ABOUT ME
My experience as a bookseller taught me that there are 3 types of customers, so I've included bios for each type of "customer" who visits this site.
For the in and out customer...
Janaea Eads, an Indian-American adoptee, seeks to craft stories that celebrate and explore the adoption and Indian-American experience. She has a BA in English, has a background in education, is a former bookseller, is active in several writing communities that support marginalized creators, and lives in Cambridge with her husband and their pit-mix rescue.
Janaea Eads, an Indian-American adoptee, seeks to craft stories that celebrate and explore the adoption and Indian-American experience. She has a BA in English, has a background in education, is a former bookseller, is active in several writing communities that support marginalized creators, and lives in Cambridge with her husband and their pit-mix rescue.
You have a book in mind but have nowhere else to be...
Janaea graduated with an English degree in 2016 with the intention of going to law school. After teaching English for a year in the Marshall Islands, she realized what a huge mistake law school would be. She's had a hodgepodge of experiences, ranging from taking Gastronomy classes at BU to youth program development and management. While all these experiences have been invaluable to her growth, she realized maybe younger Janaea was right all along and she could become an Author after all. Although Janaea has been writing almost her entire life, it wasn't until she formed a writing group with fellow women of color that she pursued writing more seriously. She spent the entirety of 2020 working on her first YA Contemporary novel inspired by her relationship with her mom, signed with an agent in early 2021, and has been drafting and revising like it's her job (which it is) since.
Janaea graduated with an English degree in 2016 with the intention of going to law school. After teaching English for a year in the Marshall Islands, she realized what a huge mistake law school would be. She's had a hodgepodge of experiences, ranging from taking Gastronomy classes at BU to youth program development and management. While all these experiences have been invaluable to her growth, she realized maybe younger Janaea was right all along and she could become an Author after all. Although Janaea has been writing almost her entire life, it wasn't until she formed a writing group with fellow women of color that she pursued writing more seriously. She spent the entirety of 2020 working on her first YA Contemporary novel inspired by her relationship with her mom, signed with an agent in early 2021, and has been drafting and revising like it's her job (which it is) since.
You're here for the long-haul, whether the booksellers like it or not. They may be slamming the registers closed, or putting up the "CLOSED" signs, but you don't care. You. Want. MORE.
I was adopted at the age of five, writing and reading not only helped me pick up English within four months (after my mom diligently taught me how to speak Hindi from Marathi and THEN taught me English), but it was an activity I did with her parents often. Whether I listened to my dad read stories while perched on his hip, or in bed with my mom reading Amelia Bedelia, the world of books quickly became a safe space. Being an only child was lonely, but books made it not so. Sneaking flashlights into bed or into the closet was a favorite pastime. After my first foray into writing when I forced my parents into a poem writing contest in first grade, I started writing stories and poems constantly. I'd write poems to process all my feelings and then rip them up in fits of teenage angst. I wrote several short stories growing up, but my most "notable" work was Crimson Tears, a 200-page mash up of Twilight and LOTR, that never saw the light of day because, let's face it, it was a mess. I was still young enough at that point to answer honestly when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. Every time, without hesitation, I'd say: I want to be an author.
Somewhere along the way, my answer became "lawyer." I received a BA in English from Stony Brook University with the intention of going into law after graduation. I took a gap year to teach English in the Marshall Islands and realized law school was NOT for me. It took a few more years of dabbling to realize that my younger self knew all along what I wanted to be. Although I have a passion for education and youth development--something I plan on continuing to pursue--being an author is my dream. In the fall of 2019, I had my first panic attack. I felt ungrounded and confused. It made me realize that I hadn't been managing my anxiety that well. Writing gave me a lot more confidence and I slowly rebuilt my expectations of what I wanted for myself. I'm still building and making progress. When I wasn't working at my day job, I spent my time seeking opportunities to build my craft and network with the writing community. My writing group and the sense of community I found in the kidlit world gave me the validation I needed to query an agent and apply for various writing opportunities. In Spring of 2021, I signed with Paige Terlip, the best agent I could've asked for. I also was named a finalist for the We Need Diverse Books Mentorship Program and was a finalist for the Associates of the Boston Public Library Residency Program. I look forward to applying again so I can continue to grow my craft.
I write Picture Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult and aim to create books that I would've loved to read growing up. It wasn't until I was in my mid-twenties that I read a book with an Indian main character! Same goes for writing books that feature adoptees, but the story isn't about finding birth parents or the struggles that come with being an adoptee. I want to read and write stories in which adoptees just live their lives and fall in love and cook good food and do everyday fun things.
I'm proud to share that I've written several manuscripts in the last few years, and am currently on sub for two picture books that are close to my heart. One is about an adoptee learning how to make chai with her new family and the other is about a boy who LOVES bhangra but is dreading soccer tryouts--something he's never done before. I like to write about the anxiety that comes with trying new things, mother/daughter relationships, food and cultural exploration, mysteries, friendships (and lost friendships), and so much more. I'm always looking for ways to challenge myself and stretch outside of the box. I'm really looking forward to growing in not only my own writing, but also becoming more involved in a mentor capacity in the writing community. I love providing feedback and reading friends' works. I want to give back to the community in any way I can so I can make room at the table for BIPOC creators, just as they have done for me.
Currently, I live in Cambridge with my amazing husband and our beautiful puppy. She's two years old and full of life and happiness. I strive to view life through her eyes. I want to smell all the good things, be outside as much as I can, and be present and grateful for the people I love.
I was adopted at the age of five, writing and reading not only helped me pick up English within four months (after my mom diligently taught me how to speak Hindi from Marathi and THEN taught me English), but it was an activity I did with her parents often. Whether I listened to my dad read stories while perched on his hip, or in bed with my mom reading Amelia Bedelia, the world of books quickly became a safe space. Being an only child was lonely, but books made it not so. Sneaking flashlights into bed or into the closet was a favorite pastime. After my first foray into writing when I forced my parents into a poem writing contest in first grade, I started writing stories and poems constantly. I'd write poems to process all my feelings and then rip them up in fits of teenage angst. I wrote several short stories growing up, but my most "notable" work was Crimson Tears, a 200-page mash up of Twilight and LOTR, that never saw the light of day because, let's face it, it was a mess. I was still young enough at that point to answer honestly when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. Every time, without hesitation, I'd say: I want to be an author.
Somewhere along the way, my answer became "lawyer." I received a BA in English from Stony Brook University with the intention of going into law after graduation. I took a gap year to teach English in the Marshall Islands and realized law school was NOT for me. It took a few more years of dabbling to realize that my younger self knew all along what I wanted to be. Although I have a passion for education and youth development--something I plan on continuing to pursue--being an author is my dream. In the fall of 2019, I had my first panic attack. I felt ungrounded and confused. It made me realize that I hadn't been managing my anxiety that well. Writing gave me a lot more confidence and I slowly rebuilt my expectations of what I wanted for myself. I'm still building and making progress. When I wasn't working at my day job, I spent my time seeking opportunities to build my craft and network with the writing community. My writing group and the sense of community I found in the kidlit world gave me the validation I needed to query an agent and apply for various writing opportunities. In Spring of 2021, I signed with Paige Terlip, the best agent I could've asked for. I also was named a finalist for the We Need Diverse Books Mentorship Program and was a finalist for the Associates of the Boston Public Library Residency Program. I look forward to applying again so I can continue to grow my craft.
I write Picture Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult and aim to create books that I would've loved to read growing up. It wasn't until I was in my mid-twenties that I read a book with an Indian main character! Same goes for writing books that feature adoptees, but the story isn't about finding birth parents or the struggles that come with being an adoptee. I want to read and write stories in which adoptees just live their lives and fall in love and cook good food and do everyday fun things.
I'm proud to share that I've written several manuscripts in the last few years, and am currently on sub for two picture books that are close to my heart. One is about an adoptee learning how to make chai with her new family and the other is about a boy who LOVES bhangra but is dreading soccer tryouts--something he's never done before. I like to write about the anxiety that comes with trying new things, mother/daughter relationships, food and cultural exploration, mysteries, friendships (and lost friendships), and so much more. I'm always looking for ways to challenge myself and stretch outside of the box. I'm really looking forward to growing in not only my own writing, but also becoming more involved in a mentor capacity in the writing community. I love providing feedback and reading friends' works. I want to give back to the community in any way I can so I can make room at the table for BIPOC creators, just as they have done for me.
Currently, I live in Cambridge with my amazing husband and our beautiful puppy. She's two years old and full of life and happiness. I strive to view life through her eyes. I want to smell all the good things, be outside as much as I can, and be present and grateful for the people I love.
Because I write about themes inspired by my family, here are pictures of my amazing parents. Without their unconditional love and support, I wouldn't be where I am.
