Looking Towards the Past
When my husband was transferred to California for a two year project in 1990, I not only lost my job, I lost my identity. Simple as that. What I did defined who I was.
I’m an introvert, and I’ve always poured myself into my work…and then all of a sudden I didn’t have that when we moved. Plus life in California was sooo much different from the Midwest. From the weather, traffic, food— to the neighborhood— I was on another planet, lost in space…
Searching for what I wanted to do next with my life, I decided to look into my past as a project to work on. I started digging up information on my ancestors, which lead me not only the important dates of their lives, but also their stories.
What I realized is that all my ancestors traveled from other places to settle in Kansas when the territory opened up in 1854, or shortly after the Civil War when land was available to homestead.
They were from European countries, leaving family, community and the life they knew behind to start a new and hopefully better life In America.
As I absorbed my ancestors’ stories, I realized they could never go back, hear their parent’s voices again, see the faces of loved ones, or the scenery of their past. But I could call to talk to family, and fly home in this modern age. This realization cured my homesickness and helped me cope with the abrupt changes that cropped up on my path.
This time away from home and loved ones led me to my writing career, and finally back to living on the prairie when my family homesteaded.
Sharing my ancestors’ stories have helped others see what the pioneers did for all of us—a look at the past to appreciate what we have now. I hope you’ll read the Trail of Thread series to get an insight on your family’s history too.
About the author ~
In sixth grade we had to write a paper on what we wanted to do when we grew up. My mom had kept it and I found this paper while cleaning through my closet during my college days. According to my dreams back then, I wanted to be a farmer, but my last line was “but alas, girls can’t be farmers.”
Well, I got my Bachelors Degree in Agriculture/Horticulture from Kansas State University, did agronomy research for years before starting a wholesale horticulture business. My company, Prairie Flower Creations, grew and dried flowers, ornamental corn, and mini pumpkins for the florist trade.
In 1990 I was featured in Country Woman Magazine, but at the same time, my husband’s job was transferred to California. I sold my business and tried to cope, growing flowers and pumpkins in five-gallon buckets on our “cement lawn”.
I started writing about the family and farmland I was homesick for and started a new career, writing about pioneer women ancestors who had moved to the new state of Kansas and farmed its land.
We eventually moved back to Kansas, bought land next to my family, raised bison and have a garden again. So not only have I fulfilled my dream to be a farmer, I’ve written about past pioneer women that have also tilled the prairie land of Kansas.
Please read and enjoy my book series which are about the family that homestead our family farm, and my pioneer ancestors that homesteaded in Kansas in the 1800s.
Follow Linda on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/LindaHubalek)
Visit Linda’s Website (http://www.lindahubalek.com/)
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Contact Linda (linda@lindahubalek.com)
The book!
In this first book of the Trail of Thread series, in the form of letters she wrote on the journey, Deborah Pieratt describes the scenery, the everyday events on the trail, and the task of taking care of her family. Stories of humor and despair, along with her ongoing remarks about camping, cooking, and quilting, make you feel as if you pulled up stakes and are traveling with the Pieratts, too. This series is based on author Linda K. Hubalek's ancestors that traveled from Kentucky to Kansas in 1854. Besides the history of the times, Hubalek weaves quilting facts and quilt pattern sketches in her book series.
Other books in the series ~
Thanks to the author, I have one (1) copy of Trail of Thread: A Woman's Westward Journey (Book 1 of Trail of Thread Series.) 
to give away.
to give away.THIS GIVEAWAY WILL BE FOR THE KINDLE VERSION OF THE BOOK.
GIVEAWAY Rules for entering:
* This contest is open to residents of USA only.
* Please complete the form below - do not leave information in the comments - it will not count.
* One entry per person. Duplicate entries will be deleted.
* The contest will end on May 30th at 11:59PM EST; 1 winner will be selected and contacted thereafter.
* Once the winner is contacted, they will have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen (make sure to check your spam filters!).
* Book will be shipped directly from the publisher.
