‘Genius grant’ winner Bechdel has memoir coming

NEW YORK (AP) — MacArthur Foundation “genius” Alison Bechdel is not about to rest.

The author and cartoonist has a deal for a graphic memoir, “The Secret to Superhuman Strength.” Houghton Mifflin Harcourt announced Wednesday that the book is due in 2017 and focuses on the various exercise fads Bechdel has followed. Bechdel, 54, is known for the memoir “Fun Home,” which inspired a Broadway musical of the same name opening next spring. She also devised the Bechdel test, in which the following is asked of a movie: Is there more than one woman? Do the women talk to each other? Do they talk about something besides men?

Earlier Wednesday, Bechdel was among 21 announced MacArthur “genius” fellows, each of whom receives $625,000 over a five year period.

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