Join the fun at The Book Exchange as New York Times best-selling author Karen White introduces author Stephanie McAfee to local readers at an author reception and book signing Thursday.

McAfee’s sidesplitting New York Times best-selling e-book "Diary of a Mad Fat Girl" was released in print on Feb. 7. A Library Journal review describes main character Graciela “Ace” Jones as “a wildcat Southern version of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum.”

What's fascinating is how McAfee became a best-selling author. She's a former Mississippi teacher who, after being rejected by literary agents, decided to self-publish her manuscript as a 99-cent e-book in December 2010.

She spread the word about her e-book on Facebook. Her e-book sold 145,325 copies from January to August 2011, McAfee says. It spent 12 weeks on the extended New York Times e-book fiction bestseller list. NAL offered McAfee a three-book deal for an undisclosed amount. She is now writing full time.

The Stephanie McFee Ho-down happens 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Book Exchange located at 2932 Canton Road in Marietta. There’s a $5 entry fee. For more information or to RSVP, call 770-427-4848.