Most Popular Books by John R. Erickson

What does it take to raise cattle in the 21st century? Ask John Erickson. For any aspiring cowboy, this is an essential guide.

This contemporary cowboy journal reveals the rituals and labors of daily cowboy life in the Texas Panhandle, from 1979-1981. The author, nationally known for his Hank the Cowdog series, continues to recount stories about the well known characters and places of his previous works. The hard times of struggling through a depressed cattle market, drought, sickness, injuries, and inclement weather are balanced with humorous tales of steer and human antics. Contains a short glossary of cowboy terms. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Hank the Cowdog, Head of Ranch Security, is framed for the murder fo a chicken and becomes an outlaw with the coyotes.

Here under one cover are the collected writings of John R. Erickson about characters who have entered his life on the High Plains country of the Texas Panhandle. Erickson writes with authority about ranching and cowboying in the modern era, always with an eye for the humor of everyday incidents. Some of his friends are widely known, such as artist Ace Reid and noted fiddle player Frankie McWhorter. Others are cowboys who work the big ranches between the Canadian and Beaver Rivers. They share the stage with some of Erickson''s four-legged friends: the Phantom Cow, Texie, the Incredible Burping Dog, an Arabian horse called Dandy, Callie the cat, and Eddy the raccoon.

When there is a theft at the ranch and Miss Beulah is kidnapped, Hank the Cowdog uses his sleuthing skills.

Hank the Cowdog, head of ranch security, discovers that drinking a bucket of plant food restores his energy, leading to a series of embarrassing near-disasters.

Hank the Cowdog marks twenty-five years in print! In this latest installment to the long-running series, the weather on Hank?s west Texas ranch is hot and dry. So dry, in fact, that they?ve got to be on the lookout for prairie fires. So Hank bravely takes on the role of Head of Fire Safety and gets to work. But patrolling for fires is dull, and it?s hard to do on an empty stomach. Despite a minor culinary distraction, though, Hank?through grit and determination?is able to keep focused on the job. And it?s a good thing he does, because sure enough, things on the ranch start to heat up....

Erickson''s articles and essays have been published in Texas Highways, Livestock Weekly, The Dallas Morning News, The Dallas Times Herald, and American Cowboy . This collection is arranged by Place; From Buffalo to Cattle; The Cowboy; Cowboy Tools; Ranch and Rodeo; Animals; and This and That. Many of the pieces are anecdotal, based on Erickson''s experiences and observations on ranches. Others required some research and are more historical. Some are essays in which Erickson views contemporary life through the lens of cowboying. But all of them are vintage master storyteller John Erickson, told with humor and thoughtfulness.

In an isolated piece of the West, the Canadian River stretched before John Erickson and Bill Ellzey as they began a journey through time and what the locals call the valley. They talked, worked, and swapped stories with the people of the valley, piecing together a picture of what life has been like there for a hundred years, including tales of such real-life characters as Kit Carson, Quanah Parker, Billy Dixon, and Ishatai. A wry and delightful humorist, Erickson tickles our funnybone while touching our feelings.

The author tells of his experiences as a cowboy living and working in the Oklahoma panhandle territory.

Hank the Cowdog enters the case of the mysterious bark-aholic mutt.

Hank the Cowdog investigates reports of a phantom dog on the ranch.

Hank the Cowdog has to out wit an angry wild sow as he searches for Plato the missing bird dog.

When the ranch falls on hard times, Slim the cowboy decides to hit the road in search of a new job and inadvertently takes Hank and Drover with him.

For use in schools and libraries only. Hank the Cowdog is head of Ranch Security in this action-packed adventure series that will tickle funny bones of adults and children alike.

Hank the Cowdog recounts some of his ranch adventures that involve Eddy the Rac, a raccoon described by Hank as "a pretty interesting guy."

For use in schools and libraries only. Hank the Cowdog is head of Ranch Security in this action-packed adventure series that will tickle funny bones of adults and children alike.

Hank the Cowdog has one of the scariest adventures of his life when he and his companion Drover find themselves in a spooky place on Halloween night.

Frankie McWhorter grew up in Bob Wills Country and bought his first fiddle with his cowboy wages in 1950. He played with Clyde Chesser and the Texas Village Boys and the Miller Brothers Band before being asked to join Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. McWhorter tells stories of touring with these bands and of his hours spent listening to Wills tell his stories. He also reveals his adventures and misadventures as a working cowboy.

Hank the cowdog investigates the mystery of a possible vampire cat.