Anna Mitchell

Anna Mitchell is the author of far too many school assignments, university exam paper answers and corporate accounting procedures –none of which have given her life any significant meaning. Fat Chick Goes AWOL is her first book.

Mitchell currently lives in a paddock in rural Victoria, Australia, in The Tiny Homestead, a mini-homestead she created from other people’s rubbish, and is exploring freeganism, self-sufficiency and off grid living. Before this adventure, she spent four years exploring homelessness in a van with two cats.

Her next adventure will be building an off grid Tiny House on wheels.

But she’s not done travelling yet. She and the bumblebee chariot will ride again. You have been warned.

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12 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Me

1. I’m really good at organising space, and have often paid my rent by de-cluttering houses, garages and farm sheds.

2. I have two pieces of the Berlin Wall, one painted white, the other with graffiti. One was a gift from a guy I worked for as a nanny, the other I picked up myself.

3. In one of my accounting jobs I got staff to comply with an accounting procedure by sending them a lollipop in the internal mail if they did it right that month.

4. In high school I regularly used working on the school newspaper and Yearbook in the school’s print room as an excuse to get out of the classes I didn’t want to go to, and nearly got expelled for refusing to buy the school uniform jumper. I also won the Year 12 Citizenship Award. Work that one out.

5. In primary school I once got an Honour Certificate for returning all of my school library books on time for the first time ever. It was probably the last time too; I’m pretty sure I still have a book from that library.

6. When I was a kid my mother had a cleaning job one day a week at a special needs school that had an in-ground trampoline. That was my favourite day of the week.

7. I love cemeteries, hammocks and barbershop quartets.

8. I have a collection of Coca Cola cans from around the world circa 1980s-90s. If I hadn’t drunk their contents, they’d probably be worth a fortune.

9. I’m crazy good at rollerblading. Until I have to brake. Tip: Breasts will work as a brake, but your chiropractor won’t be happy with you. Neither will your breasts.

10. I rode a horse once, when I was 11. She was docile, heavily pregnant, and walking slowly – and I still managed to fall off. This is the Universe telling you you’re never going to be a champion horse rider, and you should buy a recumbent trike instead.

11. If I were to do a themed AWOL, it would probably be The Caesar Salad Tour of the World.

12. My favourite cake is ice cream cake. No, ice cream cake is NOT just for kids. Just like bedtime stories are not just for kids. What? Silence! I kill you!