly combat America's literacy crisis while ensuring every child hears the "I am enough" message. Zarek creates comprehensive learning ecosystems beyond storytelling, developing 36 professional lesson plans available free to educators, making reading joyful while building children's confidence and self-worth.
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