New Arrival: Kent McCray: The Man Behind the Most Beloved Television Shows by Marianne Rittner-Holmes

Picked up a copy of this book with the gift card I received for Christmas. Can't wait to read it!

 

Ask people who Kent McCray is and the question will draw a blank stare. Ask people if they remember Bonanza, The High Chaparral, Little House on the Prairie and Highway to Heaven, and a smile will invariably come to their faces as they recognize the titles and share how these beloved shows influenced their lives. In fact, all four series are still being broadcast 30 to 55 years after their original debuts. They are more than historic; they are iconic because they continue to reach out to new generations of viewers on a global scale.

It all started in 1951. The world was no longer at war; peace-time technology focused on the new medium of television; and AT&T connected the East and West Coasts via coaxial cable creating an explosion in television programming and broadcasting. This was the stage Kent McCray entered in that same year. A live stage. One that put the young NBC production specialist among the likes of Red Skelton, Milton Berle, Ralph Edwards, Groucho Marx, and Bob Hope. He became part of the history of television as it evolved from live TV to videotape to film, from black & white to color.

Kent McCray shares stories that span 50 years of television including production obstacles and solutions, his extraordinary collaboration with Michael Landon, and his legacy of philanthropy, all against the backdrop of current events that helped shape the television industry.

Join Kent McCray as he revisits his incredible life and works that live on to this day.

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Ten-K AlphaDox Publishing; 1st Edition edition (September 18, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0998296007
ISBN-13: 978-0998296005
Order at Amazon!

New Laura Ingalls Wilder Themed Books Coming This Fall

COMING IN SEPTEMBER

A must-read companion to the Little House books

2017 is the 150th anniversary of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s birthday. Her beloved Little House series tells a classic coming-of-age story based on Wilder’s own family life and is a reflection of the pioneer spirit of the time. They are also deeply rooted in the natural world. The plants, animals, and landscapes are so integral to the stories, they are practically their own characters.

The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder, by New York Times bestselling author Marta McDowell, explores Wilder’s deep relationship to the landscape. Follow the wagon trail of the series, starting in the Wisconsin setting of Little House in the Big Woods to the Dakotas and finally to Missouri. Throughout, you’ll learn details about Wilder’s life and inspirations, discover how to visit the real places today, and even learn to grow the plants and vegetables featured in the stories.

The artful package includes original illustrations by Helen Sewell and Garth Williams, along with historical and contemporary photographs. The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder is a must-have treasure for the millions of readers enchanted by Laura’s wild and beautiful life.

COMING IN OCTOBER

A life on the prairie is not all it's cracked up to be in this middle-grade novel where one girl’s mom takes her love of the Little House series just a bit too far.

Charlotte’s mom has just moved the family across the country to live in Walnut Grove, “childhood home of pioneer author Laura Ingalls Wilder.” Mom’s idea is that the spirit of Laura Ingalls will help her write a bestselling book. But Charlotte knows better: Walnut Grove is just another town where Mom can avoid responsibility. And this place is worse than everywhere else the family has lived—it’s freezing in the winter, it’s small with nothing to do, and the people talk about Laura Ingalls all the time. Charlotte’s convinced her family will not be able to make a life on the prairie—until the spirit of Laura Ingalls starts getting to her, too.



Visit Goodreads for more information.

New Release: Visiting Laura's Little Towns by Sandra Hume

For Laura Ingalls Wilder fans, there is nothing quite like going to the scene of the story. Every year—roughly May to October—thousands of fans descend upon the spots the Ingalls family called home in Wisconsin, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota. They even visit her husband, Almanzo's, childhood home in New York as well as Mansfield, Missouri, where Laura lived out her adult life. And because the Little House books are for children (even though we adults read them), for generation after generation, these sites are the quintessential family destination.

"Family vacation" sounds idyllic, but parents know that the reality of traveling with little ones doesn't often match the dream. As a parent, traveler, and Laura Ingalls Wilder scholar, Sandra Hume has perfected the art of family travel to the Little House sites. Her "Visiting Laura's Little Towns" series addresses family concerns for this kind of travel. From how far in advance to reserve to what to expect to eat to the must-sees of each site, she guides families through the land of Laura Ingalls Wilder every step of the way.

Visit Laura's little towns ... because you want to go where Laura went.

File Size: 2046 KB
Publisher: Not the Critic Press LLC (May 20, 2016)
Publication Date: May 20, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B01EXKAORQ


Purchase here!

New Release: Laura Ingalls Wilder's Walnut Grove by William Anderson

Just released - Laura Ingalls Wilder's Walnut Grove by William Anderson. 

"This book traces the history of Walnut Grove as it was known by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the establishment of the town's Museum and annual Wilder Pageant, and the steady stream of visitors who stop by to revel in reminders of the heartland's past. Walnut Grove is a town with a story to tell. Full color."

Available at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, MN.

Confessions of a Prairie Bitch is on its Way

I received an email from Amazon yesterday stating that my copy of Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated shipped. I am so excited. Out of the three Little House on the Prairie cast autobiographies--Melissa Gilbert, Melissa (Sue) Anderson, and Alison Arngrim--Alison's is the one I wanted to read the most.

She's been promoting the book for a while. There is word that she was on the Today show this morning. I haven't had time to check. If you're on Facebook or Twitter, you'll find Alison there too.

I'll share my thoughts on this book after I read it.

The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House by Melissa Anderson -- Book Review

In her new memoir, The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House, Melissa Anderson, who played Mary Ingalls on the classic family show Little House on the Prairie, shares her memories of several Little House episodes and her career during her time on the iconic show.

Taking readers from her initial meeting with beloved creator, actor and producer, Michael Landon, through After-School Specials, Love Boat episodes, The Equalizer, and more, Anderson speaks fondly of the career she temporarily left behind to raise her family.

Out of the three books recently written by Little House on the Prairie cast members, this is the one I wanted to read the most. We still hear a lot about Melissa Gilbert and Alison Arngrim, but Anderson walked away from the business and had maintained her privacy for years. Knowing she was finally ready to discuss with fans her Little House years, found me pre-ordering the book from Amazon as soon as it was posted. Despite the fact that I have over 60 books in my TBR pile, the minute this book arrived on my doorstep, I cracked it open and began reading. Perhaps that's why my disappointment seems so great.

I wanted to get to know more about Melissa Anderson, her relationships with the cast and crew of my favorite show, and how she handled being a child star. It ended with me not feeling I learned much more than when I started.

The Way I See It is mostly recaps of Little House episodes in which the character of Mary played a significant role. In addition, there are spots where the dialogue from the episodes is quoted. Having been a fan since childhood, I could probably recite most of these episodes back from memory.

While Anderson shared some memories of Michael Landon and Karen Grassle, the rest of the cast and crew received minimal nods. She didn't speak ill of them, but I felt after so long on a show, she would have more to share about those people she grew up around. I wasn't looking for dirt on who she might not have gotten along with, but it seems like her need for privacy prevented her from offering anything new to readers.

I admire Melissa Anderson. She's beautiful, she's talented, and I would love to see her back on the small screen again. She gave up her career to raise her family and she's not sorry about it. While I am glad I purchased the book so that I can add it to my Laura Ingalls Wilder/LHOP collection, I wish she had been willing to open up more about the role that defined her career.


Title: The Way I See It: A Look Back at My Life on Little House
Author: Melissa Anderson
Publisher: Globe Pequot Press
ISBN: 978-0-7627-5970-5
SRP: $22.95

New Survey!

Please vote in our latest survey, which asks, "Are you planning to buy Melissa Gilbert's biography?"

Your choices are:

* You Bet!
* Maybe.
* Maybe as a gift.
* I'm waiting for reviews.
* Not really interested.

This survey will be available until May 30, 2009.

Melissa Gilbert's Biography Coming June 2009 from Simon & Schuster

Little House on the Prairie fans will be thrilled to hear that Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura (Half-pint) Ingalls Wilder on this classic television series has written a biography titled, Prairie Tale. This book is due to be released by Simon & Schuster in June 2009.

Synopsis from the publisher's website:



To fans of the hugely successful television series Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Gilbert grew up in a fantasy world with a larger-than-life father, friends and family she could count on, and plenty of animals to play with. Children across the country dreamed of the Ingalls' idyllic life -- and so did Melissa.

She was a natural on camera, but behind the scenes, life was more complicated. Adopted as a baby into a legendary show business family, Melissa wrestled with questions about her identity and struggled to maintain an image of perfection her mother created and enforced. Only after years of substance abuse, dysfunctional relationships, and made-for-television movies did she begin to figure out who she really was.

With candor and humor, the cherished actress traces her complicated journey from buck-toothed Laura "Half-pint" Ingalls to Hollywood starlet, wife, and mother. She partied with the Brat Pack, dated heartthrobs like Rob Lowe and bad boys like Billy Idol, and began a self-destructive pattern of addiction and codependence. Left in debt after her first marriage, and struggling to create some sense of stability, she eventually realized that her career on television had earned her popularity, admiration, and love from everyone but herself.

Through hard work, tenacity, sobriety, and the blessings of a solid marriage, Melissa has accepted her many different identities and learned to laugh, cry, and forgive in new ways. Women everywhere may have idolized her charming life on Little House on the Prairie, but Melissa's own unexpectedly honest, imperfect, and down-to-earth story is an inspiration.

You can pre-order Prairie Tale from Simon & Schuster's website or at Amazon.com.