Chad Calahan

Author
Chad Calahan

Chad Calahan

Author of "Torque & Trauma: Fixing More Than Machines". A memoir of a retired U.S. Air Force mechanic who survived childhood abuse and carried its weight into adult life. Through raw reflections on trauma and PTSD, Chad reaches out to other men fighting similar internal wars—showing them they’re not alone, and that healing is possible.


Torque & Trauma

Fixing More Than Machines

Torque & Trauma is a raw, darkly honest memoir about childhood abuse, PTSD, and the lasting impact trauma has on men long after they’ve learned how to hide it.

Written by a retired U.S. Air Force mechanic, this military memoir explores how unresolved childhood trauma follows men into adulthood—into careers, marriage, fatherhood, and identity....

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Praise

Torque and Trauma is a memoir that speaks to your soul. Calahan discusses what he has experienced both good and bad and how he has overcome the speed bumps of life. He shows that men are allowed to feel emotion, allowed to discuss their feelings and grow through pain. He is an inspiration to our family and friends! I am so proud that he shared his story and that I am a part of it. ❤️

– Terra Calahan

This memoir is a raw and deeply moving account of childhood trauma, told with honesty and courage. The writing is unfiltered yet full of reflection and resilience, turning painful memories into a story of survival and growth. It’s a powerful read that offers comfort, perspective, and inspiration to anyone who has faced adversity.

– Brad Calahan

Torque and Trauma is unlike any memoir I’ve read before. Chad Calahan writes with the grit of a veteran and the openness of someone who has lived through pain but refuses to let it define him. His story moves between the unforgiving pace of life on the flightline and the hidden battles that come with PTSD and unresolved childhood wounds. What struck me most was Calahan’s honesty. He doesn’t sugarcoat the toll of trauma, nor does he present healing as a simple or quick process. Instead, he shows the reality—the setbacks, the anger, and the courage it takes to keep moving forward. For men especially, who are so often told to stay silent about their struggles, his voice is both relatable and deeply necessary. This book is not just about the military or PTSD—it’s about resilience, facing the weight of the past, and daring to believe in the possibility of healing. Calahan’s willingness to be vulnerable gives others permission to do the same, and that is what makes Torque and Trauma such a meaningful read.

– Gene Butcher

Blog

Book now available on Ingram Spark!  📚 Now Showing Up Where Real Books Live

Now Showing Up Where Real Books Live

My book Torque & Trauma is officially available through Ingram Spark—which means bookstores, libraries, and signings are all fair game.

It’s a raw memoir about growing up with trauma, surviving a 20-year Air Force career, and figuring out how not to implode afterward. No fluff. No “everything happens for a reason” nonsense. Just truth, dark humor, and hard-earned perspective.

If you like books that actually say something—or you know someone who’s...

Book Spotlight: My Brother, My Shield — A Raw Memoir of Survival,

Book Spotlight: My Brother, My Shield — A Raw Memoir of Survival, Brotherhood, and Breaking the Cycle

Every so often, a book comes along that doesn’t just tell a story—it opens a door, shining light into places most people never dare to look. Chad's younger brother—Brad Calahan’s debut memoir, My Brother, My Shield: A Memoir of Survival, Brotherhood, and Breaking the Cycle, is exactly that kind of book.

Written with the stark honesty of someone who has lived through the fire and refused to be...

Events

Author Nation is a large multi-day conference in Las Vegas for independent and hybrid authors, created as the successor to 20BooksTo50K, and designed to help writers develop both craft and business skills. It features 90+ expert-led sessions on storytelling, marketing, publishing, business, and productivity, a major industry expo with service providers, and extensive networking opportunities. The event also includes social activities and reader-focused events like book signings. It is widely...

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