With Author, Chiara Benedetta Condorelli
Welcome to the Clan-Witch Interviews.
This interview is with Indie Author Chiara Benedetta Condorelli
Below is the synopsis from her last published book ‘Slán To Sláinte: A short story;‘
‘Gaius Gnaeus Guinness is a successful advertising producer that is famous for his controversial commercials, and yet he respects his personal assistant and takes care of his part-time cat. One day the Irish government asks Gaius to create a commercial in order to break a curse that is killing many Galwegians in Ireland and abroad.‘
Interview
Q1. What was your inspiration and drive behind your latest book?
“Slán To Sláinte: A short story” is my latest book. It’s the third book of my so-called “Irish trilogy,” although the only one connection between “Slán To Sláinte: A short story” and its predecessors, “Fáil-te: A short story” and “The Rebel Murphy: A short story” is the setting of Ireland.
I planned from the start to write a book set in Galway, with a male protagonist dealing with a very specific deadly curse involving spontaneous human combustion. I didn’t plan to turn the book into the recipient of some of my dark thoughts about the present and, most of all, some of my fears about the future.
Q2. What is your creative kryptonite?
The fact that I’m a customer support associate actively seeking new opportunities. I spend a considerable amount of time on LinkedIn as a consequence. While this is not technically a kryptonite because I’m genuinely willing to accomplish this goal, it’s something that prevents me from spending more time crafting (i.e. writing, proofreading, revising and editing.) Once I reached my goal, I will dedicate more time to my literary projects.
Q3. If you could tell your younger self anything, what would it be?
I began learning English during my high school years, between 1998 – 2004. I now hold a Master’s Degree in linguistics and a Certificate of Advanced English (C1 level). English really opens doors. It’s a matter of fact that people have become more interested in what I write in English as opposed to my native Italian.
Q4. Tell us about an early experience where you learned that words have power.
I began speaking late in my childhood. It wasn’t until my high school years where I developed more confidence and skill from learning English, with the aid of actress Cinzia Insinga. As soon as I learned, people finally would listen to what I had to say.
On the other hand, I began reading very early, beginning with books written and illustrated by Richard Scarry, thanks to whom, I could escape from the difficult life that I was experiencing back then. As soon as I began writing, I decided to create ways of escaping from the world while simultaneously facing its hardships.
Q5. Who or what are major influences in your writing?
My major influences are from my favourite books and comic books. Mostly those of Stephen King, Michel Faber, Colleen McCullough and Sophie Kinsella. Besides the books, I also take my inspiration from TV series and from what I read on the news on a daily basis.
What drives me the most as a writer is the goal to narrate the present while exploring possible futures. Every book that I have written so far was crafted with the purpose to convey a specific message to readers, and my last one will be no different.
Q6. Tell us what we should look out for from you in the future.
In my last book I will deal with an extremely sensitive subject that I have previously explored in “I Mal Benedetti,”
Only this time I will delve deeper into the subject matter. All that I can say is that is a very personal theme that I share with many others. That being said, it is also unique and unrepeatable. I won’t share more because this is still a work in progress, and I won’t know where this journey will take me until the very end. As a consolation prize, though, here’s the planned release date: 2020!
For more from Chiara Check out her links below;
https://m.facebook.com/CBCondorelli
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15734618.Chiara_Benedetta_Condorelli
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1719212880/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_tXv6CbMHT69SW
Clan Witch & Word Refinery 