Jeff Gottesfeld

Howard Jeffrey Gottesfeld (born 1956) is an American novelist, playwright, and screen and television writer.

Under the pseudonym of Zoey Dean (which he shared with his former wife Cherie Bennett), Gottesfeld co-wrote ''How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls'' which was developed into the series '' Privileged''.

He is also an award-winning children's literature author. His titles include ''Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier'' (illustrated by Matt Tavares), listed on ''The Wall Street Journal'' and ''Kirkus'' ''Reviews''’ best books for children lists and the ''School Library Journal''’s outstanding non-fiction children’s book list. ''The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window'' (illustrated by Peter McCarty) won the Association of Jewish Libraries’ Sidney Taylor Award for notable title, and was named on the Chicago Public Library’s Best Children’s Book list, and ''The New York Times''’ Best Illustrated Children’s Books. ''No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in Japan'' was named the Freeman Book Award’s best picture book. ''Food for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the Hungry'' (illustrated by Michelle Laurentia Agatha) won the Independent Publishers Association’s Bronze Medal, Children’s Picture Book (All Ages) and the Christopher Award. The Association of Jewish Libraries named ''The Christmas Mitzvah'' (illustrated by Michelle Laurentia Agatha), its Honor Book silver medal winner for the Sydney Taylor Book Award.

In addition, his play ''World’s Strongest Librarian'' won the American Alliance for Theatre and Education’s Distinguished Play Award.

Biography

Gottesfeld grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, attended Teaneck High School, Colby College, and then the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Gottesfeld has written freelance for numerous magazines and newspapers, and continues to publish essays on such subjects as trends in young adult fiction, the effect of the Gaza conflict on American Jewish family relations, Confederate flag, immigration policy, and trends in young adult fiction

His fiction ranges from elementary age children to adult. For television, he has written for such shows as ''Smallville'' and ''The Young and the Restless''. Together with Cherie Bennett, he has written under the pen name Zoey Dean. Under the Zoey Dean pen name, Gottesfeld and Bennett wrote '' The A-List'' series of books (developed by the same publishing group as ''Gossip Girl''), and ''How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls'', which was developed into the series ''Privileged''. His credits also include novelizations for '' Dawson’s Creek'', ''Smallville'' and for the WWE.

His first picture book was ''The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window'', published by Random House/Knopf in March, 2016. It received starred reviews in Booklist and School Library Journal. His 2020 children's book, ''No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in Japan'', documents the life and activism of Beate Sirota Gordon. It is the winner of the 2020 NCTA Freeman Award, for the best children's book about Asia. It was also a runner-up finalist for the 2020 National Jewish Book Award. His March, 2021 picture book, with illustrations by Matt Tavares, is ''Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier'', published by Candlewick Press. It received a number of starred reviews, as well as praise from the Wall Street Journal. It is about the origins of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its Tomb Guards. Food for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the Hungry, illustrated by Michelle Laurentia Agatha and printed in 2023, was a spring showcase selection for the Children’s Book Council, winner of the Goddard Riverside Children’s Book Council Youth Prize for Social Justice award, the Christophers Award and recipient of the bronze medal of the Independent Publishers Association (IPPY) for Children’s Picture Book (All Ages).

Gottesfeld’s ''Honor Flight'' will be released in 2026, an illustrated book about the Honor Flight organization, illustrated by Matt Tavares. In addition, ''We All Serve'', an illustrated book about how the children of service families, known as military brats, all serve in their own way, illustrated by TeMika Grooms, will be released the same year.

Television credits

*'' Broken Bridges'' (2006)

''The Young and the Restless'' (hired by Lynn Marie Latham)
* Script Writer: December 14, 2006 - December 21, 2007; March 18 - August 19, 2008
*Associate Head Writer: July 2007 - December 21, 2007; March 18 - July 10, 2008

''As the World Turns''
* Breakdown Writer: 2005

''Port Charles''
* Story Consultant: 1998

'' Another World''
* Story Consultant: 1997

''Girls Got Game'': 2006

''Smallville'': 2001 - 2002

Films

*'' Broken Bridges'' (Writer: 2006)

Selected bibliography

Books
*''Anne Frank And Me'', with Cherie Bennett (2002)
*''A Heart Divided'', with Cherie Bennett (2004)
*''Turn Me On'', under the pseudonym Cherie Jeffrey (2007)
*''How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls'', under the pseudonym Zoey Dean (2007)
*''The A-List'', 10 book series, under the pseudonym Zoey Dean (2004-2008)
*''The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window'', illustrated by Peter McCarty (2016)
*''No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in Japan'', illustrated by Shiella Witanto (2020)
*''Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier'', illustrated by Matt Tavares (2021)
*''The Christmas Mitzvah,'' illustrated by Michelle Laurentia Agatha (2021)
*''Food for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the Hungry'', illustrated by Michelle Laurentia Agatha (2023)
*''Honor Flight'', illustrated by Matt Tavares (2026)
*''We All Serve,'' illustrated by TeMika Grooms (2026)

Plays
*''A Heart Divided''
*''Anne Frank and Me,'' with Cherie Bennett
*''10 x 10'' ten short plays about values, editor (2005)
*''Does My Head Look Big in This?'' with Elizabeth Wong, adapted from the novel by Randa Abdel-Fattah (2014)
*''The World's Strongest Librarian'' with Elizabeth Wong, adapted from the memoir by Josh Hanagarne (2016)

Awards and nominations

* 2016, The New York Times, Best Illustrated Children’s Books for ''The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window''
* 2016, Chicago Public Library Best Children’s Book list for ''The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window''
* 2017, Association of Jewish Libraries, Sydney Taylor Book Award notable title for ''The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window''
* 2017, Booklist, “Lasting Connections” list of top 30 books of the year grades K-12 for ''The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window''
* 2017, International Reading Association, Notable Books for a Global Society, for ''The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window''
* 2017, National Council for the Social Studies & Children’s Book Council, Notable Social Studies Trade Books, ''The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window''
* 2017, Children’s Book Council, One World Many Stories listfir ''The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window''
* 2017, American Alliance for Theatre and Education, Distinguished Play Award for ''World’s Strongest Librarian''
* 2020, Children’s Book Council, Champions of Change Booklist for ''No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in Japan''
* 2020, National Jewish Book Award, picture book category runner-up. ''No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in Japan''
* 2021, Freeman Book Award in picture book category, for ''No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in Japan''
* 2021, winner, Audrey Geisel Friend of Military Children Award for ''Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier''
* 2021, Tablet magazine, outstanding Jewish children’s book list for ''The Christmas Mitzvah''
* 2021, School Library Journal, outstanding non-fiction children’s book list for ''Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier''
* 2021 Kirkus, Best Picture Books of the Year for ''Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier''
* 2021, Wall Street Journal, Best Books for Children for ''Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier''
* 2022, nominee, North Carolina Children’s Book Award for Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
* 2022, Texas Topaz list for Nonfiction (unanimous choice) for ''Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier''
* 2022 Association of Jewish Libraries, Sydney Taylor Book Award, Honor Book silver medal, for ''The Christmas Mitzvah''
* 2022, American Library Association’s Notable Children’s Books List for ''Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier''
*2023-24, Hoosier State Young Book Award nominee for ''Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier''
*2023, Children’s Book Council, Spring Showcase Selection for ''Food for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the Hungry'' 2023-24
*Charlie May Simon Book Awards nominee for ''Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier''
*2023, Goddard Riverside Children’s Book Council Youth Prize for Social Justice award for ''Food for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the Hungry''
*2024, Christophers Award, Books for Young People for ''Food for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the Hungry'' 2024
*2024, Independent Publishers Association (IPPY) Bronze Medal, Children’s Picture Book (All Ages) for ''Food for Hope: How John van Hengel Invented Food Banks for the Hungry''

References

External links

Official website:biographyJeff Gottesfeld Interview: Author of new WWE book – SuperFan!

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gottesfeld, Jeff
21st-century American novelists
American male novelists
Colby College alumni
American soap opera writers
American male screenwriters
Daytime Emmy Award winners
1956 births
Living people
American soap opera producers
University of San Francisco School of Law alumni
Novelists from New Jersey
Jewish American dramatists and playwrights
Jewish American novelists
Jewish American screenwriters
Jewish American television writers
American male television writers
American male essayists
21st-century American essayists
21st-century American male writers
Screenwriters from New Jersey
Teaneck High School alumni
21st-century American screenwriters
21st-century American Jews