Cowboy Country

by John R. Erickson

Personal experiences of the excitement and adventures John R. Erickson had as a full time cowboy. Designed not only to inform, but to entertain.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

John R. Erickson, a former cowboy and ranch manager, is gifted with a storyteller's knack for spinning a yarn. Through the eyes of Hank the Cowdog, a smelly, smart-aleck Head of Ranch Security, Erickson gives readers a glimpse of daily life on a ranch in the West Texas Panhandle. This series of books and tapes is in school libraries across the country, has sold more than 7.6 million copies, is a Book-of-the-Month Club selection, and is the winner of the 1993 Audie for Outstanding Children's Series from the Audio Publisher's Association. Publishers Weekly calls Hank a "grassroots publishing phenomena," and USA Today says this is "the best family entertainment in years."

Hank the Cowdog made his debut in the pages of The Cattleman, a magazine for adults, and when Erickson started getting "Dear Hank" letters, he knew he was onto something. So in 1983, he self-published 2,000 copies of The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog, and they sold out in 6 weeks.

When teachers began inviting Erickson to their schools, Hank found his most eager fans. Teachers, librarians, and students alike love Hank. According to some Texas Library Association surveys, the Hank the Cowdog books are the most popular selections in many libraries' children's sections. The lively characters make excellent material for reading and writing lessons, and turn even the most reluctant readers into avid Hank-fans.

Erickson was born in Midland, Texas, but by the age of 3, he had moved with his family to Perryton, Texas, where he and his wife live today on their working cattle ranch. They have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. His advice to young writers is, "Write about something you know. Try to leave your readers better off than they were before."

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book is an account of a year and a half (1978-1979) in the Oklahoma Panhandle, where the author cowboyed for an extended family of ranchers, the Barbys. Well written, with a fine appreciation for the men he worked with, it describes in informative and entertaining detail the day-to-day work of cowboys through the round of several seasons. Erickson might well have called his book "The Secret Life of Cowboys" for it reveals much of how they think and feel.

There is the admiration that the younger cowboys feel for the older, more accomplished men and the fear of making a fool of themselves by not performing up to standard. By contrast, we also see the prankster side of these men, as they tease each other and play practical jokes, countering the trials and difficulties of work with a well-developed sense of humor.

The book has 35+ black and white photographs taken by the author's wife, Kristine Erickson. An excellent addition to any cowboy bookshelf. Erickson's story continues in his book "LZ Cowboy," also recommended.