It was a long time before Julia Child became known as a sensation in the kitchen. After she graduated from college, she worked as a copywriter for W. & J. Sloane. After 1937, she lived in California, where she worked in advertising and writing for publications. After a brief stint with the OSS during World War II, she traveled France, where she developed an appreciation for fine French cooking. Her Mastering the Art of French Cooking was published in 1961, making her an instant success in the world of culinary arts.