Featured Writing Prompts
September Writing Prompt
For many it is a time of new beginnings. The end of one season and the approach of another. The end of summer fun,…
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Dear reader,
Nothing Is More Personal Than Being Truly Seen.
Janice Strohmeier • Author • Educator • Storyteller
“Baileys, Cigarettes, and a Sorority of Two”
wish you were here… ♥
From J to K
Graduating at thirty-five with a BA in International Relations, Janice had big plans of becoming a diplomat… or something. Then she meets Kristina — a self-made businesswoman, a force of nature, and soon to be Janice’s hero. With searing honesty, sharp humor, and the oft-dismissed power of girl talk, From J to K is a story about the friendship that saved her life.
Read More & Buy on Amazon★5-STAR
★★★★★
“With searing honesty, sharp humor, and the off-the-charts power of female friendship, Strohmeier invites you along for a joy ride that will lift your spirits.”— Amazon Reviewer
postcards from writers…
Latest from the Community
Teaching Insights
One Student at a Time
This September, I started another semester of teaching History in college. Sixteen years. Sixty-four semesters. For thirteen years before that, fifty-four semesters, I taught…
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Creative Living
Turtle Rocks
Last month I posted a picture of (one of) my most favorite paces to be, Turtle Rock up in my hometown of Calgary. We…
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a little about me…
Meet Janice Strohmeier
History professor. Memoir author. Dog mom to the world’s most spoiled Boxers. I’ve lived from Calgary to Mexico to East Texas with my husband, collecting stories (and scraps of paper with notes on them) everywhere I go.
My debut memoir, From J to K (2024), is a story about the friendship that saved my life. It’s available now on Amazon.
When I’m not writing or teaching, I’m running OZ Books — an online writing community where fellow writers come together for monthly prompts, honest conversation, and a little inspiration, far away from the noise of social media.
P.S. I once drove cross-country with nothing but a journal, a pack of cigarettes, and a bottle of Baileys. The journal survived. The rest did not.
Read the Full Story
snapshots from everywhere…
On Instagram
Iceland
The Babies
Beach Day
Spa Day?
Cheers
Bon Appétit
O Canada
Party Time
questions from readers…
Frequently Asked
Who is Janice Strohmeier?
Janice Strohmeier is an author, history professor, and educator based in East Texas. She is the author of From J to K, a memoir about the friendship that saved her life. She founded OZ Books as an online writing community for fellow writers.
What is From J to K about?
From J to K is a memoir by Janice Strohmeier about her friendship with Kristina — a self-made businesswoman who saw something familiar in Janice and changed her life. With searing honesty and sharp humor, it’s a story about the unexpected friendship that pulled Janice through. It’s available on Amazon.
What is the OZ Books writing community?
OZ Books is a free online writing community founded by Janice Strohmeier. Each month, Janice posts a writing prompt and writers respond with their own stories. It’s a quiet, moderated space intentionally separate from social media — a place for real writers to find inspiration and connection.
How do I join the writing community?
It’s free and open. Read the latest writing prompt, leave a comment with your own short response, and Janice will approve it personally. The community values honest, kind, generous voices.