In a Southern town in the 1970s, the rules for girls are simple: look pretty, behave politely, marry well. But for this rebel-in-the-making, life beyond suburban America beckons. Before she can escape, however, she’ll have to navigate extreme diets, feathered hair, and a mother who insists on hanging her bras on the clothesline in full view of the boys next door. Will she ever find a life that fits and a beverage that suits her champagne dreams?

Weerts’ creative nonfiction essays can be found in The Sun and Good Old Days magazines, and in several anthologies and online publications. Weerts is a writing teacher, producer, nonprofit fundraiser and community activist who loves helping people find their voice on paper, on stage, and in standing up for meaningful causes. Her company JAM Creative has raised tens of thousands of dollars for local non-profits through storytelling events, and she can also be seen on stages across Southern California sharing her own stories including at The MOTH, Story Salon, Revealed and Tales By The Sea.

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The mother of two compassionate young adults, Suzanne is mighty grateful that her mother’s repeated warnings of “Just you wait until you have children of your own!” amounted to 98.5 percent amusement, joy and wonder. A proud graduated of UNC-Chapel Hill, she lives in Burbank, CA with her semi-social husband and their antisocial dog.