Suddenly Southern

Moving South? Feeling a little out of place? Craving pizza from home and faking a passion for sweet tea? Not generating much Southern hospitality? Wondering if you'll ever fit in? Well, honey, here's your complete guide to living in Dixie, providing migrating Yanks with tips on living, eating, greeting, driving, walking, talking, and what food to bring to a funeral. From his 'n' her Southern Hair Dos (and Don'ts) to The A to Z Dixie Dictionary, Suddenly Southern includes everything you need to know about living south of the Mason-Dixon Line, including:

• Recipes that range from mint juleps and hoppin' john to recipes for disaster
• "Know Your Bugs by Their Mugs," a handy identification chart
• 10 ways to say, "Now that's ugly" in Dixie
• How to walk from the store to the car without dying, a Fun-in-the-Sun Survival Kit
• 100 Southern Things Worth the Trip From Southern tailgate food (deviled eggs and cheese straws) to minding your BBQs, from pronouncing pecan to knowing when your cat's a true Southerner, from knowing when you're fittin' in to knowing when you're not, this is the ideal guide for anyone moving, planning a move, or just plain ol' interested in this fascinating American region. With this book on your shelf, they'll never be able to say "Yankee, go home" again.

Maureen Duffin Ward is a freelance newspaper columnist for The News & Observer of Raleigh, NC. Her column, "New in Town," is an irreverent look at moving South. She also hosts a monthly radio show called "Don't You Be My Neighbor" on WPTF. Before moving to Raleigh, Maureen was National Sales Manager for NBC Television and directed the Philadelphia sales office.