Bringing Betty Gow to Life—with Mariah Fredericks

Historical Fiction: Unpacked

What a terrific kick-off to season five! This is a wonderful conversation with Mariah Fredericks about her latest novel, The Lindbergh Nanny. Here's a description from the publisher: When the most famous toddler in America, Charles Lindbergh, Jr., is kidnapped from his family home in New Jersey in 1932, the case makes international headlines. Already celebrated for his flight across the Atlantic, his father, Charles, Sr., is the country’s golden boy, with his wealthy, lovely wife, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, by his side. But there’s someone else in their household—Betty Gow, a formerly obscure young woman, now known around the world by another name: the Lindbergh Nanny. A Scottish immigrant deciphering the rules of her new homeland and its East Coast elite, Betty finds Colonel Lindbergh eccentric and often odd, Mrs. Lindbergh kind yet nervous, and Charlie simply a darling. Far from home and bruised from a love affair gone horribly wrong, Betty finds comfort in caring for the child, and warms to the attentions of handsome sailor Henrik, sometimes known as Red. Then, Charlie disappears. Suddenly a suspect in the eyes of both the media and the public, Betty must find the truth about what really happened that night, in order to clear her own name—and to find justice for the child she loves. In this episode, Mariah and I discussed the person of Betty Gow, Charles Lindbergh, Sr.'s strange childrearing ideas, Mariah's own theory regarding the case, and how she began writing historical fiction. Purchase The Lindbergh Nanny on Amazon (affiliate). Check out the 1974 film Murder on the Orient Express (affiliate). Scott Berg's biography of Charles Lindbergh, Lindbergh (affiliate). Susan Hertog's biography, Anne Morrow Lindbergh: Her Life (affiliate). Check out Mariah's website and follow her on Twitter and Facebook! Join my community and help support the show on Patreon! Join the Historical Fiction: Unpacked Podcast Group on Facebook! Be sure to visit my Instagram, Facebook, and website. Follow the show on Instagram! Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click them and make a purchase, you help support my work without paying any more for the product. Thank you for your support!