They're called Sweet Potato Queens, Steel Magnolias, Ya-Ya Sisters, and Southern Belles, but at heart they're just plain Grits-Girls Raised In The South! Now, the woman who turned this clever acronym into a symbol of Southern pride reveals the code behind the distinctive-and irresistible-style of the Southern woman. Equal parts sweet sincerity and sharp, sly humor, The Grits Guide to Lifeis chock-full of Southern charm: advice, true-life stories from honest-to-god "Grits," recipes, humor, quotable wisdom, and more. Readers will learn vital lessons, including: how to eat watermelon in a sundress; how to drink like a Southern lady (sip . . . a lot); and the real meaning of PMS (Precious Moody Southerner). From the co-author's true story of inheriting Elvis's grandmother's pearls, to tips on tending your magnolia tree, this charming book is destined to become a bible for the Southern girl-whether born and bred, expatriated, or adoptive-and her many admirers.

Deborah Ford is a lifelong Southerner and the founder of Grits(r) Inc., a multimillion-dollar merchandising company specializing in women's apparel. Her self-published book of Grits« sayings sold over 42,000 copies.

Edie Hand is a radio and television personality who served for twenty years on the national board of American Women in Radio & Television and is the author of five books.