The “Older” Betsy-Tacy Books Are Back!

October 4, 2009

HeavenToBetsy pb cAll six of Maud Hart Lovelace’s beloved “older” Betsy-Tacy books are available again from Harper Perennial in terrific new trade paperback editions!

HEAVEN TO BETSY / BETSY IN SPITE OF HERSELF
Maud Hart LovelaceBetsyWasJunior pb c
Introduction by Laura Lippman

Harper Perennial Modern Classics
$14.99, Trade PaperbackBetsyGreatWorld pb c
ISBN-13: 9780061794698
Autobiographical fiction set in “Deep Valley,” Minnesota — aka Mankato, MN

BETSY WAS A JUNIOR / BETSY AND JOE
Maud Hart Lovelace
Introduction by Meg Cabot

Harper Perennial Modern Classics
$14.99, Trade Paperback
ISBN-13: 9780061794728
Autobiographical fiction set in “Deep Valley,” Minnesota — aka Mankato, MN

BETSY AND THE GREAT WORLD / BETSY’S WEDDING
Maud Hart Lovelace
Introduction by Anna Quindlen

Harper Perennial Modern Classics
$14.99, Trade Paperback
ISBN-13: 9780061795138
Autobiographical fiction set in “Deep Valley,” Minnesota — aka Mankato, MN

Betsy and Tacy experience the delights and complexities of high school and young adulthood in the early 1900’s — and their lives are still so much like ours!

“This nostalgic look back to Betsy’s youth in a simpler time, the early 1900s, is just the type of book I would have enjoyed as a young girl—and did.  Even for an adult, reading about Betsy’s high school days is a pleasant escape from the complexities of real life.”
– Carla Ketner, Chapters Books & Gifts, Seward, NE

 ”The amazing thing is how much the same everything is, despite the fact that they take place 100 years ago. While to me the romances are the main appeal, there are strong storylines about friendships (betrayal! cliques!) and family, plus Betsy, through all the books, is always pursuing her dream of becoming a published writer. What, exactly, is there not to love?”
– Meg Cabot, author of the Princess Diaries series and other works

“I’m a lifelong Betsy-Tacy fan, and reissuing these books has been the highlight of my career.”
– Jennifer Hart, VP, Associate Publisher, Harper Perennial, Harper Paperbacks and Avon Books

All of these BETSY-TACY books are wonderful choices for your book club or reading group, too. We recommend them for women of ALL ages.  October is National Reading Group Month, so this is a perfect time to indulge in all six BETSY-TACY novels!  Here’’s a reading group guide from the publisher, too. 

You also can find out more about Maud Hart Lovelace from the Betsy-Tacy Society and the Maud Hart Lovelace Society, including visiting Betsy’s and Tacy’s houses in Mankato.  Read all about this year’s Betsy-Tacy Convention at http://www.bookclubgirl.com/book_club_girl/betsy-tacy-convention/.

Join one or all of these Facebook groups:  I Want to Be Betsy-Tacy-Tib, the Virtual Crowd,  and Maud Hart Lovelace. Follow BookClubGirl on Twitter for Betsy-Tacy updates, too:  http://twitter.com/#search?q=bookclubgirl

Featured now in the 2009 MBA Catalog –
Books – A Reader’s Catalog
– at participating MBA member bookstores!

Be sure to buy these books from your favorite locally owned and operated Midwest independent bookseller!
Click here for the directory of our member bookstores.

MBA BOOKSELLER INFORMATION

Booksellers — earn up to $100 in rebates from MBA for promoting all of the “older” BETSY-TACY books!
Midwest Connections rebate form for the BETSY-TACY books (PDF)

These BETSY-TACY books are available from HarperCollins Publishers or from your preferred wholesalers.  Be sure to contact your HarperCollins rep for more information about these titles.

If you have marketing questions and ideas you’d like to discuss with the publisher, please contact Stephanie Selah, Marketing Coordinator, Harper Perennial/Harper Paperbacks/Avon Books, HarperCollins Publishers, 212-207-7868, stephanie.selah@harpercollins.com .

MBA and HarperCollins want your comments and reviews for these modern classics of American literature.  Please send them to us so we can share your endorsements with your fellow MBA booksellers and with your customers!

DOWNLOADS and LINKS

 ABOUT THE BOOKS

 “There are three authors whose body of work I have reread ore than once over my adult life: Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and Maud Hart Lovelace.”
– Anna Quindlen

Around 1897, in Mankato, Minnesota, Maud Hart Lovelace met two girls — Bick Kenney and Midge Gerlach. The three soon formed a trio that would be inseparable in their youth and remain friendly throughout their adult lives. Many years later, Maud told her daughter, Merian, bedtime stories about her girlhood adventures with Bick and Midge. Soon, she developed these tales into a popular series of books that was first published in the 1940s. Mankato was transformed into Deep Valley, Minnesota, around the turn of the 20th century. Maud became friendly storyteller Betsy Ray, Bick became shy, redheaded Tacy Kelly, and Midge became the practical, yet fun-loving, Tib Muller.

The series begins with a fast friendship between Betsy and Tacy, who soon enjoy such fun as picnics on the bench on the Big Hill and dressing up and calling on neighbors. When Tib moves into the chocolate-colored house nearby, she quickly becomes Betsy and Tacy’s other best friend. Many of their fictional adventures are based on Maud’s real experiences with Bick and Midge.

As they grow older, Betsy’s, Tacy’s, and Tib’s world grows larger. They climb over the Big Hill that had always seemed so high and enjoy such downtown delights as riding in horseless carriages and going to the theater. High-school introduces them to a new social life, and many members of their Crowd are also based on real people in Maud’s life.

Even though the Betsy-Tacy books were written so long ago, timeless themes of friendship, family, and love continue to teach us about our past and what we dream for our future. And they remain the perfect bedtime stories to be shared by a mother and a daughter. The discussion topics, suggested reading list, and author biography in this reading group guide are intended to spark discussion about the wonderful characters and stirring adventures in this enchanting series.

Heaven to Betsy: Betsy Ray is loving every minute of freshman year at Deep Valley High—with new and old friends all around her . . . not to mention boys! But most intriguing of all is the one she and her best friend Tacy dub “the Tall Dark Stranger.”

Betsy in Spite of Herself: Betsy is at the center of every activity as a Deep Valley High sophomore—and suddenly, thanks to her old friend Tib, she’s offered a golden opportunity for glorious transformation. But will she impress the special boy by becoming dramatic, mysterious Betsye—or would she be better off just being Betsy in spite of herself?

Betsy Was a Junior: It’s the best school year ever, especially now that charming, funny Tib Muller is back in Deep Valley. But when her crowd gets into trouble, Betsy’s best year could turn out to be her worst.

Betsy and Joe: Betsy always thought she and Joe Willard were made for each other—and now that summer’s over and senior year’s begun, it seems her dream is coming true! But her friend Tony Markham has come calling as well—and his intentions are definitely romantic.

Betsy and the Great World: Betsy Ray is twenty-one and on the adventure of a lifetime: a solo tour of Europe! There’s even a handsome Italian, Marco, who’s going overboard for her—if only she could stop thinking about her ex-sweetheart Joe Willard.

Betsy’s Wedding: When Betsy’s boat docks in New York, Joe is waiting there . . . with a ring! But she’s going to learn that marriage isn’t all candlelight, roses, and kisses. There’s also cooking, ironing, cleaning, and budgeting— and will she be able to find time to forge a writing career?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATORS Lovelace Maud Hart AP1

Maud Hart Lovelace (1892-1980) is the beloved author of the Betsy-Tacy books, as well as many other books for adults and children. She grew up in Mankato, MN and based her beloved Betsy-Tacy series on her childhood there. Mankato became Deep Valley in the books, and all of the characters in the books are closely based on friends with whom Lovelace grew up.  Visit the website of the Betsy-Tacy Society for more information about Lovelace’s years in Mankato. 

In addition to Mankato, Lovelace spent many years living in Minneapolis, and the Maud Hart Lovelace Society, based in St. Paul, is as dedicated as the Betsy-Tacy Society in keeping her legacy alive. This past summer a memorial plaque was placed at 905 West 25th Street in Minneapolis, the site of the Hart family’s home after they moved from Mankato.

 In addition to illustrating the first four Betsy-Tacy books, Lois Lenski (1893-1974) was the Newbery Medal-winning author of Strawberry Girl.

Vera Neville illustrated six of the Betsy-Tacy books as well as three Deep Valley Books.

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