Author Talk: Ali Francis, The Curious Lives of Vegetables

We are delighted to welcome journalist and author Ali Francis to the shop on Thursday, October 8th, for an author talk, Q&A, and book signing to celebrate her debut book The Curious Lives of Vegetables! Through this visually stunning collection, Ali showcases the stories behind the everyday vegetables that have shaped our world, brought to life through more than 100 surreal illustrations by Adriana Picker. 

Ali will be joined by local Indigenous food systems practitioner, nutrition educator, and writer Valerie Segrest, whose work and insights appear throughout the book. Together, they'll explore the relationships between food, culture, land, and identity, and what vegetables and seeds can teach us about biodiversity, Indigenous foodways, cultural resilience, and our responsibilities to the plants that sustain us.

Event reservations are non-refundable and can include a signed copy of the $30.00 book. Applicable sales tax and a $2.50 transaction fee are also included. Can't attend but still want a signed book? Order here for shipping or in-store pickup.

About the book: From the humble beet to the botanical curiosity of the tomato, The Curious Lives of Vegetables reveals the important, unusual, and downright fascinating stories behind the plants that nourish us. 

Journalist and former Bon Appétit staff writer Ali Francis blends cultural history, science, and narrative storytelling to spotlight rare, heirloom, and overlooked vegetables as a way of telling bigger stories—about biodiversity, flavor, memory, and the invisible forces that determine what ends up on our plates. Each illuminating essay is paired with a sublime illustration, reminiscent of antique botanical art, by celebrated artist Adriana Picker. 

More than a visual feast, this is an invitation to see carrots, onions, broccoli, and dozens of other plants with fresh wonder. Perfect for gardeners, plant lovers, and anyone drawn to the intersection of art and nature, this book unearths the hidden histories, surprising science, and cultural significance of vegetables we thought we knew.

About Ali Francis: 

Ali Francis is an Australian journalist and former Bon Appétit reporter living in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Cut, BBC, The Guardian, TASTE, and other publications. She’s the co-founder of Best Food Blog, a journalist-owned publication about eating, and writes Anyway!, a newsletter about how to be alive. The Curious Lives of Vegetables is her first book.

About Valerie Segrest:

Valerie Segrest is a Muckleshoot nutrition educator and writer whose work is rooted in Indigenous foodways, the Salish Sea region, and trust-based approaches to health, education, and community collaboration.