Maud reportedly started writing as soon as she could hold a pencil .
Maud was the middle child ; her sisters were Kathleen ( Julia in the Betsy - Tacy books ) and Helen ( book character , Margaret ) .
child reportedly started writing as soon as Maud could hold a pencil .
Maud was the middle child ; her sisters were Kathleen ( Julia in the Betsy - Tacy books ) and Helen ( book character , Margaret ) .