Janine Vance

Among a collection of numerous written works focusing on Eastern Philosophy and meditation, Janine Vance authored The Search for Mother Missing: A Peek Inside International Adoption and Twins Found in a Box: Adapting to Adoption.

Janine has spoken at various events and conferences about her adoption experience and has been involved with several adoptee-led organizations to raise awareness about the issues faced by families separated by adoption since 1997.

Vance has been interviewed from Seattle to Seoul and featured in newspapers, magazines, on television and radio since 2003, including BBC, Delphi International, Huffington Post, Dong-A Ilbo, Chosun, Brainz Magazine, Northwest Asian Weekly, and The Northwest Afternoon Show.

Janine has also written several books and feature-length screenplays, exploring the intersection between child trafficking and overseas adoption, the impact of adoption on adoptees and their families, and the larger cultural, social, and political issues surrounding the industry. Janine's other books include The Power of Isolation and Going Back to Zen. In the genres of anthology, minority and women’s studies, and history, her titles include Adoptionland: From Orphans to Activists, The Unknown Culture Club: Korean Adoptees, Then and Now, Adoption Stories, and Master Adoption: Claim Your Authentic Power.

In addition to being an author, Vance is an advocate for inherent human rights. She co-founded Adoption Truth and Transparency Worldwide Information Network in 2011 with her twin, which aims to provide a place for overseas, transracial, domestic, and late-discovery adoptees, families separated by adoption, and parents of loss to discuss adoption-related issues. Janine directed the pioneering Adoption Trafficking Awareness Symposium for Against Child Trafficking in 2022 and currently curating two exhibits at the AdoptionHistory.org website while developing a memoir writing program for non-writers.

To learn about her personally, visit JanineVance.com or VanceTwins.com. Visit AdoptionHistory.org to see Vance's latest projects.

Twins Found in a Box: Adapting to Adoption

Memoir

Twins Found in a Box: Adapting to Adoption takes readers on a journey through the '70s to the '90s while Janine and her twin come of age after their adoptive father’s traumatic brain injury prompted by his tragic 100 foot fall while hang gliding. Filled with social and cultural commentaries, the book explores the conflict of recovering from a family accident while trying to figure out who to “honor and obey” when parents disagree and their marriage begins to crumble. Janine's candid writing style creates clear images of her upbringing as a twin by religious adoptive parents. The book also sheds light on adoption concerns and its impact on adoptees of color. As adults, the twins discover secrets about their family and must come to terms with their past. Despite these challenges, they continue to support each other and find happiness in their own ways. It's an emotive and eye-opening account, offering unique insights into the struggle to juggle childhood while navigating the complexities of identity, religion and spirituality. It is a testament to the strength and wisdom of the human will to rely on each other for encouragement and upliftment.

The Search for Mother Missing: A Peek Inside International Adoption

Adventure

Travel for fun with the Vance Twins during their very first trip to Seoul, South Korea! This adventure takes place 20 years ago during what Janine calls “the dark ages” before social media, worldwide investigations into adoption agencies. This vacation covers a very short span of only two weeks in ’04 while the twins attend an adoption conference for the first time and learn that other Korean adoptees and parents of loss have valid complaints and curiosities yet to be addressed by the authorities of the day in the field of International adoption. If you are adopted and didn’t get to attend the 50th anniversary intended to celebrate and contemplate international adoption from Seoul, South Korea, travel vicariously with the Vance twins. If you are not adopted but curious about a few adult adoptee experiences while they try to take lightly very heavy issues, the twins invite you to travel with them on their first trip of a lifetime together through the pages of this book.

Adoption History: An Adoptee's Research Into Child Trafficking

History

Adoption History: An Adoptee’s Research has been divided into four short, easy-to-read sections, revealing the making of the global system throughout time, starting in Europe, America, South Korea (Asia), and today finally, in Africa. Learn how the clergy spearheaded overseas adoption programs that have exploded into a worldwide in-demand phenomenon but blatantly ignore inherent and natural human rights (aka God's laws) for patriarchal and evangelical dreams and continue to violate the correct interpretation of international treaties. “Adoption and Child Welfare” services now gross $20+ billion annually in the United States, Some adoption agencies use the advantages of charitable status to gross several tens of millions of dollars, while others even significantly more. But very few adoptees are permitted access to their birth certificates or adoption documents due to the stigma and human rights violations against them even after adulthood. Profiteers wish for adult adoptees to believe that God endorsed the transaction in early childhood. Adoption History is more than just a textbook. It reveals what you should know before spending up to $75,000 in expensive and often hidden agency fees. Most importantly, the contents within this book will protect you from falling victim to adopting a trafficked child.​

Going Back to Zen

Inspiration

We live in a world that glorifies and glamorizes whoever has the most money and whoever shines the most brightly. However, is being a top dog synonymous with happiness? The evidence suggests no. If so, the richest among us would be immune to grief, depression, and anxiousness. These emotions are significant parts of the human condition regardless of age, economic status, religion, or background. Sometimes, the higher we climb that corporate ladder, the more we fear the potential fall. When we are on the bottom rung, we can appreciate the ground below, which houses our roots. Janine was motivated to write this book after her father survived a 100-foot hang gliding fall in 1984 and while she served as his primary caregiver until he died in 2021 at the age of 90. She credits the gentle philosophy they enjoyed together for his uplifted mood while recovering. The author is a proponent of gentle holistic and hospice care for everyone to replace the harsh treatment many of us receive in the "real" world. This book is inspired by the author's father, who used the self-care tips found inside this book throughout his recovery after a traumatic-brain-injury that left him physically disabled.

The Power of Isolation

Self-Help

Need to "stay calm and carry on" in today's harsh landscape, which seems so divided on various levels? For any one of us who has ever been demeaned and demoralized prompted by misconstrued assumptions about who "you" are, use one or two of these suggestions for your benefit. The Power of Isolation is inspired by the author's father, who used the relaxation techniques found inside this book throughout his recovery after a traumatic brain injury in 1984 that left him physically disabled. The mindful ideas can be practiced by anyone, at any time and at any location, and were used by the author during times of stress when she served as a caregiver for almost fifty years. It does not matter who you are or what limitations, political or religious leanings one way or another you might have. This short book was written to empower and strengthen your ability to align with your greater self. It was originally dedicated to and written for the author's children, but if you, the reader, are uplifted by a tip or two, the author believes the pain the family endured will have been worth the struggle.​

Adoptionland: From Orphans to Activists

Social Issues

Ever wondered what it's like to be adopted? This anthology begins with personal accounts and then shifts to a bird's eye view of adoption from domestic, intercountry, and transracial adoptees, now adoptee rights activists. Along with adopted people, this collection also includes the voices of mothers and a father from the Baby Scoop Era, a modern-day mother who almost lost her child to adoption, and ends with the experience of an adoption investigator from Against Child Trafficking. These stories are usually abandoned by the very industry that professes to work for the "best interest of children," "child protection," and families. However, according to adopted people who were scattered across nations as children, these represent typical human rights issues that have been ignored for too long. For many years, adopted people have dealt with such matters alone, not knowing that all of us—as a community—have much in common.​​

The "Unknown" Culture Club: Korean Adoptees, Then and Now

Multi-Cultural

This collection, compiled by Korean adoptees, is a tribute to transracially adopted people sent worldwide. It has been hailed to be the first book to give Korean adoptees the opportunity to speak freely since the pioneering of intercountry adoption after the Korean War. If you were adopted, you are not alone. These stories validate the experiences of all those who have been ridiculed or outright abused but have found the will to survive, thrive, and share their tale. Adopted people all over the world are reclaiming the right to truth and access to birth documents. This book is a living testament on why previous "orphans" do not endorse the profitable Evangelical Orphan Movement. Those who work in the human rights field, whistleblowers, or adopted will see the value of this book. After years of forced "positivity" led by the profiteers, it is time to be real. These are real stories from individuals no longer serving the adoption pioneers' fanciful wishes and advertising campaigns. Read this book before you pay adoption agency fees. These courageous narratives could save tens of thousands of dollars or prevent you from unethically obtaining a child. Be the first to read these narratives and join the ever-expanding Adoption Truth and Transparency Worldwide Network. It's never too late to walk in awareness!​​

Master Adoption: Claim Your Authentic Power

Self-Help

"We don't have adoption issues; we have an issue with adoption." The author offers a rare perspective based on the natural law of identity and equal rights –even for adopted people. If you believe adopted people should have the same rights as all other humans, you will find value in this rare book advocating for equality. The author provides an Eastern and Metaphysical view that is aligned with all international human rights treaties and rooted in the Taoist way of nature, which appreciates who we are—as we are. Nope, we're not sinful creatures. We're sacred souls.​​​