By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
Do you ever find yourself at a loss for words? Do you ever experience something so tragic or beautiful or cruel that you are left speechless? Janet Mueller of Original Writings by Jm strives to put words to the difficult parts of life in order to help people work through difficult moments in their lives.
Mueller has always been drawn to words. In high school, her English teacher Mr. Emra challenged her class to keep a daily journal for the year. At the end of the year, he asked his students to title their journal. Mueller called her “the Sound of Silence.” Although her peers mocked her for naming her entries after a popular song, Mueller defended her choice with these words, “the words are loud and quiet at the same time.”
After graduating from high school in Lake Hiawatha, Mueller started a band and performed original songs in New York and Philadelphia. She and her bandmates would write about love, romance and hope. “Little Angel,” one of Mueller’s favorite songs, tells the story of a woman in Newark named Joan who would care for impoverished children in her neighborhood. Mueller had a soft spot for children, even producing two children’s albums towards the end of her music career.
Mueller settled down and met her partner, Robyn, and worked as a kindergarten teacher in her hometown. Then, in March 2020, the pandemic hit. Everyone was forced to quarantine in their homes while medical professionals and other essential workers battled the virus while providing important services to communities. Mueller was so moved by the courage of these workers that she decided to write their stories and publish them on Facebook. She writes:
Peace
May God grant us peace.
May the world live in peace.
May we all find peace in our hearts.
In this world of ours,
the notion of peace is but a dream
of those with open hearts.
But if we all pray for peace
to spread throughout the land,
it may not happen right away
but if we believe it, ask for it
and live it,
it might become a reality.
If you can, please pray for peace,
not only for yourself tonight,
but for the world.
It is much needed…
jm 2-24-22
Her poems touched many readers, and Mueller found herself receiving commissions to write about weddings, funerals, vacations and other impactful moments in people’s lives. Mueller and her partner established “Original Writings by Jm,” which makes appearances at craft fairs across the state to write beautiful words about life.
Today, you can find Mueller online writing every day and posting on Facebook. She hopes to branch out into the pet industry by writing about beloved animals. She published a children’s book series on her pet cat, teaching lessons on bullying, adoption, and being kind.
“Janet brings so much healing and power through her words,” said Robyn Malcolm, Mueller’s partner. “She changes lives and touches hearts and I am so lucky to have her in my life.”
For more information on “Original Writings by Jm,” follow her on Facebook under her company name or visit her website at originalwritingsbyjm.com.
