Cross Over
An Italian-American Novella
by
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It was the mid 1900’s, a time when wakes in Italian families were mostly endured in the home. The family was all gathered together to say their last goodbyes to Grandma Bella. She was laid out in the living room surrounded by lavish displays of glorious white lilies, a sharp contrast to the sea of black surrounding her. Alfredo’s children, teenagers Sophia, Gina and Carlo, were the only grandchildren at the time and required to attend. They arrived totally unprepared for what was about to happen.
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About the Book
It all began at the turn of the century. It was the year 1900 when a young and courageous Michael Guardi left his home in San Giovanni, Naples, to come to America. Within five years, he was joined by his wife, Bella, and their three children, Alfredo, Giovanni, and Chiara. This is the story of three generations of Guardis and the effects that Michael and Bella’s uprooting had on their lives. The central character, Americo—more familiarly known as Rico—is portrayed as the victim of what went wrong in his life because of the choices of others and what went wrong because of his own.
About the Author
Rita Santaniello McGuffey is of Scottish, French, and Italian decent. She had written many short stories over the years; after a good deal of encouragement and persuasion from her son, Father James McGuffey, her first novel, Cross Over, was conceived
She and her husband Drake were born on Long Island, New York. They married and settled down in the hamlet of Carle Place, Long Island, where they raised their five children in a Christ-centered environment. With the passing of her husband of sixty years, the consolation she received while writing this story has helped her to strengthen and share her faith with others.
Rita has been blessed with twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.