LiveWorld Transcripts

	NYPL presents
	Judy Blume Author Judy Blume
	November 19, 2002

New York Public Library Welcomes author Judy Blume

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NYPL: Good afternoon, Judy and welcome. We're so thrilled that you are going to answer our questions. We love reading your books and we are so happy that Fudge is back!

Judy: Hi everyone! I'm glad to be joining you today. I'll be doing my own typing so if I make mistakes you'll know I'm going really fast, okay?

Random People: How did you decide to become an author?

Judy: Oh.that's a tough question. I always had stories inside my head and one day I just decided to start writing them down. I didn't actually decide.

Dove Sword: What was it like to see your very first book published and in your hands?

Judy: It was SO exciting! The first thing I did was sniff the pages, the way I did at the public library when I was little.

Rachael: Hi Judy, I'm Rachael from Brooklyn. My question is where did you grow up and did you have friends like the ones in your books? Margaret is my favorite.

Judy: Thanks, Rachael. I grew up in Elizabeth, N.J. And I did have friends like the girls in "Margaret."

Lynnja: You've been writing books for kids for a long time--do you get more complaints from parents about the content of your books now than 20 years ago?

Judy: More complaints during the 80's than the 70's; I'm not sure about now. There are still some that I hear about. The problem is, you don't always know when someone is trying to ban a book. We depend on teachers and librarians letting us know. Sometimes, of course, I hear directly from parents who don't like what I've written. I try to write back and explain if the parent has written a thoughtful letter.

Jill B: Who is your favorite character that you've created?

Judy: That's like asking a mother which child is her favorite--each one is special in her/his own way. It usually depends on the day you ask me. I suppose if I were forced to choose, I'd say Fudge because he's brought me so many readers; Margaret because she was my first character that kids identified with; and Sally Freedman because she's the character who's most like me.

Nancy: How old were you when you wrote your first book?

Judy: I was in my mid-twenties. But my first book wasn't published until I was around 30.

Rachael: Is there any one person who was truly an inspiration during your career as a writer?

Judy: In the beginning I would go to the library and bring home stacks of books and I'd divide them into piles--these are books I really love and I'd like to write this way. Those authors were Louise Fitzhugh and EL Konigsburg and especially Beverly Cleary. I used to laugh so hard reading her books I'd fall off the sofa!

Joseph: What is your favorite kind of literature? What genre would you consider your books to be?

Judy: I like to read fiction best and I like to write fiction, too.

Leda: What is your favorite children's book, after your own?

Judy: I have a really hard time choosing favorites There are so many good books. So, I'm sorry, but I can't answer that question. I can tell you that when I was young I loved the Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace.

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