Lars Eighner's US Bookstore Presents The Texas Institute of Letters Authors: John R. Erickson

John R. Erickson

John R(ichard) Erickson was born October 20, 1943 in Midland. When Erickson was three the family moved to Perryton where he resides today. He was graduated from the University of Texas in 1966 and attended Harvard Divinity School for two years.

He began writing short stories while working in various positions in ranching and farming. In 1982 he established Maverick Books whose first issue The Devil in Texas included a couple of stories featuring a character that would become a staple of the house: Hank the Cowdog®. Although the first issues of Maverick Books were hand-sold at rodeos, fairs, and cattle auctions, Hank began to receive fan mail. Hank became the protagonist of a series of juvenile mysteries which has more than two score titles (not counting various editions and media) and has sold over six million copies. (Young people who are fans of Hank should go to the the Hank Official Site and bookmark that site, not this one.)

In addition Erickson has written a number of young adult novels, and essays, memoirs, biography, and nonfiction about independent publishing. A few of Erickson's titles include: The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog (#1), The Further Adventures of Hank the Cowdog (#2), Hank the Cowdog® #45: The Case of the Falling, Cowboys Are Old Enough to Know Better, Cowboy Fiddler, Catch Rope: The Long Arm of the Cowboy, Some Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys: A Collection of Articles and Essays, Moonshiner's Gold, Friends: Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, Dogs, Cats, and 'Coons.