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Biography
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Erin R. Zweigart grew up in the small town of Evansville, IL. She graduated from Sparta high school in 1994. She earned her Associate of Arts degree from Belleville Area College, and graduated Cum Laude from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1998 with a Bachelor's degree in political science. At the age of 19 she began volunteering with the Illinois Republican Party after she was elected the Evansville precinct committeewoman in 1996. Burned out from politics and desiring a change of scenery, Zweigart moved to Fullerton, CA in August 1999 to attend law school at Western State University. While in law school, Zweigart tutored English as a second language to adults and children at the Placentia, CA library. She also worked as a law clerk for general counsel at Golden State Foods, Inc., the Orange County District Attorney's office in Santa Ana, and for the legal department at XOXO Clothing. In 2002 Zweigart graduated with a Juris Doctor degree and passed the California Bar Exam. Prior to finding out her exam results, she loaded up her car and moved home to Illinois. Licensed in California and unable to find work in Illinois, Zweigart began teaching paralegal studies at Southwestern Illinois Community college while she awaited admission into the Illinois Bar. Her impatience and desire to begin a career in politics led her to throw her hat in the ring for the U.S. House of Representatives against a popular sixteen year incumbent. Passionate and determined, Zweigart created a website and E-newsletter where she circulated her ideas, articles, and editorials throughout the state of Illinois and to newspapers all over the country. Although she lost the election, she received an endorsement from the Chicago Tribune and gained statewide recognition from her speeches and editorials. Even after earning a law degree, passing two Bar exams, teaching at the college level, and managing her own congressional campaign, Zweigart found herself with no job, no car, no money, a stack of rejection letters, and on the verge of being homeless. Her faith in Jesus, the trials she endured, and her experience with pulling herself up by her bootstraps inspired her to write "Identity Crisis." After completing "Identity Crisis," Zweigart was given an opportunity to work as a legislative analyst intern for the Illinois Senate Staff where she analyzed legislation for the Health and Human Services Committee. Disappointed that she was not afforded a permanent position, she persevered by taking a position as a high school presenter for Hickey College, where she spoke to high school students about the importance of time management and communication skills. Finally, in April 2007 Zweigart was afforded the greatest honor and opportunity when she was accepted into the U.S. Air Force JAG Corp. She is currently working on the sequel and is serving in the USAF as an assistant staff judge advocate. "The federal government has exceeded the scope of its enumerated powers. The federal government has a limited purpose and that purpose is defined in the constitution by our Founding Fathers. It's time to deregulate and allow Americans more freedom to prosper. Americans are capable of great things, but first government must step aside so as to allow them the opportunity." -Erin Zweigart |
