Lara Frater is the author of Fat Chicks Rule! (June 2005), "the only book on how to live the big girl's life with style and flair." Lara and her husband live in Rego Park, NY where she works as a Librarian (and now writer). Recently, I had the opportunity to pick the brain of this "Fat Chick".

Moe: Your book attempts to take the derogatory connotations out of the word fat. What is a Fat Chick as it relates to your book?

Lara Frater: A Fat Chick is an empowered woman who doesn't feel ashamed of her body and embraces it. It is the antithesis of derogatory term 'Not Fat Chicks.'

Moe: Why do Fat Chicks Rule?

Lara Frater: It is about time that Fat Chicks be proud to be fat. They aren't less of a person for being fat; they are more of a person.

Moe: Are you a Fat Chick?

Lara Frater: It took a long time. It's difficult to not only stop being ashamed of my body, but to embrace it and to stop believing the lies of the diet industry. Today, I'm proud to be a fat chick. It took a long time, but I am finally proud to be one.

Moe: Why did you write Fat Chicks Rule!?

Lara Frater: For the longest time I was interested in issues of how appearance is used against women. I wanted to write a book that spoke to a long neglected population.

Moe: Was it cathartic?

Lara Frater: Yes. I changed immensely while writing the book. At first I wanted to write it not only to get a first book under my belt, but to help my sisters stop being a slave to appearance, but it changed me. I became more vocal, more fearless. I began to do things that I wouldn't do unless I was thin, namely buying new chic clothes.

Moe: What was the worst thing about writing a book?

Lara Frater: You do A LOT of research and only about 1/4 of it actually makes it into the book.

Moe: How long did it take you?

Lara Frater: About a year, but my publishers pushed back the date so I got six month extra to rework chapters and add new material.

Moe: Do you have plans for another book?

Lara Frater: I am also a fiction writer and I am working towards that, but I would love to do a teen/kid version of my book as well as a scholarly book on Fat and Feminism. Of course if Fat Chicks Rule! does well, I would love to eventfully do a new and longer edition.

Moe: When someone reads your book for the first time, what do you hope they gain, feel or experience?

Lara Frater: For fat chicks, I hope they get a sense of worth. For thin chicks, I hope they learn respect for their fat sisters. I hope men learn to understand that fat women are human beings just like them. I also hope they laugh, learn and cry.

Moe: What did you learn during the process of writing Fat Chicks Rule!?

Lara Frater: I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I could be strong, assertive and occasionally pushy. I learned to stop apologizing for who and what I am.

Moe: New writers are always trying to glean advice from those with more experience. What suggestions do you have for new writers?

Lara Frater: Write what you know, write from the heart, write every moment you can (and read in the other moments) and don't let grammar and spelling stop your flow, you can fix everything later.

Moe: Tell us something about Lara the woman.

Lara Frater: Lara Frater is a librarian by day and a writer by night. She's also obsessed with sci-fi TV, reading, music, movies, her husband, and great friends.

Moe: What is the last thing you want to say to fat chicks everywhere?

Lara Frater: It's time for love and respect for all of us.

Thanks Lara!

If you want to learn more about Lara or her writing you can visit her Official Website.

If you are interested in reading "Fat Chicks Rule!" you may purchase through:
Amazon.com or Amazon.ca.