Julia Turshen's Romance Novella Draws on Six Key Books
Julia Turshen, celebrated for her five solo cookbooks and collaborations with Hawa Hassan and Gwyneth Paltrow, has released her debut romance novella titled 'Down to Earth' via 831 Stories. The narrative centers on a single mother relocating to the imagined town of Sungold in upstate New York, where she develops feelings for a vegetable farmer. Turshen acknowledges six influential books that shaped her queer romance: 'The Proposal' by Jasmine Guillory for its culinary scenes; Casey McQuiston's 'The Pairing' for its queer love story interwoven with food; Jody Williams's 'Buvette: The Pleasure of Good Food', which inspired a roast chicken moment; Edna Lewis's 'The Taste of Country Cooking' for its ingredient reverence; Lee Bailey's 'Country Weekends' for its emphasis on simple, fresh meals; and Virginia Sole-Smith's 'Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture' for portraying a plus-size, attractive protagonist. Turshen and her partner Grace celebrated their wedding with 12 guests at Buvette's long table.
Key facts
- Julia Turshen authored five solo cookbooks.
- She collaborated with Hawa Hassan and Gwyneth Paltrow.
- Her novella 'Down to Earth' was published by 831 Stories.
- The story is set in the fictional upstate New York town of Sungold.
- The protagonist is a single mother who falls for a vegetable farmer.
- Six books inspired the novella: 'The Proposal', 'The Pairing', 'Buvette', 'The Taste of Country Cooking', 'Country Weekends', and 'Fat Talk'.
- Turshen and her spouse Grace had their 12-person wedding at Buvette.
- The roast chicken scene in 'Down to Earth' was inspired by Jody Williams's recipe.
Entities
Artists
- Julia Turshen
- Hawa Hassan
- Gwyneth Paltrow
- Jasmine Guillory
- Casey McQuiston
- Jody Williams
- Rita Sodi
- Edna Lewis
- Lee Bailey
- Virginia Sole-Smith
Institutions
- 831 Stories
- Buvette
Locations
- Sungold
- New York
- United States