Judy Blume to Sign Books to Bring Attention to ABFFE at BEA

Bestselling author Judy Blume, whose works often appear on lists of the most frequently challenged titles, will sign books in the ABA Lounge at BookExpo America (BEA) on behalf of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE).

"Judy is a longtime friend of ABFFE, and she has graciously agreed to help us get some attention at BEA," said ABFFE President Chris Finan in a statement.

Blume will sign Soupy Saturdays With the Pain and the Great One (Random House) on Friday, May 30, at 2:00 p.m., in the ABA Lounge (Room 515A of the West Building at the Los Angeles Convention Center).

The lounge will offer information about all of ABFFE's activities, including Banned Books Week, the new Kids' Right to Read Project, the ABFFE Book of the Month, and the FREADOM gift card program. Media Coalition, ABFFE's legislative and legal watchdog, will provide the latest information about censorship activity at the state and federal level, including the new lawsuit challenging the Indiana bookstore registration law.

ABFFE will also introduce a FREADOM bookmark that independent bookstores can use to show their support for the freedom to read. The bookmark features Roger Roth's very popular image of the Statue of Liberty reading a book.

The ABA Lounge, which is open exclusively to American Booksellers Association members, will also feature light refreshments and will be a place for booksellers to relax, check e-mail, meet colleagues, and learn about ABA products and services, including a brand-new initiative to be announced at this year's Celebration of Bookselling. During the three days of the trade show -- from Friday, May 30, through Sunday, June 1 -- 24 more of independent booksellers' favorite authors are scheduled to autograph their latest titles for ABA member booksellers.