I’ve dreamed of what I’d say to Judy Blume if ever our paths crossed. She is after all the woman who I most look up to when it comes to writing YA fiction. She is the author of FOREVER. A book that let me know it was OK to have the kind of feelings I did at seventeen. A book that explored my world in a way that no other book had before.
Fast-forward nearly thirty years to a few weeks ago. The SCBWI [Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators] LA Conference, to be exact. I was dying to hear John Greene speak. I loved LOOKING FOR ALASKA and AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES. I heard John speak at The LA Times Festival of Books and at SCBWI LA before. But then there came word that John needed emergency gall bladder surgery and couldn’t attend. And while I was very sorry to hear about his condition I was also thrilled. Because rumor had it that Judy Blume would speak in his place.
And she did. Judy spoke a la Oprah, with Lin Oliver playing Oprah. And Judy was amazing. My favorite story that Judy told when she took the SCBWI stage all of 70 going on 30, was that she got her idea for SUMMER SISTERS: A NOVEL while she was kayaking, which is just the coolest way to get an idea for a story, evah. And if that wasn’t cool enough, while Judy was gliding out there in the water, an entire wedding party jumped in the water. Gold. Just gold. Judy is a fun, warm woman and so down-to-earth. Girl crush.
And it all came back. All my daydreams of what I’d say to Judy if I bumped into her. No, I wouldn’t stalk her. No. Bad YA author for even thinking about such a thing. Honestly I don’t have the gene that would force a conversation with Judy. But my fantasy goes something like this: Judy asks what I’m working on. I hand her my card and she loves the idea of a teenage girl’s enchanted road trip to her true self. Loves the hook: when fear’s as blind as love, how far would you go to find your happily ever after? After reading my debut novel, WINNEMUCCA, just released a few weeks prior, she loves the novel and insists on writing a blurb for it and we go out for a glass of sparkling wine to celebrate. Yes, the only way I would ever say what I wanted to say to Judy would be if I literally bumped into her.
At every SCBWI LA conference there is a lovely awards luncheon. The best part, other than the inspiring speeches by the winners and the amazing Lin Oliver and Stephen Mooser, are the great folks I’ve met at lunch. I’ve made life-long friends at those luncheons. That’s just the way of SCBWI. Anyway, the 1300 person lovely luncheon wound down, made even more lovely this year because it was the SCBWI 40th Anniversary celebration. After the luncheon all the attendees rushed to their following breakout sessions. And the herd poured out of The Century Plaza’s Ballroom. Every attendee walked up the same stairs of celebrities and Presidents. And in this sea of people, among the literary, celebrity and political ghosts of The Century Plaza’s past, swimming upstream is Judy Blume. She grabbed my arm, looked a bit panicked and said, “Is this the only way down?”
And I said, “Yes.” My heart raced. In that instant, in my mind I saw me at seventeen holding my copy of Forever. Me tucking it into my underwear drawer at night, to make sure Mom and Dad didn’t see.
And Judy disappears into the crowd to find her posse.
And I didn’t get to say what I wanted to say.
But everyone around me said things like, “I bet you’ll never wash your elbow again!” “You’ll never forget that will you?”
No, no I won’t. I didn’t like seeing Judy lost. I’m glad she bumped into me. I’m glad she felt I’d have the answer she needed, since she helped me find so many answers, such a long time ago. Are you there Judy? It’s me, Laura. This is what I wanted to say in the crowded ballroom full of people: Thank you. You inspired me to find my own voice when I was seventeen and, also my voice as a writer. And I probably wouldn’t have had the guts to slip you my card, but I still keep the fantasy alive.
I am jealous! I love Judy Bloom. I miss going to the LA conference, it’s always so awesome 🙁 I’m living across the pond now which makes it a bit hard to treck all the way to Cali. Wish I could have been there! Thanks for the great post. 🙂
Heather, Living across the pond, aye? That’s sounds SO exciting! How are you coping with the changes? Do you roll with them easy…or is it hard to adjust? Thanks so much for stopping by. It was SO surreal that out of a crowded room, Judy walked right up to ME. Little ol’ me:) Ah, well, living in LA has given me many celebrity encounters. It’s nice to have a literary one to add to the stories! Good luck with your across-the-pond life. I’ll have to check your blog for updates! Have a great day.
Forever was one of my favorite books too. I read most of Judy Blume’s novels and still carry many of the stories with me today. She is certainly an icon in the world of YA. I think I might faint if she touched my elbow! Congratulations on your moment albeit brief.
Donna, thanks for swinging by always nice to hear from a fellow FOREVER fan. I know, right? I really can’t describe the moment. But I’m sure when I do find the perfect way to describe how it all felt, it will end up in one of my books! I read a few of her novels and her stories have a wonderful way of becoming a part of people. Definitely what I humbly shoot for in my own writing! Nice to hear from you. What are you reading now?
I’m reading a Debbie MaComber book: Dakota Born. It’s the first book in a trilogy. Not looking very promising on finishing the series anytime soon. I’m in the middle of changing jobs and moving to another city. I have a reading list that will take me well through Christmas. Looking forward to reading Winnemucca.
Donna, Good luck with your new job AND with your move! Very exciting. You sound like one busy lady. Take good care and try to leave the heavy lifting to a big, buff friend or hubby. Happy to know about Dakota Born. I’ll have to check that out. When you do get to Winnemucca, I’d love to know your thoughts on the story. Hope you have a wonderful, restful word-filled weekend!
Oh my goodness, that would have been fabulous! I read so many of her novels as a young girl. Your brush with greatness, however, is a reminder that best-selling authors are just people too. I’m glad you had that moment.
Julie, it was fabulous! Albeit sort of an out-of-body experience. Took me a minute to realize it actually did happen. If it wasn’t for the people around me who saw it too, I would have thought I dreamed up the whole thing. Hazardous occupation for writers, huh? 🙂 So true. Judy made it very clear in her Oprah moment on stage that she was just a regular gal, trying to figure it out like the rest of us:) Thanks for stopping by!