Southern Sin: True Stories of the Sultry South and Women Behaving Badly

This collection of essays by Southern women, edited by Gutkind (editor & founder, Creative Nonfiction magazine) and Fennelly (director, MFA program, Univ. of Mississippi), is funny and touching, sad and sexy. The candid confessions from women from all walks of life discuss how they dealt with major life events. One memorable story recounts a woman's difficult divorce and how she decided to rent out a room in her house to an adulterous older couple. Another is the tale of a man whose manic episode culminates in a wild three-week affair involving tattoos, drugs, and public sex. While there is much emphasis on the sultriness of the South and the torrid behavior of the storytellers looking for love in a warm climate, the gist is that many of these women are lonely, tired, looking for adventure, and seeking experiences to make them feel whole again. Some are successful, some learn new things about themselves, and others simply end up back where they started. If you've ever felt bad, this collection is here to remind you that you are not alone.