Life of JEM

JEM reads a piece from her substack on recovery about Hamlet and desire! Listen in and check out her substack! Just search Juanita Mantz on substack!

So excited to share this mini episode from an epic writer! Listen in to Pushcart nominated writer and award winning filmmaker D.R. Garrett read an except from her upcoming auto fiction memoir "I Can Only Give You Everything", about her coming of age in the Northwest punk scene! It's a must listen to!

This is another special mini episode!! JEM reads a lil story from her substack titled "We Are All Young" a story about one of her favorite bands The Replacements! Take a listen and then subscribe to her substack! Be pleased to meet me!! 

This is a special mini episode! Professor, Writer, and extraordinary person and my friend Jo Scott-Coe, reads from her sublime recently published story titled "Daughters for Liberty", appearing in the Flowersong Press anthology "The White Picket Fence: Stories of Individuality as Rebelliousness" (curated & edited by Gina Rae Duran). Listen in. And get the anthology from Flowersong Press!!

This is a special mini episode! Writer Thomas A. Davila reads a short excerpt from his recently published story "A Day in the Life", about a person overcoming his disability to thrive, a story appearing in the Flowersong Press anthology "The White Picket Fence: Stories of Individuality as Rebelliousness" (curated & edited by Gina Rae Duran). Listen in. And get the anthology from Flowersong Pre...

This is such an important touchstone of an episode! JEM interviews her twin sister, Writer Dr. Jacqueline Mantz Rodriguez (aka Jackie), whose epic book "Hey Miss: Unveiling Learning's Promise" (909 Books, 2026) will drop on April 6, 2026 (available for preorder now!). This is the last episode before JEM goes on an extended year hiatus!! In their fascinating conversation, Jackie & JEM talk abou...

JEM is super excited to post this mini episode of Tomas Baiza whose book "Mexican Teeth: Stories and Artifacts from an Errant Chicanidad" won the Inlandia Institute's Eliud Martinez prize!! JEM was the judge and she can tell you that his voice is everything, and it cuts through! It's brilliant, compelling and all voice! Epic!! So listen in for a treat with his reading of the story "Thieves". 

Listen in to this special mini episode by Inland Empire poet Michelle Gonzalez who reads poetry for us from her just rereleased collection "Morning in the House by the Field". As I say in my blurb, "Michelle paints a much needed portrait of what it means to be a Mexican American Inland Empire girl..."  Go get her book and take a listen!!

JEM reads a piece from her recovery substack, a story inspired by X's song "Because I Do"! Check out her substack: https://lifeofjem.substack.com/p/because-i-do?r=7cq4g&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHudOl0tQuBQ6nVgMKuAHlor4Sq0uq9MP1hS2psT4-E9JukBTGV5nmQX_EUUd_aem_-9aVT6BgBn4XhHOw0Txyqg&triedRedirect=true

JEM interviews David A. Romero, a writer with multiple books of poetry and prose. They talk about his first novel, the epic noir mystery thriller The Enemy Sleeps (El Martillo Press, 2026). Published to critical acclaim, The Enemy Sleeps is must read fiction and David reads from a chapter and he and JEM talk about the novel's genesis and how David used his novel to speak on issues of identity, col...

Stephanie Barbé Hammer reads from her latest book, "The Warbler School Chronicles". In this unforgettable flash fiction series of eleven stories, the narrator attends an elite private girls’ school in New York City during the sixties making magical and memorable encounters. Go get her book available on Bamboo Dart Press (and where all books are sold). Dropping March 9th but listen in for a sneak s...

JEM interviews Writer, Poet and Painter Lavina Blossom about her new book of poetry just published by Bamboo Dart Press titled "Here to be Remade". They talk about her process of creating this collection of poems by using books of poems taken from her bookshelf. They also talk about Lavina's paintings that are interspersed among the poems and the intersection between painting and poetry. It is an...

Tune in as JEM interviews Lucrecia Guerrero, author of numerous books including her most recent, an engrossing fiction, character driven book set in Ohio with a Latina protagonist. The book is "On The Mad River" published by Mouthfeel Press and it is a fantastic and thrilling read! They have an engrossing conversation on writing time specific fiction set in a geographically unique place and Lucrec...

JEM interviews one of her favorite writers, the acclaimed, prize winning author Toni Ann Johnson. JEM talks with Toni Ann about Toni Ann's most recent book, a brilliant and beautiful linked story collection titled But Where’s Home?, which was just published by Screen Door Press. They have a fascinating, in-depth conversation on the line between memoir and auto fiction, and discuss the process of w...

JEM & Stevo Lution (aka Steve Lossing) have a chat of epic proportions about Stevo's latest book, a collaboration with the late great poet Johnny Bender, aka Brutus Chieftain, titled "The Gospel According to Bombastus" (Bamboo Dart Press, 2025). They chat about the book's genesis, about punk life in the 1980s, about sequencing and Bowie, about Poets in Distress & the venue called Pondwater...

JEM interviews Suzanne Weerts, author of the just released "Champagne Girl in a Budweiser Family, a memoir in stories". They talk about blue collar life growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, writing in young adult voice, memorializing the nostalgia inherent in childhood and how performance and narrative storytelling played a role in Suzanne's process of writing this memoir. A must listen to conversat...

JEM reads her story that was just published in the Inlandia journal. It's a Christmas themed piece inspired by bell hooks. Find the Inlandia journal here: https://inlandiajournal.net/fall-2025-vol-16-juanita-e-mantz-jem/

JEM is gifting you a special story episode for her favorite holiday, Halloween! This story is on her blogspot (see http://wwwlifeofjemcom-jemmantz.blogspot.com/?m=1 ) and details her  interaction with a mime! It's called "The Mime & Me". Enjoy! 

Listen in to JEM highlight "Not Your Papi's Utopia: Latinx Visions of Radical Hope", an anthology recently released by Mouthfeel Press. She interviews editor Sara Rivera, and then three amazing writers from the anthology read an excerpt aloud, Lesley Téllez, Joy Castro & Rolando Lopez. Then, they all chat about the readings. A must listen to conversation about a book you must read. It's an ant...

JEM reads her most recently published story aloud, a story appearing in the upcoming Flowersong Press anthology "The White Picket Fence: Stories of Individuality as Rebelliousness" (curated & edited by Gina Duran). JEM's story is an intimate true tale titled "Wonder Twins Reactivated: a search for connection" & about her relationship with her twin sister.  Listen in. 

JEM interviews a repeat guest and one of her favorite people, Tim Kirk, a writer, filmmaker and producer. They talk about his brilliant latest novel "All His Damned Mother's Sons", which was just released by Pelekinesis & about how Tim had to kill Elvis in the book. They get deep into craft and discuss how to write realistic characters and dialogue, the power of music and myth and why genre wr...

JEM talks with poet and essayist Elizabeth Galoozis about her beautiful new poetry book "Law of the Letter" published recently by the Inlandia Institute. They discuss craft, process, how to blend music and pop culture into a collection and why poetry is always personal  for Elizabeth. Winner of the regional Hillary Gravendyk prize, this intimate conversation will illuminate and inspire! Listen in!...

JEM and Sezin talk all about her new book, "Much Ado About Keanu", a brilliant and mind blowing pop culture, philosophical nonfiction  explication of movie star and musician Keanu Reeves. JEM & Sezin talk about movies at length and they chat about their shared obsession for David Bowie, & about how their love of music impacts their literary lives. Sezin explains her writing process and cra...

JEM interviews Writer & Professor Alex Espinoza, author of The Sons of El Rey (Simon & Schuster, 2024), a sweeping family saga about a family of Mexican wrestlers Luchadoras. JEM talks with Alex about his writing process for this masterpiece of a novel and about writing compelling characters in first person, as well as the role of culture and language in his work, and how music and televis...

JEM interviews one of her favorite writers, Kate Maruyama, author of Alterations, an engrossing novel about three generations of women. They talk about the author's use of films and Hollywood history to create her fictional world and how she builds compelling characters, as well as her masterful use of multiple female perspectives and voices. JEM and Kate do a deep dive into craft and the editing...