Chat to the one and only JUDY BLUME - ask Judy a question and discuss her latest book IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT on Monday 8th August, 9-10pm

[TillyMumsnetBookClub]

Judy Blume is a revolutionary. Her books have sold more than eighty-five million copies in thirty-two languages. She wrote about racism, bullying, sex, menstruation — you name it, she did it - with clarity, warmth and honesty. Now she has written what she says will be her ‘final novel for adults’, using her own experience of catastrophic plane crashes in her hometown as the central plot. IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT is set in 1950s suburban America, and told in a chorus of voices, covering the whole small town. Miri is an amusing and gawky 14 year old living with her glamorous single mother, her make-up saleswoman grandmother and her journalist uncle. Miri’s best friend, Natalie, comes from a wealthier family whereas her first-love/almost-boyfriend Mason is an orphan. When three separate planes fall out of the sky in the space of three months, the impact on the community is immense. Fear, panic, horror and a desperate need to make sense of the devastation means that emotions and relationships are pushed to the limit. But it is the long-term fallout that Blume really explores, with repercussions on her characters drawn out over three generations. It is a beautifully crafted, tightly woven work of art, with Blume’s unmistakable voice ringing throughout.

To find out more about the book, and for your chance to win one of 50 copies, please go to the book of the month page and fill in your details before 10am Monday 27 June. We'll post on this thread when all the copies have gone.

You can also find out why Judy is a Mumsnet heroine and read what Judy’s up to on the official Blume website or follow @JudyBlume on Twitter

We are honoured and delighted that Judy will be joining us to answer your questions about IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT, all her terrific novels and her exceptional career on Monday 8 August, 9-10pm. Please feel free to discuss the book here throughout the month and then come and meet Judy on the night, and ask her a question or simply tell her what you think of any of her work. Here is your chance to chat to a legendary literary figure, so please do come along, whichever book you’ve read at whatever age…

To Judy Blume:

You are famous for addressing allegedly controversial topics in your books for teens. If you were to write another book for teens today, which topic concerning them would you choose to address, and why?

Booktrail are you advertising??? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

@DoItTooJulia

My childhood in books begins with Judy Blume. I loved her books when I was growing up-they answered all of my questions and raised some too.

My question is: Did you know the books were going to be so successful and shape a generation of women? (Or rather, was it your intention?)

I didn't have a clue. I doubt any writer knows whether or not her books will be successful. I never dreamed it would be anything like this. I prayed I would be published some day and that someone would read my books.

I haven't read your books since I was young but will soon be revisiting them with my children!
My question is:
If you were invisible for the day where would you go and what would you get up?!
Thanks and keep writing! Xx

Hi, it's me, Judy, and I'm excited about our chat tonight. Thanks for all your messages. Now, if only this connection doesn't glitch out (I'm in New Mexico) we'll be all set. Talk with you later.
xo

Hi, it's me, Judy, and I'm excited about our chat tonight. Thanks for all your messages. Now, if only this connection doesn't glitch out (I'm in New Mexico) we'll be all set. Talk with you later.
xo

@regisitme

I read every single one of Judy's books between about 1981 and 1984. What an amazing ability to relate to people.

My question would be - As a 78 year old (sorry!) how was your adolescence different from the ones you have written about?

It's okay I'm proud of my age and guess what? It doesn't feel that different (so far). If/when you read Unlikely you'll get a feel for what my adolescence was like. Very different, and yet, not that different at all.

@iklboo

Loved Judy Blume growing up.

Judy - was it weird being referenced in Deadpool of all things?

I always enjoy the references!

@LifeIsGoodish

Hi Judy My 13yo dd has gained such a lot from Are You There God. It feels very relevant to her. (I am grateful to you for enabling her to ask me questions and discuss openly the challenges of growing up in a mixed-religions family) She wants me to ask you how you make your novels so realistic, did you have those experiences yourself when you were younger? Thanks.

I have a good memory and a lot of imagination.

[faints with excitement] Hello Judy

@iklboo

Loved Judy Blume growing up.

Judy - was it weird being referenced in Deadpool of all things?

I always enjoy the references!

@BearAusten

Brilliant book. I absolutely loved it even though it was emotionally draining at times. Thank you for my copy. I liked how it was broken up into sections from the various characters' perspectives. It helped the pace.

I was amused by Mike and Frekki Monsky being referred to as 'long-lost friends' under Principle Characters.

You must have nearly been Miri's age when the actual events took place in Elizabeth. Do you remember how you felt and where you truly aware of what happened at the time?

Which of your works are you most proud of and why?

Thanks for these very good questions.
I know Mike and Frekki no spoilers here but I get what you're saying.
I was 14 during that winter. I knew a lot but how truly aware was I? I honestly can't say. My father was a dentist and I was aware of what he was asked to do/or maybe volunteered to do. I knew about the crashes, of course. We all did. But the fact that I had this story buried inside me for all these years and never thought to write about it has me baffled.

I would say that I'm most proud of this book -- I feel it's the book I was meant to write, the story I was meant to tell. Plus it took 5 years!

I really loved this book!

I loved how real the relationships where and the way seemingly insignificant things were valued and important - the little things of life that form the important stuff.

I'd love to know - how DID Natalie know that Kathy Stein was on the plane?

@LouisCK

Amazing, amazing guest. Props to MNHQ!

Judy - I grew up reading your books (well certainly spent much of my puberty racing through each book before grabbing the next) and looking back you were SO ground breaking, covering so many diverse subjects with strong female characters. Wonderful! How do you think the young adult market has changed over the past couple of decades and do you read new YA authors? If so do you have a favourite? Cheeky three questions

I'm honoured to think you might have even read my words . RALPH FOREVER!

The YA market changes all the time. Fantasy, dystopia, back to realistic fiction. Some of it is very dark. There's a lot about depression, a lot about gender dysphoria. But there's always room for a good book, no matter what the story. I have friends who write YAs. I wish them all the very best though I have no interest in writing for that market. But, you know, aside from Forever - published before there was a YA category, I've never written for it.

@jobrum

I know Judy isn't as 'big' here as in America but my local library had a lot of her books. I read a lot of them when I was around aged 10 and was relieved when I found out sanitary towels had moved on from being attached to a belt!

Judy, it's the dialogue in your books I always find so spot on; conversations feel real. Does writing conversations just come naturally as part of the story when you get to that point or do you spend time re-writing until it feels right?

Dialogue is the only part of the writing process I truly enjoy. It comes naturally. Still, first drafts are torture I'm finding my way it takes many drafts for it all to come together. If I hadn't had the real newspaper articles to draw on when writing Unlikely I doubt I could have done it. Descriptive prose isn't my strong point so I'm grateful to those reporters. I like to invent characters and situations and see what happens.

@APotterWithAHappyAtmosphere

Hi Judy!

I'm reading IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT at the moment and as the reviews have said, it's amazing slipping into the familiarity of the writing, even though it's a very different type of story to the teen books and I was shocked as the events unfolded.

One of the things I love is the descriptions of food - sundaes and maraschino cherries in particular evoke the same feelings as many previous books, so you can almost taste them! Is that a conscious decision - is food and the sensations of eating an important part of your life?

Hmmm...that's interesting because growing up I was told I ate like a bird. But food was important. My grandmother was said to be a great cook (Ma Fanny in Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself - my most autobiographical book). My mother wasn't an adventurous cook. Every Friday she baked the same cake. I adored it yellow cake, chocolate frosting still do. But in my Jewish family eating together was important. Holiday meals were important. So maybe you're onto something....

@ImperialBlether

Another one here whose daughter absolutely loved and learned such a lot from your books, Judy. Thank you so much for that.

My question is this: did you have the normal problems with teenagers in your family that we all did, and which books did you find helped them? I know my daughter enjoyed rebelling against me and I wondered what happens if a child has to accept that her mother understands her! Mine was furious just at the thought.

I had my share of problems when my kids were teenagers. I'm not sure my daughter ever thought I understood her at that age. Both kids were readers so that helped. I used to leave books around the house. That still works. Don't tell them what books they'll like. Let them discover for themselves. New covers help. (Not looking for royalties here -- I promise)

@Dizzybintess

I am obsessed by Judy Blume. Have been since the age of 7. i recently met her in person in the Hay festival and I have never been so starstruck in my entire life. I could barely speak....it was ridiculous! I would love to win a copy of this book.

I absolutely loved being at the Hay Festival! And did you know I got kisses from Benedict Cumberbatch? And heard Judy Dench on stage? Swoooon!

I was waiting until 9pm for the webchat, but looks like its started already ... better get some questions in ...

Many thanks to Mumsnet / Picador for a copy of this book. To echo the sentiments of everyone else, Judy Bloom is a legend. Slightly teary-eyed to hear that 'In The Unlikely Event' will likely be her last book for adults.
The book itself, as expected, was never going to be a light whimsical read. It is instead an enticing coming-of-age tale laced with love and loss, not too dissimilar to many of Judy's YA classics. The narrative build-up is gradually developed creating an intriguing premise, and the use of newspaper extracts and different viewpoints help create a rich, multilayered reading experience.

I'd like to ask Judy a few general questions to start with, if I may ..

QUESTION ONE:- Do you have a personal favourite book out of the ones you've had published? Or out of books written by other authors?
QUESTION TWO:- With the advancements in CGI and on-screen visual effects, and the tools now available to film-makers, we have seen previously 'unfilmable' literary classics finally make it to the big screen. Would you be open to the possibility of your book being optioned for film or television, and how would you feel about your work in 'other people's hands'?
QUESTION THREE:- The subject matter in your books have often courted controversy. Was there ever a time when your primary objective was to be shocking and controversial (as opposed to the subject matter being a by-product of the story you're telling)?

Hi Judy.

As I said in my review earlier, I love a character list at the beginning of the book (I also like maps). I can refer back to it if I forget the relationships. They don't appear in many books but I'm grateful to any author who provides one. What features of books do you appreciate?

@QueenJuggler

Swoon - MNHQ, this has to be the best web chat guest ever. EVER. I bow down to your amazingness for getting her on!

Question for Judy - are there any of your books that you think are less relevant now and could maybe do with an update so that they are still as powerful for future generations as they were for mine? Or do you think they stand the test of time?

I don't think of that. The books are what they are (though the Fudge books have updated electronics - long story). As long as readers enjoy them, I'm thrilled. Whoever expected them to last this long? Certainly not me.

Really enjoyed the book, but why 3 plane crashes?

@FernieB

Hi Judy.

As I said in my review earlier, I love a character list at the beginning of the book (I also like maps). I can refer back to it if I forget the relationships. They don't appear in many books but I'm grateful to any author who provides one. What features of books do you appreciate?

@WaffleOverload

I'm a huge fan Judy and I have read all your books. Along with your books, I also loved Lois Duncan. My question is are you friends with Lois?

Thank you

I did know Lois Duncan and was so sad to learn of her recent death.

@APlaceOnTheCouch

Hi Judy, Like PPs, I loved your books as a teenager and it was like meeting an old friend when I read In The Unlikely Event. Thank you for writing such relatable female characters and addressing so many important issues in your books.

I read recently that you have bought a bookstore. Which do you enjoy most - writing or introducing customers to new books?

We didn't buy a bookstore, we started one, in Key West. My husb and I love it kind of our baby and are excited to get up and go to work every day. I doubt I could have done this without 47 years of writing. I so needed that creative work in my life. But this is creative in a different way. And I do love chatting with customers about books. We're lucky to have customers!

Hi friends,
I was supposed to just do a trial run here to make sure I'd know what to do during tonight's chat. Afraid I got carried away -- could sit here for hours answering your questions. But I've got to shower and get dressed now. It's still morning where I am. Talk with you later.
xo Judy

Judy, you seem to have a great zest for life and you look incredible! How do you do it. 😊

Thanks for my copy of the book In The Unlikely Event; it's the first Judy Blume book I've read. I was extremely disappointed with this book it just plodded along and never picked up the pace and got interesting. It featured various issues but none of them in any depth. There were far too many characters and the majority of them were redundant. The one character I would of liked to have featured more is the flight attendant who survived the crash.