“Lauretta Hannon is the funniest woman in Georgia…This gal is a trip…Great inspiration for your next book club meeting.” — Southern Living
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“…this wonderfully written book is the perfect anecdote for our present hard times.” —Tucson Citizen
“Marking the debut of a powerfully original Southern voice, a poignant memoir of life on the wrong side of the tracks, with a colorful cast of misfits, plenty of belly laughs, and lessons for finding joy in spite of hardship.” —Gotham Books
“I raced through this book—horrified, laughing out loud, and weeping by turns. I say, let’s throw out all the self-help and inspirational books in the country, and put up displays instead! Hannon really made me think, and I’m going to whup some ass, too.” —Lee Smith, author of On Agate Hill.
When I read The Cracker Queen, I realized that women like this were not part of any heavenly plan. Hannon’s book is scandalous and hilarious.” —Pat Conroy, author of The Prince of Tides and many others
“The heart, soul, and muscle of The Cracker Queen are in the often poignant, often shocking (but always engaging) pieces of Hannon’s experiences. But there is more to it than that: there’s also the promise of a remarkably gifted writer, one who understands that she is a medium for her environment, and, for readers, that is cause for great celebration.” —Terry Kay
“A bracing, heart-gladdening embrace of human foibles and strangeness.” —Kirkus Review
“The Cracker Queen delights again and again as the intrepid Hannon turns her hardscrabble beginnings into a major laugh fest that will leave her readers wanting more.” —Rosemary Daniell, author of Secrets of the Zona Rosa and Fatal Flowers
NPR Stories
https://www.npr.org/search/?query=lauretta%20hannon&page=1
C-SPAN Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7e82MARTx4
Raised in the South of Normal Documentary
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/raisedinthesouthofnormal
Cracker Queen Archive
http://thecrackerqueen.com/
COVER REVEAL SUMMER 2026!
Coming to bookstores in September 2026.
“Lauretta Hannon is a hoot. THAT STATEMENT—that Southernism—doubtless expresses the sentiment of many fans of her writing, radio spots, lectures, seminars, podcasts, and workshops. But to stereotype this multi-talented woman as a ‘humorist’ misses the bigger picture. Yes, she can make readers laugh out loud as they sit alone, book in hand. She can also bring an audience to the brink of rolling hysterics with her home-spun anecdotes and colorful aphorisms, all told in an authentic rural drawl that she describes as sounding ‘like cornbread and collard greens.’ Funny. She is that. But there’s more to her life and work than just laughs.
A lot more. There’s a sort of therapeutic magic in the things she does. It’s medicinal merriment. Her words and style were forged in the crucible of a common human experience: pain. The exuberance rises from—and is tempered by—suffering. That is the bonding factor between herself and her followers. With a pithy economy of words, often hilarious, always poignant, Hannon invites her readers, students, and hearers to identify with her as she encourages them to trust their talent and keep on trying.” —Paul Moses, V3 Magazine
“She is much more than a memoirist, much more than just a writer even; she is a healer. I do not believe it is a stretch to categorize her with other progressive theological voices, including Rachel Held Evans, Barbara Brown Taylor, and even Thomas Merton. She is that powerful.” —Candice Dyer, freelance writer
“Lauretta is tougher than a pine knot, funnier than your drunk aunt, and twice as unforgettable.” —Sal Gonzalez, author’s friend
“This book took me through a wonderful pictorial journey–through the history of one small Southern town that rightfully claims its own special niche in Georgia’s rich cultural heritage.This collection of photographs shows how one small community maintained its beautiful Southern charm but also prospered when the rich mineral content of the town’s seven springs brought visitors to enjoy the water’s medicinal powers. For anyone who marvels at Southern history, architecture, or culture, this book is a gem. Whether you are intrigued by spiritualism or scandal, Hannon includes something to please any enthusiast. The photographs are complemented by informative captions that reflect a depth of research. Also: thanks to the author for avoiding a shortcoming in some historical works by including a lovely assortment of African-American scenes.”-Amazon review