Marq and the Queen Fish

by Martha Cinader

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Pub Date 2 Feb 2027 | Archive Date 18 Nov 2026

Atmosphere Press

Middle Grade | Teens & YA

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Description

Marq and his friends live on the shores of Mara, flooded with Florkers from inland who stole their homes long ago. Marq is so angry with his absent dad, and the Ticket Takers who make their lives difficult with rules and fines, that he doesn’t know how to have fun. When Marq complains, his elders tell him to have patience, that it’s "almost time."

But time for what?

Mysterious Amber leads him into the deep sea and deep trouble. While imprisoned in the vaults of Flork, Marq wonders if his mother’s story about the Queen Fish and the boy who talks to sea creatures might be true. But he’s not the only one. Kookem, Ketchum and Keepum have the ear of King Bunderquit, and their own plans for the hidden treasures of the sea.

Marq and his friends live on the shores of Mara, flooded with Florkers from inland who stole their homes long ago. Marq is so angry with his absent dad, and the Ticket Takers who make their lives...

A Note From the Publisher

Martha Cinader is a mother of four grown children and the author of two anthologies of stories and poetry, When the Body Calls, and Dreamscape, Real Dreams Really Make a Difference. She has performed original stories and poetry in shelters and libraries, venues like the Knitting Factory, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and the Panasonic Village Jazz Festival, and, to critical acclaim, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She is the founder of the Listen & Be Heard Network, where she hosts and produces The Listen & Be Heard Hour, and Beyond Borders, both non-commercial podcasts and syndicated radio shows archived at listenandbeheard.net.

Advance Praise

"Martha Cinader’s Marq and the Queen Fish is refreshing, unique, and well-written. I have never read anything like this before, and it really piqued my interest... Reading made me want to visit Mara and see the captivating beauty that was so perfectly described." -- Readers' Favorite

"...an engaging tale that captivates readers from the very first sentence. After reading this book, don't be surprised if young readers ask for a vacation at the beach!" — Yvette R. Murray, author of Celebrate We Gullah Geechee.

"Thick with world building and imaginative genius ... a powerful critique of our world in all its blemishes while envisioning what it can become." — Tony Robles, Author of Lakas and the Manilatown Fish

"...a beautiful allegory for the reclamation of our collective power and freedom." — Elizabeth Perlman, Author of Word Magic: The Power of Writing to Reframe Your Story & Reclaim Your Intuition

Marketing Plan

Press Release/One-Sheet

Goodreads book page

Social media outreach

Live virtual events

Customized book announcement email

Editorial reviews

Strategy calls with publicist

NetGalley campaign

Press Release/One-Sheet

Goodreads book page

Social media outreach

Live virtual events

Customized book announcement email

Editorial reviews

Strategy calls with publicist

NetGalley campaign

Available Editions

EDITION	Paperback
ISBN	9798901744802
PRICE	$14.99 (USD)
PAGES	94

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