WHEN council worker Susan Sollazzi got married she never thought she would become so immersed in her Italian husband's culture — the food, the language and the flamboyant gestures.

Now her love of her husband Pino's Italian heritage has inspired the thought provoking novel Ringing in My Ears.

The story follows Father Riccardo's struggles to improve life for his parishioners and to maintain his vows — after realising he is gay and in love.

Mrs Sollazzi, a former head of asset management in children's services at Bolton Council, said: "The book is set in rural Italy and gives a true flavour of the country, its warmth and humour, and its turbulent politics.

"The village setting is so strongly portrayed that it could be almost be seen as a character in the book."

The mother-of-three and grandmother to four, developed the storyline at a writers' workshop, where one of the exercises was to choose a picture from a selection and write about it.

Mrs Sollazzi, who lives in Bury, said: "I picked one at random, a postcard depicting the bust of the 'saint protector' of a small Italian town.

"I wrote a short imagined exchange between this saint and a priest, in which the saint complained of being the town's designated protector and said he wanted the people to stop praying to him. It all sprang from there."

She added: "I've always wanted to write but never found the time when my family was younger.

"I began in earnest back in 2009 and, finding it to be the most wonderful, liberating experience, I decided to leave work and indulge this passion.

"They say you have to write a million words before you master the art — so I've been practicing for some time.

"I hope this book is finally of a standard to give pleasure to its readers."

The book, published by Yolk, will be launched next Wednesday at Chapter One Books in Manchester, and Mrs Sollazzi is hoping to arrange book signings in Bolton and Bury in the near future.

The 59-year-old, who is in the middle of writing a new book, said: "I'm very excited about the launch.

"I belong to Manchester Women Writers and have received helpful feedback and encouragement from its members, as well as from my family and friends."

The book is priced £7.99 and will be available from September 16.