In “Die makes you beautiful” by Stefania Crepaldi, it’s easy to say make-up artist

AND‘ a new investigator is coming, destined to breach the hearts of readers. Her name is Fortunata Tiozzo, is 25 years old, lives in Chioggia and dreams of becoming a pastry chef. But he already has a job, in the family business that boasts seven generations in a business that never dies, the funeral home.

Motherless, she was started as a teenager by her father and from grandmother to a noble art: thanatoaesthetics which, with the right make-up and precautions, makes the deceased almost “alive” for the last hours before burial. Despite an auspicious name, Fortunata Tiozzo “Pizzegamorti” saw the only boy she fell in love with disappear from her life and has few friends. On the other hand, who does not think about attending Does the gravedigger’s daughter bring bad luck?

Fortunata Tiozzo unusual heroine of Dying makes you beautiful

Alone Colonel Dante Braghin, his godfather, dotes on her and appreciates her intelligence. To the point from involve her in the investigation into the death of Gregorio Chiodoro, son of wealthy jewelers, who committed suicide in Venice. Fortunata finds a strange clue about her body as she prepares it for the wake. And, during the event, someone desecrates the body by leaving an enigmatic message. The girl will get so close to the truth as to risk her, her life.

Between one thrill and another, Dying makes you beautiful by Stefania Crepaldi contains even humorous and biting moments, especially when he stages Emilio, Fortunata’s father, who in order to become a tycoon of the funeral home contrives in absurd marketing gimmicks.

Venetian from the province of Rovigo, 35 years old, a husband, two children aged four and two, four cats and a dog, Stefania Crepaldi is whimsical like her book. She has a degree in Archaeology, she has been self-employed as an editor for eleven years.

Why did you decide to write a novel yourself?
During the pandemic, everyone wanted to write. So I started teaching a free writing class. Instead of presenting examples from the classics, I came up with a novel, in which Fortunata began to take shape. Then I participated in the literary contest Io Scrittore, I won and an ebook came out. When I was asked to write a second book, I was going through a very difficult time in my life. All the emotions I carried inside gave the protagonist emotional depth. Thus she was born Dying makes you beautiful.

Why a tanatoesthete as protagonist?
When my first child was born, I experienced maximum pain, a feeling of death and immediately afterwards extreme, invincible strength. I liked the idea of ​​a character who confronts death every day without fearing it – like the thanatoesthete – but who is afraid of love. Her father’s fault, whom she sees frozen in the pain of loss.

Fortunata dreams of being a pastry chef and the world of cooking is described with care, how did she do it?
To support myself during university studies, I was assistant cook, I worked in pastry and catering. It’s a world I know well. I believe in the signs of destiny: when my husband and I were looking for a headquarters for our company in 2021, we chose an office that has two shops underneath: a pastry shop and a funeral home.

Isn’t it strange that a funeral home employee starts investigating?
Let’s think for a moment about who does this job. They are almost invisible people. Taken by pain, we do not remember their faces. Fortunata is used to being silent: who better than her to wander around without being noticed and pick up useful information?

Is Pizzegamorti a funny nickname that you invented for the Tiozzo family?
The Tiozzos are from Chioggia, a fascinating place that I know well. It includes two founding families, the Tiozzos and the Boscolos, who have intermarried over the centuries, with names that were repeated. To overcome the problem of homonyms, they invented nicknames also recorded on documents. The “pizzegamorti” were those who pinched people during the plague to see if they were still alive.

Fortunata’s next adventure?
I have already presented the plot of the third book. The rights for a TV series have already been sold to the first and second.

iO Woman © REPRODUCTION RESERVED