Wolfgang Hampel and Gwen Grant

I'm Barbara,

I adore Gwen Grant's mail to Wolfgang Hampel. Gwen is right when she says the most important thing in life is the same as Betty MacDonald thought - that it is, relationships - to people and to places.

I met so many international Betty MacDonald Fans in Oslo and Stockholm and I do hope we'll have another Betty MacDonald Fan Club Event during this year. It was one of the most important experiences in my life. That's what friends are for.

A very special Welcome to our new Betty MacDonald Fan Club Honour Member Gwen Grant, a wonderful lady and author!

We are delighted.

A very happy and proud Barbara


Author Gwen Grant sent this mail to Wolfgang Hampel

Dear Wolfgang Hampel and Betty MacDonald Fan Club Fans,

I was so glad that you enjoyed my books. Glad, too, that you'll be putting them on the Betty MacDonald Fan Club website. I would always be pleased to hear from anyone who is a fan of Betty's and pleased to answer any questions they may have.

PRIVATE-KEEP OUT is available through BARN OWL BOOKS available on Amazon. KNOCK AND WAIT and ONE WAY ONLY also available when you can find them.

I am so delighted to be an honorary member of Betty MacDonald Fan club and I do hope very much that you'll put me on the e-mailing list for anything of interest. I'd love to receive them and am already looking out for their arrival.

I began to write when I was about 18 - I started writing poetry but went on to short stories, which were broadcast on the BBC radio and then I went into children's books in 1977 and sold my first picture book, MATTHEW AND HIS MAGIC KITE, to Klaus Fluegge of Andersen Press - and how exciting that was!

Betty MacDonald influenced my work because I loved her style of writing. It was so clear, so humane, so funny and do interesting.
Her descriptions of people and places are second to none. You actually feel you knew the people she was talking about. I certainly felt I knew Kimi. Even when things were quite grim for her, she managed to face them with humour and courage and that really impressed me.

THE PLAGUE AND I couldn't have been a happy experience as I knew from my own experience of a hospital school. It's always assumed I had TB (like Betty) but I actually had pernicious anaemia.
However, the treatment for both had great similarities. All that lying about on beds in the feezing cold! I well remember lying in my bed covered in snow. Betty MacDonald influenced the way I told the stories of these three books.

I think the most important thing in life is the same as Betty MacDonald thought - that it is, relationships - to people and to places.

I don't know what anyone can learn from my books but I do know what they can learn from Betty's. They can learn how a writer writes. They can learn how a good writer lets the reader see what they see and feel what they feel.
They can learn the meaning of courage and fortitude and of making the best of things. They can learn how a generous and loving nature helps to cope with adversity, because Betty MacDonald always showed generosity, love and warmth. They can learn about comic timing.

This is a long e-mail, Wolfgang, and I hope I haven't bored you. Thank you so much for your kind interest. It is much appreciated.

Yours,

Gwen Grant

Gwen Grant's website

http://www.gwengrant.co.uk/

Gwen Grant, beloved writer and Betty MacDonald Fan Club Honour Member

http://gwengrantsociety.blogspot.com/

Alison Bard Burnett, Betty MacDonald's and Mary Bard's brilliant sister, beloved all over the world. Her very funny and witty interviews with Wolfgang Hampel about her famous sisters Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard are real treasures.

http://alisonbard.blogspot.com/

Ma and Pa Kettle Society
http://maandpakettlesociety.blogspot.com/2010/05/betty-macdonalds-ma-and-pa-kettle.html

Betty MacDonald Fan Club
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bettymacdonald/

http://bettymacdonaldfanclub.blogspot.com/2009/06/betty-macdonald-fan-club-items-comments.html
http://bettymacdonaldfanclub.blogspot.com/2009/07/betty-macdonald-fan-club-items.html
http://bettymacdonaldfanclub.blogspot.com/2009/07/betty-macdonald-interviews-on-cddvd_17.html

Monica Sone, author of Nisei Daughter, Betty MacDonald's friend, described as Kimi in The Plague and I, honour member of Betty MacDonald Fan Club and Betty MacDonald Society
http://monicasone.blogspot.com/

Monica Sone Society
http://monicasonesociety.blogspot.com/

Monica Sone Fan Club
http://monicasonefanclub.blogspot.com/

Alison Bard Burnett, Betty MacDonald's and Mary Bard's brilliant sister, beloved all over the world. Her very funny and witty interviews with Wolfgang Hampel about her famous sisters Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard are real treasures.
http://alisonbard.blogspot.com/

Darsie Beck Artist and writer of Your Essential Nature - A Practical Guide to Greater Creativity and Spiritual Harmony - nephew of authors Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard - Honour Member of Betty MacDonald Society and Fan Club
http://darsiebeck.blogspot.com/


Linde Lund created the Betty MacDonald, Monica Sone and Wolfgang Hampel Blogs
http://www.blogger.com/profile/15388942569315864610

Betty MacDonald Interviews on CD and DVD

http://bettymacdonaldfanclub.blogspot.com/2009/06/betty-macdonald-fan-club-items-comments.html
http://bettymacdonaldfanclub.blogspot.com/2009/07/betty-macdonald-fan-club-items.html
http://bettymacdonaldfanclub.blogspot.com/2009/07/betty-macdonald-interviews-on-cddvd_17.html

Betty MacDonald Community
http://bettymacdonaldcommunity.blogspot.com/

You can find more info about our Betty MacDonald projects and events in the future.

Wolfgang Hampel, author of the Betty MacDonald Biography and winner of the first Betty MacDonald Memorial Award founded Betty MacDonald Fan Club and Society in 1983. We are the largest Betty MacDonald Fan Club in the world - with members in 25 countries. Join our wonderful international Betty MacDonald Community!
We have tons of fun!

Betty MacDonald - Fan Club of Betty MacDonald and Society of Betty MacDonald
http://bettymacdonald.blogspot.com/

Betty MacDonald Fan Club
http://bettymacdonaldfanclub.blogspot.com/

Betty MacDonald Forum
http://bettymacdonaldforum.blogspot.com/

Betty MacDonald Society
http://bettymacdonaldsociety.blogspot.com/

Mary Bard Society
http://marybardsociety.blogspot.com/

Alison Bard Burnett Fan Club and Society
http://alisonbard.blogspot.com/

Nancy and Plum Fan Club
http://nancyandplumfanclub.blogspot.com/

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Fan Club
http://pigglewigglefanclub.blogspot.com/

Monica Sone, author of Nisei Daughter, Betty MacDonald's friend, described as Kimi in The Plague and I, honour member of Betty MacDonald Fan Club and Betty MacDonald Society
http://monicasone.blogspot.com/

Monica Sone Society
http://monicasonesociety.blogspot.com/

Monica Sone Fan Club
http://monicasonefanclub.blogspot.com/

Darsie Beck Artist and writer of Your Essential Nature - A Practical Guide to Greater Creativity and Spiritual Harmony - nephew of authors Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard - Honour Member of Betty MacDonald Society and Fan Club
http://darsiebeck.blogspot.com/

Wolfgang Hampel Founder of Betty MacDonald Fan Club and Betty MacDonald Society
http://wolfganghampel.blogspot.com/