Writer, English teacher, and mom of 4, crafting heartwarming stories rooted in inner-city life. Currently living in Mexico.
In this essay, Janet Tamez sits in a hotel lobby and hears a mother shushing her autistic son. She is brought back to a night in Mexico where another mother grieves over her son’s autism on a park bench. Weaving together personal memory with Toni Cade Bambara’s “Raymond’s Run,” she explores the unseen bonds between women, the ways we try to contain one another’s differences, and the love that allows people to grow in their own way.
Janet Tamez explores what it truly takes to create memorable characters. Drawing from “The Best of Simple” by Langston Hughes and the Looney Tunes, she reflects on how everyday people shape unforgettable characters.
Janet Tamez thought spring break would be the perfect time to make progress on her novel. Instead, a visit from her mother-in-law disrupted her carefully planned writing schedule. Reflecting on Benedictine hospitality, Scripture, and even the lessons of Frog and Toad, she discovers that the interruptions we resist may actually be invitations to see the world outside our writing desks with fresh eyes.
Catholic writer Janet Tamez recounts a surprising grocery store encounter that challenged her assumptions about aging, morality, and character. She invites writers to stop stereotyping and start creating characters as unexpected as real life.
While caring for sick children and facing her own exhaustion, Janet Tamez reflects on why rest feels so hard for mothers—and how God restores us quietly through nature, as seen in O. Henry’s “The Last Leaf.”
When a burn from a batch of cookies sparked an unexpected comment from her young son, Catholic writer Janet Tamez found herself confronting more than a parenting habit—it made her reflect on the voice she brings to the page. In her newest article, Tamez takes readers on an honest journey from a small kitchen mishap to a deeper look at how easily our “I told you so” tone can slip into parenting, teaching, and even writing. She challenges Catholic writers to consider whether they correct or truly connect—and to pay attention to the small moments God uses to shape the stories we tell.
In this reflective essay, Janet Tamez shares her journey of writing and faith during a season of living in hotels and searching for stability. She explores how messy journals, Bible plans, conversations with friends, and even Emily Dickinson’s poetry offered unexpected lessons on writing, creativity, and the meaning of home. Catholic writers will find encouragement in every season, even the “meantime” of life.
Starting a new career can feel a lot like being the “new kid” in high school. In this article, CWG member Janet Tamez shares how student memberships in professional publishing organizations helped her navigate that transition, offering scholarships, mentorship, and community along the way.
In this reflection, writer Janet Tamez discusses the Japanese novel The Cat Who Saved Books and explores the idea that books have a soul—and even the power to save us. As more people retreat from the world and turn to digital distractions, she reflects on how stories can, ironically, pull us off the page and back into community. Drawing on themes of isolation, compassion, and the rise of hikikomori culture, Tamez invites readers to consider how reading can become a path toward connection and healthy engagement with the world around us.
Doodling isn’t just for bored teens—it’s a powerful creative outlet that can deepen your storytelling, enhance your prayer life, and even help your kids fall in love with reading. In this post, Janet Tamez shares how a lifelong love of doodling led her to discover comics, Bible journaling, and a global community of creatives at the Sequential Artists Workshop. Whether you’re a Catholic writer, a curious mom, or just looking for a fresh way to reconnect with your creativity, this one’s for you.
