At 91, Doña Julia Castro Proves It’s Never Too Late to Become a Published Author
When Doña Julia Castro describes herself as “as American as apple pie and as Latina as salsa,” you believe her. Born and raised in South Texas, the 91-year-old writer carries both worlds with her. She learned Spanish at church and English at school, and eventually found that living between the two languages gave her strength.
“I think I’m blessed to have been able to speak two languages. I owe that to my parents, my mother especially,” she told FIERCE. “Overall, I think it helped me throughout my life to be able to possess qualities and traits from both backgrounds.”
Today, she is the author of Apple Pie & Salsa, a book that gathers 14 years of her weekly newspaper columns about faith, family, and identity.
A Latina author whose life began with family and teaching
Before becoming a published writer, Doña Julia’s life was already full. She raised ten children and later stepped into the classroom as a teacher. That second chapter of her life began at El Mesisas Head Start, where she first worked as a cook.
“I would watch the classes and often thought to myself, ‘I can do that,’” she remembered. “When an opening came up to teach, I applied. It required me to go back to school to get my certification, which I did.”
She told FIERCE that motherhood gave her the perspective she needed to reach her students. “I felt like my experience raising kids helped me in the classroom because I was aware of the many struggles that underprivileged families faced on a daily basis.”
Her children never understood why she wanted to teach “a bunch of little kids after raising ten of my own.” But for Doña Julia, teaching was a way of proving that “you can make a difference.” Many of her former students still recognize her in the community.
Writing gave her a second dream at 75
At an age when many people slow down, Doña Julia picked up the pen. She began writing Apple Pie & Salsa, a weekly column for the Wilson County News, at 75.
“It made my dream come true,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to write stories since I was in high school. I wanted to share the stories of days gone by because I was living in a world that was quickly changing.”
According to Doña Julia, it was her daughter, Lia, who pushed her to meet with the local paper. They had recently started a Reminiscing page, and her idea fit perfectly. For 14 years, she handwrote each column, which the newspaper transcribed and published.
The column became a space to recount what it meant to grow up Mexican in Texas, raise a family, and witness her community’s transformation.
What this Latina author wants younger generations to remember
Looking back, Doña Julia says her stories give people a window into the past.
“I tried to give them an experience that makes them feel like they were there,” she explained. “I hope that they will take pride in who they are and never forget where they came from.”
Her town may have been small, but for her, that closeness mattered. “Because we lived in such a small town that’s very tight-knit, it shows that it’s always kind of been that way and that the town has grown as families have grown.”
Apple Pie & Salsa is a legacy for her family and community
Today, all of her stories are collected in her book, Apple Pie & Salsa. Seeing her work in print is something Doña Julia never thought possible.
“I thought it was too late. I would never have imagined that I would become a writer one day,” she said. “The fact that the collection was made into a book means that my stories can be shared for years to come. That makes me most proud.”
Her legacy extends not only to her published words but also to her family. She is the matriarch of ten children, more than 30 grandchildren, and 60 great-grandchildren. Her faith and community spirit have kept her grounded, but her pen has given her a timeless voice.
