Christina Ward | |
---|---|
Born | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | April 4, 1969
Occupation | Writer, Editor, Vice President of Feral House Publishing |
Nationality | United States of America |
Genre | Sociology of food |
Subject | Transgressive fiction, Short story, Food preservation, Cookbook, Culinary History |
Website | |
www |
Christina Ward (born April 4, 1969, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a Wisconsin-based writer specializing in food preservation, recipe, and culinary history books.
Ward is a self-taught, multi-disciplinary creator and writer. Early works include transgressive poetry and short stories published in zines under multiple pseudonyms. In 2000, Ward began publishing small-run art books under the imprint of Back Pocket Press and Odaliske Press and co-publishing poetry broadsides and chapbook under the name Accurate Key.
During this time, Ward also pursued learning 19th and early 20th century cooking and food preservation techniques and was certified as a Master Food Preserver by the State of Wisconsin. From the years 2012 to 2019, she taught food preservation classes throughout the Milwaukee area.
Between 2012-2016, Ward wrote a monthly column for Edible Milwaukee Magazine [1] named DIY-MKE: that focused on the history, personal stories, and recipes that reflect Milwaukee city's culture.
In 2011, Ward—an avid book collector—began assisting touring authors published by Feral House with events in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In January 2015, Feral House founder Adam Parfrey recruited Ward to work full-time for Feral House in marketing and publicity.
Ward published her first book, Preservation: The Art and Science of Canning, Fermentation, and Dehydration (2017) [2], with the Feral House imprint, Process [3].
Feral House founder Parfrey unexpectedly died on May 5, 2018. Parfrey’s sister managing director and head of operations, asked Ward to assist her in continuing Feral House Publishing. Ward was promoted to Vice President and expanded her duties to include every aspect of publishing.
Ward’s second book, American Advertising Cookbooks: How Corporations Taught Us to Love Spam, Bananas, and Jell-O (2019) [4], was met with critical and press recognition from the New York Times [5], Milk Street Radio [6], and more [7] [8].
In July 2019, Ward provided research about Milwaukee food culture for the producers of the Hulu broadcast episodic program Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi.” She was invited to appear on camera with host and executive producer Padma Lakshmi for Episode 2 of Season 1 [9], where they discussed Milwaukee’s early immigrant food culture, while riding around in the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile.
Ward continues to acquire and edit non-fiction books and, as of September 2023, has been involved in producing seventy-five titles. As the Vice President of Feral House Publishing, she is also the public spokesperson for Feral House.
Her most recent book is Holy Food: How Cults, Communes, and Religious Movements Influenced What We Eat—An American History (Process) [10], released on September 26, 2023. She remains the Master Food Preserver, serving residents and answering food preservation questions throughout southeast Wisconsin and beyond.
Christina Ward | |
---|---|
Born | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | April 4, 1969
Occupation | Writer, Editor, Vice President of Feral House Publishing |
Nationality | United States of America |
Genre | Sociology of food |
Subject | Transgressive fiction, Short story, Food preservation, Cookbook, Culinary History |
Website | |
www |
Christina Ward (born April 4, 1969, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a Wisconsin-based writer specializing in food preservation, recipe, and culinary history books.
Ward is a self-taught, multi-disciplinary creator and writer. Early works include transgressive poetry and short stories published in zines under multiple pseudonyms. In 2000, Ward began publishing small-run art books under the imprint of Back Pocket Press and Odaliske Press and co-publishing poetry broadsides and chapbook under the name Accurate Key.
During this time, Ward also pursued learning 19th and early 20th century cooking and food preservation techniques and was certified as a Master Food Preserver by the State of Wisconsin. From the years 2012 to 2019, she taught food preservation classes throughout the Milwaukee area.
Between 2012-2016, Ward wrote a monthly column for Edible Milwaukee Magazine [1] named DIY-MKE: that focused on the history, personal stories, and recipes that reflect Milwaukee city's culture.
In 2011, Ward—an avid book collector—began assisting touring authors published by Feral House with events in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In January 2015, Feral House founder Adam Parfrey recruited Ward to work full-time for Feral House in marketing and publicity.
Ward published her first book, Preservation: The Art and Science of Canning, Fermentation, and Dehydration (2017) [2], with the Feral House imprint, Process [3].
Feral House founder Parfrey unexpectedly died on May 5, 2018. Parfrey’s sister managing director and head of operations, asked Ward to assist her in continuing Feral House Publishing. Ward was promoted to Vice President and expanded her duties to include every aspect of publishing.
Ward’s second book, American Advertising Cookbooks: How Corporations Taught Us to Love Spam, Bananas, and Jell-O (2019) [4], was met with critical and press recognition from the New York Times [5], Milk Street Radio [6], and more [7] [8].
In July 2019, Ward provided research about Milwaukee food culture for the producers of the Hulu broadcast episodic program Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi.” She was invited to appear on camera with host and executive producer Padma Lakshmi for Episode 2 of Season 1 [9], where they discussed Milwaukee’s early immigrant food culture, while riding around in the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile.
Ward continues to acquire and edit non-fiction books and, as of September 2023, has been involved in producing seventy-five titles. As the Vice President of Feral House Publishing, she is also the public spokesperson for Feral House.
Her most recent book is Holy Food: How Cults, Communes, and Religious Movements Influenced What We Eat—An American History (Process) [10], released on September 26, 2023. She remains the Master Food Preserver, serving residents and answering food preservation questions throughout southeast Wisconsin and beyond.