FICTION | AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 2026
STITCHED
A Novel
“Tender and humorous.”
—ANN GARVIN, I Thought You Said This Would Work
A hilarious story of found family that proves it’s never too late to discover who you are.
Betty Lou Dearden has been a member of the Ogden Quilter’s Association for more than twenty years when it is announced that the biggest quilting competition in the country is coming to her small Utah town. With the clock ticking, the women welcome two young gay men to their group as they bicker their way to an award-worthy entry and attempt to beat their long-time rivals once and for all. With disarming humor and extraordinary heart, Eli McCann takes readers deep into the cozy but cutthroat world of competitive quilting and the sometimes-messy friendships that shape our lives.
September 2026 | Trade Paper Original ISBN: 9798890920201 | $18.95 | 275 pp | Trim: 5.25 x 8”
“One part Schitt’s Creek, one part Golden Girls, and a whole lot of Eli McCann’s signature wit and charm.”
—CAL CROSBY, The King’s English Bookshop
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ELI MCCANN is a writer, podcaster, and lawyer. He is the author of We're Thankful for the Moisture and a host/producer of Strangerville, a live storytelling event series and podcast. McCann writes a monthly humor column for The Salt Lake Tribune, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, Newsweek, HuffPost, and the BBC. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his husband, new child, and two naughty dogs.
PRAISE FOR STITCHED
“Eli McCann writes with humor and tenderness about an unlikely collection of people who don’t expect to need one another—and then do. This book will make you laugh and leave you quietly grateful for what remains after the thing that once held a group together no longer matters.”
—ANN GARVIN, I Thought You Said This Would Work
“Eli McCann wrote the cozy Ogden soap opera I needed to read. With a quirky cast of characters, small-town drama, and plenty of heart, Stitched paints a funny and touching portrait of a Utah quilting club. I’m inspired to pick up a needle and thread.”
—DARCIE LITTLE BADGER, Sheine Lende
“Eli McCann is the single best gay, married, ex-Mormon dad writing a human column in America today—scratch that, he’s the best humor columnist we’ve got, period. And this, his first novel, is a delight.”
—DAN SAVAGE, Savage Love from A to Z
“One part Schitt’s Creek, one part Golden Girls, and a whole lot of Eli McCann’s signature wit and charm. Stitched is a laugh-out-loud celebration of unlikely friendships—the ones we’re stuck with, the ones we take for granted, and the ones who make us who we are.”
—CAL CROSBY, The King’s English Bookshop
“A genuine story about found friendships and family with characters that you can immediately relate to. The authentic quality that McCann creates endears you to the story and the beautiful, relatable imperfections of these characters pulls you into their world with their challenges and triumphs.”
—ALISON RUSSEL, Folklore Bookshop
“In this coziest of cozy reads, an Ogden quilting group must come to terms with their power-hungry Cache County arch-rivals, and one another. They must also counter the sticky problem of declining membership. So the Ogden Quilters Association welcomes two gay men—gasp! men!—with no quilting skills but a love of snark and community to their ranks. All of this happens against the backdrop of preparations for a regional quilting contest they would love to win...for once. The group's journey to the competition and from puzzling prickliness to authentic communication is lovely to read. Snuggle up on the couch with a cup of tea for this warm, funny book that's full of affection.”
—CATHERINE WELLER, Weller Book Works
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