Betty MacDonald, born Anne Elizabeth Campbell Bard on March 26, 1907, was a celebrated American author known for her humorous autobiographical tales. Her best-known work is The Egg and I, a vivid recounting of her life on a chicken farm in Washington's Olympic Peninsula. MacDonald's stories are deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest, particularly Washington, where she spent much of her life.

MacDonald's journey began in Boulder, Colorado, but she and her family relocated to Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood in 1918. After moving to Laurelhurst and then settling in Roosevelt in 1922, she graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1924. At the age of 20, she married Robert Eugene Heskett and moved to a chicken farm in Chimacum Valley. This experience laid the groundwork for her later writings. However, the marriage ended in 1931, and MacDonald returned to Seattle, facing the challenge of supporting her daughters through various jobs.

In addition to The Egg and I, MacDonald also created the beloved Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series, enchanting children and adults alike with her whimsical take on child-rearing and her inventive storylines.