Jill Vanneman- The Perfection Campaign

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.

Jill Vanneman recently retired from the City of Seattle where she used her law degree for the Dept. of Construction & Inspections. She is a former prosecutor for the City of Kent and Everett in Washington, and before that, a journalist.

She first honed her writing skills through a bachelor of arts in American Studies (Whitman College), a master’s degree in Journalism (Northwestern), and a juris doctorate (University of Puget Sound). She holds certificates in Fiction, Literary Fiction, and Editing from the University of Washington.

Her short stories have appeared in True Stories (Vols IV, V, and VI) and Oaxaca (A Wayfaring Writers’ Anthology). Her nonfiction articles have appeared in Citizen Patriot, Miles City Tribune, Great Falls Tribune, Livingston Enterprise, Seattle Weekly, and Midwest Focus.

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