Ghost Hometowns

By Giada Nizzoli

Steeped in nostalgia and memorable imagery, Ghost Hometowns will take you from sunny but decadent Italian landscapes to the cold streets of London, full of unseizable possibilities. This poetry book explores the disorienting feeling of not knowing where you belong. Written from a migrant's perspective, it

• Language: English
• Publisher: Querencia Press, LLC
• Release date: Feb 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798869343413

Giada Nizzoli

Giada Nizzoli (she/her) is an Italian, UK-based freelance writer and copywriter. She published her debut poetry book (Will-o'-the-Wisps) in 2020. In 2021, she released Set in Marble, a magical realism short story collection set in one of her (ghost) hometowns. So far, her work has appeared in The London Magazine, October Hill Magazine, Ink Sac by Cephalopress, the anthology Depression is what really killed the dinosaurs by Sunday Mornings at the River, and The Pangolin Review. She shares her work and writing journey with her social media communities, and you can find out more about her at giadanizzoli.co.uk.

Book preview

Ghost Hometowns

ALSO BY GIADA NIZZOLI

Will-o’-the-Wisps

Set in Marble

ghost hometowns

Giada Nizzoli

A picture containing logo Description automatically generated

Querencia Press, LLC

Chicago, Illinois

QUERENCIA PRESS

© Copyright 2023

Giada Nizzoli

All Rights Reserved

No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission.

No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with the written permission of the author.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

ISBN 978 1 959118 13 8

www.querenciapress.com

First Published in 2023

Querencia Press, LLC

Chicago IL

Printed & Bound in the United States of America

CONTENTS

Introduction

Unexpected pregnancy

A nineteen-year-long one-night stand

The American diner in Tuscany

Cigarettes & bubble-gum

PoValley

Ironic

That itch in thebrain

Swallows & house sparrows

The girl who used to gaze at Battersea Power Station

Having a coffee with an acquaintance abroad

Wrong choices inLondon

Only English atwork

The Big Ben andI

A rentedlife

Fromafar

Nostalgia’s dress

Maps &red flags

High-res towns

Masochistic nostalgia

Ghost hometowns

Divorce on a loop

Autumn leaf

Family Q&A

Onleaving

Aholiday, but

Ragdoll

Friendshipscrapbook

23kilograms of baggage

Colonnata

Adoomed quest

Fuck-towns

Echoes ofcicadas

A cozydéjàvu

Notes on Previous Publications

Introduction

There was a small village that was part of the province of Verona, in Northern Italy. However—just between the two of us—it was too far from the city center for me to say that I lived in Verona without feeling