Julia Skinner, PhD
@bookishjulia.bsky.social
Author, fermenter, food historian, writing coach, Library Science PhD, culinary educator, forager, maker of everyday magic.
Wrote Our Fermented Lives.
Agent: Ekus Group
linktr.ee/juliaskinner
Wrote Our Fermented Lives.
Agent: Ekus Group
linktr.ee/juliaskinner
Reposted by Julia Skinner, PhD
No ethical use cases for the thing known as "gen AI" (prompt-based words, images, video, sound). Even if you started with an ethical, environmentally sound version, it's still the wrong tool for being a human being:
2/
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
2/
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
Basement adventures showed me why ChatGPT can only ever be garbage.
In The British Library. Photo by Surekha Davies. Hallo readers, First, a news flash: Join me for a virtual book launch for HUMANS: A MONSTROUS HISTORY...
buttondown.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:51 AM
No ethical use cases for the thing known as "gen AI" (prompt-based words, images, video, sound). Even if you started with an ethical, environmentally sound version, it's still the wrong tool for being a human being:
2/
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
2/
buttondown.com/surekhadavie...
Highly recommend getting your PW
deal announcement printed on a mug, in part so you can drink tea from that same mug, 2 years later, while you thumb through the ARC of that same book.
deal announcement printed on a mug, in part so you can drink tea from that same mug, 2 years later, while you thumb through the ARC of that same book.
January 25, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Highly recommend getting your PW
deal announcement printed on a mug, in part so you can drink tea from that same mug, 2 years later, while you thumb through the ARC of that same book.
deal announcement printed on a mug, in part so you can drink tea from that same mug, 2 years later, while you thumb through the ARC of that same book.
Reposted by Julia Skinner, PhD
It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder
How I grew this big cucumber
It makes me wonder
How I grew this big cucumber
January 25, 2026 at 2:50 PM
It’s like a jungle sometimes
It makes me wonder
How I grew this big cucumber
It makes me wonder
How I grew this big cucumber
Reposted by Julia Skinner, PhD
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
January 24, 2026 at 7:23 PM
I don’t want to hear anything from an elected official unless it’s a plan to defund the DHS and impeach Noem, Bovino, etc. No texts. No emails. No talk about the economy. Step up or step off.
MY NEW BOOK BABY IS HERE
(*the ARC: preorders ship in May!)
If you would like a copy (this link also gets me a couple $ and supports indy bookstores, thanks @bookshop.org!)
bookshop.org/a/103396/978...
(*the ARC: preorders ship in May!)
If you would like a copy (this link also gets me a couple $ and supports indy bookstores, thanks @bookshop.org!)
bookshop.org/a/103396/978...
January 24, 2026 at 8:34 AM
MY NEW BOOK BABY IS HERE
(*the ARC: preorders ship in May!)
If you would like a copy (this link also gets me a couple $ and supports indy bookstores, thanks @bookshop.org!)
bookshop.org/a/103396/978...
(*the ARC: preorders ship in May!)
If you would like a copy (this link also gets me a couple $ and supports indy bookstores, thanks @bookshop.org!)
bookshop.org/a/103396/978...
Reposted by Julia Skinner, PhD
”but it’s demoralizing to hear that the US has always targeted populations in this way”
Oh I’m sorry that imagining having to live like a Black person feels hard for you
Obviously we are all here to serve — for free! — your fragile emotional state
Oh I’m sorry that imagining having to live like a Black person feels hard for you
Obviously we are all here to serve — for free! — your fragile emotional state
January 23, 2026 at 1:21 PM
”but it’s demoralizing to hear that the US has always targeted populations in this way”
Oh I’m sorry that imagining having to live like a Black person feels hard for you
Obviously we are all here to serve — for free! — your fragile emotional state
Oh I’m sorry that imagining having to live like a Black person feels hard for you
Obviously we are all here to serve — for free! — your fragile emotional state
First thing I add to my calendar when mapping out my month: AT LEAST one at home artist’s residency.
A full day of uninterrupted and unstructured ‘whatever goes’ creativity.
Do not speak to me on this day: I am making art and/or pickles and do not wish to be perceived.
A full day of uninterrupted and unstructured ‘whatever goes’ creativity.
Do not speak to me on this day: I am making art and/or pickles and do not wish to be perceived.
January 22, 2026 at 1:16 PM
First thing I add to my calendar when mapping out my month: AT LEAST one at home artist’s residency.
A full day of uninterrupted and unstructured ‘whatever goes’ creativity.
Do not speak to me on this day: I am making art and/or pickles and do not wish to be perceived.
A full day of uninterrupted and unstructured ‘whatever goes’ creativity.
Do not speak to me on this day: I am making art and/or pickles and do not wish to be perceived.
We laugh, but also this has more than a passing relationship to the church selling indulgences
The greatest story you’ll read today 😂😂🫡
Forward it on for the betterment of mankind & also to get me into heaven
Forward it on for the betterment of mankind & also to get me into heaven
January 22, 2026 at 9:16 AM
We laugh, but also this has more than a passing relationship to the church selling indulgences
Doing my occasional reshare of these newsletter issues* on reducing food waste/eating on a budget:
I plan to add more this year so please lmk what you want to see!
First up: food preserving on a budget:
Food preserving on a budget: open.substack.com/pub/rootkitc...
(More below):
I plan to add more this year so please lmk what you want to see!
First up: food preserving on a budget:
Food preserving on a budget: open.substack.com/pub/rootkitc...
(More below):
January 18, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Doing my occasional reshare of these newsletter issues* on reducing food waste/eating on a budget:
I plan to add more this year so please lmk what you want to see!
First up: food preserving on a budget:
Food preserving on a budget: open.substack.com/pub/rootkitc...
(More below):
I plan to add more this year so please lmk what you want to see!
First up: food preserving on a budget:
Food preserving on a budget: open.substack.com/pub/rootkitc...
(More below):
Reposted by Julia Skinner, PhD
Man I don’t even need to know what this game is, take my money
accidentally introduced a bug to the game where all the text got replaced with "you"
January 13, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Man I don’t even need to know what this game is, take my money
Stop asking ChatGPT and ask the mycelia in the forest.
January 7, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Stop asking ChatGPT and ask the mycelia in the forest.
Y’all there is a new perfume inspired by my books! My books! The life of an author is so wild and magical, I’m forever in awe
biblioddities.com/products/dre...
biblioddities.com/products/dre...
Dreamweaver Fine Fragrance // Julia Skinner, Roots Kitchen
vegetal growth, fresh bread, labdanum, spearmint, basil, green fig this lush vegetal fragrance blooms into sweet yeast notes enriched with the depth of labdanum and briskly entwined with the gentle ba...
biblioddities.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Y’all there is a new perfume inspired by my books! My books! The life of an author is so wild and magical, I’m forever in awe
biblioddities.com/products/dre...
biblioddities.com/products/dre...
2026 is said to be a year where cabbage is trending.
If you’re like ‘hell yeah I want to know more about cabbage’ I’ve got:
Classes
A newsletter
Private lessons/corporate and group workshops
Boooooks
Come explore the magic of cabbage with me, I’ve been a cabbage trendsetter for like, 20 years!
If you’re like ‘hell yeah I want to know more about cabbage’ I’ve got:
Classes
A newsletter
Private lessons/corporate and group workshops
Boooooks
Come explore the magic of cabbage with me, I’ve been a cabbage trendsetter for like, 20 years!
January 5, 2026 at 5:23 PM
2026 is said to be a year where cabbage is trending.
If you’re like ‘hell yeah I want to know more about cabbage’ I’ve got:
Classes
A newsletter
Private lessons/corporate and group workshops
Boooooks
Come explore the magic of cabbage with me, I’ve been a cabbage trendsetter for like, 20 years!
If you’re like ‘hell yeah I want to know more about cabbage’ I’ve got:
Classes
A newsletter
Private lessons/corporate and group workshops
Boooooks
Come explore the magic of cabbage with me, I’ve been a cabbage trendsetter for like, 20 years!
Cork friends, and Atlanta friends:
What if I led a 1x/quarter IRL book club + co-creative space somewhere in town?
Think sitting at a cozy bar/coffee shop discussing a book, followed by some collective journaling or crafting.
Would you come?
What if I led a 1x/quarter IRL book club + co-creative space somewhere in town?
Think sitting at a cozy bar/coffee shop discussing a book, followed by some collective journaling or crafting.
Would you come?
January 4, 2026 at 11:37 AM
Cork friends, and Atlanta friends:
What if I led a 1x/quarter IRL book club + co-creative space somewhere in town?
Think sitting at a cozy bar/coffee shop discussing a book, followed by some collective journaling or crafting.
Would you come?
What if I led a 1x/quarter IRL book club + co-creative space somewhere in town?
Think sitting at a cozy bar/coffee shop discussing a book, followed by some collective journaling or crafting.
Would you come?
Editor friends: is anyone looking for a fermentation/food preserving column or series this year?
I can focus on low waste, saving $, flavorful ingredients, or whatever else.
Lmk, or email me! Julia@root-kitchens.com
I can focus on low waste, saving $, flavorful ingredients, or whatever else.
Lmk, or email me! Julia@root-kitchens.com
January 4, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Editor friends: is anyone looking for a fermentation/food preserving column or series this year?
I can focus on low waste, saving $, flavorful ingredients, or whatever else.
Lmk, or email me! Julia@root-kitchens.com
I can focus on low waste, saving $, flavorful ingredients, or whatever else.
Lmk, or email me! Julia@root-kitchens.com
Couldn’t find garden stakes I liked, so bought some self dry clay and made my own (not sure how long they’ll last outdoors, but the joy of experiments is in the learning)
January 3, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Couldn’t find garden stakes I liked, so bought some self dry clay and made my own (not sure how long they’ll last outdoors, but the joy of experiments is in the learning)
Reposted by Julia Skinner, PhD
Join me this September for a unique retreat blending hands-on fermentation, food writing, + daily activities to build the foundation of a lifelong writing practice.
Join soon and I’ll give you a free writing coaching session to use any time after our retreat!
www.bogandthunder.com/our-fermente...
Join soon and I’ll give you a free writing coaching session to use any time after our retreat!
www.bogandthunder.com/our-fermente...
Our Fermented Lives — Bog & Thunder
www.bogandthunder.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Join me this September for a unique retreat blending hands-on fermentation, food writing, + daily activities to build the foundation of a lifelong writing practice.
Join soon and I’ll give you a free writing coaching session to use any time after our retreat!
www.bogandthunder.com/our-fermente...
Join soon and I’ll give you a free writing coaching session to use any time after our retreat!
www.bogandthunder.com/our-fermente...
Reposted by Julia Skinner, PhD
Just a reminder that I am always open to barter/trade for culinary classes, writing/creativity coaching, or anything else I offer.
Putting it here if you’ve been eyeing a program or craving support, but a trade makes more $$ sense for you!
Putting it here if you’ve been eyeing a program or craving support, but a trade makes more $$ sense for you!
January 2, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Just a reminder that I am always open to barter/trade for culinary classes, writing/creativity coaching, or anything else I offer.
Putting it here if you’ve been eyeing a program or craving support, but a trade makes more $$ sense for you!
Putting it here if you’ve been eyeing a program or craving support, but a trade makes more $$ sense for you!
Wrote a lil’ piece for @us.theguardian.com on weaving rituals and small moments of joy into every day. Perfect for the new year:
www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us...
www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us...
Simple daily rituals for building fun, calm and play into your days in 2026
Breathe, make matcha, don’t eat so fast: these aren’t resolutions, they are simple habits for a more relaxing year
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Wrote a lil’ piece for @us.theguardian.com on weaving rituals and small moments of joy into every day. Perfect for the new year:
www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us...
www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us...
Just a reminder that I am always open to barter/trade for culinary classes, writing/creativity coaching, or anything else I offer.
Putting it here if you’ve been eyeing a program or craving support, but a trade makes more $$ sense for you!
Putting it here if you’ve been eyeing a program or craving support, but a trade makes more $$ sense for you!
January 2, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Just a reminder that I am always open to barter/trade for culinary classes, writing/creativity coaching, or anything else I offer.
Putting it here if you’ve been eyeing a program or craving support, but a trade makes more $$ sense for you!
Putting it here if you’ve been eyeing a program or craving support, but a trade makes more $$ sense for you!
2026 is the year we choose our peace over other people’s convenience.
December 28, 2025 at 1:27 AM
2026 is the year we choose our peace over other people’s convenience.
Hey food friends, what was one new favorite culinary discovery you had this year?
Or maybe a re-discovery?
Or maybe a re-discovery?
December 23, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Hey food friends, what was one new favorite culinary discovery you had this year?
Or maybe a re-discovery?
Or maybe a re-discovery?
Reposted by Julia Skinner, PhD
Being familiar with the literature is what makes you an ‘expert.’ Having a LLM summarize literature for you makes you nothing.
No one said it was easy to learn. Much as you might wish it, there are no shortcuts.
No one said it was easy to learn. Much as you might wish it, there are no shortcuts.
December 21, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Being familiar with the literature is what makes you an ‘expert.’ Having a LLM summarize literature for you makes you nothing.
No one said it was easy to learn. Much as you might wish it, there are no shortcuts.
No one said it was easy to learn. Much as you might wish it, there are no shortcuts.
Join me this September for a unique retreat blending hands-on fermentation, food writing, + daily activities to build the foundation of a lifelong writing practice.
Join soon and I’ll give you a free writing coaching session to use any time after our retreat!
www.bogandthunder.com/our-fermente...
Join soon and I’ll give you a free writing coaching session to use any time after our retreat!
www.bogandthunder.com/our-fermente...
Our Fermented Lives — Bog & Thunder
www.bogandthunder.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Join me this September for a unique retreat blending hands-on fermentation, food writing, + daily activities to build the foundation of a lifelong writing practice.
Join soon and I’ll give you a free writing coaching session to use any time after our retreat!
www.bogandthunder.com/our-fermente...
Join soon and I’ll give you a free writing coaching session to use any time after our retreat!
www.bogandthunder.com/our-fermente...