“As of this writing, it’s been ten years since my twin sister and I traveled to Seoul, South Korea, for the first time to attend the 2004 Korean Adoptee Conference. Of the more than 160,000 children flown overseas by agency facilitators, 400 of us arrived in our motherland intending to celebrate and contemplate fifty years of intercountry adoption. During this event, my sister and I decided that we would use the opportunity to look for our Korean family. It would also be the first time we would intermingle with Korean adoptees who had been sent to various Western nations. The trip was fantastic. (Exciting, even!) We met some awesome people who would become friends for life. During the trip, numerous adoptees also looked for their Korean families (and many even found them)!

Travel with the Vance Twins to S. Korea

My time in South Korea was the catalyst that led to a decade of research into the practice of intercountry adoption. I shared my initial thoughts and feelings inspired by the trip in a short book titled The Search for Mother Missing: A Peek Inside International Adoption. It detailed how I became aware of emerging and divergent adoption perspectives.

The first event that surprised me happened at an adoption agency. According to the adoption documents, we learned that the street we had been told we were found on did not exist. The “Certificate of Orphanhood” placed in our file gave the impression that we were orphans. We learned later that innumerable children came from Korean families, families who would come back to the orphanages (or to the agencies) to retrieve their children. Because of how the facilitators set things up, Korean babies and children had already been flown overseas for profit.”

To read the rest of their adventure, read the book. Below, the Vance Twins speak at KoRoot about how and why their activism work started. If you would like the twins to talk at your organization, email jenette@vancetwins.com

How the Vance Twins Can Assist You:

Janine is a seasoned book doctor, an award-winning author of powerful memoirs like Twins Found in a Box: Adapting to Adoption and The Search for Mother Missing: A Peek Inside International Adoption, and wrote 9 feature-length screenplays. She knows how to shape raw, real life into a resonant narrative. With deep compassion and professional precision, Janine helps writers like you clarify their voice, strengthen their story, and bring it into the world — not through traditional publishing that demands control, but through a healing process where you keep 100% of your copyrights.

This is your story, your timeline, your healing. And every step of the way, you remain in charge.

Email contact@janinevance.com

Jeanette is a heart-centered healer and guide with over 30 years of experience supporting people on their journeys to wellness. As a Licensed and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Life Coach, and expert in Integrated Psychology and Applied Neuroscience, she blends clinical knowledge with holistic practices to nurture mind, body, and spirit.

A Reiki Master in the direct lineage of Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki, she brings deep energetic healing into her work. She currently serves at Virginia Mason Health and Rehabilitation Hospital—recognized by *Newsweek* as the top physical rehabilitation center in Washington state for three years running (2023, 2024, and 2025)—where her dedication continues to make a profound difference.

You’ve carried your story with you, and now it’s time to bring it into the world with care and support from two seasoned guides who understand the power of healing through writing. The Vance Twins—Janine and Jeanette—each bring over 30 years of experience in their fields, blending deep expertise with empathy and understanding. Their approach gently eases anxiety and worry, making the process of writing your memoir or personal story feel manageable and meaningful. Whether you’re just starting or looking to bring your manuscript to life, they’ll help you craft a book that honors your journey with compassion and professionalism.

If you’re serious about telling your story and ready to take that step, reach out to them at info@vancetwins.com—your story deserves to be told with care

Writing your memoir?

Book Development * Amazon Publishing * Book Cover Design * Interior Formatting * Editing * Writing * Private/Personalized Retreats & Event Planners.

Book Doctor Waiting List

 Writing Retreats and Bookmaking Services

---

Write-for-Your-Life Retreats!

Invite a friend to the retreat, and the twins will give you a discount! Plus, Janine will tell you her secret on how best to protect yourself legally.

Jenette and Janine Vance Twins: Wellness and Writing Retreats for Busy Caregivers or New Writers.

It's never too late to write a new chapter for your life.