Dean Butler

An illuminating, insider's journey through the world of Little House on the Prairie and beyond, from Dean Butler, who starred as Almanzo Wilder, the man Laura "Half Pint" Ingalls married--on the iconic show still beloved by millions of fans as it reaches its 50th anniversary. With a foreword from Melissa Gilbert (Laura) and Alison Arngrim (Nellie) Cast just before his twenty-third birthday, Dean Butler joined Little House on the Prairie halfway through its run, gaining instant celebrity and fans' enduring affection. Ironically, when the late, great Michael Landon remarked that Little House would outlive everyone involved in making it, Butler deemed it unlikely. Yet for four decades and counting, Butler has been defined in the public eye as Almanzo Wilder--a role he views as the great gift of his life. Butler had been cast as a romantic lead before, notably in the made-for-TV movie of Judy Blume's Forever, opposite Stephanie Zimbalist. But Little House was, and remains, one of the most treasured shows in television history. As the eventual husband of Laura "Half-pint" Ingalls--and the man who would share actress Melissa Gilbert's first real-life romantic kiss--Butler landed as a central figure for the show's devoted fans. Now, with wit and candor, Butler recounts his passage through the Prairie, sharing stories and anecdotes of the remarkable cast who were his on-screen family. But that was merely the beginning of a diverse career that includes Broadway runs and roles on two other classic shows--Moondoggie in The New Gidget and Buffy's ne'er-do-well father, Hank, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Coming of age during a golden era of entertainment, Butler has evolved along with it, and today enjoys success and fulfillment as a director and producer--notably of NBC Golf's Feherty--while remaining deeply loyal to Little House. The warmth, heart, and decency that fans of Laura and Almanzo fell in love with on Little House echo through this uplifting memoir, a story, in Butler's words, about "good luck, good television, and the very good--if gloriously imperfect--people who made it so."

"Every December, the gaps close between us all; individuals, families, groups, communities, cities, states, provinces, nations, cultures, and religions. We are kinder to each other. We listen to those who are not heard, speak to those who are ignored and care about those who are disregarded. We reach out to those who are unreachable, play with those who work too hard, and laugh with those who shed too many tears. We make angels in the snow or buy our true love their favorite perfume or cologne. We give to those who sometimes only know how to take and keep, offer peace where there is unrest, and so on and so forth and so good. These are the personal things and intimate moments from which holiday memories spring - and just a few examples of the December discernments to behold in this book." Advance Praise for The 12 Best Secrets of Christmas "Herbie J Pilato has prepared for us this delicious feast of Christmas Secrets, which he serves with love. Spend the holidays with this delightful book. It will warm your heart." -Richard Thomas (Actor, The Waltons, The Christmas Box, Christmas vs. The Walters) "With each nostalgic turn of the page, Herbie J Pilato's 12 Best Secrets of Christmas is written for everyone and is very relatable as the youthful Christmases we had or the ones we wished for. I found it inspirational, comforting and full of joy." -Barry Williams (Actor, A Very Brady Christmas, Blending Christmas/Author, Growing Up Brady) "Einstein suggested to 'make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.' With The 12 Best Secrets of Christmas, Herbie J Pilato has done just that, artfully transforming his early experiences into heartfelt, warm, and enduring life lessons. In the guise of a seasonal offering and gleaned from his Christmas past, Pilato has distilled his introspections into a portable, poignant and insightful memoir, a wise and timeless gem of a little book. With this, as with his other work, Herbie J Pilato has again proved himself to be an American Original." -Ed Spielman (Creator, Kung Fu, The Young Riders, among other Emmy-winning TV classics)

"Every December, the gaps close between us all; individuals, families, groups, communities, cities, states, provinces, nations, cultures, and religions. We are kinder to each other. We listen to those who are not heard, speak to those who are ignored and care about those who are disregarded. We reach out to those who are unreachable, play with those who work too hard, and laugh with those who shed too many tears. We make angels in the snow or buy our true love their favorite perfume or cologne. We give to those who sometimes only know how to take and keep, offer peace where there is unrest, and so on and so forth and so good. These are the personal things and intimate moments from which holiday memories spring - and just a few examples of the December discernments to behold in this book." Advance Praise for The 12 Best Secrets of Christmas "Herbie J Pilato has prepared for us this delicious feast of Christmas Secrets, which he serves with love. Spend the holidays with this delightful book. It will warm your heart." -Richard Thomas (Actor, The Waltons, The Christmas Box, Christmas vs. The Walters) "With each nostalgic turn of the page, Herbie J Pilato's 12 Best Secrets of Christmas is written for everyone and is very relatable as the youthful Christmases we had or the ones we wished for. I found it inspirational, comforting and full of joy." -Barry Williams (Actor, A Very Brady Christmas, Blending Christmas/Author, Growing Up Brady) "Einstein suggested to 'make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.' With The 12 Best Secrets of Christmas, Herbie J Pilato has done just that, artfully transforming his early experiences into heartfelt, warm, and enduring life lessons. In the guise of a seasonal offering and gleaned from his Christmas past, Pilato has distilled his introspections into a portable, poignant and insightful memoir, a wise and timeless gem of a little book. With this, as with his other work, Herbie J Pilato has again proved himself to be an American Original." -Ed Spielman (Creator, Kung Fu, The Young Riders, among other Emmy-winning TV classics)