I’m so happy to have Kelly visiting today to talk about her new book, BIG is Beautiful. I am so excited about this book, and can’t wait to read it. Stay tuned for my book review when life calms down and I can carve out some reading time. 🙂
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I want to thank Lindzee for having me on her blog today to talk about my new bestselling book, BIG is BEAUTIFUL.
BIG is a personal book for me. It was probably the easiest I’ve ever written. It sort of just– came out. Like Brittany, I’m not the smallest person ever. Unlike Brittany, I never had a Kendra Moses to taunt me about it.
And unlike Brittany, I never had a Matt Taylor to tutor me in Math (and the fine art of kissing 😉 ).
My goal with BIG is to first of all entertain. While it does deal with a heavy subject (body issues, eating disorders), it is funny. Brittany’s internal dialogue cracks me up. There are still scenes I laugh at. And the love story between her and Matt— swoon! My other goal is to show girls that it’s okay not to be the skinniest. The main thing is to love yourself no matter what. If you can’t, no one else can either.
I love Brittany and Matt. I hope you do too.
Back Cover Blurb
The seven worst words ever spoken came out of Brittany Gregory’s mom’s mouth at breakfast, “I signed you up for math tutoring.” Sure, she probably needs it (probably nothing, she’ll fail without it), but the thought of having to stay in that school longer than she had to every day makes her sick. It’s not the school’s fault… just the few jerks inside.
Brittany’s tutor is none other than Matt Taylor, senior quarterback– all around hottie. At first, she’s shy around him because, hello, Matt Taylor! But as he shows more and more unexpected kindness toward her, Brittany softens around him.
Unfortunately for Brittany, Matt’s former girlfriend, the beautifully wicked Kendra Moses, has tormented Britt since eighth grade about her weight. In an unusual moment of brains, Kendra realizes Brittany’s initials spell B.I.G.– a hilarious (to the cheerleader) irony since Brittany isn’t the smallest girl at school.
With the Red Ball (Valentine’s Dance) approaching, Brittany has to decide if her growing feelings for Matt are real, or if he’s secretly been playing a part in Kendra’s game all along.
Excerpt
After I stepped off of the bus, I slung my backpack over my shoulder. Feeling the cold morning chill pelting me, I zipped my new coat higher around my neck and tried to cover every bit of exposed skin I could. I must have slowed or shifted or done something to tick off the guy behind me because he decided to take it upon himself to yell loudly and with much annoyance, “Move it, Big. I know you have a lot of blubber to carry around. Give the rest of us a break, would ya?”
And there it was. The first use of my nickname today. It wouldn’t be the last. My name at school was Big like Jillian’s name was Jillian and Kendra’s name was Kendra… well, some people called Kendra other names besides Kendra, but never in front of her face, and never with a crowd around.
Of course, like always, snickers followed. You’d think my peers would get tired of it by now. It had been the same thing, the same taunting by the same jerks since I was in eighth grade and got a little bit on the chunky side. I’d never be a supermodel, but I wished they would give me a break! My entire life didn’t revolve around eating. I didn’t eat fast food every night and sit around like a log. Grandma Duke on my mom’s side had been big boned, and I supposed I inherited the dreaded gene from her. Having never seen my biological father nor his side of the family, I had no idea if I’d been doubly cursed.
Man, I sounded like a whiner.
“Big!” Caleb, the guy behind me, tapped me hard on the shoulder like I was deaf. Guess he thought I was too fat to hear. Guess I’d start walking slower… guess it was on purpose. Oh, to have the control.
“Move it! I have a class to get to.” He pushed me out of the way so hard I slammed against the brick wall. It was enough force to scuff the top of my right hand. Little droplets of blood beaded out of the scrapes.
“Can you even fit through the door?” He laughed, not taking a second look back at the girl leaning against the building in shock. I’d been made fun of before, laughed at, shunned, but I’d never been pushed. Never had physical evidence.
A steady stream of my fellow students walked by me, some giggling and some just ignoring me. Others looked sad for me, which strangely was worse. I felt a hand on my shoulder which surprised me. My head shot up, and when I saw who it was, my mouth went instantly dry.
Matt Taylor.
The Matt Taylor!
“You okay?”
I couldn’t make my lips work. Matt Taylor, senior football star (star was too little of a word. Matt was a legend at Easton, leading the team to the first ever 2A championship in December) stared down at me. His pale blue eyes were soft. “Are you hurt?”
I still hadn’t spoken, just stared at him like I’d never seen a guy before in my life. I’d seen them before, had seen Matt before, but I’d never talked to him. Finally, blood ran back into my brain and I shook my head, forcing myself to stop acting like a stupid groupie. “Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry to block your way.”
“You’re not.”
Sure. “Anyway. Thanks for stopping.”
He smiled, showing his famous dimples. I was so gawking at him. “No problem. I’ll see you later.”
“Okay.” I watched him walk through the double doors and snapped out of my daydreaming when the ten minute bell rang. I started walking then hesitated. See me later? We didn’t have any classes together.
Buy Links
Author BioKelly Martin a southern girl who writes… a lot. She is the author of the bestsellers SAINT SLOAN and THE DECEPTION OF DEVIN MILLER. Her first novel, CROSSING THE DEEP, won the Grace Award for best Young adult novel. By day, she is a teacher. By night, she has her hair in a bun and her fingers on a keyboard. She loves God, is addicted to chocolate, and would rather write than sleep. Kelly loves a good mystery and believes in Sherlock Holmes.
Social Media Link
Thank you for having me, Lindzee 🙂
Wow! This book sounds amazing, and so like my own high school experience, minus cute boy. I'm putting it on my TBR list right this second. Thanks for posting!