Watch and Listen: Video

Video Links

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Velshi Banned Book Club: Judy Blume and Jason Reynolds

MSNBC: Ali Velshi’s Banned Book Club features the wonderful, moving, and important literature under threat of ban or removal. Judy and Jason Reynolds discuss the impact of book banning on theirs and others books.
October 19, 2024

Judy Blume and Jenny Emery Davidson’s chat during the Community Speakers Series

Presented by Sun Valley Writers’ Conference and The Community Library in Idaho.
July 17, 2024

Defying Limits with Judy Blume and Charlamagne Tha God

Simon & Schuster Celebrated 100 Years of Publishing with AUTHOR! AUTHOR! From proving naysayers wrong to fighting against book bans, Judy Blume and Charlamagne Tha God discuss overcoming hurdles in order to achieve their goals.
April 8, 2024

The Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill presented Judy Blume the Eleanor Roosevelt Lifetime Achievement Award for Bravery in Literature

The inaugural Eleanor Roosevelt awards for “authors and books that advance human rights in the face of an alarming rise in book banning and censorship” was held at Fisher Center at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Judy is the first-ever recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Lifetime Achievement Award for Bravery in Literature.
Judy’s acceptance of this award and conversation with National Coalition Against Censorship’s Executive Director Lee Rowland begins at 43:15 in this video.
February 17, 2024

The Ankler: “Judy Blume on Why it Took 50 Years to Make Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret?“

In Conversation with The Ankler: Page to Screen. Judy and director Kelly Fremon Craig were interviewed by Janice Min at Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica.
Listen to the entire podcast on Spotify.
Read a full transcript HERE.
October 14, 2023

Judy Blume in conversation with Carolyn Mackler.
Books & Books at the Studios in Key West welcomed author Carolyn Mackler virtually to the store to discuss her debut adult novel The Wife App with store co-founder and author Judy Blume.
June 29, 2023

TODAY’s host Jenna Bush Hager and Judy talk about the re-release of her novel Summer Sisters in honor of its 25th anniversary and how she hopes to be remembered. Jenna selected Summer Sisters as her August “Read With Jenna” book.
August 1, 2023

American Library Association: Judy Asks Everyone to Unite Against Book Bans
Judy knows a thing or two about book bans. Her books for young adults have been among the most frequently banned since she began writing in the 1980s. She urges everyone to stand with librarians against censorship by visiting https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/
May 5, 2023

Los Angeles Times Film Review of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Justin Chang
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret is as lovely and amazing as the Judy Blume novel.
May 4, 2023

ABC Nightline: Judy Blume, Rachel McAdams discuss Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret film
Wildly popular among tweens since its release in 1970, the hit book has finally made it to the big screen.
April 29, 2023

PBS NewsHour with Jeffrey Brown in discussion with Judy Blume. Note: There are two separate links to the two Parts of this news report.
Part 1: Jeffrey Brown visited Judy and the filmmakers of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret in Key West.

Part 2: Jeffrey Brown talks with Judy on how her books dealt with issues of sexuality and adolescence rarely found elsewhere when written. That brought contention, including bans, that are once again front and center.
April 28, 2023

Anderson Cooper 360
In conversation with Anderson Cooper, Judy discusses book banning in Florida, the banning resurgence nationwide and her decades long battle against book censorship.
April 28, 2023

Charlamagne Tha God in Conversation with Judy Blume
Charlamagne and Judy spent time together before speaking in Key West on February 3, 2023. Charlamagne stated that this was the the interview of his dreams and filmed it in Judy’s independent, not-for-profit, Books & Books.
April 28, 2023

The View with Judy Blume and Kelly Fremon Craig
Judy and Kelly Fremon Craig, director of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, discuss filming of the screen version of Judy’s book with Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Sarah Haines.
April 28, 2023

Live with Kelly and Mark
Judy in conversation with Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos about the adaptation of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and the Judy Blume Forever documentary.
April 27, 2023

The Kelly Clarkson Show: Are You There, God? It’s Me, Kelly: A Judy Blume Hour
Judy, Rachel McAdams and Abby Ryder Fortson in talk with Kelly Clarkson about the filming of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
April 27, 2023

THE TONIGHT SHOW Starring Jimmy Fallon: Judy Blume Never Thought Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Would Become a Film
Judy talks about getting her start writing and illustrating her own picture books, her technique for getting her kids to read her favorite books and the movie adaptation of her book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
April 26, 2023

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen: Judy Blume & Sonny Hostin
Andy and Judy discuss book banning, birds & the bees talk and authors who come to her Key West non-profit Books & Books. There are four clips from this show:
Judy used to pretend her city, Key West, wasn’t part of Florida.
Who’dy Blume?
Judy Has a Special Message For Librarians
Judy & Sonny Hostin talk Banned Books
April 26, 2023

Never Meet Your Hero, Unless Your Hero Is Judy Blume
Are you there Judy Blume? It’s us, your loyal readers. Judy sat down with E! News’ Jamie Blynn to answer all of our questions about growing up and taking charge.
April 26, 2023

Good Morning America 3: Author Judy Blume Dishes on New Film

Judy drops by to talk with GMA3 hosts Phil Lipof and Eva Pilgrim about the film adaptation of her novel, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
April 24, 2023

Good Morning America with Judy Blume

Talking with GMA hosts (George Stephanopoulos, Lara Spencer and Michael Strahan) about Judy Blume Forever and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Judy recalls demonstrating iconic ‘increase our bust’ scene on-set for her new movie.
April 24, 2023

Judy Blume’s trailblazing legacy shines in new doc

Judy says that it’s “otherworldly” to see her life play out in new documentary Judy Blume Forever.
AP (Associated Press), April 21, 2023

Judy Blume’s Acceptance Speech of Variety’s Power of Women

Honored at Variety’s Power of Women, Blume spoke after an intro from Seth Meyers, host of NBC’s “Late Night.” Blume was supporting the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC). She credited the organization with helping her channel frustration over efforts to ban her works from public school libraries because of her trademark candor about adolescence. Blume then turned her speech directly to the recent censorship moves from Governor DeSantis, dubbed the “don’t say gay” bill in Florida. “Teachers are under fire, librarians are threatened,” said Blume, “They are criminalizing teachers and librarians. It’s not just that they’re threatening their jobs, they’re threatening them. They could go to jail, all because they stand up for the rights of the students they teach. All because they refuse to give in to fear. I’ve known librarians who have saved lives by handing the right book to the right child at the right time. And for that one kid, finding themselves in a book can be a lifesaver.”
April 4, 2023

BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

Judy in conversation about Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and intolerance and book banning in the US.
April 2, 2023

Interview: Judy Blume, Rachel McAdams, Abby Ryder Fortson, Kelly Fremon Craig & More

In a roundtable conversation, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret writer Judy Blume, stars Rachel McAdams and Abby Ryder Fortson, director Kelly Fremon Craig , producers James L. Brooks and Julie Ansell discuss the 50-year journey of bringing Judy’s book to the big screen.
April 4, 2023

CBS Sunday Morning: Judy at Miami Film Festival speaks out about book banning.

“Unless we all speak out, it’s going to happen.” At the Miami Film Festival screening of Judy Blume Forever, a documentary about her life, Judy speaks out on the recent book banning across the US.
March 4, 2023

Judy joins NBC’s Today Show

Watch Jenna Bush Hagar, Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie of The Today Show in conversation with Judy and their coverage of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret movie.
January 12, 2023

TODAY SHOW #1

TODAY SHOW #2

TODAY SHOW – 8:00AM INTERVIEW SEGMENT

TODAY SHOW – 10:00AM MOVIE TRAILER DEBUT

TODAY SHOW – 10:00AM INTERVIEW SEGMENT

Burning Questions: A Virtual Evening with Margaret Atwood & Judy Blume

Books & Books was excited to partner with Miami Book Fair and indie bookstores across the U.S. & Canada for this conversation between Margaret Atwood and Judy Blume!
March 1, 2022

National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) hosted an interactive session to discuss the attacks on books in schools and share strategies on defending the right to read.

How to Fight Book Bans: Student Strategies
Note: Judy’s comments start at 0:50
February 28, 2022

Yallfest 2021: Watch Judy in conversation with Forever audio book reader Caitlin Kinnunen, moderated by Jennifer Niven.

Judy’s groundbreaking novel, FOREVER… created a legion of young fans since its original release. It spoke to us about first love and first times and gave us that book that we passed around to our friends, folding the corners of pages we thought they should read. FOREVER… is now available as an audiobook for the first time, narrated by Tony-nominated actress Caitlin Kinnunen (The Prom). Author Jennifer Niven (Take Me With You When You Go, All the Bright Places) moderates this panel conversation with Judy and Caitlin, where they discuss their first YA book obsessions and inspirations and re-introduce Forever… to a new generation of readers.
November 12, 2021

NCAC honored Judy with its Free Speech Defender Lifetime Achievement Award at their 2021 benefit, Let Me Speak! Judy’s award presentation begins at 1:04:20.

The National Coalition Against Censorship’s Free Speech Defender Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Judy at their 2021 benefit, Let Me Speak! Moving forward, NCAC’s award will be named the Judy Blume Free Speech Defender Lifetime Achievement Award.

NCAC fights censorship in all its forms, but especially in literature and the arts. Their work has never been more important.

The virtual celebration of Judy, hosted by comedian and satirist Randy Rainbow, also honored Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, Larry Charles, Chris Colfer, and Brenda Randolph as well as conversations with comedians Alonzo Bodden, Judy Gold, and Maz Jobrani.

A video of the pre-Gala Reception is available here.
November 10, 2021

Hilma Wolitzer and Judy, long time friends, discuss Hilma’s new book via Zoom .

Author Hilma Wolitzer discusses her book TODAY A WOMAN WENT MAD IN THE SUPERMARKET with author and longtime friend and Books & Books store founder Judy Blume.
September 14, 2021

Judy in virtual conversation with Jenny Lawson.

Books & Books presented in partnership with the National JCC Literary Consortium A Virtual Evening with Jenny Lawson in conversation with Judy discussing BROKEN (IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY). Hosted by CNN Correspondent Holly Firfer.
April, 13, 2021

Are You There Law? It’s Me, Menstruation
Note: Judy and Kate Erin Reilly Yurkovsky’s session is at the 5:38:22 mark.

The Columbia Journal of Gender and Law presented its Volume 41 Symposium, Are You There Law? It’s Me, Menstruation, the first-ever symposium to explore the intersection of menstruation and the law. The Symposium celebrates the 50th anniversary of Judy Blume‘s influential book, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, and commemorates the 30th year since the Journal‘s founding.

As part of the symposium, Q&A between Judy, Emily Gold Waldman a Professor of Law and Associate Dean at Pace University and her sixth grade daughter Arielle.
April 9, 2021

Judy in virtual conversation with Susan Conley discussing Landslide.*

Books & Books presented an evening with Susan Conley in conversation with Judy Blume discussing Landslide.
*Video link requires registration but no cost, just enter $0 as donation and there is free access to video.
March 2, 2021

Judy in virtual conversation with author Lily King.

As part of the Friends of the Key West Library Lecture Series, Judy was in conversation with award-winning author Lily King about her new novel Writers & Lovers.
February 15, 2021

Chicago Public Library First Chapter Friday

Enjoy as Judy herself reads from her book Cool Zone with the Pain and the Great One for the Chicago Public Library program “Live from the Library.” Judy is reading the chapter called Bruno’s Ear.
September 25, 2020

Today with Hoda & Jenna

Hoda and Jenna of TODAY talk with Judy about the 50^th anniversary of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
*Regretfully, this video link is no longer available.
September 15, 2020

50th Anniversary of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

Judy talks about Margaret turning 50 today!
September 15, 2020

SCBWI Summer Spectacular

Listen in to a conversation between Judy and Lin Oliver from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, from the summer conference.
August 1, 2020

A Mighty Blaze’s
Authors Love Bookstore Series

On-air host Kimberly Hensle Lowrance speaks with Judy about her indie-bookstore, Books & Books at The Studios of Key West — how the store has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and how booklovers can support bookstores at this time. Judy is joined by her husband and Books & Books co-founder George Cooper.
July 15, 2020

Books & Books present a virtual event with superstar comedian Jim Carrey. Introduction by Judy.

A virtual evening with Jim Carrey & co-writer Dana Vachon with an introduction by Judy. In conversation about their new semi-autobiographical novel Memoirs and Misinformation, is moderated by Books & Books founder Mitch Kaplan.
July 9, 2020

Judy Talks About Summer

Judy Blume talk about what summer means to her, traveling through stories, and the book that almost broke her heart to write.
June 29, 2020

BookCon: Are you there BookCon? It’s Judy and Jenny

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Are You There, God? It’s Me Margaret with a not-to-be-missed conversation between Judy and Jenny Han!
Note: Judy and Jenny’s conversation starts at 3:19 minutes into BookConline video.
May 31, 2020

BookExpo Gala Dinner

Children’s Book and Author Dinner: Finding One’s Voice. Join BookExpo’s annual event showcasing a lively conversation with Judy, Natalie Portman, Misty Copeland, Raj Haldar, Marie Lu and Kwame Mbalia.
May 28, 2020

Authors Guild Foundation’s 2020 Honoree for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community

The Authors Guild Foundation’s Gala Celebrating Literary Icons: Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood was virtual due to COVID19. Watch the live conversation and celebration with Judy and Margaret Atwood and moderated by Andrea Davis Pinkney. Click here for Gala video.

NOTE: The video starts with a “house open” period at the beginning. The show starts at around 21:45 and the Zoom chat starts at 26:37 with Judy, Margaret and Andrea.
May 26, 2020

2018 Carl Sandburg Literary Dinner

Chicago Public Library Foundation hosts 2018 Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner honoring Neil deGrasse Tyson and Judy Blume. NPR Saturday Host Scott Simon moderated the conversation.
Click here for Scott Simon’s introduction of Judy.
October 9, 2018

Judy Blumesday

In celebration of Judy’s 80th birthday, Symphony Space paid tribute to Judy with a day full of events. Kids enjoyed an afternoon of readings by actors and a discussion with Blume book illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi and contemporary authors including Jacqueline Woodson and Rachel Vail. During the evening event, hosted by Meg Wolitzer, Judy’s books were admired, discussed, and performed in tribute to her groundbreaking contemporary young characters she portrayed with honesty and humor. Judy was toasted with tributes to a forever-young author.

There are four celebratory videos:
Judy Blumesday Part 1 – 47 minutes
Judy Blumesday Part 2 – 33 minutes
Birthday Wishes & Accolades from Fellow Authors & Performers
Amanda Palmer’s Heartfelt Musical Tribute Judy Blume

February 4, 2018

Rachel Vail in conversation with Meg Cabot and Judy Blume

Books & Books @ the Studios in Key West, Fla. held an event with YA author Rachel Vail (center) and her new middle-grade novel, Well, That Was Awkward. Vail was in conversation with her friend and fellow author Meg Cabot (left), and was introduced by her mentor (and store co-founder) Judy Blume.
February 28, 2017

Beverly Cleary’s 100th Birthday

Happy 100th birthday to Beverly Cleary, beloved by generations of readers. With more than 40 books to Beverly’s credit and the love of countless fans, she inspired other authors as well including Judy. “Beverly … you were my inspiration when I started to write all those years ago,” said Judy. “You remain my inspiration today.”
March 25, 2016

Arlington Public Library

Judy discusses her career and her latest book, In the Unlikely Event, with Arlington Public Library Director Diane Kresh.
October 15, 2015

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Seth Meyers and Judy discuss dealing with overly sensitive parents and book censorship. Additionally, the Late Night Crew ask Judy about their changing bodies.

There are two videos:
Video 1 – 2:26
Video 2 – 3:58

September 19, 2015