Showing posts with label Gwen Grant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gwen Grant. Show all posts

Monday, December 24, 2018

Betty MacDonald, Gwen Grant, On Top Of The World




Betty MacDonald fan club fans,

Betty MacDonald fan club fans from 5 continents enjoyed the wonderful Christmas story by Betty MacDonald fan club honor member - author Gwen Grant.

Thanks a million dearst Gwen!

Best wishes,

Astrid


‘ON TOP OF THE WORLD’


George One had been staring down at the Earth for a little while before he realised something was different.

But what?

Squinting, he concentrated on the big space telescope, the one that was always aimed directly at him. Well, at him and Mr. Estimet, he corrected, because whatever was different seemed to lay there.

‘Ah!’ he exclaimed, as his eyes focussed. ‘That’s it. There’s a new person on the telescope, Mr. Estimet.’

Mr. Estimet, who had also been looking down at the Earth, gently rocking backwards and forwards on his heels, suddenly came to life.

‘A new person, George?’

George zoomed in on the new person and read her name badge.

‘Tilly,’ he announced. ‘Tilly Moffat. Haven’t seen HER before.’

George and Mr. Estimet knew all the people who worked on the big telescope. They knew the ones who got excited about any little change in the Universe, just as they knew the ones who remained calm, even a touch aloof when a new star was spotted, or a new asteroid, or a new anything come to that.

George smiled.

Sometimes, just for the fun of it, he would throw a scrap of foil through the observation window, chortling at the sudden burst of activity below.

Hardly worth a moment’s amusement, though, he admitted, because then he had to go out and get it back and that wasn’t easy, not with the pulling and tugging of all those gravitational fields swooping and soaring around him.

Felt as if he’d been dragged through a force field backwards by the time he’d finished.

But there you are, as Mr. Estimet always said, there was enough junk from the earth cluttering the cosmos without him adding to it.

Now here was Tilly Moffat and George had no idea how she would respond.

‘And that,’ Mr. Estimet pointed out, ‘is because she hasn’t been behind the telescope before. Wasn’t it Zachariah Bumble before Tilly?’

Then Mr. Estimet also closed up on Tilly Moffat.

‘Looks quite pleasant,’ he observed, ‘for a person.’

George was not convinced.

‘Hmmm. Pleasant until she buys a great big field and builds a great big house on it with no regard for the non-humans who were there first.’

‘Now, now, George,’ Mr. Estimet began, then let it go.

His own eyes shifted from Tilly Moffat back to the earth. He could see snow falling in parts of that little world down there and he totally loved snow.

Adored it, really.

Why, if there was anything that could make him volunteer for the very next stint on earth as an observer, it would be snow.

There was no snow on their planet, no misty mornings, no blue seas and golden sands, no anything, really.

‘You know,’ he began, ‘despite all the things they do wrong…’

‘Which is practically everything,’ George put in.

Mr. Estimet stopped him.

‘I know, George, I know, but on the other hand, they do have a capacity for love.’

George One almost snorted.

Love, he thought. They had a capacity for love all right when they drowned the sea in oil and chemicals, when they chopped down the rain forests, when they polluted the air and chucked things into space without a thought for those living there.

But all he said was, ‘Really? They have a capacity for love? Are you sure about that, Mr. Estimet?’

‘Well, look at what some of them do,’ Mr. Estimet began. ‘Some try to save the whale and the tiger. Quite a lot of them are trying to save the world. Yes, yes,’ he held up a hand as George One’s mouth opened, ‘I know much of it is self-interest to avoid extinction but not all of it, George. Many of them, for example, work for peace and, most promising, millions of them care about people they don’t even know.’

George thought about this. Nope, he couldn’t believe any of these things but then, Mr. Estimet always had been a wishful thinker, although he denied it.

‘I’m not a wishful thinker so much as a hopeful energy source,’ he would say, ‘just like some of those people on earth.’

Now, he smiled.

‘Can you see those trees?’ he asked.

George looked down.

‘You mean the few they’ve got left,’ he retorted tersely.

‘No,’ Mr. Estimet’s voice was gentle. ‘I mean the trees with stars on them.’

‘Stars?’

‘Stars.’

There was silence for a moment as both George and Mr. Estimet winkled out the star dressed trees.

‘Hmmm,’ George murmured. ‘Very pretty.’

Mr. Estimet glanced at him.

‘Pretty?’ he repeated, and George blushed.

‘I know it’s an earth word,’ he said defensively, ‘but it happens to be one I like.’

‘And why not,’ Mr. Estimate smiled. Then, ‘Well, George, those trees are called Christmas trees. No, don’t ask me why. I have no idea. All I know is that they do this to them every year and what I thought was, we could put a Christmas tree on top of our planet to show the earth that we quite like them.’

‘At the moment,’ he added.

Ignoring the last remark, George said, ‘Wouldn’t it have to be an extraordinarily big tree?’

‘It would.’ Mr. Estimet’s agreement was instant. ‘But we can do that. We can put a Christmas tree in space with a star on its top branch.’

‘How about the North Star,’ George suggested. ‘That’s the brightest star we’ve got.’

Mr. Estimet shook his head.

‘Better not. They’ll get a bit miffed down there if the North Star suddenly disappears.’

When it was ready, George and Mr. Estimet sent their particle Christmas tree roaring into the silence of the Universe.

It was enormous.

‘Bite bare,’ George said thoughtfully, balancing the North Star on the tip of the tree, whipping a long strand of the Milky Way out of place then draping it artistically over the branches so that the tree sparkled and shone.

For a moment, the whole Universe shuddered until Mr. Estimet put the strand back almost as fast as George had removed it.

‘Sorry,’ George said.

Other stars were fastened to the tree along with two or three glittering comets put on for a bit of interest and they were having a fine old time until George noticed Tilly Moffat staring up at them.

‘She can see the tree,’ he said.

‘Yes,’ Mr. Estimet nodded. ‘She can.’

The response was immediate from the little world below them and when George spelt out ‘HAPPY CHRISTMAS’ in very small stars, hanging them on the tree in place of the bit of the Milky Way that had been there before, Zachariah Bumble and the whole of the telescope team crowded around Tilly Moffat to stare at the Christmas tree floating in space.

‘Happy Christmas, George,’ said Mr. Estimet, holding the Universe steady as George carefully took down the North Star and put it back where he had found it.

In the deep still silence, George said, ‘Happy Christmas, Mr. Estimet,’ and glancing down at Tilly Moffat’s shining eyes, added one more word to his banner of stars.

‘HAPPY CHRISTMAS, WORLD.’

And to Mr. Estimet’s surprise, this time, George meant it.


© by GWEN GRANT


Wolfgang Hampel's very witty book 'Satire ist mein Lieblingstier' ( Satire is my favourite animal ) is No 1 Buecher de TOP List.


Wolfgang Hampels sehr witziges Buch ' Satire ist mein Lieblingstier' ( Satire is my favourite animal ) ist No 1 Buecher de TOP Liste.


Many greetings - viele Grüße

Mats 

buecher.de - Schnell, Günstig, Versandkostenfrei




Ich habe dieses Buch gekauft, weil Krimi-Königin Ingrid Noll Wolfgang ... sehr, daß wir die monatliche literarische Veranstaltung Vita Magica von Wolfgang Hampel bald einmal besuchen können.


Wolfgang Hampel's Satire ist mein Lieblingstier in Buecher de TOP list 






Satire ist mein Lieblingstier - Satirische Gedichte - Wolfgang Hampel
Informationen über die Kultveranstaltung "Vita Magica" der Akademie für Ältere in Heidelberg  

Wolfgang Hampel - Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal )


Betty MacDonald, a very special politician and a year ago 
 
Roger Cicero - ESC winner 2007  

Many ESC fans from all over the world are so very sad because we lost Joy Fleming - one of the best singers ever. 

Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel sings  'Try to remember' especially for Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund at Vita Magica September

you can join 



Betty MacDonald fan club



Betty MacDonald Society  



Vita Magica  



Eurovision Song Contest Fan Club 



on Facebook


Vita Magica Betty MacDonald event with Wolfgang Hampel, Thomas Bödigheimer and Friedrich von Hoheneichen



Vita Magica 


Betty MacDonald 

Betty MacDonald fan club 


Betty MacDonald fan club on Facebook


Betty MacDonald forum  

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) - The Egg and I 


Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( Polski)   

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel - LinkFang ( German ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Academic ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel -   

Wolfgang Hampel - DBpedia  ( English / German )

Wolfgang Hampel - people check ( English ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Memim ( English )

Vashon Island - Wikipedia ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel - Monica Sone - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( French ) 


Wolfgang Hampel - Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle - Wikipedia ( English)

Wolfgang Hampel in Florida State University

Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel 

Betty MacDonald fan club interviews on CD/DVD

Betty MacDonald fan club items 

Betty MacDonald fan club items  - comments

Betty MacDonald fan club - The Stove and I  
 

Betty MacDonald fan club groups 

Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Gwen Grant, Gammy, Wolfgang Hampel

Hi this is Stig,

Don't miss the letter, written by Betty MacDonald's unique grandmother Gammy, please.
You'll enjoy it very much.

You can read several wonderful satirical poems and stories written by Betty MacDonald Memorial Award winner Wolfgang Hampel. ( see Betty MacDonald Newsletter December )
Wolfgang Hampel stories and poems are my favourites.

Gwen Grant's christmas story is wonderful. Betty MacDonald Fans from all over the world enjoy Gwen's story very much. Thank you so much for this very special Christmas gift, dear Gwen Grant!

I adore Gwen Grant's books. We can be very proud to have unique Betty MacDonald Fan Club Members like this.

Thanks a Million dear Gwen Grant for sharing this wonderful story!


‘ON TOP OF THE WORLD’


George One had been staring down at the Earth for a little while before he realised something was different.

But what?

Squinting, he concentrated on the big space telescope, the one that was always aimed directly at him. Well, at him and Mr. Estimet, he corrected, because whatever was different seemed to lay there.

‘Ah!’ he exclaimed, as his eyes focussed. ‘That’s it. There’s a new person on the telescope, Mr. Estimet.’

Mr. Estimet, who had also been looking down at the Earth, gently rocking backwards and forwards on his heels, suddenly came to life.

‘A new person, George?’

George zoomed in on the new person and read her name badge.

‘Tilly,’ he announced. ‘Tilly Moffat. Haven’t seen HER before.’

George and Mr. Estimet knew all the people who worked on the big telescope. They knew the ones who got excited about any little change in the Universe, just as they knew the ones who remained calm, even a touch aloof when a new star was spotted, or a new asteroid, or a new anything come to that.

George smiled.

Sometimes, just for the fun of it, he would throw a scrap of foil through the observation window, chortling at the sudden burst of activity below.

Hardly worth a moment’s amusement, though, he admitted, because then he had to go out and get it back and that wasn’t easy, not with the pulling and tugging of all those gravitational fields swooping and soaring around him.

Felt as if he’d been dragged through a force field backwards by the time he’d finished.

But there you are, as Mr. Estimet always said, there was enough junk from the earth cluttering the cosmos without him adding to it.

Now here was Tilly Moffat and George had no idea how she would respond.

‘And that,’ Mr. Estimet pointed out, ‘is because she hasn’t been behind the telescope before. Wasn’t it Zachariah Bumble before Tilly?’

Then Mr. Estimet also closed up on Tilly Moffat.

‘Looks quite pleasant,’ he observed, ‘for a person.’

George was not convinced.

‘Hmmm. Pleasant until she buys a great big field and builds a great big house on it with no regard for the non-humans who were there first.’

‘Now, now, George,’ Mr. Estimet began, then let it go.

His own eyes shifted from Tilly Moffat back to the earth. He could see snow falling in parts of that little world down there and he totally loved snow.

Adored it, really.

Why, if there was anything that could make him volunteer for the very next stint on earth as an observer, it would be snow.

There was no snow on their planet, no misty mornings, no blue seas and golden sands, no anything, really.

‘You know,’ he began, ‘despite all the things they do wrong…’

‘Which is practically everything,’ George put in.

Mr. Estimet stopped him.

‘I know, George, I know, but on the other hand, they do have a capacity for love.’

George One almost snorted.

Love, he thought. They had a capacity for love all right when they drowned the sea in oil and chemicals, when they chopped down the rain forests, when they polluted the air and chucked things into space without a thought for those living there.

But all he said was, ‘Really? They have a capacity for love? Are you sure about that, Mr. Estimet?’

‘Well, look at what some of them do,’ Mr. Estimet began. ‘Some try to save the whale and the tiger. Quite a lot of them are trying to save the world. Yes, yes,’ he held up a hand as George One’s mouth opened, ‘I know much of it is self-interest to avoid extinction but not all of it, George. Many of them, for example, work for peace and, most promising, millions of them care about people they don’t even know.’

George thought about this. Nope, he couldn’t believe any of these things but then, Mr. Estimet always had been a wishful thinker, although he denied it.

‘I’m not a wishful thinker so much as a hopeful energy source,’ he would say, ‘just like some of those people on earth.’

Now, he smiled.

‘Can you see those trees?’ he asked.

George looked down.

‘You mean the few they’ve got left,’ he retorted tersely.

‘No,’ Mr. Estimet’s voice was gentle. ‘I mean the trees with stars on them.’

‘Stars?’

‘Stars.’

There was silence for a moment as both George and Mr. Estimet winkled out the star dressed trees.

‘Hmmm,’ George murmured. ‘Very pretty.’

Mr. Estimet glanced at him.

‘Pretty?’ he repeated, and George blushed.

‘I know it’s an earth word,’ he said defensively, ‘but it happens to be one I like.’

‘And why not,’ Mr. Estimate smiled. Then, ‘Well, George, those trees are called Christmas trees. No, don’t ask me why. I have no idea. All I know is that they do this to them every year and what I thought was, we could put a Christmas tree on top of our planet to show the earth that we quite like them.’

‘At the moment,’ he added.

Ignoring the last remark, George said, ‘Wouldn’t it have to be an extraordinarily big tree?’

‘It would.’ Mr. Estimet’s agreement was instant. ‘But we can do that. We can put a Christmas tree in space with a star on its top branch.’

‘How about the North Star,’ George suggested. ‘That’s the brightest star we’ve got.’

Mr. Estimet shook his head.

‘Better not. They’ll get a bit miffed down there if the North Star suddenly disappears.’

When it was ready, George and Mr. Estimet sent their particle Christmas tree roaring into the silence of the Universe.

It was enormous.

‘Bite bare,’ George said thoughtfully, balancing the North Star on the tip of the tree, whipping a long strand of the Milky Way out of place then

draping it artistically over the branches so that the tree sparkled and shone.

For a moment, the whole Universe shuddered until Mr. Estimet put the strand back almost as fast as George had removed it.

‘Sorry,’ George said.

Other stars were fastened to the tree along with two or three glittering comets put on for a bit of interest and they were having a fine old time until George noticed Tilly Moffat staring up at them.

‘She can see the tree,’ he said.

‘Yes,’ Mr. Estimet nodded. ‘She can.’

The response was immediate from the little world below them and when George spelt out ‘HAPPY CHRISTMAS’ in very small stars, hanging them on the tree in place of the bit of the Milky Way that had been there before, Zachariah Bumble and the whole of the telescope team crowded around Tilly Moffat to stare at the Christmas tree floating in space.

‘Happy Christmas, George,’ said Mr. Estimet, holding the Universe steady as George carefully took down the North Star and put it back where he had found it.

In the deep still silence, George said, ‘Happy Christmas, Mr. Estimet,’ and glancing down at Tilly Moffat’s shining eyes, added one more word to his banner of stars.

‘HAPPY CHRISTMAS, WORLD.’

And to Mr. Estimet’s surprise, this time, George meant it.



© by GWEN GRANT

Gwen Grant's Christmas story is delightful.

Merry Christmas to Betty MacDonald Fan Club honor member Gwen Grant, our other Betty MacDonald Fan Club honor members Monica Sone and Darsie Beck and our Betty MacDonald Fans from all over the world. By the way I know that we'll have Betty MacDonald Fan Club members in 30 countries in the near future. More info will come soon.

A happy and grateful Stig


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/

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

Wolfgang Hampel Society
Wolfgang Hampel, winner of first Betty MacDonald Memorial Award, author, journalist, artist, poet

http://wolfganghampelsociety.blogspot.com/

Wolfgang Hampel Fan Club

Wolfgang Hampel interviewed Betty MacDonald's family and friends and many other famous artists and writers. Wolfgang Hampel is also famous for his satirical poems and stories.

http://wolfganghampelfanclub.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 26 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 Jensen 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/

Wolfgang Hampel Society
Wolfgang Hampel, winner of first Betty MacDonald Memorial Award, author, journalist, artist, poet

http://wolfganghampelsociety.blogspot.com/

Wolfgang Hampel Fan Club

Wolfgang Hampel, interviewer of Betty MacDonald's family and friends and many other famous artists and writers. Wolfgang Hampel is also famous for his satirical poems and stories.

http://wolfganghampelfanclub.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Betty MacDonald, Gwen Grant

This is Ina,

We received this mail from our Betty MacDonald Fan Club honour member Gwen Grant, beloved author and Betty MacDonald Fan.
I agree we have the most interesting and fascinating Betty MacDonald Fan Club Honour members.

Welcome to Betty MacDonald Fan Club, dearest Gwen Grant.

I'm sure Betty MacDonald Fan Club Fans from all over the world will enjoy reading your wonderful books.

Ina

Dear Betty MacDonald Fan Club Fans,

I've just taken down from my bookshelves the four books of Betty's that I have and they've been read so much, the covers of THE EGG AND I and ONIONS IN THE STEW are a a bit battered! I was interested in the dates they were published and thought others might be interested, as well.

THE EGG AND I - 1955 - llth impression
THE PLAGUE AND I - 1949
ANYBODY CAN DO ANYTHING - 1951
ONIONS IN THE STEW - Not dated

and 'WHO, ME?' 1960 - a compilation of Betty's work and this has a small photograph of Betty on the cover of the book itself and inside there is a photograph of Betty and two of her grandchildren.

Three of them are Book Club books and they look nothing from the outside - give no idea of the brilliant world within. Opening one of Betty's books is like finding treasure. The 1949 and 1951 books I bought at a Jumble Sale when I was about 17 and had read THE EGG AND I. I felt so fortunate to find them and carried them home as tenderly as if they were eggs! I think they were printed on wartime paper because the paper isn't spectacular. I imagine, though, that there are much older books than these around and just as much loved as mine.

Another fan of Betty's asked recently how old I was when I first read Betty's books - I think I was about 16. I read THE EGG AND I first because from the moment I read that first paragraph, I was hooked. I loved reading about people's lives and that opening paragraph is so instantly appealing.
My own books were much influenced by Betty, especially KNOCK AND WAIT, which is the story of my year at an Open Air School, which was a bit like a Sanatorium but wasn't.

PRIVATE-KEEP OUT is the first in my trilogy dealing with my childhood. There are fictional elements to this book but the basis is true.
My family, for instance, at that time was my three brothers but I had a sister who died. All the same, I thought of her as still being my family, so I put her in my book as Lucy. I have another sister younger than me - so the heroine had two sisters, but, I have to say, all the nice parts of Rose are my youngest sister's - all the other bits are me! The town I lived in is there, the street I lived in, the feelings I had, many of the things that happened.

KNOCK AND WAIT - When I first wrote this book, it wasn't at all funny, and I wasn't happy with it. It sounded too sad and too dark, so, remembering THE PLAGUE AND I and Betty and Kimi's response to their situation, I rewrote KNOCK AND WAIT and this time I was happy with it. It was funny and yet it showed the truth of my year in that hsopital school. Betty walks a tightrope with THE PLAGUE AND I because to write about something so life changing as a serious illness and yet keep it light but without minimising the impact it has on your life or belittling the experience, because, of course, there are others who suffer as well, is tremendously difficult. Betty had that unique ability and I think that ability came from the generosity of her nature.

ONE WAY ONLY - there are fictional elements in this book but still mixed with many elements of truth.

I have written other children's books about subjects that have been important to me and these will eventually appear on my website which is still being built. I wish I could say I was building it but it's my husband, Ian, (a Scot) who is actually doing the work. When my is finished, all my books will be on it and more of my poems.

I have written four picture books - LITTLE BLUE CAR, which is about a new little car learning how he works - just like all small children. This was a story I used to tell my grandchildren. Their father had a little blue car so I just brought the car to life - helped by the children's fondness for it.

JONPANDA - about a Panda. I have that Panda still. I had him when I was a little girl and now he's so old and battered, he lives in tissue paper in a paper bag in the cupboard. JONPANDA comes to life for his friend, Mamie, who has rescued him from a wretched life at the fairground and they share a challenging experience together.

MATTHEW AND HIS MAGIC KITE - a story of a little boy's adventure on a kite that turns out to be magic. He goes to the North Pole on the kite because I always loved the idea of the North Pole, and has an adventure with a bear. Now this bear was one that used to be in Dundee, Scotland, museum and we lived there for a year. I used to take my sons to look at it but my imagination was captured by this bear and I looked at it as much as the boys. I once stepped over the rail that said 'KEEP OUT' and touched its fur and it was hard and spiky. Poor bear.

RACE DAY- this is a story about all kinds of vehicles competing in a race - but it's also about Littel Red Bubble car being kind to animals and to the other vehicles in the race. I guess I just wanted to highlight how so very often kindess and competitiveness go hand in hand.

At the moment, I'm working on a book called THE LAST COAL BARGE. I live in a village that used to have a coal mine at its heart. That's gone now but in its place there is a marina. However, there is a history in the old pit area and Danny meets part of it when he meets the mysterious Jarred Turner, his pony, Boxer and his pet blackbird, Casey. It tells of the fate of the last coal barge lying in the deep water of the pit.

PRIVATE-KEEP OUT can be ordered from Amazon but the other books have to be sought out. I hope many of you will read my stories and enjoy them.

Love, Gwen Grant.

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/

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

Wolfgang Hampel Society
Wolfgang Hampel, winner of first Betty MacDonald Memorial Award, author, journalist, artist, poet

http://wolfganghampelsociety.blogspot.com/

Wolfgang Hampel Fan Club

Wolfgang Hampel interviewed Betty MacDonald's family and friends and many other famous artists and writers. Wolfgang Hampel is also famous for his satirical poems and stories.

http://wolfganghampelfanclub.blogspot.com/

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 26 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/

Wolfgang Hampel Society
Wolfgang Hampel, winner of first Betty MacDonald Memorial Award, author, journalist, artist, poet

http://wolfganghampelsociety.blogspot.com/

Wolfgang Hampel Fan Club

Wolfgang Hampel interviewed Betty MacDonald's family and friends and many other famous artists and writers. Wolfgang Hampel is also famous for his satirical poems and stories.

http://wolfganghampelfanclub.blogspot.com/












































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