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.

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Twin fair

›

This picture is why I love writing memoir. The truth is always quirkier and stranger than fiction. When we were kids, me and my twin sister...

Friday, December 24, 2021

Slouching toward grief

›

It is after midnight, and the beginning hours of Christmas Eve. The sky is crying. Rain is pouring down. It's a deluge. It makes sense....

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Happiness is a warm cup of coffee

›

It's Christmas time. I've decorated. Finally. Threw my back out wrapping presents. Medicated with a cold beer, my first in weeks. C...

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Miracle Street

›

Growing up in Ontario, California, Christmas was an occasion to celebrate. My dad loved Christmas and would decorate the house with multi-c...

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Rain

›

There is rain falling outside. I can hear it splashing against the house. It has been raining for hours. It is hard rain. Fast rain. I light...

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Today

›

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I'm gonna be present and enjoy it. I usually have a "to do" list an arm long. ...

Sunday, December 5, 2021

Visualization

›

It's 6:30 am. I'm writing this after doing my early AM social media posts for my new book which is available for preorder. My book/n...

‹

›

Home

View web version

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.

View my complete profile