Why Can't Everything Just Stay the Same: And Other Things I Shout When I Can't Cope

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'Witty, shocking in parts and written with real heart ... has something to say to everyone' Sunday Times

'Honest, witty and poignant observations on life that are both heart breaking and heartwarming' Amy Huberman

As a child, being in new places made Stefanie Preissner ill, which was why her family holidayed in the same apartment on the same island off the Spanish coast for nine years in a row. And why, at Christmas, she wrote lengthy letters to Santa (note: letters, plural) begging him not to bring any surprises. She hated change. Of all descriptions. But change happens, no matter what we do.

Here, in her first book, Stefanie looks at the ways in which her life has changed. From birthdays, to friendships, to Christmas homecomings, to social media (she's more JOMO than FOMO), to the importance of asking WWNSD (What Would Nicole Scherzinger Do) when faced with big decisions, to the changes you can't prevent like when someone breaks up with you, Why Can't Everything Just Stay the Same is the hilarious and honest account of one woman's journey through the biggest change of all: adulthood.

It's Stefanie's life, but her struggles are universal. Insecurity Check. Anger Check. Weight issues Big fat check. Stefanie shines a light on human frailty and human strength, proving they are not opposites, but often walk hand-in-hand. Her clear-headed compassion rings true. We all "have demons way deeper than donuts", but we can control our fate. We can choose to eat or sweat. Stefanie lets us see her sweat-both literally and figuratively-and the result is an inspiring, thoroughly enjoyable book. Nell Scovell, creator of Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Reviews

Witty, shocking in parts and written with real heart ... has something to say to everyone * Sunday Times *
Hilariously well compiled ... there are lashings of subtle wit and wisdom, all carried aloft on a fluid conversational style ... an original voice that is unafraid of what others will think * Sunday Independent *

Author Bio

Stefanie Preissner, Munich-born but Mallow-raised, is the creator of hit comedy-drama series Can't Cope, Won't Cope. The show was originally commissioned by RTE but since then both seasons have been broadcast on BBC and acquired by Netflix.

Why Can't Everything Just Stay the Same, her first book (published in 2017), was an Irish bestseller and nominated for an Irish Book Award. Can I Say No is her second book.

She has also produced a series of short documentaries, How To Adult, with RTE Player.

Her one-woman theatre show, Solpadeine Is My Boyfriend, enjoyed sell-out runs in Dublin before touring internationally to Bucharest, Edinburgh and Australia, and - as a radio play - it became RTE's most downloaded podcast.

Stefanie graduated from University College Cork with a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies and Spanish. Alongside her career as a screenwriter and playwright, she has won several awards as an actor.

She is a regular contributor to Ireland's Sunday Independent newspaper and her voice is well-recognised from her prolific voiceover career.

She is currently working more projects than she can cope with due to her ongoing battle with people pleasing.

She lives in Dublin and on Instagram @stefaniepreissner