Judy Blume discusses how her parents fostered her love of reading, how she began writing professionally, why she tackled unusual subjects in children’s literature, and her most popular book “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”. Blume recalls the personal impact of the Women’s Movement and having to deal with the censorship of her books.

Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We’re Together and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge, beginning with Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Judy has also written novels for adults that include Wifey, Smart Women, Summer Sisters and her most recent In the Unlikely Event, all of them New York Times bestsellers. Together, her 29 books have sold more than 90 million copies in 39 languages, and have been a touchstone for countless young readers, many of whom have been inspired, as grownups, to write their own books. Judy’s knowing voice and honesty come with a price: the American Library Association has consistently placed Blume at or near the top of its list of authors most frequently banned. In turn, she has championed intellectual freedom by working diligently with the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) to support teachers and librarians who fight to keep challenged books on their shelves. In 2009, the NCAC honored and paid tribute to Blume’s long standing defense of free speech and her courageous battles against all kinds of censorship. She was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in 2004 and the Library of Congress’ Living Legends award in 2000. Judy is also the recipient of the 2017 E. B White Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters as well as the 2018 Carl Sandburg Literary Award from the Chicago Public Library Foundation. In 2020, Judy was honored by the Authors Guild Foundation for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community. In 2021, Yale University conferred a Doctor of Letters honorary degree to Judy and the National Coalition Against Censorship’s Free Speech Defender Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to her.

From the 2013 PBS Documentary “Makers: Women Who Make America”, examines how women have helped shape America over the past 150 years, striving for a full and fair share of political power and economic opportunity.

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Judy Blume, Writer

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
00:10 Childhood
03:26 Preadolescence
05:36 Mother’s regrets
06:41 Mother’s advice
07:40 College
07:59 Married life
10:38 Creative outlet
14:42 Writing
18:45 Building a career
20:48 Writing as a 12-year-old
21:46 Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
27:36 Taboo subjects
32:31 The women’s movement
36:27 Working mother
40:37 Writing as an outlet
41:51 Then Again, Maybe I Won't
47:07 Banned books
56:17 Connecting with young readers
01:01:19 Writing for an audience
01:03:35 Family secrets
01:04:25 Feminism
01:09:52 Advice
01:11:24 Mother
01:13:44 Q&A

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