Told in breathtakingly beautiful prose, The Tale of Lucia Grandi begins when a dying old woman is asked to recount the story of her life and tells an intense, poignant tale about growing up and surviving a warring suburban family during the 1950s and 60s.

Written as memoir, where Lucia is the silent observer, each chapter describes a particular incident in her life, showing the constant struggle between her parents and the perverse effect it has on her and her family. From her complicated and unwanted birth, to her witnessing a suicide at age 3, to her stint as a runaway at age 14, the story progresses to the final crisis where, as a young woman, she is turned out of her house and banished from her family forever.

“The Tale of Lucia Grandi is different in that it is reminiscent of older literary novels like ‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” says Speranza. “This is a book that provokes many deep emotions, but one that will resonate with readers because we all have an innate need for love. My favorite line from the book sums it up: “It was simple, really, all I needed was a kind word, a human touch – which never came…”