September 20, 2022

ღ About Chiara Talluto ღ

“I’m not a bestselling author, I’m just a ‘nobody’ who uses storytelling to encourage others to find their purpose and save their souls.”

I’m a wife, busy mom, author, and a woman after God’s heart. He has given me a gift of writing, and I honor Him through my written works.  I’m also a broken and wretched sinner, I find peace and redemption in writing Inspirational/Christian drama empowering women to discover their faith, use perseverance to overcome adversity, and become heroes of their own destinies. I also write middle-grade fantasy-fairy tales to encourage girls in developing strong morals and values, and to always stand up for what is right.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you were raised.

I am a first generation American in my family and the middle-child with an older and younger sister. My parents immigrated to this country from Italy in 1965. They learned to speak the language, learned how to drive American-made cars, and became US citizens. My parents are retired now, spending more than fifty-years working in their trade. My mother was a seamstress, and my father was a tailor. Growing up, I never worried about whether my jeans were too long, or my tops didn’t fit right, it was expected that having both parents who sewed, we never had holes in our socks, missing buttons on the blouses, and broken pant zippers. Unfortunately, their amazing talents did not transfer down to me or my sisters.

If anything, I’ve learned growing up Italian in America, is to work hard in everything because language would be my mom and dad’s challenge. While learning English was the toughest thing for my parents, their strong work ethic prevailed, and hard work did pay off. They spent many years working two jobs supporting the family and striving for the American Dream.

I was a latch-key kid and often took care of my younger sister. I was never the smart student, I didn’t have a lot of friends, but I loved riding my bike and playing tennis against the brick wall of our apartment building where we lived.

To escape my childhood responsibilities, I began reading. I loved the Nancy Drew series and Hardy Boys books. The library was a couple of miles away and I rode my bike to and from almost every day, I couldn’t get enough of the stories. I began keeping a journal at the age of eleven. Soon, I began writing poems. My love for the written word was sparked by all that reading. It wasn’t until my late teens that I discovered Danielle Steele novels and began to pen stories of my own. I continued writing longer prose as much as I could during a prosperous career as a Human Resources Recruiter, and then as an Instructional Designer. I received awards and accolades for my accomplishments, and my work responsibilities grew, but there was something missing. I began to devote less and less time to my joy of writing. And soon, my creativity began to suffer. It wasn’t until after much soul-searching and some tough decision-making that I finally left the corporate world to start writing full-time. That was seventeen years ago. You could say I had a “premature midlife crisis.”

Today, I am the CEO of my home, practicing wife to my husband, mommy to our two teen daughters, and writer of all things that need to be put on paper. My family often tells me that I am the Master Storyteller in our household because I have a passion for writing about people who struggle with decisions and conflicts that arise in their lives.

All of my writings contain an element of Christianity and faith. I never set out to be a writer, or a Christian writer for that matter. It just happened. It’s who I am and who I was meant to be. Writing is my outlet, a spilling of emotions, random thoughts, and imaginary characters that consume my mind twenty-four hours a day. I need to write, just like I need to eat, exercise, and breathe.

How long does it normally take you to write your books?

Well, that’s a loaded question. Lol! I had published four books in six years, but two of my four books, I’ve averaged roughly nine years of writing and rewriting, and an average of twenty-seven versions of the same story. Someone might say, that is crazy. Yes, it is! However, I’m a mom first and raising my two daughters is the ultimate priority. I’d like to write more as I have more tales to tell. However, life happens, and I’m glad it does, and so my writings come after. I do regularly blog posts, book reviews, videos that can be found on my website at www.chiaratalluto.com. I hope you check it out.

At the beginning of this 2022 year, I did resurrect an apocalyptic short story that I’d written back in 2007. I’ve been gradually editing it. By far, tis might surpass my nine-year writing time. I’m hopeful to publish it in 2023.

Is there a special place you like to write?

I’m a hand writer. I have invested a good amount of money in composition books and notebooks over the years. I believe ideas/inspiration can strike at any time and so I always carry a notebook and pen wherever I go. This allows me to be mobile and have the ability to capture those all-consuming thoughts that must be put into words, right away. When I sit down to transcribe my left-handed scribble, and it is scribble, no one in my family could read my handwriting, and sometimes, I have had trouble myself, I type on a laptop at the kitchen table, or in my home-office.

Tell us about your latest book.

She Made It Matter is a compelling tale of one woman’s fight to regain sobriety, find salvation, and earn forgiveness after years of guilt from being abandoned by her mother and then losing her brother to cancer, a struggle to vanquish the demons of her past and make her life right again.

This story tackles the difficult subjects of family abandonment, alcohol abuse, and food dependencies; compulsions and addictions caused by the trauma of one’s past.

Amanda Reynolds is vulnerable. Like most humans, we err and make mistakes, and harbor grudges and secrets that can create huge reservoirs of pain if not addressed. Amanda is stuck in the past, and stuck in the pain, and the only way to cope with it is alcohol.

WHILE WRITING the story, Chiara thought about her own idols and addictions and how she could break them. She thought about how a person with a perfect life is able to throw it all away over something that consumes their mind and body. She thought about a person who cannot move forward because of horrible past experiences. She pondered the ongoing domestic abuse and abandonment of children in our society. Most importantly, Ms. Talluto thought about the human condition and the temptations that can lure one in the wrong direction.

Ms. Reynolds has to face her fears and QUASH the demons of her past so that she can live again. It is a daring attempt to confront things head on. We are encouraged to know that tough situations don’t last long; BUT tough people do.

… The work ABOUT addiction is heart-breakingly accurate, delivering a realistic emotional quality which both endears Amanda to us as a character and also teaches important real-life lessons about the judgments we often place on people who are alcohol dependent… (K.C. Finn from Readers’ Favorite)

… Author Chiara Talluto gives the reader a realistic tale of someone searching for a purpose, for validation that they mean something, that they are worth more than just being left or abandoned… (Michelle Randall from Readers’ Favorite)

… An inherently entertaining and deftly crafted novel from first page to last, “She Made It Matter” showcases author Chiara Talluto’s genuine flair for originality, memorable characters, and a thoroughly reader engaging story with an ultimate message of hope and redemption. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that “She Made It Matter” is also readily available in a digital book format… (Midwest Book Review)

The theme song for the She Made It Matter novel is from a Christian band, For King & Country, titled: “Burn the Ships”. The main idea of … Step into a new day. We can rise up from the dust and walk away. Leave the past. And don’t look back.

She Made It Matter is available in print and electronic editions everywhere books are sold.

What characters do you like best?

I enjoy stories about human complexities. I like real-life stories and have been drawn to writings that have a biblical theme, are motivational and encouraging. I tell honest and compelling stories. I write relatable tales about ordinary people struggling with extraordinary challenges.

My writings. including the middle-grade age fantasy fairytales, are geared toward the female audience. However, my focus is directed to women ages 30 and over. For those women who have lived a little, started a family of their own, and are trying to break the chain of painful family circumstances. Women who couldn’t cope with bad situations or have fallen and have gotten dependent on alcohol or other substances. Women not looking for a self-help book, but a story about another women’s triumph to change and be better. Therefore, each of my female characters carries strong traits that I hope encourages others to find their purpose.

One reader said …” My characters are survivors and are willing to do the work to get through.”

• (Love’s Perfect Surrender) Antoinette never lost her faith in God’s promise for her to have the family she always wanted, surrendering to all expectations.
• (Petrella, the Gillian Princess) Queen Azel made it her goal to teach Petrella to follow her heart and believe that love always prevails over evil. (Middle-grade age)
• (A Tribute to Tulipia) Tulipia demonstrated bravery and fearlessness to stand up for what is right protecting her loved ones, even as her world around her fell apart. (Middle-grade age)
• (She Made It Matter) Amanda dared to change, forgive her past, overcome addiction, find her self-worth, and make her life right again.

How do you feel writing has affected your relationship with God?

It has allowed me to speak to God using another outlet. An outlet of characters, flawed characters, whom like real-life people make mistakes. No one is perfect. I’m so blessed to know God loves me with all my brokenness and flaws. The Bible is full of stories of redemption, pain, sorrow, joy, worship, and love. It is my hope that God continues to use me help others discover their true purpose in life.

I am growing in grace to learn, obey, and trust in the Lord with all my heart through His Mighty Word.

What advice would you give new authors?

Keep on reading. Read many different types of books and authors. See how others weave a tale. Write all the time too. Hone your craft. Make your words and story yours, and yours alone. Practice does make progress. And give yourself Grace to stumble because that will make you a better human.

Where do we find you and your books?

Website

Facebook

Amazon Author’s Page

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