Jill Vanneman presents 'The Perfection Campaign'

Third Place Books welcomes writer Jill Vanneman to our Ravenna store for a conversation about her new memoir, , which follows the author through a journey of self-discovery during and after her emotionally fraught upbringing, exploring the high cost—and ultimate liberation—of living authentically.

This event is free and open to the public. For important updates, RSVP is highly recommended in advance. This event will include a public signing and time for audience Q&A. Sustain our author series by purchasing a copy of the featured books!

This event is free to attend. Registration is recommended in advance.

Please note: While RSVP helps us anticipate attendance, your RSVP may not guarantee a seat. Seating is first-come, first-served, and all events at our Ravenna neighborhood store are free and open to the public. Only standing room may be available for events with high interest.

We are happy to accommodate any accessibility concerns. Please contact us at [email protected] or call our Ravenna store at (206) 525-2347.

For readers of Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?, a debut memoir about a woman born into a conservative family who spends decades grappling with self-acceptance and her parents’ conditional love—until she finally learns how to love herself.

Born with a cleft lip into an upper-middle-class, conservative family obsessed with image and success, Jill Vanneman was subjected early to a “perfection campaign” aimed at erasing flaws.

Told with unflinching honesty, moments of wit, and emotional depth, this coming-of-age story unfolds against the backdrop of 1980s America—a time and place where being a lesbian could cost you your job, your family, and your sense of self. As she grows into adolescence, college, and early adulthood, Jill begins to question not only her place in her family but also her sexual identity. Her journey leads her through turbulent relationships, professional achievements shadowed by internalized shame, and a heartbreaking attempt to reconcile with disapproving parents. Gradually, through therapy, spiritual exploration, and painful introspection, Jill learns that healing doesn’t come from perfection but from embracing the flawed, fierce truth of who she is.

A raw, deeply personal memoir of family expectations, social shame, and a relentless drive for perfection, The Perfection Campaign is a compelling testament to resilience, identity, and the high cost—and ultimate liberation—of living authentically.

Jill Vanneman is a former prosecutor and police legal adviser, as well as a legal consultant for a major city’s planning and development department. She holds a BA in American studies from Whitman College, a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University, and a JD from the University of Puget Sound. Her short fiction has been featured in True Stories and Oaxaca: A Wayfaring Writers’ Anthology; her nonfiction work has appeared in the Citizen Patriot, Miles City Tribune, and elsewhere. She resides in the Seattle area with her aging tuxedo cat, Pablo, and her rescue dog, Honey.

Founded in 1998 in Lake Forest Park, Washington, Third Place Books is dedicated to the creation of a community around books and the ideas inside them. With locations in Lake Forest Park and Seattle's Ravenna and Seward Park neighborhoods, Third Place Books is proud to serve the entire Seattle metro area. Learn more about their event series at thirdplacebooks.com/events.

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Third Place Books Ravenna, 6504 20th Avenue Northeast, Seattle, United States

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