Susanna Tamaro was born in a family of middle class. Her mother is Italo Svevo's relative.

In 1976, Tamaro obtained a diploma with teacher, and she registered with the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, an Italian school of cinema. She obtained a diploma in direction.

In 1978, she wrote a first stories and in 1981 she wrote a first novel: Illmitz, declined by editors and now unpublished.

In 1980s she collaborated with RAI, a public Italian television. She was not employed by Rai Tre, because her diploma in direction not recognised as a degree.

In 1989, her novel La testa fra le nuvole (Head in Clouds) was published by Marsilio Editor. She fell ill with asthmatic bronchitis and she was forced to move from Rome to Orvieto, in Umbria. Her successful second novel Per voce sola (Just For One Voice) (1991) won the International PEN price and was translated into several languages.

In 1991, she wrote a first novel for children Cuore di ciccia.

In 1994, she wrote Va' dove ti porta il cuore (in English Follow your Heart). The book was an international bestseller and it became the "Italian book most sold in the 20th century".

The plot of Follow Your Heart is very simple: Olga, a elderly woman, decides to write a long letter to her granddaughter in America. Olga reflects on her life and reveals to granddaughter their family's secrets. This novel was translated into more than 35 languages.

In 1996, the Italian director, Cristina Comencini, made a film with the novel's plot. From 1996 to 1998 she wrote on Famiglia Cristiana, a diffused Italian magazine.

In 1997, she published "Anima Mundi", a friendship's story.

In 1998, September 23, her father died in Rome. The media wrote Tamaro's father was killed, but the news was wrong. Tamaro's father died from hemorrhage.

In 2001 she wrote Raccontami, in 2002 Più fuoco, più vento, in 2003 Fuori.

In 2006, she wrote Ascolta la mia voce (Listen to my voice), a sequel of Follow your Heart. This novel was sold in twelve countries.

In this novel, Tamaro revealed her position pro-life, against abortion, euthanasia and scientific research on embryos. She is largely sympathetic to the position taken by the Catholic Church on these topics.

In 2008, she published Luisito- A Love Story.