Fat Assassins
by Marita Fowler
Genre: Humor
Word Count: 85,000
Southern style sweet-potatoes Shasta and Ulyssa have stuck together through thick and thin since their escape from third grade fat camp. But on one dark day, they both find themselves unemployed. Shasta quits after being tased for an impromptu tirade over the Wal-Mart intercom and Ulyssa is shocked speechless when the boss’s wife falsely accuses her of being the other woman and demands her termination.
A hazardous job hunt sees them turn down egg harvesting, drug dealing and phone sex before they settle for an exterminator job.
Confusing mafia lingo leaves the girls thinking they’re being interviewed to cope with a rodent infestation. Confident that they can handle the job, they oversell their skills and demand half payment up front to seal the deal. Skeptical at first, the mob boss decides to hire this unlikely pair when he mistakes their attitude for professional stoicism.
The girls are shocked when presented with a target profile and an envelope full of cash. They want out, but it’s too late. The mob doesn’t allow do-overs. And certainly not when they’re whacking one of their own.
Shasta and Ulyssa leave a wake of destruction as they experiment with different assassination methods. But the clock is ticking and when the body count is still zero after multiple attempts, the boss decides to bring in additional assassins to finish the job and tie up loose ends.
And the girls just happen to be one of those loose ends.
This book is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.
Marita, how did you come up with the title for your book? Does it have any special meaning?
My husband and I always have interesting conversations on road trips and the idea for Fat Assassins (and the rest of the series) spawned from one of these sugar and caffeine filled roadtrips. If I remember correctly, the conversation started with a funny bumper sticker I’d purchased.
Fat people are harder to kidnap.
I love this bumper sticker because it’s true. I couldn’t imagine someone trying to shove me in the back of a non-descript van. My size and my fight are the two reasons I think a kidnapper would find it difficult to snatch me. So, the discussion evolved into stereotyping and how two fat people could be great assassins and nobody would suspect them. And the idea for Fat Assassins was born.
Who was your favorite character and why?
When I first wrote the books, Shasta was one of my favorite characters. But, after hearing the audiobook – I love some of the minor characters (like Beaver, the local race track owner). The amazing Minnie Goode brought them to life, and I’m going to expand their roles in book three – just so I can hear what she does with them.
Does your book have any underlying theme, message, or moral?
You have to live your life 100%, regardless of size. The main characters are fat according to the BMI, but they’re fabulous and strong.
What would/could a reader or reviewer say about this book that shows they “get” you as an author?
The book is about friendship and adventure. If Shasta and Ulysaa were real – I would want to hang out with them because they’re fun and a tad crazy like a lot of my human friends.
Give us an excerpted quote from your favorite review of this book:
“The characters in this book are fictional though it may seem that the author has been following your crazy relatives around with a camcorder and writing down what they say and do.”
Where can people learn more about your writing?
http://www.maritafowler.com
Looks like a fun adventure. Added to wish list.
Oh this looks like a must-read for me, on the tbr list. 🙂
Hey, I own that book!
GREAT cover art… just perfect. I also greatly admire the title page inside.
You’re figuring out I haven’t read it yet, right? But I mean it… really cool execution. So to speak.