106: Writing From the Scar, Not the Wound: Jennifer Ciaramello on Her Memoir Quiet Boil

Jennifer Ciaramello is the author of Quiet Boil and founder of Quiet Boil Project, a faith-based ministry for women learning to notice the slow-building heat in their lives and step out of it. She's also a licensed aesthetician with 26 years in the beauty industry. In this episode, Jennifer shares how her book began as a box of handwritten notes. She also shares how that box sat untouched for fifteen years before COVID boredom brought her back to it. We talk about the difference between writing to process and writing to publish, why the ending was harder to write than the trauma itself, and the new moon ritual she used to release the manuscript once it was done. This was a first! In this episode: Why the box became her earliest writing tool, and how this process can work for your own memories The difference between writing from the wound and writing from the scar Why the hardest chapter to write was the one she tried to force What it meant to burn her own book — and why she's done the same ritual with other physical reminders of her past Letting go of control over how (and whether) a book performs Her next three projects — these are so fun! Connect with Jennifer: The book links below are Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Quiet Boil Project Jennifer's Book: Quiet Boil: Simmering in the Pot: A True Story of Sin, Survival, and Salvation Jennifer M. Ciaramello is a licensed esthetician, entrepreneur, singer, writer, photographer, and follower of Christ who lives in Florida with her husband, Sway. For twenty-seven years, she has helped women care for their outward beauty through her business, Skin Chic, LLC. In her memoir Quiet Boil, she shares a much deeper story: a journey through trauma, abuse, abandonment, addiction, and loss to redemption and God's faithfulness. Through the Quiet Boil Project, Jennifer writes, speaks, and prays with women trapped in unhealthy or abusive situations, encouraging them to recognize their worth, find their voice, and take steps toward safety, healing, and restoration. Connect with Jacqueline Fisch: Work privately with Jacqueline The Studio Substack: Energy-First Writing LinkedIn Instagram