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…

Wow Hi Judy Blume!!

Just wondering if you have any tips for aspiring writers on how to get started and have the confidence to send work out? Sorry not very original I know!

What an exciting sneaky bonus start to the webchat .

Since my question has partially been asked and answered via another poster I'm sneaking another in. Did writing the book take you mentally back to your teens setting it whe you lived at that time in your life? I suppose in that respect it may have been easy for you to picture the streets and school etc given it's what you knew so well. I wonder if it was hard not to put a bit of yourself into Miri. And I also wonder what sort of a teenager you were given how well you write books for the age group.

I just wanted to tell you just how much your books mean to me. I have all your kids & adult books and I can't tell you how many times I have re read them over the years (I'm 40 now) and I still enjoy them just as much as when I first bought them.

I would like to know which are your favourite books, the ones you can return to again and again?

Are you there God it's me Margaret....I loved that book in my teens😄

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

my goodness - totally starstruck! Thanks Judy!! See you when you're ready

Hi Judy. I loved 'Are You There God..It's me Margaret' when I was growing up, as I was from a mixed culture / religious background like Margaret. Her story really helped me think about and understand my struggle for an identity, so thank you!

Tiger Eyes is one of my favourite books ever. I loved Are You There... as well.

No question, just wanted to say Hi!

Oh my gosh I'm late!

Hi Judy

Thanks for all the advice c/o 'Margaret', and all the others.

Not sure if anyone has asked about Fudge yet - was he based on a real life brother / nephew / friend's son? Just introducing my 8 yr old to your so funny books with him in and would love an insight if poss?

Also, I will never forget sitting on a bench at school with friends and us all talking about Ralph age about 13. Such sensible but funny sex education - worked for me and eternally effective I'm sure.

I was almost in a panic just now - thought I'd got the time wrong!

Thank you Judy, and again to MN for sending me a copy of the book. I confess I cannot remember which of your teen books I have read (apart from one - Deenie - which I hunted out using the web a few years back as I really wanted to know if I was remembering it right. ). My parents were staunch believers in public libraries and not having books cluttering up the house, so once read, back they went leaving me forever unsure what I'd read and loved as a child/YA. I grew up desperately wanting my own library so I could read and re-read my books (and I have largely managed it - I can't move for books as a result!).
Did you use libraries growing up, and when you started to write some of your more challenging books (subject-wise: back to Deenie here!) did you ever wonder how you were going to get them past the editors and then the librarians?

I am wondering

I was wondering about Natalie knowing Kathy Stein was on the plane too. Was it just a guess or something more than that? How much of Natalie's connection with Ruby was simply part of her mental illness?

I loved Deenie too - thanks for such classics

... how I ended up with a hanging sentence!

@barricade

* 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)?

1. Impossible to choose favorite. I tell the kids who ask, It's like asking a mother which is your favorite child. Depends on the day?

1. I'm always open to the possibility of film adaptations. (Not options which can tie a book up forever). I think Unlikely would make an interesting limited TV series.
2. Never ever!!

3

Hi Judy

You mention your teens were readers, Did you ever worry about the content of what they were reading?

(and fangirl swoon 😊)

Wait! I totally missed this. Where is it being held (obviously I'm not a regular)? I would have loved to go to something like this. Judy Blume was my absolute favorite as a kid. She totally drew a picture of growing up in America (circa 1940-1950s) for me, many years ago that and growing up issues. I loved Sally J Friedman. Such great stories they were also sad but I loved the way the characters pondered the other people in the neighborhood and in the main character's family. So childlike but also with a great maturity. Thanks for all the memories.

@remroux89

I was wondering about Natalie knowing Kathy Stein was on the plane too. Was it just a guess or something more than that? How much of Natalie's connection with Ruby was simply part of her mental illness?

No spoilers during this chat. My editor wanted me to clarify that question. She wanted me to have Natalie overhear the plans but I resisted. So much more puzzling this way.

@HermonieGranger

Hi Judy

You mention your teens were readers, Did you ever worry about the content of what they were reading?

(and fangirl swoon 😊)

Never. And neither did my parents -- interesting because my mother was such a worrier and so anxious. But in our house reading was a good thing. That's one of the best gifts my parents ever gave me. The freedom to choose, to browse in their bookshelves even when I was too young to understand what I was reading. I loved glimpsing life as an adult. Remember, there were no YA books when I was young. I went directly from children's books to grownup novels at 12.

Evening everyone

Firstly, thank you to all those who have written their reviews and thoughts so far, and I do hope you’ve been able to make it tonight for this extremely special live chat.

This month's Bookclub guest is a legendary figure to many of us who grew up with her wise and intelligent children's novels. We are completely thrilled and honored to welcome Judy Blume to Bookclub this evening. Judy doesn't really need an introduction - her stories are so stitched into our lives. But just as a reminder, Judy has sold over 85 million copies of her books, including Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Blubber, Forever and the Fudge series, as well as four novels for adults: Summer Sisters, Smart Women, Wifey, and our July Book of the Month, IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT. I am delighted that we have the opportunity to talk about this exceptional body of work with Judy over the next hour.

Judy, thank you very, very much indeed for giving us your time tonight. And congratulations on the excellent IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT and on your countless awards during your exceptional career.

I know you have already written answers to our standard Mumsnet questions, which Rachel will post here in a short while, and you have also already done a grand job answering some of the advance questions. But I know we'll have many more to get through so, without further ado, over to you...

@moonbells

I was almost in a panic just now - thought I'd got the time wrong!

Thank you Judy, and again to MN for sending me a copy of the book. I confess I cannot remember which of your teen books I have read (apart from one - Deenie - which I hunted out using the web a few years back as I really wanted to know if I was remembering it right. ). My parents were staunch believers in public libraries and not having books cluttering up the house, so once read, back they went leaving me forever unsure what I'd read and loved as a child/YA. I grew up desperately wanting my own library so I could read and re-read my books (and I have largely managed it - I can't move for books as a result!).
Did you use libraries growing up, and when you started to write some of your more challenging books (subject-wise: back to Deenie here!) did you ever wonder how you were going to get them past the editors and then the librarians?

I am wondering

I was so naïve when I started writing I didn't even know I was being "controversial." Okay -- maybe with Deenie and masturbation, but I was determined because I wished I'd had something to read when I was Deenie's age that let me know it was okay. luckily, I had girlfriends who also talked about their special places and those good feelings. We had no idea what it was called, only that it seemed to be something that happened to us. something we didn't talk to our parents about. I was also lucky to have an editor who was willing to take a chance on me. And it was the 70's, a much more open time.

Thanks so much for my copy of In the unlikely event.

It took me right back to sneakily reading Forever with a torch under the duvet so my mum didn't know.

You mentioned that this book was 5 years in the making - how many drafts did you write before the final version? Were there any characters or scenes that you edited out that you wished you could keep?

Hi Judy, I don't have a question, but I wanted to say how much I enjoy your work. I remember Forever going round the girls at school and the pages dropped open at the bits with Ralph in, which I've just remembered now as a 38 year old! Denise was so excellent and tiger eyes was heartbreakingly brilliant. Thank you.

Hi everybody! Is it the official starting time? I think so. Thanks so much for all your messages so far and for sharing your warm memories with me. Makes me really glad I wrote those books!
xx Judy

Hi Judy, wow what a honour to talk to my childhood hero! I loved 'in the unlikely event' - such vivid descriptions and all the little details. I really felt like I was a teenager in mid-century America!

As an aspiring writer myself, I wondered what your writing routine is like?