New Site Default Bookshelf

In this Fat Forward Books exclusive interview, Samantha Puc talks with author Denise Williams about her new contemporary romance, Just Our Luck, which character in her portfolio is the most like her, and how grounding her books in reality includes creating full lives for all of her characters, no matter how small their roles.

Denise Williams wrote her first book in the 2nd grade. I Hate You and its sequel, I Still Hate You, featured a tough, funny heroine, a quirky hero, witty banter, and a dragon. Minus the dragons, these are still the books she likes to write. After penning those early works, she finished second grade and eventually earned a PhD in education.

Denise's work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Oprah Magazine, Marie Claire, Women's World, and her mom's list of top topics of conversation with strangers. Her books have been listed as an Indie Next pick, Library Reads pick and Hall of Fame author, and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. 

After growing up a military brat around the world and across the country, Denise now lives in Iowa with her husband, son, and an ornery shih-tzus who thinks she owns the house. She can usually be found reading, writing, or thinking about love stories.

FOLLOW FAT FORWARD BOOKS
Bindery Books → https://fatfwdbooks.binderybooks.com
Instagram →  https://instagram.com/fatfwdbooks
TikTok → https://tiktok.com/@fatfwdbooks 
Bluesky → https://bsky.app/profile/fatfwdbooks.bsky.social

BUY JUST OUR LUCK BY DENISE WILLIAMS
Bookshop → https://bookshop.org/a/9129/9780593641439
Amazon → https://amzn.to/45bRqq4

Don't forget to like + subscribe!

In Conversation with Denise Williams

Fat Forward Books in Conversation with Denise Williams

Celebrating books by fat authors and about fat experiences, across every genre and age group.

Fat Forward Books

Samantha Puc

bookshop

amazon

My Real Name

Fat Forward Books is Samantha Puc's Bindery Tastemaker page, celebrating books by fat authors and about fat experiences, across every genre and age group. In addition to an active Discord community with a monthly, virtual book club, Forward Books publishes author interviews, book news, reviews, guest posts, and more. Subscribe (for free!) and never miss a post.

Samantha Puc (she/they) is a fat, disabled, lesbian writer and editor whose work focuses primarily on LGBTQ+ and fat representation in pop culture. They are an Eisner Award-winning journalist and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic with bylines at The Beat, Publishers Weekly, Yes! Magazine, Polygon, and elsewhere. Samantha is the founder of Fat Forward Books, Community Voices Blog Editor at NAAFA, and a contributor to the award-winning Fat and Queer: An Anthology of Queer and Trans Bodies and Lives. They graduated in 2025 with a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative nonfiction from The New School. When Samantha is not working or writing, she loves spending time with her cats, reading, and perfecting her grilled cheese recipe.

External links may generate a small profit for Samantha Puc and FFB at no extra charge to readers.

Celebrating books by fat authors and about fat experiences, across every genre and age group.
Run by Samantha Puc (She/They). Avatar by Jess Lome.

thumb

full

facebook

twitter

Fat Forward Books Instagram

Fat Forward Books on Bluesky

Fat Forward Books YouTube

Fat Forward Books TikTok

Samantha's Portfolio

Samantha's Instagram

Samantha's Bluesky

Samantha's Ko-Fi

exclusive-content

Members-only Discord channels, role, and exclusive emojis

discord

Free entry to virtual workshops and panels

Guest posts from authors, editors, more

Sticker Club (requires shipping address)

0-Day Benefits

Fat Forward Pillars

public-updates

digest

Monthly Book Club with Samantha

Input on monthly book club picks

Exclusive author interviews

Select guest posts from authors, editors, and more

Reviews and curated recommendation lists

Exclusive giveaways

Bindery Babe