I don't normally like these kinds of books because it seems that everyone thinks his story is so amazing that anyone would want to read it. Well, in the case of From Fear to Faith by Matt Talford, this IS a story worth reading. I felt the emotions of the author as he told his story. I smiled, I laughed, and my eyes welled with tears. I found it difficult to put the book down as I read how the author transitioned through the various stages of his life and what would ultimately be a gut-wrenching diagnosis and treatment only to come out on the other side healthier that he was before. This book is not only about becoming a survivor of the "c" word, but can also give readers some insight on ways to help improve their well-being and how the right attitude can aid in healing the body. This is a book I would recommend to family, friends, and strangers alike.
Death. It happens to everyone, but how? When? Why?
How much time does one really need on this Earth? Can one fight back?
Matt D. Talford’s “From Fear to Faith: A Survivor’s Story” chronicles his personal journey in a battle for his life.
What commenced as a journal turned into a personification of one of life’s many enemies—cancer. Talford depicts his time of the front lines in the war on ‘“The C Word.’” His simple syntax and direct diction draw the reader into a world that we hope to never experience. He draws on issues facing humanity as a whole, not just individuals of a certain race, gender, social status, etc. Additionally, he addresses his earliest memory of cancer and those he has known that have been afflicted by various forms. Furthermore, he conveys the common misconceptions of believing that steering clear of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco keep one cancer free.
In this chronicle of the war for his life, Talford invites the reader into the spaces beyond what rose-colored glasses could portray. Through his honest tone, he delineates the details and the difficulties of the battles for not just himself, but those close to him as well. Yet he goes beyond the tale of when he learned of the “c*****’s” arrival. Reflecting on his childhood, personal eating habits, physical activity, faith, time in the Army, marriage, and employment afterward, Talford conveys the path that drew him to “The C Word.”
During any fight, the question of why arises. Why fight? Why put yourself through this? Talford could have given up at any point. He could have walked away and resigned himself to the idea of death. Yet he didn’t. He chose life.
Author and Army veteran Matt D. Talford has released “From Fear To Faith: A Survivor’s Story,” a personal memoir about his battle with a rare and deadly form of cancer. The book chronicles the author’s life, from his early years as one of six children born to teenage parents in Long Island, N.Y., through his 2010-2011 battle – and ultimate triumph – over what he refers to as “The Scourge.”
In “From Fear to Faith: A Survivor’s Story” Talford, who retired from Microsoft at the age of 40, takes what he calls a “calculated risk,” veering away from the traditional memoir style by crafting his story as a saga.
Talford takes you through his early thoughts and fears regarding “the c-word,” then illustrates how he used the skills he learned and practiced daily during his 16-year career in information technology to carefully create a plan to help him see his diagnosis as “just another complex computer issue” that needed to be resolved quickly and completely.
“We weren’t expecting his book sales to grow so quickly simply by sending updates to our friends and family through social media,” states Joetta Irving Talford, his wife and VP of Marketing & Communications. “We didn’t even have the opportunity to have a formal launch date, but we are very excited to share with the world what most of his friends and people at Microsoft in Charlotte already know about my husband. Yes, he has model good looks, however, what stands out about him the most is that he is one of the smartest, caring and most humble people on the planet. There were people already at the site changing their diets, working out more and all of this was due to his sharing his story. He’s a soldier, it’s in his blood and he would want to see as many people as he could make it through the fight with a better look on life. With this book, I believe more lives will be changed and his message of a positive attitude through any battle in life will prevail.”
Matt D. Talford, a speaker, avid tennis player and food enthusiast, served as a medic in the United States Army and Army Reserves both during and after Operation Desert Storm. After four years working as an ER technician by day and attending college at night, he spent the next 16 years working in the field of Information Technology, while moonlighting as a contributing writer and editor for a Charlotte, N.C.-based arts and entertainment publication. His debut title, “From Fear to Faith: A Survivor’s Story,” which has been nominated for several international literary awards, hit #18 on Amazon Kindle’s Hot 100 list in the first few days after its release. Talford has begun work on a second book, which he hopes to release later this year.
“From Fear to Faith: A Survivor’s Story” is currently available at Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats, and on Apple iBooks. A limited number of autographed copies are also available directly from the author’s website: www.mdtalford.com.
