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- [00:01]
Zibby Owens
Clips from the Totally Booked Live series are now up on Instagram. TotallyBookedWithZibvy. Check it out. Race the rudders.
- [00:14]
Judy Blume
Race the sails. Race the sails.
- [00:16]
Zibby Owens
Captain, an unidentified ship is approaching. Over.
- [00:19]
Judy Blume
Roger, wait. Is that an enterprise sales solution?
- [00:24]
Zibby Owens
Reach sales professionals, not professional professional sailors.
- [00:28]
Judy Blume
With LinkedIn ads, you can target the right people by industry, job title and more. We'll even give you a $100 credit on your next campaign.
- [00:36]
Zibby Owens
Get started today at LinkedIn.com results.
- [00:39]
Judy Blume
Terms and conditions apply.
- [00:42]
Hannah
Hi guys, it's Hannah from Giggly Squad with some around the corner. I wanted to tell you guys how I'm staying comfy and stylish. Lululemon is my secret weapon. There are plenty of copycats out there, but nothing compares to the Lululemon fabrics and fit. I've literally had my pair of lul leggings since college and I'm out of college. I know I don't look it, but I am. The quality is next level. I especially love the Lululemon Align collection. It's made with this weightless, buttery, soft nulu fabric that feels like next to nothing. It's so soft. Whether you're in Align pants, shorts, a bra, tank, skirt, a dress, you get non stop flexibility in every direction so you can stretch the summer limits align even wicks sweat and as a sweaty girl. I love this. You know it's going to be my best friend when I play tennis this summer. Shop the Align collection online@lululemon.com or your nearest Lululemon store.
- [01:37]
Warby Parker Representative
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- [02:11]
Zibby Owens
Hi, this is Zibby Owens and you're listening to Totally Booked with Zibby, formerly Moms don't have Time to Read Books. In my daily show I interview today's latest best selling buzziest or underrated authors and story creat creators whose work I think is worth your time. As a bookstore owner, publisher, author and obviously podcaster, I get a comprehensive look at everything that's coming out and spend my time curating the best books so you don't have to stay in the know. Get insider insights and connect with guests like I do every single day. For more information, go to zibbedia.com and follow me on Instagram ibyoens I was incredibly honored to interview Judy Blume on stage at the Temple Emanuel Stryker center in front of hundreds and hundreds of her adoring fans. I must say this was like a life highlight for me. We had the best time and she gave permission for us to use the audio for this podcast, which was also incredibly generous and I am very grateful. So now all of you get to hear our really special conversation and get to know Judy in a whole new way. For those of you who aren't familiar with Judy Blume, she is a legend. Here's a little bit of her backstory. Judy Blum 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 Judy Blume titles as Are you There God? It's Me Margaret, which was just made into a fabulous movie Blubber, Just as Long As We're Together, and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge, Beginning with Tales of 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 92 million copies in 40 languages. She was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in 2004 and the Library of Congress's 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 Sandberg 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, where I went, conferred a Doctor of Letters Honorary degree to Judy and the National Coalition Against Censorship's Free Speech Defender Lifetime Achievement Award. Judy was named one of Times 100 Most Influential People of the Year in 2023 and received the National Book Critics Circle Lifetime achievement award in 2016. Judy and her husband, George Cooper, founded the independent nonprofit Books and Books at the Studios in Key West, Florida. She is proud to be associated with Mitch Kaplan, the Miami bookseller. Welcome everybody. Thank you for being here. So excited to be talking to Judy Blume tonight. Let's give another round of appl.
- [05:29]
Judy Blume
Thank you all for coming. This is so exciting.
- [05:33]
Zibby Owens
It's amazing.
- [05:33]
Judy Blume
I Have to pretend I'm just talking to Zippy.
- [05:36]
Zibby Owens
Yeah, let's keep doing what we were doing on the couch. We were chatting, and then we kept being like, no, no, let's save that, too. Let's save that. Let's save that. So, Judy, here we are at Temple Emanuel. Why don't we start by talking about your religion, your growing up, your relationship to God, and how you incorporated that into your life.
- [05:57]
Judy Blume
Yes. Well, that's like, what kind of child I was. So, I mean, if you know the books, you probably know me. And what kind of child I was much like the child in Starring Sally J. Friedman as herself, which is my most autobiographical book. I was imaginative and thinking about it recently. I think a lot of that was because the adults in my life kept secrets. I hated secrets. I still hate secrets. I know you're keeping something from me, Zibby.
- [06:30]
Zibby Owens
I'm not. I promise. I promise I'll give you anything you want.
- [06:34]
Judy Blume
Secrets. And so I made up. You know, I was a kid, and it was always like, if the kid walked by the room, the adults stopped. The. The kinder. So I made everything up. And what I made up was sometimes much worse than what it would have been in real life.
- [06:52]
Zibby Owens
I remember from your documentary, you talked about hearing grownups talking about Nazis and all of that, and you changed it to make up into, you know, fairy tales or something.
- [07:03]
Judy Blume
Oh, I don't know.
- [07:05]
Zibby Owens
No, you don't want to talk about it. Okay.
- [07:08]
Judy Blume
But that's okay. But I. Well, I mean, I. I came from a family. My father had grown up as an Orthodox Jew, and he married my mother, who was Jewish but not religious, and her family didn't keep kosher. And, you know, it was. I think probably my father's mother was not happy about that. I would just tell you I had two grandmothers. One I was very, very close to, that was Nanny Mama. The other I was a little uncomfortable with, that was Grandma Sussman. You just know right away. You know, Grandma's husband didn't really speak English, and Nanny Mama was just fun and accepting. And my brother used to say, nanny is the only one who just loves us unconditionally. He probably didn't use that word, but that's what he meant. And she was. And so my relationship with God was very, very personal. And I think it really started when I was separated from my father because, you know, we. It's a long story. It's a book. But we had to move to Miami beach because my brother was sick. And the doctor said no he can't spend the winter in New Jersey. And so there we were in Miami Beach. But my father, a dentist, had to stay home in New Jersey and work. So I was separated from this parent that I loved more than anyone in the whole world, and he loved me back. And I felt that it was my job. It was such a burden for a nine year old child. I felt it was my job to keep him safe and keep him healthy. His siblings had all died at a very young age, his 40s, and he was now in his 40s. He was approaching the bad year, I think it was 43, when two of his brothers, both dentists, had died. And so for a kid, a little kid like that, you don't share it with anybody. You don't say, guess what I'm doing. But I made bargains with God, and I had certain prayers that I invented that I had to say a certain number of times every day. I had to keep him safe. That was my job.
- [09:43]
Zibby Owens
So much pressure from you.
- [09:45]
Judy Blume
I know, but, you know, you were a little kid and today you'd probably.
- [09:50]
Zibby Owens
Get some medicine for that. You know, I said, today you might just get some medicine for that. Generalized anxiety. Here's a therapist.
- [09:59]
Judy Blume
Anyway, but then I kept it all inside. I never told anyone, even after, you know, I never told anyone about that I wrote the book because that's what I did. That's how I told people, by writing a book. So.
- [10:15]
Zibby Owens
But then the worst did end up happening with your father right before your wedding. And I'm so sorry.
- [10:22]
Judy Blume
Yeah, that was pretty terrible. He was 54. Yeah, it was Ralph. But he's there, he's around.
- [10:31]
Zibby Owens
His name was Ralph. No, no. Oh, I was like, that's so weird. If that's really true. Talking about forever, obviously, you know, from forever, right? I know.
- [10:42]
Judy Blume
Don't mix up Ralph with Rudolph.
- [10:44]
Zibby Owens
Speaking of therapists, we're really gonna have to dive into this.
- [10:47]
Judy Blume
He was Rudolph. My father was 12. Really? Sussman.
- [10:53]
Zibby Owens
So you started telling stories to yourself, getting yourself through all of these things. When did you realize you had a gift?
- [11:02]
Judy Blume
Oh, maybe when the New York Times told me and I said, you. It's like, look at this. Oh, my God, maybe I can really do this. I mean, no.
- [11:15]
Zibby Owens
So it wasn't a teacher or someone in your life growing up who said, you know what, Judy, you're pretty good at this?
- [11:21]
Judy Blume
No, you know, creative writing wasn't stressed when I was growing up in school. Am I right? Joanne, pay attention. I have a friend in the audience, and we were friends from the time we were 10. And she's the one with the memory whenever I. I forget and I have to say, what was that thing in Elizabeth that we did in a. Joanne knows. Who was that person? Joanne always knows.
- [11:50]
Zibby Owens
So Joanne must know. I'm so secret.
- [11:52]
Judy Blume
For Joanne and our friendship. Yeah.
- [11:55]
Zibby Owens
Okay, so when, then, is the first time you tried to publish something that you wrote?
- [12:02]
Judy Blume
Well, so I went to college, and I got a degree in education because my mother told me that's what you have to do in case, God forbid, you ever have to get a job, because, you know, it was a different generation. But I had always played school. I had always liked school and teachers, and I had teachers in the family. And so I really did want to become a teacher. I never did. Don't know if I would have been any good at it.
- [12:29]
Zibby Owens
But I would argue that you have done a lot of teaching.
- [12:32]
Judy Blume
But I did. And wait, how did we get here?
- [12:38]
Zibby Owens
We were talking about Joanne. We were talking about when you first got published. Oh, when you said school for Education.
- [12:43]
Judy Blume
You said, when did I first send something in? So I had. I married when I was still in college, as we. Many of us did, then had two babies by the time I was 25. And I liked having babies and I liked taking care of babies, but something big was missing in my life, and that was, you know, had all this creative energy locked up. I had to let it out somehow. So I got the idea that I would start writing rhyming. Rhyming picture books, and I would illustrate them. I still draw smiley faces. I'm not an illustrator. I had colored pencils and nice paper, and I put them together with little brass fasteners. And I was going to be the next Dr. Seuss, because my name was Sussman. Very close. And I sent them in to publishers knowing nothing, and they came back with rejection letters. And, you know, the first rejection letter is painful. I went into the closet and I cried. Only that one. And then I was determined, and I said, well, yes, maybe those are no good, but wait till they see what I'm going to do next. And I just kept going and going and going. And I did find a course at NYU in the. You know, whatever it is. What do you call that? School for Continuing Education. And I met a teacher there who encouraged me.
- [14:31]
Zibby Owens
Yeah, I knew there was a teacher at some point. There's always.
- [14:34]
Judy Blume
She was so supportive that when that semester ended, I signed up and I took it again. I took the same class again because I didn't want to lose contact with Her. It wasn't that she was a wonderful teacher, but when you find somebody like that who is supportive and encouraging, you just want to keep going. And so I did. And she gave me a rose in class when my first stories were published. She was great.
- [15:08]
Zibby Owens
That's so amazing.
- [15:09]
Judy Blume
Oh, my gosh.
- [15:11]
Zibby Owens
And when did you decide? Not kids. Yes, grownups.
- [15:17]
Judy Blume
Oh, years and years and years went by, and it wasn't until, you know, so I started. Started. My first book was published, I think in the end of 69. Nobody here was even born then except Joanne and me. And it wasn't until 78, I think that I was like, you know, there's this other side of me. There's. Because I am a woman. I'm not 12 years old. Although all the kids thought I was 12 years old. And I'm not 12 years old. I am a woman and I have a story to tell. And I sat down to write that story. It was very, very tough. It took three months to get a tone that was wifey. And it took me three months to try find the voice that's the most important thing. You know, this was not a first person voice, but this was a woman with a story. And I had fun writing that book. So naughty. When people come into my bookstore now and they say, oh, how about this one? I look at them and I kind of size them up. That one is very, very naughty. And surprisingly, the people who I think definitely should not read this book say, that's the one for me. And I'm talking about women, not kids.
- [16:49]
Zibby Owens
Wait, what does a woman who doesn't want to read a naughty book look like? What are we wearing? Okay, well, anyway, moving on. Okay, so that was fun.
- [17:04]
Judy Blume
But then I, you know, I was not finished with kids books. I went right back to it, but four times from 78 until the last one, which was 15 years ago, four times I had stories to tell.
- [17:22]
Zibby Owens
And along the way, you ended up going through different marriages. Oh, falling in love.
- [17:28]
Judy Blume
Oh, my goodness, yes.
- [17:31]
Zibby Owens
Okay, let's have a.
- [17:33]
Judy Blume
However, you gotta give me some credit, guys, because my guy, my best of 45 years we've been together, is right there in the audience. So, yeah, I made a couple of mistakes. I mean, the first one wasn't a mistake. We were together for 16 years. We had two kids, we had a lot of history, and we stayed friends. And that history carried us through, through all those years that we weren't married, married to different people.
- [18:06]
Zibby Owens
And what is the secret to staying married for 45 years?
- [18:10]
Judy Blume
Oh, exhaustion. I mean, who Wants to do that again. No finding. I mean. Oh, what is the secret? The secret? I don't know that there's a secret. The secret is you're just a lot smarter. And, you know, I mean, you can't give us any credit. We moved in together on our second date because you did things like that in the late 70s, you know, I mean, and my kid, you know, I had kids. It was tough. It was like, oh, what is she doing now? She's letting this guy move in. But sometimes it works, and we are very lucky.
- [18:55]
Zibby Owens
Well, speaking of secrets, I also wanted to know what the secrets are to aging so beautifully. Okay. I mean. Oh.
- [19:08]
Judy Blume
We shouldn't get credit for that because a lot of that is, you know, who knows what that is? Jeans, luck. Who knows why?
- [19:15]
Zibby Owens
What is your workout regimen? Let me hear all the details. Skincare and workout.
- [19:22]
Judy Blume
I used to work out a lot more, but since COVID Since COVID it's different. But I will say that the thing that I think and the thing that I miss the most is tap dancing. I took up tap dancing when I moved to New York with George. So, I don't know, it was around 45, maybe. He's going to change this. 43. 40 something. 1982. 83, okay, 1981. Or two or three. I was walking, since you're all New Yorkers. I was walking past Zabar's and then around the corner on 81st street, maybe, and I looked up and I saw a tap dance class. I could see them tapping. And I had never tapped because, you know, my mother was a Jewish mother in New Jersey, and she said, jewish girls take ballet. So I did. I took ballet, and I loved it because I love to dance. Give me, you know, music, and I'll dance whatever. I have to dance. But tapping, slapping your feet around. And I stayed in that class for five years, I think, and that was before we really moved to Key West. And then there was a guy in Key west who taught the same class in Key west, and I took that until he left. Tap dancing is wonderful. It's great for your spine. It's great for everything.
- [21:02]
Zibby Owens
You want to do a little bit here?
- [21:03]
Judy Blume
I'm getting ready.
- [21:04]
Zibby Owens
I know. I see that.
- [21:05]
Judy Blume
I'm getting ready.
- [21:06]
Zibby Owens
I know. Itching to. Itching to get up, and my feet are itchy.
- [21:10]
Judy Blume
But no, I'm not going to. But I do think that that was just a great time. And I miss that. I miss that. I mean, you know, I've always. I've been active, and I like to Dance. So I used to do jazzercise. Does anybody remember jazzercise? Yes, I liked all that jazzercise stuff. Oh, yes. Ymca. I like that. I used to go to those classes. We lived in New Mexico then. I used to go to those classes in Santa Fe. And yeah, and then I went to a gym. But when Covid came along, George and I, we stopped going to the gym. It just wasn't safe for us. But we never stopped because, you know, we live in Key west and it. The weather's nice and so we never stopped doing the two mile walks every day. And we still do that except when I work at the bookstore those three days a week. I got enough going on at the bookstore. I can't do the walk too.
- [22:13]
Zibby Owens
So.
- [22:14]
Judy Blume
Yes, keeping active, right? Just keeping active.
- [22:21]
Zibby Owens
I walked.
- [22:22]
Judy Blume
My mother used.
- [22:23]
Zibby Owens
Here, that's my activity.
- [22:24]
Judy Blume
Libby, this is for you. My mother used to. To say, make sure you always have younger friends.
- [22:33]
Zibby Owens
So now I have a new younger friends weighted vest. Whatever we do, whatever we can do. Today's episode has been sponsored by Fast Growing Trees. Did you know Fast Growing Trees is the biggest online nursery in the US with thousands of different plants and over 2 million happy customers. They have all the plants your yard or house needs, like fruit trees, privacy trees, flowering trees, shrubs, and so much more. Whatever plants you're interested in, Fast Growing Trees has you covered. Find the perfect fit for your climate and space. Fast Growing Trees makes it easy to get your dream yard order online and get your plants delivered directly to your door in just a few days without ever leaving home. Their alive and thrive guarantee ensures your plants arrive happy and healthy. Plus, get support from trained plant experts on call to help you plan your landscape, choose the right plants and learn how to care for them. I am obsessed with the fiddle leaf fig tree, an indoor plant that I got from Fast Growing Trees. It is so beautiful and it just came right to my door. No annoying trip to a nursery or. I once had to go in midtown in New York City, not even midtown, all the way to the flower district to find a tree and put it in the car. And that was such a pain. Anyway, now these came right. Everything comes right to my door. And it's amazing. This spring they have the best deals for your yard, up to half off on select plants and other deals. And listeners to our show get 15% off their first purchase when using the code readbooks at checkout. That's an additional 15% off@fastgrowingtrees.com using the code readbooks at checkout. Fastgrowingtrees.com code Reed Books Now's the perfect time to plant indoors or out. Use Readbooks to save today. Offer is valid for a limited time. Terms and conditions may apply. Today's episode is sponsored by Quince. I've gotten tired of clothes that looks cute online but feel cheap when I get them out of the box at home. I want better fabrics, better quality, better fit, just better everything. And with Quince, I got it. Their quality is incredible. Everything feels intentional, and the prices are shockingly reasonable. It finally feels like my clothes match my standards. For example, take their 100% European linen shorts and dresses from $30 Luxe Swimwear, Italian leather platform sandals, and so much more. The best part is that everything with quints is priced 50 to 80% less than what you'd find at similar brands. By working directly with top artisans and cutting out the middlemen, Quince gives you and me luxury without the markup. And Quince only works with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices and premium fabrics and finishes. I also love their 100% organic cotton poplin tiered maxi dress in navy. So adorable. Will wear this every day all summer long. So treat your closet to a little summer glow. Up with Quince. Go to Quince.com Zibby for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q-U-I-N C-E.com Zibby to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com Zibby.
- [26:03]
Judy Blume
At Memorial Care Saddleback Medical.
- [26:05]
Warby Parker Representative
Center, future mothers are enjoying the journey.
- [26:07]
Judy Blume
Of childbirth in private suites under the watchful eye of physicians, midwives, nurses and.
- [26:12]
Warby Parker Representative
A level three nicu.
- [26:14]
Judy Blume
Just in case. Saddleback Medical Center Caring is our calling.
- [26:20]
Zibby Owens
Let's talk about bookstore life. So we both own bookstores, which is the greatest joy in the world.
- [26:25]
Judy Blume
Into Zibby's bookstore.
- [26:27]
Zibby Owens
Thank you.
- [26:28]
Judy Blume
In la. In Santa Monica.
- [26:30]
Zibby Owens
Yeah, yeah, right.
- [26:31]
Judy Blume
Very sweet bookstore.
- [26:33]
Zibby Owens
So how do you do your bookstore buying? Are you in charge of buying?
- [26:36]
Judy Blume
No, no.
- [26:37]
Zibby Owens
Do you have any input at all?
- [26:39]
Judy Blume
Yes, but we. Our buyer works for Mitchell Kaplan in his Miami Books and Books. We are an affiliate of that wonderful Books and Books store and. But we're so small that. And he has such a great buyer. She buys for all his stores and for us. And yes. I mean, the lists come and you can say, no, I don't want that book. Or oh, I really get send me five. Or you never know. And a book takes off in your particular store that isn't. We do a Lot of staff, recommendation cards, a lot of them. And it is amazing how well they sell books. Our customers are mainly tourists. They're getting off cruise ships. I always wear a mask. Getting off cruise ships. They're coming for a visit. They're flying down from all over. All over the world, really. And they're buying books. We never knew that the people on those cruise ships read. And now we love them. They do. They come in and they buy books. But, I mean, there's a book that I've been. And I've been hand selling a book called My Darling Boy by John Dufresne. I have never heard of him. There was a wonderful review one Monday in the Times and new books coming on Tuesday. And the book came in and I took it home and I read it and I thought, what a great original voice this guy has. And so I wrote a little card. And because of that, people are buying and reading John Dufresne, who might not now. I've just ordered an earlier book of his called Louisiana Light and Power Company. Do you know that?
- [28:34]
Zibby Owens
No.
- [28:35]
Judy Blume
I think it's going to be wonderful, too.
- [28:37]
Zibby Owens
Maybe after this discussion, it will hit the bestseller list as a result, just of this.
- [28:42]
Judy Blume
And I met him because I recently spoke at a college in Florida. Forget what college? Fiu. Fiu. Florida International University. And John Dufresne is a professor there. And I said, oh, my God, can I meet this guy? So, you know, we kind of fell into each other's arms. It was very sweet. I met his wife, too.
- [29:06]
Zibby Owens
I was starting to get a little nervous there.
- [29:09]
Judy Blume
It's exciting. It's exciting. Exciting. When you find a new book and a writer that you don't know and you're able to then introduce new readers to this writer. You know, we love our bestsellers. I try to read as many as I can. But it's also that wonderful moment of finding somebody new and wonderful.
- [29:34]
Zibby Owens
It's such a gift to be able to give someone hours of entertainment just from a little suggestion. That is the best talk about why, in the unlikely event, why is this going to be your last book?
- [29:48]
Judy Blume
Well, I knew that when I was writing it. I really felt it's a very important book to me. People ask me in the store, what is your favorite of your books? And lately I have been telling them. I mean, these are adults, you know, telling them about this book. It's a story that I had inside since I was 14 and my daughter became a commercial airline pilot. And when she read this book, she said, mother, I can't Believe you never told me this story. Why didn't I ever tell. Why was I a writer of fiction for 40 years with an incredible story inside me? And I never forgot it, but I never thought to write it? Or maybe I thought I couldn't write it. Maybe I wasn't ready to write it. I don't know. But it took five years and a lot of research because it takes place in 1951, 1952. Joanne was there. She remembers it all. And it's a complicated book with a lot of characters. When the book was about to come out, I said to my editor, Carol Barron, I said, carol, you know those lists that are in books of characters and who. The family members and little family trees and all of that? I think we should do that. And she said to me, judy, this is not a Russian novel. But that's not the end of the story. A year later, when the paperback was going to come out, Carol called and said, you know that idea you had, I think we should do it now. There are a lot of characters. And it was just. I don't know, I just felt, this is it. I'm going out on this book. I don't want to do this anymore. I can't spend another five years locked up. And then it was like, out of the sky. The next day came this bookstore. I was so lucky because the creative energy was still there. But I really didn't want to write anymore. Suzanne, my agent, is here.
- [32:12]
Zibby Owens
She's still crying.
- [32:13]
Judy Blume
It's hard to explain that. No, I really don't want to do that anymore. I have other things I want to do. So. So that's. And because it was so much, you know, going back to what I knew as a kid and what I remembered in the early 50s, people say, how did you know all that? It was like, I was there. But also, I did a lot of research, and so it was an exciting book. I know they had 25 copies out there, so some of you must raise.
- [32:47]
Zibby Owens
Your hand if you got a copy. You are the lucky, lucky recipient. So now that the writing is over, there has been an uptick in adaptations. Dare God, It's Me, Margaret, which was such an amazing movie and book, of course, but the movie, oh, my gosh.
- [33:04]
Judy Blume
I loved the movie. I loved it so much. I'm the only writer who ever went out on, like, a tour and said to everybody, that movie is better than my book, because it is. And it's a wonderful movie. And working with that team was like a dream. A dream team.
- [33:25]
Zibby Owens
And now you've Introduced your work through the movie to a whole new generation.
- [33:30]
Judy Blume
Which is wonderful, I hope. And now forever is out there.
- [33:33]
Zibby Owens
Yes.
- [33:34]
Judy Blume
And that's totally different. And I wasn't involved with that. I'm. You know, a woman came to me and she made a pitch, and we bonded over our blue framed eyeglasses. And she told me what she wanted to do, and I thought it was interesting. I was never going to do forever. I just didn't think it would work for this generation. And she came up with a way. It's Black and it's LA in 2018, and I think it's pretty good. I've seen all eight episodes, and I'm.
- [34:12]
Zibby Owens
Currently available on Netflix for everybody's viewing enjoyment.
- [34:16]
Judy Blume
Yeah, I think she did a very interesting job with it, so I am pleased.
- [34:24]
Zibby Owens
So does this mean there will be other adaptations?
- [34:27]
Judy Blume
I hope so. I want Summer Sisters. Yeah, I want Summer Sisters. Thank you. Thank you. And I want a musical based on Sally Friedman as herself. Yes. And if they don't do it, I'll do it myself. I'll just tap dance and sing all those songs. Sally in Miami beach in 1948.
- [34:50]
Zibby Owens
I love it. Suzanne, please get on that. Okay, good. So you're walking two miles a day now you're in the bookstore three days a week. You. You look back at your whole career and you think what I think how.
- [35:04]
Judy Blume
Lucky I am, and that my book meant something and means something to readers. I mean, what does every writer dream of? First you dream of maybe someday I'll be published. And then you dream, maybe someday someone will read something that I've written. And then you get greedier. You know, maybe someday I'll hear from one of them. And there's someone in this audience who wrote to me when she was 12. She was one of the kids who wrote to me, and we're still friends. I mean, that is special.
- [35:47]
Zibby Owens
That's amazing. And what's going on with the project at Yale with Beinecke Library and all of the letters that were written to you, which are archived there? Last time we spoke, there was mention of a biography going on. Is that happening?
- [36:00]
Judy Blume
I don't know. I'm not.
- [36:02]
Zibby Owens
You don't know. Okay.
- [36:05]
Judy Blume
Well, I just don't really want that. You know, the documentary was wonderful, and so I didn't want that either.
- [36:15]
Zibby Owens
And can anyone go to Beinecke Library and read the letters, or do you have to get special permission? Do you know George?
- [36:23]
Judy Blume
Oh, anyone can go and read the letters. You can't copy them, and you can't take Them out. I think that's what it.
- [36:30]
Zibby Owens
Has anyone been here to see the letters? Beinecke Library. Okay. We have a field trip coming. Wow. Amazing. When you look back and think about your own advocacy, right? Book banning. You've taken a stance on this early on since your earliest books were banned as well. How do you feel about that, especially in today's world?
- [36:52]
Judy Blume
So I went through this in the 80s, big time book banning. What's happening today in this country makes that look like, you know, nothing. It is so bad, it is so dangerous. It is so serious. I live in Key west, which we like to pretend isn't in the state of Florida, but we have the same governor and we have the same legislature. And I have librarians come into the store who tell me that they've had to remove all books from the library. The library is now used only for study hall. It's just awful, awful, awful. But there's always the but. But there are some advocacy groups out there that are doing such incredible work, such good work, that I just have to, you know, be thankful for them, work with them, do whatever they ask me to do, kind of. I mean, I take that back. If any of you are in the audience and they're, you know, they're not sitting down, they're working with the, you know, trying to get the bills and state legislatures not to pass. And they just managed to do that with a great. What would have been a horrible bill in Florida, a truly devastating bill. Now, they will be the first to tell you that next year when the legislature meets again, there could be the same bill. There could be a worse bill. I don't know how it could be worse, but everybody needs to be aware of this and take a stand wherever you can. If you can't do anything yourself, join one of these fabulous groups, you know, National Coalition Against Censorship, aabb, Authors Against Book Bans. Penn America is doing a fabulous job. They've even started Penn Florida, because things are so bad there. So, I mean, I'm living right in the middle of almost the worst of it, you know, so far. Bookstores are okay. Nobody's bothering with bookstores.
- [39:14]
Zibby Owens
Let's keep our fingers crossed. That's.
- [39:16]
Judy Blume
Let's keep it that way.
- [39:18]
Zibby Owens
Going back to your role as a mom, you mentioned early on you were a young mom. You were overwhelmed. You were missing this creative outlet. How has your role as a mom informed your writing and your life to date?
- [39:34]
Judy Blume
I'm a better mom now. I didn't know what I was doing, you know, and I think you Know, dragging the kids through two divorces at 12 and 14 was very tough for them. You can't go back. And the only thing you can do is to say, I'm really sorry, and I am, but our family is a much better, tighter, wonderful family today. For 45 years, we've had George's daughter as such a part of it. So it's just good. We're at a good place.
- [40:16]
Zibby Owens
So. Yeah, I did see an Instagram thing pop up yesterday that said, the best thing for kids is to have a happy mom. Right. That's the most. There was some statistic, which I can't remember.
- [40:28]
Judy Blume
Right.
- [40:28]
Zibby Owens
But you're being a happy mom. Informs.
- [40:31]
Judy Blume
Yeah, but I was an unhappy mom for a while. Yes. I'm a happy mom now. They're in their 60s now, but it's never too late, you know. But, you know, for 45 years, it's been good stuff.
- [40:48]
Zibby Owens
At my second wedding, my mom let me borrow this necklace, and as she put it on me, she was like, I got this necklace on my 50th birthday, and maybe one day I'll let you have it. And I was like, mom, I'm in my 40s already. Anyway, you're always a young kid, right? No matter how old you are, you're.
- [41:06]
Judy Blume
Always a kid inside. That kid is always inside.
- [41:09]
Zibby Owens
Oh, my gosh. Okay. I know you can't pick favorites, and that, in an unlikely event, is the most powerful because it's your last, but of the books for kids, is there one that stands out to you or that you feel most grateful for or that, I don't know, you have some sort of connection to, aside? Maybe the one you were mentioning earlier about that is the most autobiographical, but.
- [41:33]
Judy Blume
Oh, Sally. Yeah, well, it's hard. You know, they're like your children, so it's hard to pick a favorite. I always tell people who ask me at the bookstore, it's like, you know, one day it's this one, and one day it's this one. I mean, I'll always be grateful to Fudge. Fudge brought me so many readers. Right? I think there's two Little Fudge readers there. And Margaret, of course, because Margaret brought me everything. I didn't know what I was doing. I truly, truly didn't know what I was doing. I just sat down and I wrote that book. The first book that I wrote from deep inside, just let go. And that's what came out. I had a wonderful editor, the best editor, who supported me and encouraged me, and he was perfect. He was so great. He Worked with me on all of the books from Iggy's House to Forever Iggy's House to Forever we worked on together. We had a lot of laughs over forever. Yes.
- [42:44]
Zibby Owens
And to aspiring authors out there, do you have advice? Is it just to be authentic and write from your heart? What would you tell the young writer who's like sitting in the front row?
- [42:55]
Judy Blume
Let's young writers, I would say, say, don't give up. And that determination may be as important as talent because so many talented people give up. And you know, the idea of criticism can be very hard and we have to take it because we get it. You know, I used to take a red pencil and scribble bitch on bad reviews, but I never, but I never, you know, I never told the reviewers that I did. But it's painful. There's no question. And, but you have to, you have to keep going. You have to go. I mean, that's true for any, any creative arts, right? I mean, you can be on stage, you can get a terrible review, you can be anywhere. It's hard. It's hard, but you do it. And for people who want to write, I once had a woman say, I've bought, I don't know, 17 books on how to write. But that's not how you learn to write. You learn to write because you read. You read, read, read. I've never understood kids who say, I don't like to read, but I'm going to be a writer when I grow up. No, you're not. Because it's about reading. And that's how you learn. You learn to write because you read and then you write, write, write, and you throw it away and you get better, you keep going. I mean, that's what I think anyway. I don't know. Love.
- [44:45]
Zibby Owens
Then, in addition to the book you were recommending earlier, do you have any genres in particular that you love to read or books that you've loved lately?
- [44:56]
Judy Blume
I'm really bad because there's so many sections in a bookstore and you would think that I would know everything in the middle grade and ya, I know nothing. I know nothing in this. You know, I mean, every now and then I read one of them because I'm reading fiction all the time and there's so little time to read. I find that having a bookstore, I have less time to read. George is incredible because he's always got a book in his ear. He's always listening to one and he's got another one that he's always got like three or four going and he goes through so many books. I know my nonfiction from George and what he tells me. And if he likes a book, he tells me a lot. Do you find that, too?
- [45:57]
Zibby Owens
I mean, you read whenever you can. Reading is how I relax, like people. My son the other day was like, mom, what do you do in your free time? And I was like, I don't have any free time. And he's like, well, but when you're not working. And I said, well, when I'm not working, I read. And he's like, but that's your work. And I was like, I know. That's why it's so great.
- [46:18]
Judy Blume
I think. Yeah, I think so.
- [46:21]
Zibby Owens
Reading is just. You just fit it. You have to fit it in in the spare moments, and I don't know.
- [46:26]
Judy Blume
You do. Yeah.
- [46:27]
Zibby Owens
You love it. Could we please give Judy a standing ovation? Yay. Thank you much.
- [46:34]
Judy Blume
Thank you. Thank you so much, everybody. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you for coming and thank you for being such a great audience.
- [46:47]
Zibby Owens
Thank you for listening to Totally Booked with Zibby, formerly Moms don't have Time to Read Books. If you loved the show, tell a friend, leave a review. Follow me on Instagram ibeowens and spread the word. Thanks so much. Oh, and buy the books.
- [47:09]
Tony
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- [47:57]
Hannah
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- [48:52]
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- [49:25]
Zibby Owens
Clips from the Totally Booked Live series are now up on Instagram totallybookedwithzivvy. Check it out.