Judy Blume and Ann Patchett will headline "Show Up, Speak Up! Vote for the Freedom to Read," a live telethon streaming on September 24 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. The event will not be recorded, so viewers must tune in live.

More than 35 organizations dedicated to literacy and freedom of expression have joined forces to produce the variety show. The goal: draw attention to freedom-to-read issues and candidates ahead of the midterms.

The lineup reads like a festival bill of authors and right-to-read advocates. Alongside Blume and Patchett, the announced participants include Jerrold Conners, Jerry Craft, Alan Gratz, Shannon Hale, Adib Khorram, Ellen Hopkins, Sarah MacLean, Don Martin, Edward Underhill, comedian Kat Radley, and Maris Kreizman.

The telethon is built around a direct call to action: "SHOW UP by making a plan to vote, then SPEAK UP by calling our representatives together and sharing our commitment to the Freedom to Read."

Publishers Weekly spoke with several organizers ahead of the broadcast, including Authors Guild general counsel Cheryl L. Davis. The event, Davis said, aims to drive people "to be aware of what's going on in their communities" and to be educated "as to the kinds of things to look for, and to use your voice, use your vote, to support causes."

The event is free to watch. Viewers can RSVP and find details on the organizers' webpage.

With book challenges and library disputes shaping local races across the country, the telethon's emphasis on voting plans and calls to representatives signals where advocates see the next battleground: the ballot box in November.