As the best-selling author of classics like Blubber, Deenie, and Forever, Judy Blume is synonymous with childhood-angst. The award-winning storyteller's books have sold more than 80 million copies and been translated into 31 languages.
Though Blume, 70, has homes in Key West, Fl., New York City, and Martha's Vineyard, she's hardly taking time off. She continues to write; Going, Going, Gone! with the Pain & the Great One (Delacorte Press Books) — the third of four titles in a chapter-book series — hit bookshelves in 2008. And, she spends time on the Vineyard with her family, including 17-year-old grandson, Elliot, who's been a literary inspiration to some of her tales.
We caught up with the iconic author to chat about growing up, growing older, and being a grandmother.
Grandparents.com: Has your teenage grandson read all your books? Even Forever and Wifey?
Judy Blume: Has he read all of them? All of the children's books, probably. The adult ones? I don't think so. But Forever, definitely. He locked himself in his room for a day. He liked it.
GP: The original The Pain and the Great One is loosely based on your son and daughter's relationship growing up when they were 8 and 6. Where is Elliot in there?
JB: These new Pain and the Great Ones — some of the stories are from moments in Elliot's life. Ever since Elliot's been born we've summered in Martha's Vineyard and Elliot's been with us. So one story came from Elliot's day of boogie-boarding at the beach. Another is about a ride at the fair and that was based on Elliot riding the Gravitron at an annual Ag [Agricultural] Fair here on the Vineyard one summer
GP: Elliot was influential in getting Double Fudge, the last in the Fudge book series on the shelves. Have you thought to revisit any other of his favorite characters?
JB: He still wants more Fudge books! And he's 17! Just the other day he said, "I would love for you to write another Fudge book." He said he has ideas and that I could come to him and he would help me.
GP: Many of your books feature grandparents in important roles. What was your relationship like with your grandparents? Were they influential in your writing?
JB: I adored my maternal grandmother who figures prominently in Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself. I called her Nanny Mama and she was warm and loving. Not a modern grandma but she loved us so much. I remember my brother saying "No one loves me as much as Nanny Mama." We all felt that way. I loved being with her. She was warm and kind.
It tickles me when I think about the grandmother in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. because I was barely 30 when I wrote that and I remember thinking the grandmother was quite old and she was only 60! It's funny when you're writing something at 30 and you see 60 as so far away. And I just had my seventieth [birthday]. But Margaret's grandmother was sophisticated and lively and had a boyfriend. I think in my fantasy she was the kind of grandmother I wanted to be.
In The Pain and the Great One, Abigail and Jacob go to visit Grandpa Pete who is not the warm and welcoming kind of grandpa. He's an eccentric who lives on the edge of the Everglades. The grandmother on the other side of the family is a huggy, loving grandma. That's the one I want to be. I always imagined myself with many, many grandchildren, but I have just one. I'm so lucky that it's Elliot.
GP: What does your grandson call you?
JB: Nonie. When Elliot was born, there were six first-time grandparents. Each needed a name, and Grandma was taken. So I chose Nonie. I think it's Italian for grandfather, but I didn't know that at the time. There's a Grandma and Grandpa, a Grammy and Grampy, and Nonie and Z. Elliot took "Zadie," which my husband chose, and made it into Z. So he winds up with the coolest name of all. I've used so many different names for the grandparents in my books. Offhand I can think of Gran Lola, Ma Fanny, Garfa. Kids are great a coming up with original names for their grands.
GP: You've written about so many issues affecting adolescents and teenagers. Do you think it was harder coming of age in the 1970s or being a teenager now?
JB: I think it's always hard. It doesn't matter when it is. Coming of age is never easy. I just read about a movie called Baghdad High and in that case there is external drama that adds to the trauma. In Baghdad, you have a lot more to worry about, but nevertheless — I mean, look at Anne Frank — coming of age is such a universal story.
GP: So many readers have turned to your books as a way of dealing with the complicated issues about growing up. But your grandson can go to the source. Do you have that type of relationship where he turns to you for advice?
JB: Not at his age. They don't come to their family at this age. You gotta get them when they're much younger. But I have a wonderful relationship with Elliot. We bonded the day he was born. I swear, he looked right into my eyes and there was a bond there. He's a private person, though. And as a grandparent you have to be careful about your input. These are not your children. They are your sons' or daughters' children and you learn quickly what is acceptable and what isn't. My goal is to have Elliot always in my life, and to be as much a part of his life as he would like. The goal is to be loving and supportive.
GP: Do you think you'll write any more young adult fiction? Or adult-fiction? Anything about being a grandmother?
JB: I haven't had one second to do it. There are days when I think I never want to [write] again. But there's a book in my head that I think 20-somethings would like. But I don't know.
GP: There weren't a lot of movies based on your books — would you like to see some make it to the big or small screen?
JB: I would love to. The problem is making good movies. Some of the books I cannot stand the idea of being made into a movie, like Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Unless Abigail Breslin was cast as Margaret. She'd be perfect. With Deenie, we got two screenplays with respected writers, but neither worked. Summer Sisters would be a good movie. I'm just not willing to sell it to a studio. My son, Larry, is a filmmaker and we're working together on a Judy Blume library of films based on the books. Maybe a feature, maybe a series. I don't know.
GP: Comedienne Chelsea Handler has a New York Times bestseller this summer called Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. How do you feel about that?
JB: I bought it! I'd like to think that her title is the reason why the book is No. 2.
GP: What would you say if I asked: Are you there, Judy? It's me, Lauren.
JB: When I see that used in books and headlines, it's okay. A little bit of me is out there.
Read about other extraordinary grandparents, Neil Sedaka, Tony Danza, Diahann Carroll, and Ed Asner.
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