Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Betty MacDonald Research

After doing extensive worldwide research, including visits to places and people important to Betty, we are still looking for interesting and important information about Betty MacDonald and the Bard family. Our interest includes any interviews, articles, radio and television appearances.
We are also looking for more people who knew the Bards personally. If you have information to add to our research, please email us. Please also let us know your requests -- what kind of subjects interest you most about the work and life of Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard?
Your information will help us in our research and work to create and preserve a living portrait of Betty MacDonald's brilliant personality and her wounderful family. Please join us in this treasure hunt for more stories!
Do you have or know of an interesting sites with material about or related to Betty? Please send us the URL address. Thank you so much in advance for supporting our activities, and for your suggestions and help! Send us you research, suggestions and support to Research Department lindelund2000@yahoo.com.
Your information will be posted to the site promptly. Thank you!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Betty MacDonald Discussion

Linda Buffalo, NY

I have a question I'd love to find the answer to! In chapter 2 of Betty's book ANYBODY CAN DO ANYTHING, she describes how she suddenly packed her bags, grabbed the children, and made a dash for the bus back home, after receiving her sister Mary's telegram. It sounds almost like a prison break. She says that she left her husband Bob a note, and then hurried away. I have always been curious about this. Was their relationship that strained by that time? Did he ever come looking for her and the children? She never mentions him again after she returns home.

Linde Lund:

Linda, there are several Betty Fan Club Items where you can find all the info entitled THE KETTLES' MILLION DOLLAR EGG, THE EGG AND BETTY and THE TRAGIC END OF ROBERT HESKETT. You'll enjoy these e-books and stories very much. Betty had many serious problems with Bob - and the Kettles!

Marilyn:

HELLO!
I AM A BIG, OL', FAN OF BETTY. I WOULD LIKE TO ACQUIRE THE ABOVE-MENTIONED BIOS, AND WILL APPRECIATE YOU LETTING ME KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT IT! AND I WOULD LIKE THE JOIN THE SOCIETY!JUST GIVE ME THE WORD, AND I'LL DO IT!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,

Linde Lund :

I'll send you all the info.
If you need further info feel free to contact me, please.
My email-address: lindelund2000@yahoo.com

Julie:

Hi There I have been a fan of Betty MacDonald since I was a tiddler and now in my latish 60's was so delighted to find that they had republished the books and moreover had all copies in the local library so I have had a read fest. I already have 'Onions in the Stew' and 'Anybody can do Anything' but my 'Egg and I' had disintegrated over the years and many moves... It was most refreshing to read that and the 'Plague and I' again..and then I find your website so can I join please? and what does it entail? I live in Tasmania Australia...

Linde Lund:

It's always wonderful to hear from Betty MacDonald Fans. If you join you'll receive new info all the time and a special birthday and christmas surprise. Many greetings to Tasmania in Australia!

Linda from Oregon

Count me in!

Linde Lund:

I will. By the way we have lots of Lindas and Lindes here. It's a nice name, isn't it.

Maryanne:

I have been reading the messages at the Betty MacDonald Site. Several people have asked what Betty died of, and I just check her bio in Current Biography, vol. 136. (available at most libraries). It says she died of cancer, although it doesn't say what type. Several of the web site messages said tb, but I think she fully recovered from that nearly 20 years before she died.

Linde Lund:

Betty MacDonald died of cancer. Wolfgang Hampel wrote five stories about Betty MacDonald's illness. He found out the most interesting facts because he could use many letters and documents for these stories for the first time ever. Don't miss them, please. Betty was really very brave, indeed. She did everything to win the fight against this illness. The Betty MacDonald fans are always very moved after reading the stories. So am I. I'll post more info about this important subject in the future.

Sue:

I enjoyed the trial story, and I really want to get the other ones, I would love to see pictures of the actual place and of Ma and Pa. Was Betty's first husband really handsome? Which one is your favorite of the e-books?

Linde Lund:

Betty MacDonald's first husband Bob was really very handsome. There are several photos of Bob in our collection.
I like all of the e books and you'll enjoy them very much. Among our fans are several writers and journalists and all of them enjoyed the items very much. My favourite is perhaps the one about Betty MacDonald's friendship with Mike entitled Betty and Mike. I adore the story and especially Alison's and Kimi's comments.To me it's a real treasure. And I enjoy the CD with Betty and Alison so much. I can listen to these fascinating, very funny and witty ladies all the time.

Lisa:

I first read Betty Macdonald's Onions In The Stew in a reader's digest. It was so good I sought it out in a local library. I checked it out so many times I ended up buying it from the library along with the Egg and I, which I now own on DVD. To say I am a fan of Betty Macdonald is a gross understatement!! I think her writing is some of the best there ever was or ever will be and I was thrilled to see so much info on her in Google. Even though I own Onions & Egg I am planning to buy all Betty's books new so I can read them over and over again. Where is the best place to purchase Betty's complete collection? I saw a reader's digest with onions in it and I may buy that as a reminder of how my love affair with her works started. I am also very interested in purchasing Betty's autobiography. Any info you could send on that would be greatly appreciated as the ones I've found are very expensive.Thank you so much for your time! Send all info on joining Betty MacDonald Fan Club and Society.

Linde Lund:

If you are interested in finding books let us know, please. We'll do everything we can do to support you. Betty MacDonald's autobiography Who, me? doesn't contain any new stories only portions of her four autobiographical books The egg and I, The plague and I, Anybody can do anything and Onions in the Stew. Don't miss the DVD Interviews with Betty and her sister Alison and the biographical stories, please, for example THE KETTLES' MILLION DOLLAR EGG, THE EGG AND BETTY, THE TRAGIC END OF ROBERT HESKETT, BETTY AND MIKE and BETTY MACDONALD'S ILLNESS plus many bonus items incl. interviews with Betty MacDonald's family and friends. You can read so many fascinating stories Betty MacDonald didn't mention in her books.

Alison:

Many thanks for the blog and DVD information! Wishing you every success with the new venture!

Linde Lund:

Thank you so much dear Alison! We'll keep you posted. More DVD interviews will come!

Betty MacDonald Forum

Welcome dear Betty MacDonald Fans!

Let's discuss life and work of our beloved writer Betty MacDonald, author of The Egg and I and The Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle-Series.

We'd love to hear your ideas for new projects.

Join us! Send your message to lindelund2000@yahoo.com please.

If you know any persons who knew Betty MacDonald and her family in person let us know, please.

We are always looking for important documents, books, letters, collections and other important items.
Our goal is presenting a Betty MacDonald Collection in a Museum. Do you have any ideas?

What about a special Betty MacDonald Meeting in Seattle? Betty MacDonald Fans, who are interested in such an event send a mail to macdonaldsociety@aol.com, please.
Some of our fans had the pleasure to visit with Betty MacDonald's sister Alison Bard all the places in Seattle and on Vashon Island where Betty and the family lived.