Join Literary Legends Margaret Atwood And Judy Blume in an Online Conversation on May 26 to Benefit Authors Guild Response Fund
Sponsored by the Authors Guild Foundation, Atwood and Blume Named 2020 Honorees for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community

New York (May 18, 2020): The Authors Guild Foundation, the charitable arm of the Authors Guild, invites book lovers to participate in a conversation with literary legends Margaret Atwood and Judy Blume on Tuesday, May 26, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm via webcast. This special virtual event, which benefits the Author Guild Response Fund, recognizes Atwood and Blume as 2020 Honorees for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community. Andrea Davis Pinkney, noted children’s author and vice president/executive editor at Scholastic, will serve as the event moderator.

“In addition to creating some of the world’s most enduring books, Margaret Atwood and Judy Blume have spent decades standing up against censorship and protecting the rights of authors and literary communities to ensure millions of readers benefit from the insights and inspiration that literature provides,” said Mary Rasenberger, executive director of the Authors Guild. “It’s a great privilege that both have agreed to participate in this discussion and serve as co-chairs of our AG Response Fund during this time of crisis.”

Though the event is free, participants are encouraged to donate what they can to the Author Guild Response Fund, the proceeds of which will allow the Guild to provide ongoing advocacy and programming for authors facing professional and economic upheaval as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related shutdown. Readers can also help commemorate the event by sending a personal message to one or both of these two influential authors, which will be included in a tribute book that will be presented to Atwood and Blume in honor of their lifelong service to the literary community. To access the live conversation, all participants must register.

“Imagine how much harder these past weeks and months would be if we didn’t have books to turn to for insights, solace and companionship,” said award-winning novelist and poet Margaret Atwood. “Yet a dearth of new books could quickly become a reality if we don’t make an effort during this pandemic to support authors through the Authors Guild Response Fund. With bookstores and libraries closed, speaking engagements cancelled and writing and teaching jobs lost, many authors, especially those with spring books and those delayed to the autumn, are struggling.”

“At a time when Americans need literature to help us make sense of the human condition and escape the isolation of sheltering in place, authors face more challenges than ever before,” said Judy Blume. “As co-chair of the Authors Guild Response Fund, I encourage all who love books to donate to the Fund in support of authors at this difficult time.”

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About the Authors Guild Response Fund

Already struggling after years of deep salary reductions, authors affected by COVID-19 and the subsequent shutdown risk falling even further behind in this critical moment, and the country risks the loss of important voices and diverse perspectives. With your help, the Authors Guild Response Fund is:

• Lobbying for federal and local support for authors and other freelancers who have lost income due to the crisis;
• Connecting those in need with assistance;
• Providing crucial information and online marketing advice;
• Working with publishers and booksellers to support books being published during the shutdown; and
• Conducting webinars and community roundtables and producing timely how-to videos on a variety of issues, including practical advice about conducting virtual book tours and using tools to promote books online.

Anyone interested in attending this once-in-a-lifetime virtual event with Margaret Atwood and Judy Blume can register here.

About the Authors Guild Foundation

The Authors Guild Foundation is the charitable and educational arm of the Authors Guild. It educates, supports and protects American writers to ensure that a vibrant, diverse body of literature can flourish. It does this by advocating for authors’ rights, educating authors across the country in the business of writing and promoting an understanding of the value of writers.