Monday, January 16, 2012

DIARY OF A MAD FAT GIRL: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

 
GIVEAWAY ENDED 
DIARY OF A MAD FAT GIRL
BY STEPHANIE McAFEE

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Graciela "Ace" Jones is mad-mad at her best friend Lilly who cancels their annual trip to Panama City for mysterious reasons; at her boss Catherine for "riding her ass like a fat lady on a Rascal scooter;" at her friend Chloe's abusive husband; and especially at Mason McKenzie, the love of her life, who has shown up with a marriage proposal three years too late. Ace is never mad, though, at her near-constant companion, an adorable chiweenie dog named Buster Loo.

Ace's anger begins to dissipate as she takes matters into her own hands to take down Chloe's philandering husband-and to get to the bottom of a multitude of other scandals plaguing Bugtussle, Mississippi. Then, she starts to realize that maybe Mason deserves a second chance after all.

With a sharp and distinctive voice, Stephanie McAfee delivers a hilarious and fast-paced tale about Ace Jones and her two best friends-thick as thieves and tough as nails-navigating Southern small-town politics and prejudices, finding love, and standing up for each other all the way.

PRAISE FOR DIARY OF A MAD FAT GIRL: 
Diary of a Mad Fat Girl is bawdy, sexy southern fried fun. McAfee makes a powerhouse debut that readers will love.”
—Valerie Frankel, Author of It's Hard Not to Hate You and  Four of a Kind

"[Ace Jones] will grab you by the shirtfront and take you with her on her ride....Diary of Mad Fat Girl is pure fun."
—Rachael Herron, Author of  Wishes & Stitches 

"Ace Jones is my kind of girl: Her outsize appetite for life, plus a dangerously low tolerance for losers, get her into one impossible fix after another."
—Sophie Littlefield, Author of  A Bad Day for Scandal
 

 
"Ace Jones is a hoot!"
—Wendy Wax, Author of  Ten Beach Road 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Like Elvis, I was born in Tupelo, Mississippi.  And while I'm not the King (or Queen) of anything that I know of, I do have a white steed, a noble knight, and a royal court. Ok, I'm lying. I have a brown chiweenie, a buck wild toddler, and if we line our "Cars" cars up just right...

I have lived in the Wild Wild West, but don’t live there anymore because I discovered that some people belong in the south and I am one of those people.  Humidity, as it turns out, is not such a bad thing after all. Neither are thunderstorms. Plus I have a deep love and genuine appreciation for normal sweet tea, fresh seafood, SEC football, and large bodies of salty water. So now I live in Florida.

I have a B.A. in English from the University of Mississippi and I'm a life-long fan of the Ole Miss Rebels (despite their current rash of ridiculous and embarrassing problems). I also have an M.A. in Secondary Education from the University of Alabama, which gives me the right yell “Roll Tide!” every now and then. Despite my solid educational background, my work history is what you might call checkered (if you wanted to be nice). It ranges from dispatching at my father’s trucking company to teaching high school Spanish to temping at a technology consulting firm in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Another thing about me: One day, I decided to write a book. Ten years later, I wrote it. It’s called Diary of a Mad Fat Girl and I think it’s pretty funny. Maybe you might think it's funny too!
Now let's move on to the almost unbelievable part of the story:

I self-published Diary of a Mad Fat Girl on Christmas Day of 2010, then listed it on Barnes & Noble’s Pubit! and Smashwords a few weeks later.

In March of 2011, it showed up at #31 on the New York Times Bestseller list in combined print and e-book fiction where it lasted two weeks. That same week, it debuted at #17 in e-book fiction, and hung on there for twelve weeks.

How’s that for crazy?

Now I write full-time, along with taking care of the buck-wild toddler of mine.
 


ENJOY MORE FROM AUTHOR STEPHANIE MCAFEE AT HER WEBSITE HERE

MY REVIEW/THOUGHTS ON DIARY OF A MAD FAT GIRL:
Stephanie McAfee’s DIARY OF A MAD FAT GIRL was a book that I read for fun after completing a long, hectic week preparing seven posts for my blogiversary. Also, I am enjoying, but also working on reading a couple of physically, and emotionally, heavy books so something light in every way fit the bill for me. DIARY OF A MAD FAT GIRL called out to me and I am glad I answered that call as it made for a quick and fun afternoon read!

As far McAfee’s writing, I think one must keep in mind that this is the author’s first book, however, she also has a three book deal with the publisher who obviously recognizes her talent, and knows with each book, certain writing skills will develop more fully. I think one to work on would be character development because on the surface, some readers may not like Ace, or her overuse of offensive language. With a fleshed out, deeper personality, readers might understand Ace better and be more accepting of her, and thus McAfee will probably improve this character over time. I still liked her and she made me laugh!

Personally, I not only laughed out loud but think I needed DIARY OF A MAD FAT GIRL right about now. When McAfee writes about subjects I can relate to like dressing for comfort as opposed to for looks, or the necessity of going to a gym, Ace was often right in line with my thoughts, or at least funny enough to make me laugh and not care if she was politically correct or not! The fact that Ace was a “go-gettum” type gal who although originally angry at just about everybody including the love of her life Mason and her friend Chloe, gets over it and takes matters into her own hands. Having that cute pup of hers helped get my seal of approval, as well. Ace is the kind of friend that some of us just might need at times. I thought the plot line moved well, even if it was a little far fetched sometimes, but then again, it wouldn’t have been a light, easy read if I was made to contemplate issues too deeply. I think a little happy ending book is good for all of us from time to time and helps us to not take things so seriously. I am sure others will disagree, but for me, DIARY OF A MAD FAT GIRL was just plain entertaining! I will be anxious to see how Stephanie McAfee’s career progresses as she appears to be a very energetic “go gettum” gal herself! Thanks for the fun, Stephanie!

GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO MY GOOD FRIENDS AT
PENGUIN/NAL, I HAVE ONE COPY OF
DIARY OF A MAD FAT GIRL,
TO GIVE AWAY TO A LUCKY READER
 
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
 

COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:


+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT DIARY OF A MAD FAT GIRL THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY FOR EACH TO RECEIVE MORE ENTRIES
 
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, JANUARY 27
 GOOD LUCK!

76 comments:

debbie said...

It sounds pretty good for the author's first book. The main character seems like someone I would really like.
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holdenj said...

Looks like a fun story! Stephanie's story of how she came to publication is wonderful!
Thanks!
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Unknown said...

I would like to read this book because sounds like a fun read and a really good book. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

mamabunny13 said...

I want to read this because it seems to have a lot of humor in it.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

Carol N Wong said...

I love Southern humor. I am the same way, when I read a serious book, I often need to have a lighter one along for the ride! Would love have this lighter one!


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Carol N Wong said...
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petite said...

A unique and entertaining book.elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

traveler said...

An ejoyable and interesting premise which sounds lovely for this book. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Reading said...

Imlove gorlfriend stories. And being from the north, I love to read about the south.

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Linda Kish said...

We all need to read something light and entertaining at times. Who needs all that heavy thinking. Gives me a headache. I would like to read it and then her future books to see how her writing matures.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Steve Capell said...

I found it awesome that she self-published this book on Christmas Day of 2010 and by march of 2011, it showed up at #31 on the New York. Wonderful! GREAT review Bingo!

I need a good laugh so enter me please with sugar on it!

steven.capell@gmail.com

rubynreba said...

I love an entertaining book that will make me laugh. The cover and title alone make me laugh!!
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Tiffany Drew said...

I'd love to read this because Ace sounds like she could be my BFF :) I'm really excited to read it, thanks for the opportunity!

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scottsgal said...

I agree sometimes a light hearted book is just the right medicine!

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Connie said...

I loved the review for this book. I can relate to the author somewhat and I know I would fully enjoy this book. I need a book to make me laugh and I think this book would provide me what I need.

:)
aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com

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lag123 said...

I am ready for a light fun book. Ace sounds like a few people that I know.

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Anonymous said...

I love to read this because its based in the South and Graciela sounds about as mad as I am! Also I would love to read a book that would have me laughing out loud! Thanks for the chance!

pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thanks

Jolee said...

sounds like an interesting and fun protagonist. joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

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Maureen said...

This looks like a fun story with a strong heroine that I would enjoy.
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samantha35 said...

great giveaway
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Looks like such a cute book!

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bloggingmom said...

This book sounds great. I would love to read it.

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Nancye said...

I love books that are entertaining and funny. That is the type book I need to read right about now to help me (with the January Blues.) I couldn't believe that she self-published this book and made it on the NY Times Best-Seller list. Wow! What an accomplishment, especially since it is her first book.

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