Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Forney.
Hi Janet , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My creative journey has taken many forms over the years. I began as a singer, studied vocal performance, and earned a degree in Communications with an emphasis in Theatre, Radio, and Television. My career eventually led me into education, where I taught music before transitioning into early childhood education and later retiring as a kindergarten teacher.
Throughout my life, the arts have remained a constant thread. Over the years, I have worked as a performer, poet, playwright, director, producer, educator, and mentor, creating opportunities for young people and communities to experience the arts through music, theater, spoken word, film, and creative programming.
Since my last Voyage Dallas feature, my focus has shifted more toward writing, publishing, and creating reflective experiences through my Poetry in a Cup brand. I have published poetry journals, reflection journals, coloring journals, and children’s books that encourage creativity, character development, self-awareness, and meaningful conversations. Several of my children’s books, along with my journals, are currently available on Amazon.
Today, I find myself in a season of reflection, storytelling, creative growth, and simply living life. I still write. I still create. The stories are still there, and so are the books and journals. But I have also learned to appreciate the beauty found in ordinary moments—sitting in my backyard listening to the birds sing, caring for my flowers, spending time with family, enjoying a quiet cup of coffee, and embracing the gift of a slower pace.
At this stage of my journey, I am less concerned with chasing the next opportunity and more focused on being present for the one in front of me. I have learned that purpose does not always arrive through a stage, a spotlight, or a new project. Sometimes it is found in the simple act of living fully, loving well, and being open to wherever God may lead next.
Whether through a poem, a journal page, a children’s story, or a conversation over coffee, I still believe stories have the power to connect us, encourage us, and remind us to slow down and fully embrace the life we are living.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like most people, I have not had a completely smooth journey. Since my last Voyage Dallas feature, the world has experienced significant changes that caused many of us to rethink our priorities, adjust our plans, and redefine what success looks like. The pandemic shifted the way people connected, created, worked, and lived, and I was no exception.
One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that every season requires a different version of us. As a wife, mother, grandmother, creative, and caregiver, I have had times when family responsibilities required my full attention. Life has a way of reminding us that while our goals and dreams are important, the people we love are important too.
Rather than viewing those moments as setbacks, I have learned to see them as part of the journey. Some seasons are meant for building, some for creating, some for serving others, and some for reflection and renewal. Learning to embrace those changes without losing sight of who I am has been both one of my greatest challenges and one of my greatest blessings.
Today, I move a little differently than I did years ago. I am more intentional with my time, more appreciative of life’s simple moments, and more willing to trust that every season has a purpose. My journey is far from over, but I have learned that growth is not always measured by how much we accomplish. Sometimes it is measured by how well we adapt, how deeply we love, and how faithfully we continue moving forward.
Looking back, I realize that the obstacles were not there to stop me; they were there to teach me. They taught me patience, perspective, gratitude, and the importance of being present. Those lessons continue to shape not only my work but also the way I choose to live each day.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a creative storyteller whose work has spanned education, music, spoken word, theater, film, publishing, and community arts. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about using creativity to inspire, encourage, educate, and bring people together.
Over the years, I have worked as a performer, poet, playwright, director, producer, educator, and mentor. My work has included stage productions, youth arts programs, spoken word performances, film projects, educational initiatives, children’s books, and published journals designed to encourage reflection, creativity, and personal growth.
Today, I am best known for my Poetry in a Cup brand, which includes poetry journals, reflection journals, and coloring journals that encourage people to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with themselves and the world around them. In addition to those projects, I continue to make my children’s books available to readers and families who enjoy stories centered around character, motivation, self-awareness, and positive life lessons.
What I am most proud of is not any single project, award, or accomplishment. I am proud of the lives I have touched along the way—my students, young artists, audiences, readers, and families who have connected with my work over the years. Knowing that something I created helped someone feel encouraged, hopeful, inspired, or understood has always meant more to me than recognition.
What sets me apart is that I have never viewed creativity as entertainment alone. I see it as a tool for connection, reflection, growth, and encouragement. Whether I am writing poetry, creating journals, publishing children’s books, directing a production, mentoring young people, or simply sharing a story, my goal remains the same: helping people recognize the value of their own story and embrace the life they are living.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something that may surprise people is that I love design, decorating, and restoring things. Long before many of my creative projects, I was interested in fashion merchandising and design. I’ve always been drawn to the process of taking something ordinary, overlooked, or worn and giving it new life.
I enjoy visiting thrift stores, repurposing furniture, redesigning spaces in my home, and finding beauty and potential in things that others might pass by. There is something rewarding about seeing what something can become rather than focusing on what it is at the moment.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that this has influenced much of my work and my life. Whether I am encouraging a student, mentoring a young artist, writing a poem, creating a journal, directing a production, or restoring a piece of furniture, the process is often the same. I enjoy helping people and things become the best version of what they were created to be.
At heart, I think I’ve always been a creator and a builder. Sometimes that shows up through words, sometimes through art, and sometimes through a thrift-store find that becomes something beautiful again.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Janet-Forney/author/B08TPDM31K?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1E4unte3qe/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/ps7GPuk3Jk0?si=BAr4ODIV4-JK3d5a
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jforney3?_r=1&_t=ZP-97JpkjJvHKw
Image Credits
All images are the property of Janet Forney
