BEST SELLING AUTHOR ERICA D’ARCANGELO CELEBRATES LOCAL ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE IN NEW HOLIDAY NOVEL, MY BIG LOUD ITALIAN CHRISTMAS
Set in Western Pennsylvania, the heartwarming and humorous coming-of-age story captures the region’s beloved Feast of the Seven Fishes, family resilience, and the healing power of an unapologetically loud kitchen table.
PITTSBURGH, PA, November 5, 2026 (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — Bestselling food writer, podcaster, and Western Pennsylvania native Erica D’Arcangelo has announced the release of her new holiday novel, My Big Loud Italian Christmas, a story deeply rooted in the working-class warmth and vibrant Italian-American traditions of the Pittsburgh region.
Set against the snow-dusted backdrop of Western Pennsylvania, the novel follows the chaotic, high-stakes preparations for Christmas Eve’s sacred culinary marathon: the annual Feast of the Seven Fishes. Beneath the sizzle of fried calamari, simmering pots of baccalà, and rapid-fire opinions, the narrative tackles the quiet scars of childhood bullying and the ache of feeling like an outsider. When teenage Marissa attempts to shrink into the shadows to survive the holidays, her meddling, fiercely loyal family refuses to let her stay small, proving that love, delivered at maximum volume, can shock a wounded spirit back into the light.
For D’Arcangelo, the setting and cultural heartbeat of the novel hit close to home. Born outside of Pittsburgh and raised in Windber, Pennsylvania, working at her family’s multi-generational pizzeria, she infuses every chapter with the blue-collar grit and generational heritage synonymous with the region. Tracing her ancestry back to Abruzzo, Italy, D’Arcangelo is widely known as the bestselling author of A Story About Pizza and the creator and host of The Pizza Story Podcast.
“The Feast of the Seven Fishes isn’t polite or quiet; it’s an energetic, passionate celebration of survival, community, and abundance,” said D’Arcangelo. “At its core, this story is about overcoming invisible scars and discovering that you don’t have to stay silent to keep the peace.
In Western PA, our traditions run deep, and the Feast of the Seven Fishes is an emotional ritual where families argue, laugh, and pour their souls into every dish. I wanted to write a book that celebrates our local heritage while reminding readers that no matter how isolated you feel, there is always an extra chair waiting for you at the table.”
Blending genuine emotional depth with authentic holiday humor, My Big Loud Italian Christmas marks D’Arcangelo’s narrative fiction debut. The book pays homage to the enduring immigrant roots that helped shape the region’s culinary and cultural identity.
My Big Loud Italian Christmas is available now in paperback and ebook formats on Apple Books, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
Review copies, media interview requests, and regional event inquiries can be directed to Ella Nicole at book@astoryaboutpizza.com or through www.astoryaboutpizza.com .
About the Author
Erica D’Arcangelo is a bestselling author, food writer, and host of The Pizza Story Podcast. Born and raised in Windber, Pennsylvania, outside Pittsburgh, she grew up in the artisan pizza tradition before writing extensively on culinary heritage for publications including Appetito Magazine and PMQ Pizza Magazine, as well as her Substack, The Sunday Gravy. Her work honors the power of food, family roots, and community storytelling.
Book Details
Title: My Big Loud Italian Christmas
Author: Erica D’Arcangelo
Setting: Western Pennsylvania
Pages: 171
Availability: Apple Books, Amazon, and major online book retailers
Website: www.astoryaboutpizza.com
