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I do not read every book/author I spotlight or book tour I host!
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Tuesday, August 22, 2017

#TuesdayTreasures with Heidi Chiavaroli

Good Morning Friends,

Today's guest is new to me and out blog and brought to us by Tyndale Publishing, so please welcome Heidi Chiavaroli....

Heidi Chiavaroli is a writer, runner, and grace-clinger who could spend hours exploring Boston’s Freedom Trail. She writes women's fiction and won the 2014 ACFW Genesis contest in the historical category. Her debut novel, Freedom’s Ring, releases from Tyndale House Publishers in August 2017. Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband, two sons, and Howie, her standard poodle. Visit her online at HeidiChiavaroli.com.

A Treasure from the Past

I stood in the funeral home, staring at the painting. It was beautiful, of a young African American girl wearing a headdress. The faint lines of brushstrokes and vivid color came alive to me, and it was here—not in the photograph of my once-young great-grandmother sitting beside the painting—that I felt the remembered presence of Great-Grammy the most. Here, in her beautiful creation, did I feel the past and present come together.

I’d grown up with Great-Grammy as my neighbor. She took care of me and my sister often. And when I became interested in drawing, she encouraged my love to create. 

There was something special about Great-Grammy. Something . . . spunky. She was gorgeous and glamorous, one of the first women in Massachusetts to wear pants (gasp!) to work. And Great-Grammy was talented—she amazed me with her gift of painting.

Now, about to enter the room where I would say my final good-byes, I lingered at the painting of the young girl, imagined my grandmother bringing her to life with skilled hands. 

That was more than a year ago. Just last month, my family celebrated a wedding. Following the reception, we went to my great-aunt’s home to continue the party. My aunt prompted us to go into her finished basement and peruse Great-Grammy’s many paintings—and to take one if we wanted.
When I looked over all the lovely paintings—each a part of my grandmother—one in particular caught my eye. To me, it was obviously the best. Why hadn’t one of my cousins or aunts or uncles taken it yet? As I scooped it up, my family affirmed how the painting suited me. And as I held it, I felt the grand orchestration of the moment. Such a small thing, but God was in it. In some ways, it was as if my grandmother—in her desire to create—had made the painting for me. A small gift, a small legacy, for me to remember her by.
In my book, Freedom’s Ring, Brad gives Annie a ring to comfort her after she is injured in the Boston Marathon bombing. When they reunite two years later, they search for the history behind the heirloom. Although Brad has had the ring for years, and is attached to it because of circumstances regarding his time in Iraq, he has never looked further until Annie inspires him to do so. 
Treasures from the past are all around us. It’s why I love hanging out at antique shops, why I can’t get enough of the Freedom Trail and other local history. Though we are often caught up in the here and now, the past holds riches we won’t see unless we look. An old ring, a dusty painting, a chipped piece of furniture. Treasure—maybe that of your own family—is all around us if we just have the eyes to see.

How beautiful! Heidi's new book. Freedom's Ring can be purchased at Tyndale.com and Amazon.com

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and will join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT


12 comments:

Heidi Chiavaroli said...

Thank you so much for having me, Pamela! I am honored to be on your beautiful blog!

Pamela S Thibodeaux said...

The pleasure is all mine, Heidi!
Good luck and God's blessings
PamT

Unknown said...

I read Heidi's book last week while vacationing in the backwoods of Northern Maine. What a wonderful story....especially, I think, because it hits so close to home, being from outskirts of Boston. Beautiful story of love, survival and family. Great book Heidi.

Heidi Chiavaroli said...

Thank you so much for reading, Cynthia, and for your kind words. I hope you had a wonderful vacation...sounds perfect!

Susan Oleksiw said...

That's a lovely reminiscence. Good luck with your new novel.

Connie Bretes said...

A lovely little story! Thank you for sharing it with us.

Veronica Lynch said...

Agree whole heartedly with Connie and Susan. This is a tribute to your Great Grandmother and your entire family--as well as a touching romance.
good luck with this and hope to see more from you soon.
Best wishes

marilyn leach said...

Heidi, your Great Grammy sounds like a lovely person. Thanks for sharing your touching story of such a great treasure. I pray your book speaks to the hearts of your readers. Cheers

Jacqueline Seewald said...

I hope someday that my own grandchildren will treasure things that are special to me. A lovely story!

Alina K. Field said...

Beautiful post, Heidi!

Heidi Chiavaroli said...

Susan, Connie, and Veronica, thank you all so much for stopping in, and for your sweet words.

Marilyn, thank you. I am praying the same!

Jacqueline, I am sure they will if you share your heart with them. Even though I don't have grandchildren yet, I think we all hope for the same thing. Thank you so much for your comment.

Thank you for your kind words, Alina!

You all have put a smile on my face this day--thank you, and many blessings on you and your journeys!

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