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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 stories of people who have lived most of their lives in the ranching country of western Wyoming inspired Helena Marincic Linn to write the fiction story Winter in the Bunkhouse. These pioneer stories have been published in the Sublette County Journal and the Pinedale Roundup for the past ten years and more recently in Agri-News of Billings, Montana.
Helena lives in Big Piney, Wyoming, a few blocks from where she was born 76 years ago. She and her husband Bob have eight children, their spouses, and 25 grandchildren, most of them living in Wyoming too.
Participating in the research and documentation of homesteads by the Sublette County Historic Preservation Board is giving Helena the unique opportunity to help record local history and provides inspiration for writing fiction stories.
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.”