Today we’d like to introduce you to Janay Harden.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
“Finding your way takes time, and paving it takes even longer.”
Hi! My name is Janay Harden, LCSW and I’m a millennial therapist licensed in New Jersey. I attended Rutgers University where I received a Master’s Degree in Social Work. I’ve held many titles but my favorites are mentor, mental health advocate, and author. In addition to my time as a therapist, I am a full-time author, writing fictional stories centering around the lives and experiences of African American young adults.
My love for words began when I spent hours reading books from the library. My love for words was homegrown, and for years I tended to my craft until we were ready for each other. Growing up, I was surrounded by strong and confident women who taught me to be the same. When I got older and unpacked my own traumas, I learned while all were strong, most were struggling with their own insecurities and mental health concerns with no one to turn to who felt like a safe space. After I attended college, I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do – but I knew that it would be related to women’s empowerment and creating spaces where people felt heard and valued.
Today those ‘spaces’ that I’ve created are books, and I am passionate about the art of story-telling. I am always proud to discuss and present my book babies. I am the author of the following novels found on all major platforms!
– Hey, Brown Girl
– Forty-two Minutes (Book 1 of the Indigo Lewis Series)
– Someone More Like Myself! (Book 1 of the Indigo Lewis Series)
If you enjoy young adult stories about melanated characters navigating love, friendships, and family, please consider sticking around while I make sense of the world through my collection of words.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to authorship has been rough! The writing process comes easy to me and I try to treat it like a real job. I have set hours that I write and I am able to focus my attention and get through writing sessions quicker. However, the self-publishing process has been real! There are many intricate things one has to learn when they decide to self-publish and as someone doing it all on my own, it can be difficult to manage everything at the same time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would consider myself a “straight up” social worker. My lived experiences have contributed to my life’s work, and I have experience in many difficult settings such as an HIV clinic, correctional facilities, hospitals, and child welfare work. I had to learn on my feet and connect with people using basic, humanistic approaches, and oftentimes, humor. As a therapist, my why is simple. I seek to create healing spaces for people to restore the best versions of themselves, knowing that they are supported the entire way.
I believed that being able to bear witness to someone’s story and personal thoughts is an honor and truly humbling. I do not take it lightly and I strive to empower people with the tools they need to examine their own behaviors.
In addition to therapy, I am a full-time author and I seek to create stories that tell the stories of Black teenagers. Writing is my personal form of self-care, and I am humbled that something that I love to do down to a soul level can be shared with the world in a meaningful way. Words are always important, and I craft stories that tell tales of mental health and what that looks like for Black teenagers in America today.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Along my journey, the most important thing that I have learned is I will always have “this” or something better. “This” isn’t bad, but I am always striving for something better. When I look back on my life I want to be able to say that I did everything with what I was given. I want everyone to know as humans we never take losses, only lessons. I am a student of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.naywrites.com and www.janayharden.com
- Instagram: @AuthorJanay
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/naywritesmelanin
