Highlights

Key West -- The highlight of the week was a 5 day visit from Larry and Elliot. Elliot had a 2 week spring break. This was good news for him, but I can't help thinking, what are working parents supposed to do? Randy is lucky. She was able to take a week off and go skiing with Elliot (he's a snowboarder, she's a skier). Then she went back to work, Elliot flew to Key West, and Larry came down to hang out with him. I love watching the two of them together. It must be great to grow up with a fun uncle. I got smart this time and kept my mouth shut (no reminders about sunscreen, or annoying questions about anything). But when Elliot ordered squid ink pasta with clams, mussels, and shrimp, I had to hold my tongue. (I'm allergic to shellfish and get uncomfortable when he insists on eating it, afraid that maybe he'll be allergic, too.) But nothing bad happened, not even from the sushi -- yes, sushi! Looking the other way wasn't as hard as I'd thought and it made for a relaxing, fun time for all of us.

Here are three generations of my guys: (from left) Larry, Elliot, and George.

I left some books in Elliot's room. I find the only way to get a teenager to read a book you think he should read, or even a book you think he'd like, is to leave a pile of books around and let him decide. He picked up Daria Snadowsky's Anatomy of a Boyfriend and read it in an afternoon. It's not unlike Forever. At the bookstore we bought a couple of Nick Hornby books -- seems to me a 16 year old would really enjoy his writing. But Elliot chose a completely different book to read on the plane going home. Hey, reading anything is a positive step! Now I'll get to read the Nick Hornby books before sending them on to him.

The highlight of the week before -- a visit from Michael Casey -- his first trip to Key West. Michael's been highlighting my hair since -- well, since I first got highlights about 27 years ago. My hair hasn't yet turned gray. Strange, I know. It just keeps getting darker. Michael says it's genetic. He's the best, not just at being a hair colorist, but being a friend. He lives in NY and knows everything about the theater. So, when we come to town I ask him what plays we absolutely can't miss. While he was here he also highlighted my hair. Wow -- this was a first for me -- a home visit. Thanks, Michael!



Please don't ask how I'm doing with my book that's due in April, Friend or Fiend. Let's just say we have no more visitors scheduled for this season and tomorrow -- yes, tomorrow! -- I'm going to settle down, focus, and not allow anything to distract me from my writing. Except maybe politics. Speaking of -- am thrilled that Bill Richardson endorsed Obama. And what a brilliant speech Obama delivered this week on race. I watched/listened twice. I know exactly what Bill Richardson means when he says, "There's something so special about this guy..." Now, can we please leave religion out of this campaign and get to what really matters?

More soon.....
xx Judy

I'd Rather Be Tapping

Key West -- I'm having a hard time writing the fourth, and final, book in the Pain&Great One series. "So what else is new?" George says, reminding me that I always feel this way when I start a book. I have a title -- Friend or Fiend -- and I have a rough draft of the title story. And an even rougher draft of the second story, which may turn out to be two stories. That would be good! That's how it works when you're writing a novel. One thing leads to another to another. But with short stories it doesn't work that way. And the Pain&Great One books are made up of seven short stories, all about the same brother and sister - Abigail and Jake. I've never been a short story writer so these books have been a challenge, but what fun each time a story is finished and it works! (That's what I have to keep reminding myself.)

The second book in the series, Cool Zone, will be published in May. A "reader's copy" of the third book, Going, Going, Gone! (due out in September) arrived at my house yesterday. That's like a preview copy, but without all the illustrations, revisions, and corrections. Still, it's so exciting to get a first look at a new book. It's like a birth -- you forget everything that went into it, the difficult days, the pain, the feeling that you'll never be able to do it -- and you just rejoice. You did it!

But now the next deadline is looming. This book is due in May (for publication in May '09). I've been writing by hand this morning and it's going better than it went yesterday. Sometimes when I'm struggling it works better to scribble than to type. There's a brain/hand connection. Also, yesterday I was feeling low about the results of Tuesday's primary. I hate it when the campaign gets negative. I hate that getting negative can bring in votes. I don't usually let whatever's going on in the real world affect my writing. (Wait! Do I really mean that? How about after 9-11 when I thought I'd never write again?)

Now I'm thinking about taking a shower. If I take my shower between 10am and 11am I can listen to the Diane Rehm show on NPR. I love my bathroom radio! I love the Diane Rehm show.
Of course, that takes me away from my characters, but it also gives me a break. This is very different from having a good first draft of a whole book. Once I have that, you can't get me away from my desk. (Well, okay - you can. But I'm not looking for excuses the way I am now.)

All in all, I'd rather be tap dancing!
Which I get to do tomorrow morning.




Here's a picture I can't resist sharing. A Fudge fan put this book into the hands of his baby sister. When I need inspiration I turn to my readers. And you know what? It almost always works.

OTHER NEWS:
A DVD of Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great 

is available for the first time. I hope teachers and parents will share it with their kids and classes.

*A new brochure will soon be available replacing the ancient one we've been sending out for years. It's made up of several pages from my website, handsomely designed by the talented Mark Tuchman. And now that that's done -- he can get back to the website and animating my Home Page.

Teen Alert!!
A Blogfest is coming, starting on March 12 and lasting for two weeks. My book Forever is published by Simon Pulse which is why I've been asked to participate.


More soon.
XX Judy

Politics and Oscars....

Key West -- Amanda and Jim came to town last Thursday (Feb 21). She was stressed from months of running Bill Richardson's presidential campaign (and doesn't he look relaxed and happy sporting his new beard now that it's over?) Without a break, she's gone right into managing Tom Udall's campaign for Senate. On Friday we hosted a fundraiser for Tom's campaign. I've known Tom for 28 years but until now I'd never heard him speak as a Congressman (which he's been for 5 terms).
He was impressive, as well as warm and friendly to the 85 guests who had gathered in our garden to meet and hear him. Tom voted against the war in Iraq from day one. He's a superdelegate, too, and explained why he's not endorsing either of the democratic presidential candidates at this time.

George's introduction to Tom was funny but some people didn't get it. George's former wife has been married to Tom Udall for many years (at least as long as George and I have been together and that's 28 years). Amanda grew up with all four of us -- Tom and Jill (her mom) and George and me. At her wedding seven years ago, both "Dads" walked her down the aisle. I knew Jill when we all lived in Santa Fe. She gave George my name as someone he might want to have dinner with when he came out for a semester to be with Amanda. (He was teaching at Columbia Law School then.) This may sound very seventies but it's worked out well. So when George introduced Tom, saying, "He's the true family values candidate!" those in the know got his joke.

Once the party for Tom was over and he flew back to DC, Amanda and Jim got some much needed R&R. Wish we could have kept them here longer -- you could actually see the stress disappear day by day. On their last night in town we all went to the Tropic Cinema for their annual Academy Awards party.

Key West's amazing Christopher Peterson worked our red carpet as Joan Rivers. He's a fabulous guy who not only is a super entertainer, but is always ready to help out by lending his talents to a non-profit (like the Tropic). Here he doing his Marilyn Monroe bit.


Here are Amanda and Jim with "Oscar."

Even a local rooster got into the act.


Then back to our house to finish up the Key Lime pie they brought home from Blue Heaven.

********************************************************************************

While we're talking politics I confess to being obsessed by this primary campaign. I haven't been as excited about a candidate as I am about Barack Obama since I was voting in my first presidential election for John Kennedy. I watched the 20th debate with sweaty palms, praying neither one would get negative. I'll support either Democratic candidate but I'm hoping it's Obama. He makes me believe in the possibilities. Yes, I know it's going to be a mess for whichever candidate is elected. But he's so smart. I have to believe he'll surround himself with equally smart advisors. If he's running next fall, I'll be out there working for him. Someone asked me the other day, Are you voting against Hillary? And I answered, No, I'm voting for Obama. Then I gave her my reasons. There are some women who think if you're a feminist you should only be supporting Hillary. I think being a feminist means we've evolved to the point where we get to choose who we think will be the best candidate and make the best president, regardless of gender, race, or anything else. But, hey -- if Hillary's the candidate, I'll be out there supporting her. Will be glued to the tube on Tuesday night (March 4).

Oh, about the Oscars -- loved the couple who sang the song from Once. I was rooting for them. So glad they won. Maybe they should give Oscars to political candidates?
XX Judy

I Know It Must Be True Because....

I heard it on the radio. Tuesday, February 12, 8am (I was in the shower at the time enjoying my trusty shower radio. The announcement came on just after the news and caused me to drop my bar of soap.) Today is the birthday of Judy Blume. She's seventy. What?! Is this a joke? I turned off the shower, wrapped myself in a towel and ran to give George the news. He said, Happy Birthday!

Okay, so it's not the first time my birthday's been announced on the radio. And I've never lied about my age -- I'm proud of it! -- but that number -- that Seven-Oh! I've never paid attention before. Not when I turned fifty. My mother had died the summer before and I wasn't in the mood to celebrate. Not when I turned sixty. I was on a book tour for Summer Sisters the summer before and was busy moving into a new house in Key West that February. But this one feels like a milestone. On the one hand I feel incredibly lucky -- I'm healthy, active, my mind and memory work well (in my opinion, anyway) I have more creative energy than I did a couple of years ago, and George thinks I'm hot (hot-ish?)

On the other hand, there's a lot to think about -- things I'm not sure I want to think about -- like how many good numbers are on the other side of 70. I think about the party I gave my mother to celebrate her 70th. I thought she was old, didn't I? I think about my friends who are seriously ill. About how we have no idea what's coming down the road. But then I realize this isn't productive thinking. And I decide to focus on the bright side. I decide to go with 70 is the new 50! (Okay, so I sound like the anti-Dennis Hopper in that commercial).

Although I'm a party girl (in the sense that I like giving and going to parties) we've been pretty much partied out in Key West this month. So instead of a party George took me away to a magical, romantic island. This is no hassle travel -- just an hour from Key West by car and boat -- no airport, no security, just throw a bag in the back of the truck and off we went to Little Palm Island.

I loved every minute of our time there -- well, except some of the dramatic weather -- but even that made our time more memorable. On the 12th, the sky was lit by lightning from about 6pm. For those of you who don't know, I'm phobic about thunderstorms. I panic, I need to be in a small, dark space. I'm like a frightened dog who crawls under the bed during a storm. But once I realized there was no thunder -- just lightning -- the panicky feelings eased. Hmmm -- maybe I'm right when I say the phobia began on July 4th when I was very small and my father sat me on the hood of our car so I could see the annual fireworks display. I think it was the unexpected boom after the sky lit up that scared me. Maybe now, with some help, I can conquer the fear. That would be something!

We sat on the porch for dinner -- George made sure I faced away from the lightning.

We enjoyed dessert (no singing waiters, just a message written in chocolate sauce, and a yummy molten chocolate cake) on another porch, while we listened to a very good jazz trio.

The next day we had a windstorm with 50+ mile an hour gusts. We didn't care. Each of us wanted nothing more than to sit and read. My friend Cynthia gave me a copy of Sue Miller's new novel The Senator's Wife to take away with me. I found this story of loyalty, betrayal, marriage, and friendship, engrossing and I've been thinking about it and the characters ever since. It's one of those books that sneaks up on you slowly. Don't want to give any more away.


Our last day was glorious. Blue sky, sunshine, absolutely perfect. I took out a kayak and explored the mangroves.


While George had a snooze....


We took the 6pm boat back to Little Torch Key and on the drive back to town caught the kind of sunset Key West is famous for.


Thank you for all your birthday wishes! I hope you have happy birthdays, too. And now, it's back to real life. The fourth book in the Pain&Great One quartet is due the end of April and I haven't started writing yet. (But I have been thinking!)
Love,
Judy

I Love a Parade

This blog is starting to have too many pictures of me. I'm going to watch that from now on. But when you're Grand Marshal of a parade -- well, you have to show it, right? How else would you know I got to sit atop a fuzzy pink cushion?


Why did I agree to be Grand Marshal of the International Women's Flag Football "Kelly McGillis" Tournament? This is what I told the local paper when they asked the same question: Because I believe in encouraging girls and women to go for it! If sports is their passion they should get the same respect as young men who play on teams.

Also, I was horrified a couple of years ago when a local parent complained about the IWFFA playing on the fields at her daughter's elementary school because she assumed (and feared) that her daughter would be exposed to lesbians. Gimme a break!

And I thought it would be a hoot! How often do you get to be Grand Marshal of a parade?

Okay, so it wasn't much of a parade. There were no marching bands. And it was all over in half an hour. But I had the fun of riding behind the Key West Blue Jays as they chanted and even turned cartwheels up Duval St. These are the youngest players in the tournament.


The international teams dressed up for the occasion. Here are members of the Swedish team. Love their "locker room" theme.

And here's a member of the Finnish team. Have no idea what their theme was.

As the parade headed up Duval St. a guy called out to me, Are you Kelly McGillis? Missed my chance on that one.

Jimmy Weekley, former mayor of Key West, who happened to be walking down the street, seemed really surprised to see me atop my fuzzy pink cushion, instead of grocery shopping, which is where he usually sees me since his family owns the local grocery store.

Can't say the sidewalks were crowded with well wishers. Strangers on the street are funny -- when you wave to them, they either wave back enthusiastically or act as if they don't see you. Or worse, as if you're going to ask for something they don't want to give. But most people gave the players a thumbs up. Yay, team!!

Good luck to all the women who'll be playing flag football through the weekend! See you at the next parade.
XX Judy

Injured

Key West -- First it was George, stepping off a friend's deck, glass of wine in hand, to greet me at a housewarming party. Which was really sweet -- except he missed the two steps, wound up on the ground with cuts and bruises on one leg (nothing new for my accident prone honey) and a stress fracture of his ankle on the other. So now he has a soft cast and a Big Boot.



Not that The Boot is about to stop George. Can't ride his bike? He rented a tricycle for the week. The seat looks like it belongs on a John Deere tractor. Impressive!


On Monday, riding my bike home from the gym, I paused to check traffic on a cross street, leaned way over and to the left because a car was blocking my view and Boing!! A searing pain shot from my lower back to my leg. Have no idea how I got the bike across the street and up on the sidewalk. After that I couldn't move. Stood there holding onto the back of my bike basket. Managed to dig out my cell phone and called George. He and a friend with a car rescued me. The friend said I looked like a Seward Johnson statue. I guess that explains why the guy in the truck who saw what happened didn't make a move. And the woman walking her dog, too. She stopped to chat, explaining that her dog always sniffed for the longest time before deciding where to do his stuff. I didn't say a word, which didn't bother her or her dog.

George and friend got me into the car, then drove me home. Lucky for me the wonderful Stacy (physical therapist) was in the neighborhood. She says, 72 hours and I'll be okay. Actually, I'm pretty much okay now, unless I decide to move around too much. No bending from the waist. Lots of icing and new stretches. But this means I'll miss tap class this week. Sad. (Though after seeing the funny but painful movie, The Savages, with those Sun City, Arizona dancers and residents riding around on trikes....well, I didn't like thinking that was my future.)

This afternoon I'm going to be Grand Marshal of a parade. Ride down Duval in a convertible, waving like the Queen. I've never been in a parade. I wish I still had my baton -- not that I'd be able to twirl it with my bad back. George says, Don't tell them you hurt your back and don't walk like it either. You don't want them to think you're some old woman. Thanks a lot, George!
So, off to get ready!

Writers and Readers in Key West

I started this entry ten days ago. But it's turned into a diary of this year's Key West Literary Seminars. Just for the record -- I'm on the board and a member of this year's committee, along with Bob Richardson, Jim Gleick, and Liz Lear. Maybe that will help explain my elation at how well it went, and my exhaustion (for real) now that it's over.

Tuesday, January 15 -- We're in the midst of the KW Literary Seminars.
This year the topic is New Voices and instead of our usual Thursday to Sunday Seminar, this time we're hosting two.

Most years the Literary Seminar is presented to an audience of about 400 readers, making it very different from the usual writers' festival. This year is an exception as we've given out $70,000 in scholarships, allowing many new writers to attend for the first time. After all, we wanted those New Voices! There were also scholarships for teachers and librarians. And between the two weekend Seminars, there are nine writer's workshops taking place. As I write this my friend Hilma Wolitzer is conducting her workshop in our garden. She has 12 students and they're laughing a lot, making me wish I could be a part of it. I also wish she could give me a seminar in how to conduct a writers' workshop. Hilma is at the far end of the table, in white.


At last weekend's seminar I introduced two New Voices on stage. The first, Mary Hays, published a totally original, funny and smart novel, Learning to Drive, a couple of years ago, and has just finished a second.


I loved introducing Mary as a New Voice because she's a woman close to my age. New Voice has nothing to do with birth date. Most of the New Voices on stage were those of young writers. But the audience adored Mary. She let them see the possibilities in themselves. Mary was my first secretary - in Santa Fe, 1978. We became fast friends. She made the writing life less lonely for me because it was such fun to hang out with her at the "office" (a room in my house). She's droll, smart, and captured everyone's attention by her fantastic reading from Learning to Drive. Check it out.

The second New Voice I introduced was Bich Minh Nguyen.


We talked on stage about her first book, a memoir, Stealing Buddha's Dinner, and how writers deal with subjects of family and childhood. Bich charmed the audience with her reading. Can't wait to read her novel in progress (Short Girls). In the meantime, check out her memoir about coming to America from Vietnam as a baby and growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. If you remember Chef Boyardee and Hostess Cupcakes, you'll relate. Even if you don't, you'll love the characters in this book.

Other Favorite Moments from the first Seminar:

*Uzodinma Iweala, talking about and reading from his first book Beasts of No Nation. I urge you to pick up this book. It's like no other. The voice is haunting and original. Uzo is a recent graduate of Harvard and now a first year med student at Columbia. Jim Gleick and I heard him read 18 months ago at the 92nd St. Y in New York and agreed we had to have him in Key West. What a pleasure to spend time with him here.

*Kristen-Paige Madonia, winner of the Marianne Russo Scholarship, reading her story Cheap Red Meat on stage. As one of the judges of the fiction award I was floored by Kristen-Paige's polished work. Talk about new voices! She's a real talent. She's finishing her first novel.

And then there are the parties. The Key West Literary Seminar is famous for its parties. Following the opening lecture on Thursday night everyone heads over to the tropical gardens of the Audubon House for a gala champagne reception. The following night there's dinner for everyone (all 400 of us) on the grounds of the Lighthouse. Then a party for speakers, board members and local (and visiting) writers at David Wolkowsky's penthouse above Fast Buck Freddie's, everyone's favorite KW department store. And Saturday night we're feted at the Customs House.

Mary left on the 6am flight on Monday morning and I tried to catch up with work and real life but by afternoon I took to my bed and slept. It's always great to spend time with visiting friends and even better when they enjoy themselves on your home turf -- it's just that during the Seminars I want to spend time with all of them at once -- and I don't want to miss any sessions -- so by the time it's over I've run out of steam.

Monday, January 21
A couple of days off and we started all over again. This time I hosted Carolyn Mackler and Gigi Amateau, emerging voices in YA literature. (Carolyn's on the left, Gigi's on the right)


We had a rousing 3-way talk on stage about the past, present, and future of honest book for teens. We touched on censorship (shocked that the audience had no idea!) and even asked each other the question: if Catcher in the Rye were published today would it be published as a YA novel? Our consensus -- probably. Carolyn and Gigi are thoughtful, engaging, talented writers and the audience enjoyed getting to know them and their work. (This audience isn't especially tuned in to children's or YA books.) They also read from their novels and appeared on panels.

I think I was less anxious during the second seminar and enjoyed the parties more than the first weekend. Maybe because I knew it was almost over?

Personal Highlights: Meeting and hearing Nell Freudenberger talk and read. My daughter (who reads as many books as anyone I know) put us onto Nell. Thanks, Randy --

Lee Smith's funny and moving opening night address. She made me remember why I started to write in the first place.

Dan Menaker's Friday morning session -- the perfect overview of our topic -- New Voices.

Junot Diaz -- if you haven't yet read The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, read it! Amazing, original, pure Junot!

Jim Gleick talking on stage with Janna Levin about physics (of all things) and literature. I told Janna if she had been my physics teacher I might have paid attention and learned something. I might have even learned to like the subject.

Spending time with Tayari Jones, after being mesmerized by her on stage reading from Leaving Atlanta.

Elisabeth Scharlatt, on and off stage. Catching up with an old friend and a brilliant publisher (Algonquin Books).

I've left out so many people -- and so many sessions -- and so many lunches!

But certainly our Saturday night dinner was one of the best moments during the second session. Here we are at Blue Heaven on a balmy, starry night.

From the right: Nell Freudenberger, Kristen-Paige Madonia, me, Carolyn Mackler, Tayari Jones, Elisabeth Scharlett, my sister-in-law and super-reader, Maggie Smith, Gigi Amateau. George took the pix.

And here's how we finished the meal -- with the best Key Lime pie in the whole town.