Janell Walden Agyeman 

Janell Walden Agyeman is a veteran book publishing professional with a passion for encouraging writers who wish to uplift and inform humanity. She is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She started her career in editorial positions at Doubleday Publishing Company and Howard University Press. At Howard University Press she also directed the Howard University Press Book Publishing Institute in its formative years, a program aimed to increase the numbers of minorities employed within the publishing industry. Later, for more than twenty-five years, she represented a diverse roster of award-winning authors of books for children and adult readers as a literary agent with Marie Brown Associates. She is a former resident of Miami, Florida, where she served on the Board of Directors, Miami Book Fair  International.

In 2020 she launched Next Steps Literary Services, LLC, www.nextstepsliterary.com, offering manuscript and proposal critiques, project management and publishing guidance for writers who want to become authors.

Janell’s favorite activities include reading, travel, Qi Gong practice, playing the piano, dancing, and staying in touch with friends near and far. Since moving away from the big  city bustle, she has rekindled her interest in gardening, cooking, crocheting, and learning to play the harmonica. She treasures her work with One Dozen Who Care, Inc., where  she participates in bringing their mission to life. Janell is the mother of two adult sons and resides with her husband in Cherokee County, North Carolina.