University Star

Texas State alumnus Ross Bolen’s account of wild, rowdy fraternity life has made the New York Times Best Seller List. 

“Total Frat Move” comes in at spot No. 10 on the list of Nonfiction Hardcover Best Sellers for Feb. 3. The book is just two spots below a Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s biography of Thomas Jefferson and one spot above the memoir of Stanley McChrystal, retired United States army general.

It also came in No. 8 on the list of E-Book Nonfiction Best Sellers. 

The book follows protagonist Townes Prescott as he joins a fraternity, gets drunk and high, has promiscuous sex and narrowly escapes a run-in with the law. The story is humorous, often profane and puts Prescott in outrageous situations. The book contains photos and quotes from the popular TotalFratMove.com. 

The author, a 2010 graduate who goes by the pen name W.R. Bolen, found out about the list Wednesday. 

“When I was writing this thing, I used to joke about all the ridiculous s*** I’d do if it ever became a New York Times Bestseller,” Bolen said in an email while en route to Grand Cayman to celebrate. “I think I’m still in shock. It’s insane.”

In the first five days, the book sold more than 10,000 print and e-book editions combined, Bolen said.

“My friends and family have been incredibly supportive from day one,” Bolen said. “Obviously, I have some family members who don’t really get it.  This isn’t exactly the easiest book to explain to your grandma, but she loves me just the same.  Making the list really lessens the blow of explaining what I do for a living.”