Crushed It: Celebrating My First Literary Publication

The Grapes, the Stomp, and the Story That Found Its Way Into Print

Friends, I’m thrilled to share that my Italian American memoir essay, “Crushed It: Lessons from a Grape Stomp,” was just published in the literary journal Ovunque Siamo. It’s a story about family, tradition, and the unexpected lessons of a grape stomping contest.

It’s a funny, heartfelt piece about entering — and winning — a mother–daughter grape stomping contest at an Italian-American festival in Avon, Connecticut. There were purple feet, lots of laughter, and a few unexpected lessons about tradition, identity, and what it means to carry our roots forward in playful (and sometimes sticky) ways.

For me, this publication feels like a milestone. It’s the first time a piece of my literary non-fiction found its way into the world in print. And it landed in Ovunque Siamo — a journal dedicated to Italian-American writing, which feels like exactly the right home.

Having written for other publications and outlets, I must say I have had to adjust my voice to fit the voice of the publication. This may be the very first time I felt as if my own voice was heard and valued in it’s authentic form. I can’t tell you how deeply satisfying that is.

I’m incredibly grateful for the support of this community, for the editors at Ovunque Siamo, and for all the ancestors who probably never imagined their descendants would be writing about grape stomps on the internet.

You can read the full essay here: Julianna In Ovunque Siamo

If this kind of writing speaks to you, please consider subscribing to Olive on the Apple Tree.

There’s more to come — memoir chapters, podcast conversations, and reflections on reclaiming Italian-American identity and finding healing in our roots.

AND, my next post will be VIDEO of the grape stomp. You don’t want to miss that do ya? So add your name to the subscriber list. FREE!

Grazie a tutti!

Thanks for celebrating this step with me. I’m so glad you’re here.

— Julianna