The story behind the story
Have you ever wondered how I ended up choosing the Betsy-Tacy books for HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS? Well, wonder no more! You can read all about it instead — just click here for my recent interview in which I tell all to Sara Frederick (no relation), a delightful reporter for the Mankato Free Press.
wow! i never new that there was a story behind the story. I haven’t read the interview yet, but I will soon!
Lovely story!
How cool, Heather! When I was in elementary school, my mom worked in a bookstore and she discovered the Betsy-Tacy books that way, and I’ve read them ever since!
And as a proud Austenite myself, I find it a bit funny that the journalist spelled Jane Austen’s last name with an ‘i’ instead of an ‘e’.
Yes, well, sometimes boo-boos are made. I do it all the time myself! I’m very grateful for copy editors and proofreaders!
I never heard of the “Betsy-Tacy” series before “Home for the Holidays” and now I’m reading them. Everyone I ask says they love it so I’m sure I will too. So far the 1st book is good. I just started reading it yesterday and I’m only on chapter 9 and I already love it. It took me a while to get used to reading in 3rd person after reading the mdbc series but other than that it’s great.
Awesome! I’m reading Jane Eyre(:
Heather,do you think I should read Jane Eyre before or after “Wish you were Eyre”?
Absolutely! If you have time, go for it. If you try it and it’s not your cup of tea, or is too challenging, no worries.
Thanks Heather, after I finish the “Betsy-Tacy” series I’m definitly going to start “Jane Eyre”. I need to keep myself occupied reading something while waiting for “Wish you were Eyre” is finished. Is there any must reads I should definitly read? By the way what is your favorite book? Just to let you know my name is Brooke so you don’t have to call me i love mdbc.:)
Hi Brooke — I don’t have a favorite book, although Pride and Prejudice is right up there, along with Charlotte’s Web. As for recommendations, people ask me that all the time and I say head straight to the library and ask your librarian. Seriously, this is what they LIVE for! They would just melt into a puddle of happiness if you asked them to recommend some books!
I say after! (Even though I’m not Heather.) I found it easier to read P&P after I read Pies & Prejudice because my interest had been peaked.
Thanks, your right it might be easier to read before so I have an idea what it’s about. I don’t want it to be spoiled and I want to be in on the jokes so I’ll have to put this in some consideration.
way to go girl! I read it 2 years ago and LOVE IT!
That’s really interesting. Wow!
Yay! That is really interesting! Okay, so today I had a very P&P day!
I am reading Pride and Prejudice and I watched the 2005 version of the movie! Oh, Mr. Darcy! 
Mr. Darcy. #swoon#
I know!
About 8 years until I’ll be expecting a Mr. Darcy to come into the picture! 
For now, I’m happy to read about Elizabeth’s Mr. Darcy!
I’m happy to read about Jess’s Mr. Darcy!
Ditto . . . but Colin Firth never hurts.
Mrs. Frederick ~
Just wanted to let you know that this year I resolved to read all of the classics mentioned in the MDBC books, and I ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY WITHOUT A SINGLE DOUBT IN MY MIND love Little Women! I am almost three-quarters of the way through, and Jo is probably my fave. Love her quotes, and thank you for making me want to read these books!!!!!
Happy feet dance, Anna! This makes me so happy. Yay, Little Women!
Wow, that was delightful to read!~ very interesting
Recently I wrote “I love mdbc” on my hand at school and everyone was trying to figure out what it stands for. They all thought i liked someone. I had to hold in my giggles. That’s how i came up with my name.
LOL!!!
Hilarious!
i had never heard of them either before Home for the Holidays and i’ not sure if I’m gonna read them cause They sound little kiddish. What do you think Mrs. Frederick??
The first couple ARE little kiddish — they start when Betsy and her friends are five. BUT I encourage everyone to start at the beginning so you can see the friendships develop, and get all the inside jokes in the later books, which are definitely NOT kiddish! Especially the last two, when Betsy goes off to college and then to Europe all by herself, and the last book, in which she gets married. So romantic and wonderful!
thanks1 but my book club doesn’t want to read them when we get to Home for the Holidays
im still waiting on betsy-tacy book #1 from the inter-library loan—I have to do that a lot ’cause our library is a very modest size. But I am waiting with baited breath to read ‘em!!!
I’ve never heard of the Betsy-Tacy books before HftH. I tried looking under “Lovelace” in my library, but it wasn’t there. I guess our library doesn’t have them. Does anybody know where i could find them?
Libraries have this fabulous service called “inter-library loan.” Tell your librarian that you’d like him or her to order the book for you from another library, and they’ll take care of it for you. Cool, huh?
Tell me about it! My librian is AWESOME and lets me get as many inter-library loan books as I want! It’s really cool, cause i htought that just our library did that…but i guess not!!!!
Wow. (: I would have never known that without reading the article. What a fantastic interview! (:
I will admit–I am 42 years old and one of those fanatical Betsy-Tacy fan women who would be breathing down your neck to get it right. Rest easy: it was my favorite of all the MDBC books! I’m sad that anyone would think the early ones are too elementary; they are lovely! (As David Brent from The Office-UK says, “A good idea is a good idea forever.”) But I will say, the final six, beginning with Betsy & Tacy’s freshman year in “Heaven to Betsy” are the best. I’ve read them countless times. If anyone hasn’t already, read read read these wonderful books! They are worth it!
You must be VERY busy…
I’m on the first book right now of Betsy~Tacy and it is SOOO CUTE!
I LOVE THE BETSY-TACY BOOKS.
48 year old mega-fan of MDBG (My daughter who is the exact age of the characters in the series dropped out after the first book–but still hoping she’ll drop back in…) Just finished reading and loving all of the Deep Valley books. Two of them: Emily of Deep Valley and Carney’s House Party have Betsy and Tacy only in minor roles. These two books are very well-written with interesting characters of all ages, historical depth and romantic intrigue for the heroines…There are lovely paperbacks available on amazon.com. Now I have to re-visit Home for the Holidays with my new Betsy-Tacy
know-how!;-)
Yay! Mega-fan of BT and all things Deep Valley here, too – I especially LOVE “Emily.” So happy that they’re being reprinted — I have them all on my shelf, too!
Fingers crossed we lure your daughter back ha ha.
will you be making another book to add to the series??:)
The sixth one is coming out next September! WISH YOU WERE EYRE is the title.