Contact Judy
Judy says: Thank you, thank you for all your wonderful notes. I only wish I could write back to each of you personally. But in order to start a new book I need serious thinking time, which means less time for e-mail. Hope you understand.
Just want you to know that my assistant and I read this guestbook every day, and try to respond when appropriate. Your continued love and support are a constant inspiration.
842 entries.
Hi Judy!
Now what does age have to do with anything, just another label..... I was so blessed to get my period at 8 1/2 years old..Huh??..Oh my!!!! What is this in life? I don't even brush my hair nor combed, my hair back then...and did not care, tomboy girl playing in the woods climbing trees, playing tonka trucks!!! lol
Thank Goodness for YOU! You awesome woman.....Have you ever thought about running for President of the USA....We need a smart intelligent woman as you are. Peace!!!!! Love, Teesha
Now what does age have to do with anything, just another label..... I was so blessed to get my period at 8 1/2 years old..Huh??..Oh my!!!! What is this in life? I don't even brush my hair nor combed, my hair back then...and did not care, tomboy girl playing in the woods climbing trees, playing tonka trucks!!! lol
Thank Goodness for YOU! You awesome woman.....Have you ever thought about running for President of the USA....We need a smart intelligent woman as you are. Peace!!!!! Love, Teesha
I love your books from the very beginning when I was 12 years old. I couldn’t wait to get to the library and check out. Are you there? God it’s me, Margaret and Forever…. I watched your documentary on Prime. And I like what you said about women that we could have it all just not all at once.
I just want to touch briefly on the subject of abortion. It’s so difficult for me to think that the weakest among us, the ones that Count on us the most, which are also potentially women, we CAN discard them so easily.
I turn into a sap for babies. I’m so weak kneed when it comes to the pre-born. Some of those cells during conception are future women. They depend on us to give them a shot at life.
I error on the side of life.
I just want to touch briefly on the subject of abortion. It’s so difficult for me to think that the weakest among us, the ones that Count on us the most, which are also potentially women, we CAN discard them so easily.
I turn into a sap for babies. I’m so weak kneed when it comes to the pre-born. Some of those cells during conception are future women. They depend on us to give them a shot at life.
I error on the side of life.
Dear Judy,
I watched the Forever documentary over the weekend, and it made my own history wash over me in alternating hot and cold waves. My very first Blume book was "Margaret" and I ordered it through a Scholastic book flyer around 1978, when I was in the fourth grade.
I'm a social work professor now, and I realized in watching Forever that part of why I teach what I do - and how - comes from what I learned from you and your writing. I'm old enough to remember the first censorship wars over your books, and now, seeing them revisited, I'm confronted by the truth that cowards will always try to censor the truths they don't wish to admit are real in the name of "protecting" children. The only thing that may be more real and true than your books is the authenticity and truth in the letters you've received over the decades from youths who have demonstrated they need adults who will be honest with them in their negotiations of truth and reality. It struck me, looking at the boxes and boxes of letters that you've had a hand in carefully archiving, that you are staring at decades of youths' loneliness that, if harnessed by the power of knowing they were not alone in the world, could be a force of empowerment for others and be a collective voice against the isolation that fuels so many youths' mental health crisis today.
I would not expect you to choose an easy retirement by any means, but it appears that you continue to be a necessary footsoldier in the battle for the truth (pardon the violent metaphor). Now, as a 53-year-old professor, I am as thankful for your work and your example as I was for your books when I was an awkward early-developing kid in small-town Michigan in the 1970s.
Thanks, Judy, for being unflinching in the face of both cowardice and the truth.
Sincerely,
Claudette GD
University of Oklahoma
I watched the Forever documentary over the weekend, and it made my own history wash over me in alternating hot and cold waves. My very first Blume book was "Margaret" and I ordered it through a Scholastic book flyer around 1978, when I was in the fourth grade.
I'm a social work professor now, and I realized in watching Forever that part of why I teach what I do - and how - comes from what I learned from you and your writing. I'm old enough to remember the first censorship wars over your books, and now, seeing them revisited, I'm confronted by the truth that cowards will always try to censor the truths they don't wish to admit are real in the name of "protecting" children. The only thing that may be more real and true than your books is the authenticity and truth in the letters you've received over the decades from youths who have demonstrated they need adults who will be honest with them in their negotiations of truth and reality. It struck me, looking at the boxes and boxes of letters that you've had a hand in carefully archiving, that you are staring at decades of youths' loneliness that, if harnessed by the power of knowing they were not alone in the world, could be a force of empowerment for others and be a collective voice against the isolation that fuels so many youths' mental health crisis today.
I would not expect you to choose an easy retirement by any means, but it appears that you continue to be a necessary footsoldier in the battle for the truth (pardon the violent metaphor). Now, as a 53-year-old professor, I am as thankful for your work and your example as I was for your books when I was an awkward early-developing kid in small-town Michigan in the 1970s.
Thanks, Judy, for being unflinching in the face of both cowardice and the truth.
Sincerely,
Claudette GD
University of Oklahoma
So I’m 32years old. Not a kid. Just watched the documentary. I absolutely love all Judy Blume. Always have and thank you for putting the documentary out.I’ll even get a JB tattoo. She’s the Mother of us all 💕
Hi!
I have a magical story to share about my copy of Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great. When I was young we moved around a lot and I wasn’t able to keep a lot of my childhood possessions, even though I would have loved to. I grew up and moved to a new town and had children and that reignited a love of Children’s books in my heart so I went to a few charity secondhand book sales so I could rebuild my collection of Children’s books. I visited one book sale in the city I used to live in and saw a copy of Sheila the Great and I grabbed for it eagerly and bought it up, remembering it was one of my favourites. It wasn’t until I opened it at home that I realized it was the very same copy I had donated as a child, with my full name written inside!
Since that time, my children have listened to the Pain and the Great One, and particularly the Fudge books on repeat for years and years. The Fudge books are narrated by Judy so we feel like she is a part of our family.
Thank you Judy for making a reader out of me and my children. Now I’m a Children’s librarian and I get to share that joy of loving books with so many others.
You are my hero,
Leanne
I have a magical story to share about my copy of Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great. When I was young we moved around a lot and I wasn’t able to keep a lot of my childhood possessions, even though I would have loved to. I grew up and moved to a new town and had children and that reignited a love of Children’s books in my heart so I went to a few charity secondhand book sales so I could rebuild my collection of Children’s books. I visited one book sale in the city I used to live in and saw a copy of Sheila the Great and I grabbed for it eagerly and bought it up, remembering it was one of my favourites. It wasn’t until I opened it at home that I realized it was the very same copy I had donated as a child, with my full name written inside!
Since that time, my children have listened to the Pain and the Great One, and particularly the Fudge books on repeat for years and years. The Fudge books are narrated by Judy so we feel like she is a part of our family.
Thank you Judy for making a reader out of me and my children. Now I’m a Children’s librarian and I get to share that joy of loving books with so many others.
You are my hero,
Leanne
The only real positive memory of my mother, a middle school librarian, was how she encouraged me to read, and how special it was when she’d present me with your books. I’m almost 60 now, and she’s been estranged from me for over 40 years. Watching your story on Prime Video brought back all of the angst and heartache of our tumultuous mother-daughter relationship, but also reminded me of the fleeing moments of happiness I remember in a way that nothing else ever could. Thank you for reminding me why it’s ok to still admit to myself that I will always have love in my heart for her. ❤️
I always wanted to say thank you for writing Deenie. In 4th grade I was diagnosed with scoliosis. I wore a Boston brace for years. At age 29 I had to have surgery. I’m fused with rods and screws from T2 - L3. It has been 21 years since my surgery. I’m doing well other than having arthritis. I’m so glad that I read your book and I pray that others with scoliosis find it comforting. Many blessings to you!
Dear Ms. Blume,
Thank you for all of your amazing books which were a part of mine and my best friend Judy's preteen through teenage years. We lived your books and just cannot wait to see Are you Therre God It's Me Margaret. We used to go around with our close friends doing I must I must increase my bust. They never truly increased until later on in life but we had fun doing that.
In our latter teens, Judy and I bought a copy of your book Wifey and we read it a couple of times to be honest but we needed a safe place to stash it from our parents, so being the geniuses that we were we put it under her mattress. Remember how Saturday was a day when the house was cleaned? Well her mother discovered our book and quickly brought it to my mother's attention and that ended it for us. Luckily we had read it cover to cover a few times before getting caught.😀 🤦♀️Thanks for giving us such fun teenage memories! You will always be our favorite author as well as an icon to a pair of now middle aged girls from Queens, NY.
Best regards,
Bridget
Thank you for all of your amazing books which were a part of mine and my best friend Judy's preteen through teenage years. We lived your books and just cannot wait to see Are you Therre God It's Me Margaret. We used to go around with our close friends doing I must I must increase my bust. They never truly increased until later on in life but we had fun doing that.
In our latter teens, Judy and I bought a copy of your book Wifey and we read it a couple of times to be honest but we needed a safe place to stash it from our parents, so being the geniuses that we were we put it under her mattress. Remember how Saturday was a day when the house was cleaned? Well her mother discovered our book and quickly brought it to my mother's attention and that ended it for us. Luckily we had read it cover to cover a few times before getting caught.😀 🤦♀️Thanks for giving us such fun teenage memories! You will always be our favorite author as well as an icon to a pair of now middle aged girls from Queens, NY.
Best regards,
Bridget
Dear Judy
My wife. Tiffany and now our daughter have read your books she thay just wanted to tell you how much your books ment to my 51 year old wife and our 13 year old daughter thank you
Love you my girls
My wife. Tiffany and now our daughter have read your books she thay just wanted to tell you how much your books ment to my 51 year old wife and our 13 year old daughter thank you
Love you my girls
Dear Judy,
I wrote this with tears in my eyes. I never knew we could write to you as a child. I read Are you there God it's me Margaret so many times I lave lost count. Your books were my salvation growing up. As I read and reread your books I felt you were the only adult who understood me.. I felt loved and cared for by you. I wish I could have written to you as a child.
With all that said I am beyond excited as a 57 year old woman to watch Are you there God it's me Margaret on Friday. I have informed my family I will not be reachable on Friday, April 28th from 12:30 until I get home. I am sure i will need some processing time after the movie as I did after every reading of your books.
Thank you for being here and sharing
Margaret
I wrote this with tears in my eyes. I never knew we could write to you as a child. I read Are you there God it's me Margaret so many times I lave lost count. Your books were my salvation growing up. As I read and reread your books I felt you were the only adult who understood me.. I felt loved and cared for by you. I wish I could have written to you as a child.
With all that said I am beyond excited as a 57 year old woman to watch Are you there God it's me Margaret on Friday. I have informed my family I will not be reachable on Friday, April 28th from 12:30 until I get home. I am sure i will need some processing time after the movie as I did after every reading of your books.
Thank you for being here and sharing
Margaret
Mrs Judy,
I am a 50 yr old woman, who grew up reading your books. Words can not express how much your stories have guided who I have become and what I belive. More importantly, your books have been with me through the truly dark, difficult times of my life. I was Deenie as a girl, with scoliosis and a brace, something that still causes issues in my life. Blubber hit home and Margaret was my favorite book for years. When I grew up you entertained me with Wifey. I just want you to know, that you still influence me today and you will always be one of my hero's. Thank you for being brave, thank you for being fierce, thank you for being you.
I am a 50 yr old woman, who grew up reading your books. Words can not express how much your stories have guided who I have become and what I belive. More importantly, your books have been with me through the truly dark, difficult times of my life. I was Deenie as a girl, with scoliosis and a brace, something that still causes issues in my life. Blubber hit home and Margaret was my favorite book for years. When I grew up you entertained me with Wifey. I just want you to know, that you still influence me today and you will always be one of my hero's. Thank you for being brave, thank you for being fierce, thank you for being you.
Judy,
The View discusses how they are against censorship of books. They name a book that has been removed from schools and libraries and give the book to the audience. I hope they will give away one of your books.
Have a great day!
mb
The View discusses how they are against censorship of books. They name a book that has been removed from schools and libraries and give the book to the audience. I hope they will give away one of your books.
Have a great day!
mb
Your work is so inspiring. I am so thankful for my 7th grade Librarian who gave me Are You There God It’s Me Margaret. I finally felt I wasn’t alone. I have read them all over and over in my over 50 years. You truly know how to connect with your readers. When I taught school my students loved your books and you even wrote to them. Thank you for being one of those people in my life that I truly looked up to. I love your work and I can’t wait to pick up your next book.
Never let them get you down. You are an icon to so very many. I love love love your work.
Never let them get you down. You are an icon to so very many. I love love love your work.
Hi Judy
I have loved your books since childhood and still have all of my old paperbacks (almost almost 50 years later). Watched your documentary Forever on the weekend and I just want to tell you how moving it was that you answered all of those letters from readers. What a truly special person you are. I read all of your books out loud to my kids (boys and girls) and they sparked some great conversations. Keep on keeping on! If Florida ever returns to normal I would love to visit your bookshop
Much respect and admiration
Donna
PS - I totally written to you as a young girl if I had known you actually read the letters but this will have to do ❤️
I have loved your books since childhood and still have all of my old paperbacks (almost almost 50 years later). Watched your documentary Forever on the weekend and I just want to tell you how moving it was that you answered all of those letters from readers. What a truly special person you are. I read all of your books out loud to my kids (boys and girls) and they sparked some great conversations. Keep on keeping on! If Florida ever returns to normal I would love to visit your bookshop
Much respect and admiration
Donna
PS - I totally written to you as a young girl if I had known you actually read the letters but this will have to do ❤️
You are a damned hero, Judy blume! That's the story I'd like to write...that or, "so you're having a boy!
~a woman's how-to marriage"
It is an alarming sign when a country begins taking rights away...thank you so much for your courage in standing up for our 1st ammendment throughout the years! I met my husband in sweden, which is where we reside with our 8 yr old son. Our son is nonverbal, which makes me worry so much about bullying, which I endured as a child; however, it feels much safer here in sweden. It's not perfect, but it is safer for our kid to grow up, since hate and intolerance is the message being sent to American kids, when banning books.i lived in volusia county for 12 years, so i understand your love for key west! Thanks for listening, and thanks again, Judy!
~a woman's how-to marriage"
It is an alarming sign when a country begins taking rights away...thank you so much for your courage in standing up for our 1st ammendment throughout the years! I met my husband in sweden, which is where we reside with our 8 yr old son. Our son is nonverbal, which makes me worry so much about bullying, which I endured as a child; however, it feels much safer here in sweden. It's not perfect, but it is safer for our kid to grow up, since hate and intolerance is the message being sent to American kids, when banning books.i lived in volusia county for 12 years, so i understand your love for key west! Thanks for listening, and thanks again, Judy!
Watched your special on Prime Video over the weekend and just wanted to thank you for being you & the difference you make! I'll never forget reading Margaret in my younger years!
Dear Ms. Blume,
Greetings! I hope this message finds you well.
I wanted to take a moment to share how much you've been an inspiration to me as a future author and person. I've been a fan of yours for decades now. Your books punctuated my childhood, and I enjoyed every single one I read.
I would have to say that "Just As Long As We're Together" is probably my favorite. I had so much in common with Stephanie. As the middle child of divorced parents, I felt like I was stuck in the middle of many relationships, and her journey of wanting everyone to get along strongly resonated with me.
I had an opportunity this weekend to watch your documentary. Thank you for sharing your creativity and wisdom with the world as well as for your vulnerability, kindness, and activism.
You have had an enormous impact on me as both a writer and a person.
As a writer, I also wanted the ability to connect with my audience with authenticity and thoughtfulness, as you did throughout all of your books. As a person, I also aspire to match just an ounce of your kindness. The fact that you took the time to respond to every fan letter is simply amazing.
Also, I must admit that I'm kicking myself that it never occurred to me to write to you as a child. Sending handwritten letters is what I love to do. I have no idea how that became such an epic fail on my part. All the more reason I'm so grateful for this guestbook! 🙂
Also, I wanted to share that every year on the evening of New Year's Eve, I write a letter to God expressing my hopes, dreams, and wishes for the upcoming year. I seal it and open it the folllowing NYE. I've been doing this for decades now. I must credit this tradition to you, as I'm sure "Are You There God? It's me, Margaret" was the influence.
I would be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to reach out. Your ability to trust your instincts to give children a much-needed safe space and voice is so greatly appreciated by so many.
Even though I'm not published yet and mostly write stories for an audience of one, (my four-year-old son), I truly hope that I can do the same.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Warmest regards,
Porsha
P.S. - Perhaps I missed this on your bookstore website, but you should consider selling autographed copies of your book online through your bookstore. I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to travel to Key West, but I would certainly purchase many autographed copies for my son to read when he's of age and my nephews, who are 11 and soon to be 9. Just a thought! 🙂
Greetings! I hope this message finds you well.
I wanted to take a moment to share how much you've been an inspiration to me as a future author and person. I've been a fan of yours for decades now. Your books punctuated my childhood, and I enjoyed every single one I read.
I would have to say that "Just As Long As We're Together" is probably my favorite. I had so much in common with Stephanie. As the middle child of divorced parents, I felt like I was stuck in the middle of many relationships, and her journey of wanting everyone to get along strongly resonated with me.
I had an opportunity this weekend to watch your documentary. Thank you for sharing your creativity and wisdom with the world as well as for your vulnerability, kindness, and activism.
You have had an enormous impact on me as both a writer and a person.
As a writer, I also wanted the ability to connect with my audience with authenticity and thoughtfulness, as you did throughout all of your books. As a person, I also aspire to match just an ounce of your kindness. The fact that you took the time to respond to every fan letter is simply amazing.
Also, I must admit that I'm kicking myself that it never occurred to me to write to you as a child. Sending handwritten letters is what I love to do. I have no idea how that became such an epic fail on my part. All the more reason I'm so grateful for this guestbook! 🙂
Also, I wanted to share that every year on the evening of New Year's Eve, I write a letter to God expressing my hopes, dreams, and wishes for the upcoming year. I seal it and open it the folllowing NYE. I've been doing this for decades now. I must credit this tradition to you, as I'm sure "Are You There God? It's me, Margaret" was the influence.
I would be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to reach out. Your ability to trust your instincts to give children a much-needed safe space and voice is so greatly appreciated by so many.
Even though I'm not published yet and mostly write stories for an audience of one, (my four-year-old son), I truly hope that I can do the same.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Warmest regards,
Porsha
P.S. - Perhaps I missed this on your bookstore website, but you should consider selling autographed copies of your book online through your bookstore. I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to travel to Key West, but I would certainly purchase many autographed copies for my son to read when he's of age and my nephews, who are 11 and soon to be 9. Just a thought! 🙂
Hello Judy,
I listened to your interview with Terri Gross today on NPR. It brought me way back to my early days of teaching in 1982 in Santa Cruz, California, where I taught a 4th, 5th and 6th-grade combination class. I read aloud Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret, a chapter or two a day, every day. One day, maybe halfway through the book, a group of girls in my class came up to me and said, "Ms. Greenapple, you have to stop reading that book. It's not good that the boys are hearing all this stuff." "No,", I told them, "it's really important that the boys hear all this stuff because they need to understand what is happening to girls right now so they have an idea of what you are all experiencing." They were not pleased that I continued reading the book. The fact that they came to me as a group meant that they had met before and discussed this, which I LOVED, and the fact that they were so concerned about what the boys were thinking and feeling, which made all of them more sensitive to each other's understanding of puberty. It was just fabulous. Who would have known that 50 years after that book was first written, that 40+ years after I first read that book aloud to kids, it would continue to be discussed and made into a movie. I'm so proud that I read it to kids, but not as proud as you must feel to have written that classic book and enlightened kids who were at such a tender age. Thanks for giving us this book for teachers to read to kids.
Regards,
Elaine Greenapple (now retired after 35 years of teaching elementary school!)
I listened to your interview with Terri Gross today on NPR. It brought me way back to my early days of teaching in 1982 in Santa Cruz, California, where I taught a 4th, 5th and 6th-grade combination class. I read aloud Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret, a chapter or two a day, every day. One day, maybe halfway through the book, a group of girls in my class came up to me and said, "Ms. Greenapple, you have to stop reading that book. It's not good that the boys are hearing all this stuff." "No,", I told them, "it's really important that the boys hear all this stuff because they need to understand what is happening to girls right now so they have an idea of what you are all experiencing." They were not pleased that I continued reading the book. The fact that they came to me as a group meant that they had met before and discussed this, which I LOVED, and the fact that they were so concerned about what the boys were thinking and feeling, which made all of them more sensitive to each other's understanding of puberty. It was just fabulous. Who would have known that 50 years after that book was first written, that 40+ years after I first read that book aloud to kids, it would continue to be discussed and made into a movie. I'm so proud that I read it to kids, but not as proud as you must feel to have written that classic book and enlightened kids who were at such a tender age. Thanks for giving us this book for teachers to read to kids.
Regards,
Elaine Greenapple (now retired after 35 years of teaching elementary school!)
Dear Judy, I just watched Judy Blume Forever as I prepared dinner for my children and grandchildren. i had to sit down as I began to cry, listening to the part about the censorships and Pat Buchanan . I’m 67 and remember going to the marches to fight against book burnings and right to life. My tears are for the women and girls now who are now dealing with what we had hoped we put an end to then. Many of my friends have bought homes in Florida this year (we live in NJ) and now that all these new restrictions about abortion, book burning,turning in neighbors who might be transgender, plus so much more, I cannot in good conscience visit them or travel there. I feel sick with sadness and apprehension about what is happening now in our country.
Thank you for your words all these years. I hope that we will see an end to this horror on our lifetime.
Your reading fan for so many years of my life,
Barbara
Thank you for your words all these years. I hope that we will see an end to this horror on our lifetime.
Your reading fan for so many years of my life,
Barbara
Hey Judy, Many years ago, I worked for a Weight loss group in Linden Nj. It was called Lean Line, your dear Mom was in my group ! She loved talking about you ! At the time, my 3 daughters loved reading your books. I guess she's since passed away, I'm 78 & now living in E. TN.I loved talking w/ her, she was so very proud of you. Carol
In this Section
- Judy’s Official Bio
- Photo Gallery
- How I Became an Author
- Questions for Judy
- What’s Up With Judy
- Contact Judy
U.S. Mail:
Judy Blume
c/o Tashmoo Productions
1075 Duval Street
Suite C21 #236
Key West FL 33040
Judy’s Agent:
Suzanne Gluck
William Morris Entertainment
11 Madison Avenue, 18th floor
New York, NY 10010
Email:
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