Marjorie.Weinman Sharmat author page

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat biography

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat (1928–2019) was an American author who wrote more than 130 books for children and young adults. Born in Portland, Maine, she began writing at an early age and published her first story while working at Yale University libraries. Her debut children’s book, Rex, was released in 1967.

Sharmat is best known for creating the Nate the Great series, which debuted in 1972. The series features a young detective named after her father, Nathan Weinman. Illustrator Marc Simont collaborated on the first twenty titles. The books have sold millions of copies and have been translated into multiple languages. One installment, Nate the Great Goes Undercover, was adapted into a television program that won the Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival Award.

She co-wrote several Nate the Great books with family members, including her husband, Mitchell Sharmat; her sister, Rosalind Weinman; and her sons, Craig and Andrew Sharmat. Mitchell Sharmat also co-created the spin-off series Olivia Sharp, featuring Nate’s cousin as a fellow detective. After Marjorie Sharmat’s death, Andrew Sharmat continued the series, with Nate the Great and the Earth Day Robot published in 2021.

In addition to her detective stories, Sharmat authored other series such as Sorority Sisters and wrote under the pseudonym Wendy Andrews. Her works have been recognized by the Library of Congress and selected by the Literary Guild. Marjorie Weinman Sharmat passed away on March 12, 2019, at the age of 90.