Way I See It: A Look Back At My Life On Little House

When other girls her age were experiencing their first crushes, Melissa Sue Anderson was receiving handwritten marriage proposals from fans as young, and younger, than she was. When other girls were dreaming of their first kiss, Melissa was struggling through hers in front of a camera. From age eleven in 1974 until she left the show in 1981, Melissa Anderson literally grew up before the viewers of Little House on the Prairie.

Melissa, as Mary, is remembered by many as the blind sister”and she was the only actor in the series to be nominated for an Emmy. In The Way I See It, she takes readers onto the set and inside the world of the iconic series created by Michael Landon, who, Melissa discovered, was not perfect, as much as he tried to be. In this memoir she also shares her memories of working with guest stars like Todd Bridges, Mariette Hartley, Sean Penn, Patricia Neal, and Johnny Cash.

In addition to stories of life on the set, Melissa offers revealing looks at her relationships off-set with her costars, including the other Melissa (Melissa Gilbert) and Alison Arngrim, who portrayed Nellie Oleson on the show. And she relates stories of her guest appearances on iconic programs such as The Love Boat and The Brady Bunch.

Filled with personal, revealing anecdotes and memorabilia from the Little House years, this book is also a portrait of a child star who became a successful adult actress and a successful adult. These are stories from the other Ingalls sister” that have never been told.

From age eleven in 1974 until she left the show in 1981, Melissa Anderson literally grew up before the viewers of Little House on the Prairie.

Melissa, as Mary, is remembered by many as the blind sister”and she was the only actor in the series to be nominated for an Emmy. In The Way I See It, she takes readers onto the set and inside the world of the iconic series created by Michael Landon, who, Melissa discovered, was not perfect, as much as he tried to be. In this memoir she also shares her memories of working with guest stars like Todd Bridges, Mariette Hartley, Sean Penn, Patricia Neal, and Johnny Cash.

Contents

 

Preface: I think it’s a Western.”

 

Chapter 1: TOO WELL-FED AND A SEVEN YEAR CONTRACT

Chapter 2: THE PILOT, COOGAN’S LAW, HIVES AND WHIPLASH

 

SEASON ONE   JUNE, 1974-FEBRUARY, 1975

Chapter 3: COUNTRY GIRLS” / ”A HARVEST OF FRIENDS”

Chapter 4: TOWN PARTY, COUNTRY PARTY” / ”THE LOVE OF JOHNNY JOHNSON” AND EATING FOR THE CAMERA 101

Chapter 5: THE RACCOON” / ”THE VOICE OF TINKER JONES”

Chapter 6: THE AWARD”

Chapter 7: MAGIC MOUNTAIN IN DISGUISE

 

SEASON TWO  MAY, 1975-JANUARY, 1976

Chapter 8: FOUR EYES”

Chapter 9: THE CAMP OUT” / ”THE GIFT” AND THE LONLIEST RUNNER”

Chapter 10:  REMEMBER ME, PARTS I & II” / SOLDIER’S RETURN”

 

SEASON THREE  MAY, 1976-FEBRUARY 1977

Chapter 11:  THE COLLECTION” / I’LL RIDE THE WIND”

Chapter 12:  THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON”

 

SEASON FOUR  MAY, 1977-January, 1978

Chapter 13: TIMES OF CHANGE” / ”THE HANDYMAN” AND

THE CREEPER OF WALNUT GROVE” / THE AFTERMATH”

Chapter 14: I’LL BE WAVING AS YOU DRIVE AWAY” PARTS I & II

 

SEASON FIVE  MAY, 1978-JANUARY, 1979

Chapter 15: THE WEDDING”, THE EMMY’S AND COOKING? WITH STEVEN SPEILBERG

 

SEASON SIX  MAY, 1979-JANUARY, 1980

Chapter 16: I WAS A BLIND PIONEER AND YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD PROBLEMS

 

SEASON SEVEN  MAY, 1980-JANUARY, 1981

Chapter 17:   BLIND JUSTICE” AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME”

 

SEASON EIGHT  MAY, 1981-JANUARY, 1982

Chapter 18:   A CHRISTMAS THEY NEVER FORGOT” AND WHERE PIGEONS GO TO DIE”

Chapter 19:   REFLECTIONS

 

Epilogue

Melissa Anderson is an EmmyAward winning actress known to millions for playing Mary Ingalls on the NBC television series Little House on the Prairie, which aired from 1974 to 1983. She played First Lady Megan Hollister in the 2006 miniseries 10.5: Apocalypse. Born and raised in California, she lives with her husband, television producer and screenwriter Michael Sloan, and their two children.

AN EXCERPT
I spotted Mike across the stage and headed in his direction. My heart was racing, and my stomach was tied up in a huge knot.
Um . . . Uh . . . Hey, Mike?”
He turned, saw me, and smiled. Hey, darlin’, how ya doing?”
Uh, well, good . . . I guess.” I was now having trouble looking him in the eye.
Something on your mind, Missy?”
And then, out it came. Is it true? Are you really going to make me go blind next season?” I waited for what seemed forever for my answer.
Yes, Missy, you will be going blind next season.”
My heart sank. I felt sick. The tears sprung up and out before I even had time to digest this news. I couldn’t hold them back. I madly tried to think of something, anything else, so I would stop crying and not humiliate myself any further.
Just about the time I almost really lost it, Mike said, Don’t worry, Missy. It’s going to be great. You’ll see.” He gave me a big hug.
R-r-really?” I sobbed. You’re not going to write me out?”
Of course not,” he said. . . .You have a great future ahead.”
I knew he wasn’t just saying it to make me feel better; he wasn’t that kind of guy. He went on to explain what would happen to Mary, and the show, and how he knew this would be a great opportunity for me. I trusted Mike and chose to accept the wonderful feeling of relief that had come over me.

 

Publisher: Globe Pequot
Distributor: The Globe Pequot Press
Publication Date: 05-04-2010
Pages: 256
Measurements: 9.00in X 6.00in