“Julie and Julia” Author Visits Tulsa

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

Tulsa, OK -- She cooked her way to a national bestseller and a Hollywood blockbuster.  Tonight, the author behind "Julie and Julia" is in town serving up some awareness and raising money for a Green Country food bank.  

With dozens lining up to buy her books and many staying to hear her speak, this Julie Powell is a far cry from the self-described "government drone" depicted in her acclaimed memoir.

"That's really the key. that's the main way that my life has changed is that here I am and I'm a writer now," Julie Powell, author.

Powell says she found her voice as a writer during the year she tackled a seemingly insurmountable challenge, cooking her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

She chronicled her culinary tour de force in a blog, called the Julie/Julia Project.

"I had trouble allowing myself to think that could mean anything other than these very nice and sort of crazy people loved me," Powell said.

But she wasn't just beloved in the blogosphere. Soon editors were calling a national bestseller was born.

Then, Hollywood came knocking.

"Pretty crazy; it's a nutty thing," Powell said.

That's how Powell describes being captured on film with Oscar-nominated actress Amy Adams portraying her and the great Meryl Streep playing her inspiration, Julia Child.

"I've heard so much of this incredible food bank they have here," said Powell.

Powell is in Tulsa raising money and food for the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and tantalizing fans with a reading from her new memoir, Cleaving.

"People who read the book and certainly people who saw the movie are in for a bit of a shock, I think," Powell said.

Instead of rich, buttery commentary on life and French Cuisine, Powell describes learning the craft of butchering and the affair that almost severs her marriage.

"The thing is even a marriage like that, ya know even a marriage that was so strong in so many ways, which ours was and continues to be, thank goodness, goes through rough times," Powell said.

Fans paid one-hundred dollars to attend a VIP dinner with Julie Powell and get an autographed copy of her new book.

All proceeds go to the food bank, which has seen food assistance jump by 40% this year.