Charlotte Stewart is known by millions of fans worldwide for her role as
the beloved schoolteacher, Miss Beadle, on the iconic TV show, Little
House on the Prairie, currently broadcast in syndication in more than
100 countries around the world. Here for the first time an adult cast
member writes about the experience of making the show - the challenges,
the joys, and the sometimes-turbulent behind-the-scenes relationships.
Charlotte, with Andy Demsky, reveals 50 years in film and television
offering a backstage pass to Hollywood's cocaine-fueled 1960s, '70s and
'80s, including Charlotte's celebrated work as Mary X in David Lynch's
cult classic film, Eraserhead, as well as her later work as Betty
Briggs in the highly-rated television series, Twin Peaks. Charlotte
recounts stories of working with leading men from Jimmy Stewart and
Elvis Presley to Kevin Bacon and Kyle MacLachlan. She details off-stage
friendships with Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, as well as relationships
and flings with some of TV, film, and music's biggest names, including
Jon Voight, Richard Dreyfuss, Tim Considine, Bill Murray, Jim Morrison,
and more.
Ultimately, Charlotte's story is that of a survivor. Six years after her
career-making role on Little House on the Prairie, she lost
everything. Yet through the darkest periods of her life - divorce,
drug-use, cancer, financial ruin, the death of a spouse, and
alcoholism - she never lost her humanity or sense of humor.
Charlotte's story is far from over. She is set to reprise her role of
Betty Briggs in the new Twin Peaks series to be seen on Showtime in
2017. Throughout the year, she is a featured celebrity in fan events and
festivals for Little House on the Prairie and Twin Peaks both in the
US and abroad.
Co-author Andy Demsky is a writer and journalist, whose work has been
published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times magazine
and Better Homes & Gardens, and he co-wrote Doug Shafer's critically
acclaimed memoir, A Vineyard in Napa.
