In my latest Author Insider Q&A, I sat down with journalist and biographer Mark Oppenheimer, whose new book, Judy Blume: A Life, chronicles the life and times of one of the most beloved writers of the past half-century.
We spent much of the conversation discussing the unique challenges a biography poses for a writer.
How do you write about someone who is widely admired (and still alive) without veering into hagiography? How do you balance archival material with memory, especially when they conflict? And how do you shape a life into a readable and compelling narrative without forcing meaning onto it?
Mark shared what it was like working through 130 boxes of Judy Blume’s papers, conducting dozens of interviews, and deciding what did and didn’t belong.
Toward the end of our conversation, we also dug into book publicity, particularly the tension many writers feel between wanting readers and not wanting to feel like they’re performing for attention. (That part of the conversation inspired its own post—it’ll be coming shortly.)
If you’re interested in biography, long-form nonfiction, or the art of bringing a life to the page, I think you’ll find this especially thoughtful.
You can watch the full replay above. Audio is also available in the Substack app.
Until next time,
Panio
Editorial Director, Author Insider & The Next Big Idea Club
