LOS ANGELES, April 8 (UPI) -- The reason Hollywood has just now discovered popular author Judy Blume, 30 years after she first published, is because of a generation gap.
"Anyone who is my age or younger grew up with Judy Blume books so the movie industry is just coming to understand who she is," said Lawrence Blume, the author's 40-year-old son, who will produce "Deenie," the first film based on one of his mom's books, the New York Times reported Thursday.
"In the publishing world everyone knows how popular she is," Blume said, "but in movies and television in a strange way she's -- not quite a secret -- but they had no idea how many books she's sold."
Blume's 24 books, many aimed at adolescent girls, have sold more than 75 million copies and have been translated into at least 20 languages.
Disney announced in March that the film company will produce "Deenie" and has optioned other Blume works for consideration to be made into feature films.
