Zainab Khan is a member of SCBWI, Inked Voices, 12 x 12, and volunteers as a mentorship reader for WNDB. As a Muslim woman of Pakistani heritage who has lived in different parts of the world, she writes diverse and neurodiverse stories that promote empathy, kindness, and unity between children of all faiths and cultures.
Being part of the 12 x 12 community has been a core part of her writing experience. Knowing there were others writing and revising picture book drafts every month, forced Zainab to take accountability and hone her craft.
This practice was part of the reason Zainab was lucky to be the runner-up for the Sue Alexander Award at the 2016 SCBWI LA conference and to be the recipient of the 2018 12 x 12 Diversity Scholarship. Lady Luck smiled down on her again when she finally signed with her amazing agent, Stephanie Fretwell-Hill (Red Fox Literary), and won the 2020 SCBWI WIP Award in the underrepresented category.
Zainab has two books coming out with Candlewick: NOURA’S CRESCENT MOON (Spring, 2024) and another book not yet named (Publication date to be determined). She is donating part of the proceeds from these books to GIVELIGHT.ORG. This organization cares for and educates orphans in ten different countries.
Zainab is grateful for this opportunity to be a critique ninja for 12 x 12. She can’t wait to give back to a community that encourages and then celebrates all its members’ milestones with true passion.
