Cattywampus: A Southern Woman's Guide to Laughing When Life Goes Sideways - Hardcover

by Ellen Skrmetti (Author)

Ellen Skrmetti, comedian and bestselling author, returns with a collection of hilarious essays about what happens when life goes sideways--or, if you're Southern, when things go cattywampus.

Cattywampus (adj.)
Pronunciation: kat-ee-wom-puhs
Origin: Southern American English

1. Positioned askew, crooked or out of alignment; not straight
2. In disarray; turned sideways; off course
3. A state of life in which plans have unraveled, expectations have shifted, and nothing is operating according to the original instructions.

Such as when you're living your life, raising your kids ... and then suddenly you're raising your parents too. When your hormones go haywire and you're navigating "The Change" with no warning ... and at the same time your daughter is navigating her own "changes." (You also have to navigate that fact that nobody in the South calls things by their real names.) When you're forced to confront the possibility that you haven't always seen everything clearly, and you need to course-correct, stat.

The hilarious essays in this book include:

1. I Wanted It Done Right (and Other Reasons I Wrote My Own Obituary)
2. Hustle, Hustle, Pray
3. Yes Ma'am, No Ma'am, Have You Taken Your Meds Ma'am?
4. When You Bring a Zebra To The Tailgate
5. From Beer Pong to Mah Jongg ... Pastimes in Later Life

This laugh-out-loud collection will entertain, inspire, and remind you that even when life seems out of control, God is in control.

Author Biography

Ellen Skrmetti is a comedian, writer, and viral storyteller whose humor about faith, family, and Southern life has been viewed millions of times across social media. She first captured national attention with her wildly popular series "If the Queen Died in The South," followed by her beloved "Hey Jesus, It's Me" series--creating a community of people who believe laughter and honesty bring people together.

Her debut book, Hey Jesus It's Me introduced readers to her signature blend of heartfelt storytelling and sharp Southern wit. Since then, Ellen has taken that same voice to the stage, selling out venues across the country with a stand up show that feels like sitting on the front porch with your funniest friend.

Born and raised in Mississippi and now living in Birmingham, Alabama, Ellen writes about the beautifully imperfect seasons of life--marriage, motherhood--faith, and everything that goes a little sideways along the way. We are also contractually obligated to add that she is still the reigning Miss Tippah County 1995, as she competed in the Miss Mississippi Pageant but her town never had another pageant, so she has never relinquished her crown.

She lives with her husband, two children and four dogs in a home where something is always a little cattywampus.