Customer Reviews:

• "Firsthand Stories is a delightful collection of flash stories, covering a wide variety of subject matter. In the first three stories, we encounter Curly and his experiences with Lobo the wolf, a fascinating interaction between man and wild animal. From there, Romano takes us through a series of unrelated adventures, often touching upon emotions which 'hit home', although achieved through unusual Poe-like closing twists. One of my personal favorites, entitled Tops, is a wonderful in-depth human nature study, while Long Distance and Meadow Surprise suggest supernatural themes that toy with human emotion. Such a diverse collection of flash stories are certain to capture the interest of those who like a good read, short enough to fit into today's busy lifestyles. Hats off to Romano's skillful imagination and presentation of her Firsthand Stories!" - Jan Turner

• "For me, Firsthand Stories is a treasure, a keepsake to hold dear. Emily Romano is my mother and these stories are a true reflection of her insights into life, nature, and human nature. Her writing is true and sure…each character is someone we may have met or are yet to meet. The stories are timeless. Some surprise, others delight, but all are worth a good read. So plan to spend an hour or two with the folks you will meet in Firsthand Stories. You will want to visit them again and again." - Margaret Smith

• "Emily Romano is a writer and poet who's seen decades of life first hand. This collection of 33 entertaining stories reflects her compassion, empathy, and humor. The stories are as varied in topic as Ms. Romano's imagination. Due to space limitations I can't discuss each story separately so picked several at random for review.

Two main characters connect "Wolf," "Second Meeting," and "Confrontation." Curly seeks shelter from the weather in a cave and wakes up to discover a lonely wolf has shared his campfire. An unspoken kinship develops over time between two mate-less creatures.

"Lazarus" is the absolutely stunning tale of an old cat. Arthritic, rheumy-eyed, with a mangled ear from some youthful confrontation, Lazarus has escaped the grim reaper more than once. He's earned a bit of peace resting in the sun, dreaming of mice and sparrows.

"The Colors of Love" focuses in unusual ways on how humans express caring. Hertha's hands are red from hot dishwater. Mabel supports her family by picking oranges. Henry brightens a dreary world by painting office walls yellow. A grocer arranges pears that are green-skinned and blemish-less to please his customers. This story was short but incredibly sweet.

"The Garden" is a cautionary tale of a stingy woman who does not pay a tramp fairly for his labors. She reaps what she's sown, but does she really understand the lesson?

In addition to wild flowers and butterflies, a young woman discovers a "Meadow Surprise" and her lonely life is transformed. This is an uplifting, happy story, well written.

Arthur wears an old hat to a costume party. He feels transformed by "The Tricky Hat" and transported to another era. But what do his fellow partygoers think of his costume?

Writing flash fiction can be difficult but Emily Romano makes the task seem simple. Her stories have a beginning, middle, and end, plus unexpected twists and life lessons. Whether poignant or happy, these stories are well worth reading." - Laurel Johnson, Midwest Book Review