Hubalek, Linda K. 1954–

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Hubalek, Linda K. 1954–

PERSONAL: Born March 7, 1954, in Lindsborg, KS; married. Education: Kansas State University, B.A., 1976.

ADDRESSES: Offie—Butterfield Books Inc., P.O. Box 407, Lindsborg, KS 67456.

CAREER: Butterfield Books Inc., Lindsborg, KS, owner, publisher, and writer, 1992–. Bison Farm, raises American bison and operates a visitors' center; formerly operated a wholesale floral business.

WRITINGS:

Butter in the Well: A Scandinavian Woman's Tale of Life on the Prairie, Hearth Publishing (Hillsboro, KS), 1992.

Praerieblomman: The Prairie Blossoms for an Immigrant's Daughter (novel), Hearth Publishing (Hillsboro, KS), 1993.

Egg Gravy: Authentic Recipes from the Butter in the Well Series, Hearth Publishing (Hillsboro, KS), 1994.

(Editor) Thomas N. Holmquist, Pioneer Cross: Swedish Settlements along the Smoky Hill Bluffs, Hearth Publishing (Hillsboro, KS), 1994.

Looking Back: The Final Tale of Life on the Prairie, Butterfield Books Inc. (Lindsborg, KS), 1994.

Trail of Thread: A Woman's Westward Journey, Butter-field Books Inc. (Lindsborg, KS), 1995.

Thimble of Soil: A Woman's Quest for Land, Butterfield Books Inc. (Lindsborg, KS), 1996.

Stitch of Courage: A Woman's Fight for Freedom, But-terfield Books Inc. (Lindsborg, KS), 1996.

Planting Dreams: A Swedish Immigrant's Journey to America, Butterfield Books Inc. (Lindsborg, KS), 1997.

Cultivating Hope: Homesteading on the Great Plains, Butterfield Books Inc. (Lindsborg, KS), 1998.

Harvesting Faith: Life on the Changing Prairie, Butter-field Books Inc. (Lindsborg, KS), 1999.

ADAPTATIONS: The novel Praerieblomman: The Prairie Blossoms for an Immigrant's Daughter was released as a sound recording by Hearth Publishing in 1994.

SIDELIGHTS: Linda K. Hubalek once commented: "A door may close in your life, but a window will open instead. My chance came unexpectedly when my husband was transferred from his job in the Midwest to the West Coast. I had to sell my wholesale floral business and find a new career. Homesick for my family and the farmland of the Midwest, I turned to writing about what I missed, and the inspiration was kindled to write about my ancestors and the land they homesteaded.

"Although the story of my family is in my first book, I found the most information about Kajsa Svensson Runeberg, the Swedish woman who homesteaded the farm where I grew up. Even though Kajsa was not a direct relative, she and her descendants have always played a significant role in my life.

"After much research and writing, my first book, Butter in the Well: A Scandinavian Woman's Tale of Life on the Prairie, was published in 1992. People were fascinated with the pioneer stories of the immigrant homesteader and asked, 'What happened to the family on the farm?' What resulted were the books Praerie-blomman: The Prairie Blossoms for an Immigrant's Daughter, Egg Gravy: Authentic Recipes from the Butter in the Well Series, and Looking Back: The Final Tale of Life on the Prairie.

"Trail of Thread: A Woman's Westward Journey is about the women who arrived when the Kansas Territory first opened. Thimble of Soil: A Woman's Quest for Land continues their stories during the 'bleeding Kansas' era. The third book in that series, Stitch of Courage: A Woman's Right for Freedom, pertains to the Civil War years.

"The next series begins with Planting Dreams: A Swedish Immigrant's Journey to America, focusing on Swedish ancestors who migrated to Kansas in 1869. It continues with Cultivating Hope: Homesteading on the Great Plains, and Harvesting Faith: Life on the Changing Prairie. These three books trace my family's journey and the homesteading of their farm."