Julia, page 1
Also by
Heather B. Moore
The Paper Daughters of Chinatown
The Slow March of Light
In the Shadow of a Queen
Under the Java Moon
Lady Flyer
With
ALLISON HONG MERRILL
The Paper Daughters of Chinatown Young Reader’s Edition
Image credit: p. 339, Lynn Gilbert, via Wikimedia Commons
Book design: © Shadow Mountain
Design: Sheryl Dickert Smith
Art direction: Garth Bruner
Cover art: 7COLORSbd / Freepik, j.chizhe and Yuliia Markova / Shutterstock
© 2025 Heather B. Moore
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing®, at permissions@shadowmountain.com. The views expressed herein are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of Shadow Mountain Publishing.
Visit us at shadowmountain.com
This is a work of fiction. Characters and events in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are represented fictitiously.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Moore, Heather B. author
Title: Julia : a novel inspired by the extraordinary life of Julia Child / Heather B. Moore.
Description: [Salt Lake City] : Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. | Includes bibliographical references. | Summary: “Julia leaves behind a privileged life in California to join the OSS during World War II, decoding covert messages and aiding the Allied effort. Amid her far-reaching missions, she meets Paul Child, whose love leads her to postwar Paris. There, Julia Child’s daring pursuit of French cuisine transforms her into a culinary trailblazer and icon, forever changing the way America cooks”—Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2025003199 (print) | LCCN 2025003200 (ebook) | ISBN 9781639934256 hardback | ISBN 9781649334633 ebook
Subjects: LCSH: Child, Julia—Fiction | LCGFT: Biographical fiction | Novels
Classification: LCC PS3613.05589 J85 2025 (print) | LCC PS3613.05589 (ebook) | DDC 813/.6—dc23/eng/20250219
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2025003199
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2025003200
Printed in the United States of America
PubLitho
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Dedicated to my readers—
Thanks for joining me on this journey.
Contents
Foreword
Glossary of Acronyms
Characters
Part One: 1941-1946
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Part Two: 1948-1962
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Afterword
Selected Bibliography
Notes
Discussion Questions
Acknowledgments
Also By Heather B. Moore
About the Author
Foreword
Many great men and women instilled in me a sense of patriotism in my youth, long before I understood what patriotism meant. I grew up in the Cold War, during a time when secrets and intelligence gathering was critical to our national security, and my desire to serve my country led me into a career with the Central Intelligence Agency.
This desire to serve is something many women have shared throughout the years, particularly during World War II. Within these pages, Heather B. Moore does an incredible job portraying the life of Julia Child, who entered the intelligence world when the Office of Strategic Services (the precursor for the CIA) had yet to discover exactly how much of an impact women could have in a space that men had long dominated.
Educated women of a high social standing were highly sought after in the intelligence world, and as the daughter of a real estate mogul and a Smith College graduate, Julia Child had both the pedigree and the education to be a top candidate for the program. She also had the desire to move beyond the little piece of California where she was raised. And so Julia joined the ranks of the OSS.
While many of the other top female recruits were well-traveled, Julia had never been outside the United States, but as opportunities presented themselves, she forged a path that would take her into parts of the world where few women in her generation would go. And it didn’t take long for her to become an invaluable asset within the intelligence world. It also gave her great opportunities to expand her love for food, even though cooking had yet to become her strong suit.
Heather B. Moore paints a beautifully detailed picture of Julia Child, taking us from Julia’s early adulthood years living in Pasadena, through her entrance into the OSS, and on to her married life and cooking revolution. Moore guides us through the hidden treasures of Julia’s life abroad during World War II and the moments that led to Julia’s love of cooking and how that love translated into an inspired career.
By anyone’s standard, Julia Child lived a fascinating life. She was a pioneer in every sense of the word, moving beyond the secretarial roles most women of her era held and becoming a household name. Her wit, spontaneity, and intelligence are well documented in this delightful journey through her world.
You will be blown away by Heather’s deep, heartfelt storytelling. This endearing tale is one only she, one of the most skilled historical fiction writers out there, could tell.
—Traci Hunter Abramson,
CIA retiree and best-selling suspense author
Glossary of Acronyms
AVG: First American Volunteer Group
BHV: Le Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville
CIA: Central Intelligence Agency
COI: Coordinator of Information
ERES: Emergency Rescue Equipment Section
OSS: Office of Strategic Services
SEAC: South East Asia Command
USIS: United States Information Service
WAC: Women’s Army Corps
WAVES: Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service
Characters
Historical Characters
Julia McWilliams
Carolyn (Caro) McWilliams
John McWilliams Jr.
John McWilliams III
Dorothy McWilliams
Paul Child
Charlie Child
Fredricka (Freddie) Child
Rachel Child
Erica Child
Jon Child
William J. Donovan
Betty MacDonald McIntyre
Paul Helliwell
Jane Foster
Cora DuBois
Virginia (Peachy) Durand
Rosamond Frame
Eleanor (Ellie) Thiry
Virginia Pryor
Louise Banville
Mary Nelson Lee
Jeanne Taylor
Max Bugnard
Harrison Chandler
Gay Bradley
Mamie Valentine
Betty Washburn
Katie Nevins
Katy Gates
Simone (Simca) Beck Fischbacher
Louisette Bertholle
Avis DeVoto
Bernard DeVoto
Dorothy de Santillana
Judith Jones
Russ Morash
Miffy Goodheart
James Beard
Chapter 1
San Malo, California
August 1941
“Have decided I am really only a butterfly. All I want to do is play golf, piano, and simmer, and see people, and summer and live right here. . . . I shall be interested to see if I am ever a happy success.”
—Julia McWilliams, diary
“Marry me, Julia,” Harrison Chandler said.
Julia had to turn away from the sunset to look at him now, her heart bottoming out.
The August sun lowering on the horizon framed Harrison’s dark hair and earnest gaze against a backdrop of lavender sky quickly fading into a deep blue. They sat in beach chairs near the mellow surf at the base of the cliff in San Malo, where they’d eaten dinner with friends. Their friends had remained above, at the top of the cliff, chatting and laughing together. The salty breeze still held the lingering scent of grilled food.
Julia blinked and turned more fully toward Harrison. She could prac tically see perspiration beading on his forehead, hear the sharp, rapid draw of his breath as he waited for her answer. He looked as awkward as she felt.
This man was Julia’s good friend, had been for the past couple of years, since she’d returned home to Pasadena after her college years at Smith. His father ran the Los Angeles Times—the most influential newspaper in California. And Harrison worked as vice president for its affiliate, Times Mirror Printing and Binding House.
Among their mutual friends, there’d been some pesky comments about how they should be a couple. They looked good together, after all, with Julia’s lithe six-foot-two-inch frame and Harrison’s similarly tall build. He was a nice-looking man, always well dressed, with a secure financial future—something her father was over the moon about. They were comfortable around each other, enough to share a few confidences, and they attended all the same social functions because they both enjoyed dancing.
“Marriage, Harrison?” Julia said over the sudden rasp of her throat. “I wasn’t expecting you to propose. We’ve never spoken of a future together.”
His nod was quick, his swallow audible. “I know that, Julia, but I thought . . .” Another swallow. “I thought we could maybe discuss it?”
Julia smiled, although it was one of those tight smiles that made her stomach pinch. Harrison had been a friend, but he was like a faithful, stoic dog. Following Julia everywhere, smiling at her humor but not providing any wit of his own. He was steadfast, sure, but he was too quiet, too formal . . . Stiff might be the right word for Mr. Harrison Chandler. Julia was the one who instigated all conversation, bringing him out of whatever deep thoughts occupied him.
Yet Harrison had always been attentive—she couldn’t complain about that. She supposed she’d let his sweetness get ahead of her since she still smarted from time to time over the colossal rejection she’d received from Tom Johnston. But marriage to Harrison? She’d definitely let their friendship become too progressive.
Julia folded her arms and studied Harrison, really studied him. As far as proposals went, this was her first, so there wasn’t anything to compare it to. In for a penny, in for a pound. His steady gaze was unwavering, but she noticed the tight grip of his clasped hands. He was nervous, but at least he hadn’t tried to kiss her. The ill-timed thought created a bubble of hysteria in her chest. Maybe that was what was wrong. Harrison hadn’t ever tried to kiss her. How could she know if there was anything romantic between them?
No . . . that wasn’t the issue here. The issue was that he liked her more than she liked him. Maybe he even loved her. And she . . . she viewed him like a brother. A friend, sure, but nothing more.
His imploring gaze tugged at her heart, just a little. “Where do you see yourself settling down?” she asked. “And what about children? You’ve never seemed to favor them. Whenever we’ve been around our married friends, you steer clear of the little ones.”
Harrison’s neck went blotchy, but to his credit, he answered directly, though his words were stilted. “A child with you would be a . . . blessing, of course. Every woman wants children. I’m not immune to that notion.”
Julia almost scoffed. “I’ve always imagined myself with three or four children, you know. A houseful.” She was the eldest of three and couldn’t imagine growing up without her brother, John, and sister, Dort—even during their epic rivalries.
“Y-yes,” Harrison said. “Three sounds nice. I mean, I have a lot of siblings, and although I certainly don’t want eight children, like my family . . . I could live with three. Or four.”
His father had remarried after his first wife’s death, and Harrison had two half sisters and five other siblings.
“That’s good, we can agree on at least one thing.” Perhaps her words were snarky, but they were true. She certainly couldn’t discuss politics with Harrison. He spent inordinate amounts of leisure time at LA’s Lincoln Club, the California Club, and Sunset Club, pontificating about his family’s practically religious hatred of FDR. Harrison’s political viewpoints were extreme right, even more hardened than the Times ultraconservative reporting.
Another reason Julia’s father, John McWilliams Jr., would completely approve of the match. Julia wasn’t one to back down from a political discussion, although with her father, it was easier to let him have his say without her interference. If there was one thing she’d learned growing up in the McWilliams household, it was that her father would never change his right-wing viewpoints.
“Julie,” Harrison said, using the name that most of her friends called her, although he’d always kept things more formal. “There’s no hurry on this. Think about it. I’m happy to wait. I-I can’t see myself with anyone but you.”
Still, Julia didn’t feel it—the it that her girlfriends had gushed over. She’d turned twenty-eight two weeks before, on August 12. Back in New York, she’d thought Tom Johnston had been the man for her. Tom, who was inches taller than her; Tom, who was gregarious, charming, and affectionate and had hung on her every word. But then he’d left New York. Disappeared from her life. Until one day, she received a wedding notice in the mail. A knife to her chest would have hurt less. So what did Julia know about love? Maybe . . . maybe love and a happy future sat right next to her.
“Julie! Aren’t you going to have dessert?” Katy Gates called out, coming down the winding path of the cliffside. Katy, one of Julia’s childhood friends, was a regular at the weekend parties. “You two have been down here for ages. What are you doing? Counting sand crabs?”
“I’ll think about it,” Julia told Harrison before unfolding her body and standing to face Katy. “What’s for dessert?”
Katy laughed and tossed a glance at Harrison, her face a map of curiosity. “Cherry pie and vanilla ice cream.”
“Sounds delicious.”
Julia sensed rather than heard Harrison coming along behind them. Maybe once the surprise of the proposal wore off, she’d be able to think clearly. For now, she joined her group of friends inside the brick-walled courtyard that surround her father’s beach house. She quickly became caught up in conversation about the war in Europe, how Hitler and his Nazi Germany were blazing their way across the continent, and how the US oil embargo was aimed at Japan. Each day brought more war news, worse than the day before.
Talking about the war always felt disconcerting to Julia while she was living in a virtual paradise, with only the sounds of laughter, waves, and summer breezes to pepper her days and nights. Yet she felt the foreboding, like hearing the sound of rolling thunder, knowing the storm was coming closer and closer even though all she could see was clear skies. She felt so helpless, especially since other countries were establishing women’s military sectors, including the Canadian Women’s Army Corps and the Australian Women’s Army Service. Whereas in the US, LIFE magazine had featured a pinup photograph of Rita Hayworth on a beach.
Conversation buzzed among Julia’s friends Gay Bradley, Mamie Valentine, Betty Washburn, and Katie Nevins—all regulars at her parties—and their spouses or boyfriends.
“Welcome back,” Betty teased, her short wavy hair held back with a stylish scarf. “We thought you might spend the night on the beach.”
The others exchanged amused glances. Had Harrison told them about his intent to propose?
The discussion soon moved back to war news about the US pledging support to the Soviet Union, including them in the Lend-Lease program, and the Germans moving in on the eastern sectors, such as the naval base at Mykolaiv. And also the fact that British bombers had, in turn, recently raided the railway yards at Hanover.
As the conversation swirled about her, Julia wondered again what she was doing with her life. She’d hardly accomplished a thing. Sure, she was a Smith graduate—her mother’s alma mater—but Julia hadn’t been able to make it completely on her own. Not yet. She’d either been in school or living with family. Her aim of becoming a respected journalist had already crumpled. She’d graduated in 1934, six years before, and since then, she hadn’t held down a job of any importance. She’d majored in history and taken an inordinate number of classes in Italian, French, and music to develop her character. She’d even attended secretarial school at Packard Commercial School in Pittsfield while living with her aunt Theodora in Massachusetts. That had turned out to be a mistake, and Julia had lasted only one month.
