The skinny on ‘Fat Girl’
There’s a new fiction sensation in town by the name of Stephanie Mcafee. Her debut novel “Diary of a Mad Fat Girl” (NAL, $15), originally self-published, is set in tiny Bugtussle, Miss. Its star: Graciela “Ace” Jones. A former athlete and town wit, she’s self-medicating a broken heart with beer and pizza while freelancing as a feminist avenger. Mcafee, 38, spoke from her home in Pensacola, Fla.
Quesion: “Ace” Jones is adorable and the best friend we all dream of, but she’s no gentle Southern belle, more like Scout Finch on steroids.
Answer: Ace sees what’s wrong with her community with clarity. She was the first element that came into this novel, a chubby, funny, lovable character that normal people could relate to.
Q: If you were casting the movie, should one get made...?
A: Melissa Mccarthy! She was the fat girl in “Bridesmaids.”
Q: Talk about Ace’s secret pain — the death of her parents.
A: That was my biggest fear as a child. How do people make it without parents? The only people Ace has are her friends.
Q: But growing up in Tupelo, Miss., you had Elvis Presley.
A: It’s amazing. People come from all What happened?
A: In 2011, I sold 145,000 e-books. I was completely shocked, stunned, and tickled to death! (The e-book version spent 12 weeks on Best-selling Books list.)
Q: Why then move to a traditional publisher?
A: I wanted a book on a shelf, and I wanted professional editing. Q: Are writers born or made? A: I’m a loud, funny girl — I try to work on not being so loud. But I’m a born storyteller. When I was in the first grade, I told my teacher that a burglar had broken into our house — and stolen everything, including the stuff in the deep freeze! The teacher was just the sweetest and told my mother how sorry she was. I got into a lot of trouble. over the world to see his birthplace. I do think piping “Don’t Be Cruel” into the delivery room might be a good idea.
Q: After getting rejected by more than 25 agents, you selfpublished “Diary of a Mad Fat Girl” on Christmas Day 2010.