Life of JEM: My Life In The Inland Empire

A BLOG ABOUT THE ZANY CHILDHOOD AND ADULT ADVENTURES OF A GIRL FROM THE INLAND EMPIRE WHO MOVED OUT OF THE INLAND EMPIRE ONLY TO END UP BACK IN THE INLAND EMPIRE.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Sometimes

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Sometimes, all you can do is listen to your dog snore. As you listen to his labored breathing, you wonder how much time he has left. We are ...

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Thanksgiving thanks

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Gratitude is important. It's what this holiday should really be about. It's about seeing your family and appreciating them, as well ...

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Romance stories

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I love me a good romance. Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a sucker for a romance. In fact, I read hundreds of harlequin romance nov...

Friday, November 17, 2023

Why I love 5 am

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It's 5 am. This time is all mine. I listen to the dog snore. My husband breathe. I read an article about a band I like. I post a graphic...

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Holidaze

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This year, we are meeting for brunch for Thanksgiving. I think it's just easier. Plus, as my sister Jackie pointed out recently to me, a...

Monday, November 13, 2023

Yesterday

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Yesterday, the Beatles released "Now and Then", a new song. It went to number one in the UK. It was the band's first number on...

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Today and Tomorrow

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It is 4 am. I went to bed at 7 pm last night. The night before, my dog had an attack at 3 in the morning and I couldn't go back to bed. ...

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About Me

Juanita E. Mantz (JEM): JEM's life story is the stuff that memoirs are made of. JEM went from punk rock high school dropout to corporate lawyer to rock star deputy public defender and nonfiction writer. JEM's stories, blog and video podcast document her journey so take a look! Her YA memoir, "Tales of an Inland Empire Girl", is available via Los Nietos Press (and through all national retailers). Her book tells the poignant story of her chaotic YA life growing up in the IE. Her chapbook, "Portrait of a Deputy Public Defender, or how I became a punk rock lawyer", was also released in Aug 2021 by Bamboo Darts Press. JEM is married to her wonderful husband Adrian who is a dentist. They have two Shih Tzus, Frodo and Chewbaca (Chewie to his friends). Her work has been published in Aljazeera, The Acentos Review, The Dirty Spoon Radio Hour, Entropy, As/Us, Inlandia, & Mutha magazine, among others. Go to her author website for more info at https://juanitaemantz.com. JEM is in the creative writing MFA low residency program at UNO. She has presented at AWP, Beyond Baroque and the UCR Punk Conference.

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