Jan Yager, the former J.L. (Janet Lee) Barkas, grew up in Bayside, Queens, New York, is a prolific, award-winning author with advanced degrees in sociology (The City University of New York Graduate Center), criminal justice (Goddard College) as well as graduate training in art therapy at Hahnemann Medical College, publishing courses at NYU, and a B.A. in fine arts from Hofstra University where she as Art Student of the Year. Since her mid-twenties, Jan's taught at various college and universities including The New School, Temple University, St. John's University, The New York Institute of Technology, Penn State, the University of Connecticut and, most recently, John Jay College of Criminal Justice/CUNY.Jan's first published book was THE VEGETABLE PASSION: A HISTORY OF THE VEGETARIAN STATE OF MIND, published by Scribner's in the U.S. and Routledge & Kegan Paul in the UK, recently released through audible.com as an audiobook with a new introduction, bibliography, and resources. Her 40 books include such nonfiction titles as VICTIMS; WHEN FRIENDSHIP HURTS, published by Simon & Schuster and in 28 languages; FRIENDSHIFTS; WORK LESS, DO MORE (2nd edition); BUSINESS PROTOCOL; GROW GLOBAL; THE FAST TRACK GUIDE TO SPEAKING IN PUBLIC; 125 WAYS TO MEET THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE; PUT MORE TIME ON YOUR SIDE; three novels, THE PRETTY ONE including the thrillers UNTIMELY DEATH; and JUST YOUR EVERYDAY PEOPLE; as well as children's books -- a series that includes THE READING RABBIT, THE QUIET DOG, and THE CANTALOPUE CAT, all illustrated by Mitzi Lyman. Unique journals created and, in the case of the birthday journal, illustrated by Jan's art work, include BIRTHDAY TRACKER & JOURNAL and FRIENDSHIP THOUGHTS, FAMOUS QUOTES, AND A JOURNAL.Jan's poetry is included in the collection, with her husband Fred Yager, entitled IN LOVE AND WORK: Poems, available as an e-book and an audiobook, as well as in the anthology THE HEALING POWER OF CREATIVE MOURNING: Poems.Jan has worked in the publishing industry over the years beginning with her years in her early twenties in the school division at Macmillan Publishing followed by a year doing everything from editing, acquisitions, foreign rights, permissions, sales, and publicity at Grove Press.She's traveled extensively to exhibit or attend foreign book fairs including the Frankfurt Book Fair, London Book Fair, Abu Dhabi Book Faire, Prague Book World,TIBE (Taiwan) Book Fair, Bologna Children's International Book Fair, Liber Book Fair in Spain, and Book Expo in the USA.In addition to conducting extensive original research for her own books, Jan reads extensively. Beyond books, Jan writes articles and blogs. For more on Jan, go to:http://www.drjanyager.com (her main website) Over the years, Jan's been published by major houses including Simon & Schuster, Doubleday, Prentice-Hall, Facts on File, Scribner's, and other companies. She's been translated into 30 languages. In 1996, she founded the small press, Hannacroix Creek Books, Inc. (http://www.hannacroixcreekbooks.com)She's been on author tours throughout the U.S. as well as internationally throughout the UK, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand. Talk shows that have asked Jan to appear to share her insights include THE VIEW, OPRAH, the TODAY SHOW, GOOD MORNING AMERICA,CNN,and other programs.Jan's married to communications executive and fellow author Fred Yager. They have two grown sons, Scott and Jeff, and a grandson, Bradley.In addition to college teaching, Jan enjoys speaking throughout the U.S. and internationally as well as socializing with her family and friends. She also enjoys going to the movies, plays, and exercising.Jan's co-authored several screenplays with her husband Fred including a romantic comedy, two thrillers, and a buddy movie. Her dream is to get one of their screenplays produced as well as to see her full-length play, BETWEEN FRIENDS, produced. Hopefully those dreams will happen in the near future!This author believes the future of books is secure because there are so many talented authors who continue to share their expertise, or write creative stories, that readers want to discover. She is grateful to every single reader --past, present, and future --who have bought and read her books, or borrowed her books at the library, in English or any of the more than 30 languages that her titles have been published in including Spanish, French, Dutch,German, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Czech, Romanian, Slovenian, Hungarian, Polish, Hebrew, Portuguese, Arabic, Latvian, Estonian, Thai, Indonesian, with Marathi and Akan (Ghana) languages in preparation.