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Summer And Sagebrush
Author Helena Linn
"Kate, there are miles of
sagebrush all over this
prairie, and you want me
to plant some in the yard?"
In author Helena Linn's sequel to Winter in the Bunkhouse, Kate Webster becomes Mrs. Jake McClary. Along with faithful ranch hand, Charlie, and good ranching neighbors, they embark on a rewarding but oftentimes challenging life together.
Spanning three decades, this volume
follows Kate and Jake as they experience
the joys and perils of raising children and
cattle on their remote ranch in Sublette
County, Wyoming. Progress, in the form
of electricity, phone service, and motorized
equipment, makes life easier and fulfills the
family's growing needs. Seasons come and
go as do the births of grandchildren and the
inevitable funerals of loved ones.
Brimming with humor, suspense, and the rustic details of traditional ranching in western Wyoming, Summer and Sagebrush vividly portrays the life and love that Jake and Kate build together. Indeed, only true love will enable them to face their biggest challenge: how to pass their values and experience along to their children, so that the next generation maintains a connection to the land that has sustained them.
The devastating loss of her husband and four-month old baby boy in a car accident leaves Kate Webster searching for a way to go on with her life. Her childhood summers, spent with her beloved grandparents on their remote ranch in western Wyoming, had been carefree and happy so the opportunity to visit the ranch, on her way to Jackson to find a job, was a comforting thought.
Kate’s own minor accident on the road to the ranch left her stuck in a ditch filled with snow and she would have frozen to death that night if she hadn’t been rescued by two ranch hands. It was frightening to discover that Jake, the ranch owner, was a man who had humiliated and hurt her badly sixteen years ago but she consoled herself with the thought that she would be away from there the next morning. However, the night’s storm made the road out impassable and Kate was told that they were snowed in and would be for several months.
The final mortification came when Jake set the terms for her living there during the winter; she would cook and clean and she would live in the bunkhouse.
Writing the pioneer stories of people
who have lived most of their lives
in the ranching country of western
Wyoming inspired Helena Marincic
Linn to write her first novel, Winter in
the Bunkhouse, and now the sequel to it,
Summer and Sagebrush.
She has participated in research and documentation of homesteads by the Sublette County Historic Preservation Board, giving her an ongoing and unique opportunity to help record local history. For the past ten years, Helena's stories have been published in the Sublette County Journal, the Pinedale Roundup, and more recently in Agri-News of Billings, Montana.
Helena and her husband, Bob, live in Big Piney, Wyoming, where she was born and raised. Most of their large family, including grandchildren, live in Wyoming.
Summer and Sagebrush Acknowledgements
Once again, Gail Kearns of To Press and Beyond edited my manuscript and guided me through the publishing process.
And once again, Sue Sommers of Sommers Studio did the book design, illustrations, and prepared the book for production. Together with Kathy Brown of Sheridan Press, they brought the book to its conclusion and I thank them for their hard work.
For proofreading the manuscript, I thank Susan Lehr and Deanne Bradley.
My brother, Donny Marincic, provided the cover artwork and continues the website for my books. Thanks, Donny.
I learned some factual information from Albert Sommers, Jonita Sommers, Jep Richie, Jane Wardell, Mardell Fear, and Kay Malkowski. I am grateful to all of you.
Having the support of my family and friends is gratifying and encouraging. I thank them and also Eric Marincic for the use of the Marincic family brand in the publishing house logo.
Winter in the Bunkhouse Acknowledgments
To Press and Beyond
"Getting my story into a readable manuscript and then working through the process of getting it published seemed an almost insurmountable task until I met Gail Kearns of To Press and Beyond. Without her professional editing and patient guidance every step of the way, my fiction story might never have become a book. The details of the publication process received Gail's careful attention, and for all her help I will always be grateful." Gail's Website
Helena Linn, Winter in the Bunkhouse
Sue Sommers
I would like to thank Sue for the illustrations used in my book and on this website. Using Donny Marincic’s oil paintings of Kate, Jake, and Charlie, Sue created the beautiful dust jacket cover for Winter in the Bunkhouse. She also designed postcards and ads to use in promotion.
Sue did the layout of the manuscript and sent it to Sheridan Press in perfect form. For her attention to detail and hours of preparing the story for publication, I express my deep gratitude.
Helena Linn, Winter in the Bunkhouse
Donny Marincic
I am justifiably proud of the dust jacket cover of Winter in the Bunkhouse because it is beautiful and because the paintings were done by my talented brother, Donny Marincic. Donny and Sue worked together to create the wonderfully attractive book cover. My readers are seeing Kate, Jake, and Charlie as they read the book. Donny also put my book information into the website which is being visited by many people. I thank Donny for adding his art to my writing endeavor.
Helena Linn, Winter in the Bunkhouse
Susan Lehr
Father Robert Lynch, S.J.
Proofreading has been a vital part of producing this book. For her keen eye and knowledge of language and grammar, I thank Susan Lehr for checking the manuscript for errors. With several times through the papers, she helped to make the story readable and as accurate as possible.
Father Robert Lynch, S.J., our priest and former English teacher in a Catholic high school, also proofread the manuscript.
Thank you, Susan and Father Lynch.
Helena Linn, Winter in the Bunkhouse
Sheridan Press
Kathleen J. Brown and everyone at Sheridan Press who worked on Winter in the Bunkhouse printed a beautiful edition of my book. I am proud to present it to the reading public. I am grateful to Sheridan Press for publishing my novel.
Helena Linn, Winter in the Bunkhouse
Dr. William Close
Kevin Campbell
There were several others who gave me useful information for this story. I especially thank Dr. Close for the medical information and Kevin Campbell for taking me along while he fed cattle in the deep snow.
Helena Linn, Winter in the Bunkhouse
“…it was past 1:00 p.m. when I finished, loved it, couldn’t put the book down.”
From my 97 year old dear friend: “I have read the book and I loved every word of it. I marvel at your detail and I loved the way you included so many of the very things that made us love ranch life.”
“I love the cover – these will be Christmas presents.”
“We will be looking forward to your next book.”
“What fun reading. I could relate to a lot of what you wrote.”
“Congratulations on a beautiful story. I hope you have more in mind.”
“I felt like I was there.”
From a reader who works in a retirement complex and shared her book with a lady in the home: “This resident has had a rough year…She lost her husband in a car crash and has had some other family emergencies as well. I see her crying too much. She was alive and smiling when she gave back my book. She had enjoyed it as much as I had. And she was still smiling when I saw her just before I left work.”
