Set primarily in Omaha and small towns throughout Nebraska, "Nerdy Thirty" comically recounts the author's "nerdy" experiences in elementary school, high school, college, and her twenties, leading up to her 30th birthday. The book celebrates awkward and unusual situations she found herself in, including: camping for the first time; spending a weekend at a rodeo; masquerading for a night as Audrey Hepburn; socializing at a lesbian bar; and finding her voice as a writer.
An Omaha native, Townley earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2002. She is now working toward a master's degree in communication. Townley has worked as a newspaper reporter and freelance magazine writer for more than 10 years. "Nerdy Thirty" is her first book.