Final Touchstones
Final Touchstones tells the story of four brothers leaving Sicily for America in the early 1900s. The author’s maternal grandfather is the seminal figure from age three through his later emigration to a new life—a decision that forever changed his family’s destiny.
The book includes a series of ninety-two short selections in prose and poetry, divided into three sections: Italian/Italian, Italian/American, and American/Italian. The pieces stand independently; together, they relate one story.
Final Touchstones is chronological, episodic, and historic. It appeals to readers interested in family histories and those who remember their grandparents from the Great Immigration wave of the early 1900s. Now is the time to reflect on the formative years of your ethnicity.
Page Count: 252
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Published Date: January 17, 2023
Imprint: Brown Posey Press
Genre: Memoir
“From the get-go, Romanowski’s work is highly relatable ... [It] explores life as it does death, with relentless zeal ... This is a meaningful read for all audiences.”
- Mihir Shah, U.S. Review of Books
"The episodic structure of the book will appeal to those readers who don’t wish to commit to a long narrative ... The result is a collection that will serve as touchstones for readers and help them connect to their own stories.”
- Al Kemp, Italian-American Herald
"The strongest and most enduring across all the stories is Romanowski’s voice and narrative enthusiasm ... This family’s story serves as a love story to so much more than just her relatives but to the city of Philadelphia and several of her neighborhoods.”
- Kris McCormick, Philadelphia Stories