Julie Powell, known for her “Julie/Julia Project” blog that eventually lead to a New York Times-bestselling book and an Oscar-nominated film, passed away unexpectedly last Wednesday at 49.
“She was a tremendous creative talent, and as expressed in her writing, a consummate gourmand with a passion for culinary challenges and extraordinary adventures,” said her obituary. “She had a deep love for animals and nature, and cared passionately about art, literature, politics, and pop culture.”
Born Julia Ann Foster, Powell grew up in Austin, Texas, where she attended Austin High School. She then moved to Massachusetts and earned a bachelor’s degree in theater and fiction writing from Amherst College in 1995.
Powell started the “Julie/Julia Project” blog in 2002, which kicked off a “flourishing” writing and speaking career.
“She wrote about food in a really human voice that sounded like people I knew, said “Smitten Kitchen” writer Deb Perelman of Powell’s work, according to The New York Times. “She communicated that you could write about food even without going to culinary school, without much experience, and in a real-life kitchen.”
In 2005, Little Brown published “Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen”, Powell’s book.
According to its description, the book details how Powell reclaimed her life while working a dead-end secretarial job in her late 20s “by cooking every single recipe in Julia Child’s legendary Mastering the Art of French Cooking in the span of one year.”
Her editor, Judy Clain of Little, Brown and Company said that the “Julie & Julia became an instant classic and it is with gratitude for her unique voice that we will now remember Julie’s dazzling brilliance and originality.”
“Her literary work inspired the film Julie & Julia, directed by the late Nora Ephron, and helped spark a cultural revival of interest in Julia Child as a pioneer and historical figure of more than just epicurean import,” Powell’s obituary explained. Actor Meryl Streep was nominated for an Oscar for her performance as Child in the 2009 film; Amy Adams played Powell.
In addition to this success, Powell was recognized with an honorary degree from Le Cordon Bleu and her work, received two James Beard Awards for magazine writing and a Quill Award for Debut Author of the Year.
“Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat and Obsession,” was her second and final book. It explored extramarital affairs she and her husband had along with her experience as a butcher’s apprentice.
Powell lived in Olivebridge, New York, since 2018 with her high school sweetheart and husband of 24 years, Eric Powell. According to The New York Times, her husband said the author’s cause of death was cardiac arrest.
The day before she died, Powell tweeted about a “black hairy tongue” health problem. She also mentioned being sick in tweets earlier this month.
Powell is survived by her husband and her parents, as well as other family members.
“She had so much talent and emotional intelligence,” said Clain, “I only wish she could have found the next thing.”
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