ABOUT: Meg Tufano's writing reminds one of Maeve Binchy, Elizabeth Berg and Anne Tyler with a touch of Fannie Flagg ("Fried Green Tomatoes") while establishing a voice that is all her own. She also manages to cleanly capture the voices of the heart of Appalachia. In this award-winning novel, "How I Started Drinking," divorced Maggie Bailey, Ph.D.2 comes to rural East Tennessee to forget her rich and high-powered life in Washington, DC, while her ex-husband has some second thoughts, bless his little heart. The story weaves together the past and the present with her mountain ex-in-laws while Maggie learns that maybe when it comes to life, love, and liquor, her cornbread just ain't done in the middle. This is a poignant and light-hearted story about unusual friendships and the craziness of love and family in North America spanning The Vietnam War to 9/11. You will love this book if you enjoy warm-hearted, or cold-hearted, Southern characters, smart strong-headed women whose love-life gets them snookered into no-way-out corner pockets. And, maybe, if you like some interesting cooking recipes (included at the book's end). It's a fantastic read for people who love sex or drinking! It's not too long and-WARNING-the sex is explicit! In an international competition, Meg Tufano was honored with the distinction of the The Sue Ellen Hudson "Excellence in Writing" award by The Tennessee Mountain Writers Conference, its top overall prize. They also awarded her novel, "How I Started Drinking," BEST NOVEL. "As you go skinny dipping with the snapping turtles in this hilarious novel, pour yourself a strong one! I loved 'How I Started Drinking!'" -Dr. Jane Oswald, author of "Teaching in Black Holes in Space." REVIEWS: *Easy to read!* By Eva Mennes Very funny and brilliantly written. "How I started Drinking" is a book for a leisure afternoon. A witty humour for a serious matter.