John R Erickson Books in Order

John Erickson and photographer Bill Ellzey travel on horseback through the Canadian River valley in the Texas Panhandle. Conversations with its residents connect their journey to a century of local history, folklore, ranch work, and changing lives.

Drawing on life at the Crown Ranch, John Erickson describes cowboys, roundups, difficult cattle, and memorable horses. His account combines the humor of working ranch life with the hardships and personal attachments that give the cowboy's work meaning.

Hank and his little buddy Drover investigate a series of baffling ranch murders. When Hank becomes a suspect, he must clear his name and prove he is no outlaw.

John Erickson examines the working cowboy through firsthand experience in Texas and Oklahoma. Ranch duties, horses, equipment, roping, and relationships reveal how an enduring cultural figure makes a living within the practical demands and economics of modern cattle ranching.

Cowboys, ranch wives, an unruly horse, and an early version of Hank the Cowdog inhabit these humorous stories. Their mishaps reveal the less glamorous work of ranch life, where stubborn animals and human ingenuity regularly complicate everyday tasks.

Hank defends the ranch from a Silver Monster Bird, then develops the dreaded Eye-Crosserosis. Hoping for a cure, he visits the cave of Madame Moonshine, a witchy little owl.

This biography explores the life of Ace Reid, creator of the Cowpokes cartoons. John Erickson turns his attention to a fellow Western humorist, offering a portrait of the man whose drawings brought cowboy life to readers.

Rancher Willie Onthenextranch keeps searching for ways to make cattle pay, while scientist Barley McOatwheat tackles agricultural problems with his secretary. These humorous tales follow their schemes and the everyday absurdities of ranch and cowboy life.

In trouble again, Hank visits his sister in town and takes his nieces and nephews on a garbage patrol. The outing ends with Hank captured by the dogcatcher.

In 1873, young Gil Moreland leaves Weatherford, Texas, determined to capture the legendary Wild Man. His pursuit takes him into the wilderness, where the experience begins to change the boy who set out on the hunt.

John Erickson reflects on writing and publishing, including the relationship between story structure and an author's values. These essays offer beginning and experienced writers a view of storytelling shaped by his belief that authors must impose meaningful order on experience.

Hank decides he has worked too hard and sets off to visit his beloved Miss Beulah the Collie. Getting there proves difficult, and romance brings its own set of hazards.

The death of a calf sends Hank on a dangerous mission to the coyote village. He must solve the murder while wild dogs and other dangers complicate the investigation.

John Erickson recalls working in the ranch country along Oklahoma's Beaver River during 1978 and 1979. His account follows the people, animals, hard work, humor, and setbacks that shaped daily life in a landscape he knew firsthand.

John Erickson's shorter works find humor in cowboy life, from quicksand and stampedes to Christmas and dealings with horses. Reflections on children, government, and animals broaden a collection rooted in the peculiar challenges and habits of ranch country.

Chickens are being killed on the ranch, and Hank has a murderer to find. Every suspect, including Hank himself, comes under scrutiny as the clues pile up.

Hank inherits what looks like a fortune in priceless corncobs. Money changes his thinking, strains his friendship with Drover, and even leads the two dogs to leave the ranch.

Drover reports witches, ghosts, pirates, and skeletons on Slim's porch. Hank investigates the Halloween scare, though the strange talk of tricker trees makes the case even more confusing.

After poisoned bacon grease and a bad accident leave Hank in trouble, Tuerto the one-eyed stud horse breaks free. Hank must protect visiting children from the charging horse.

Using journals, family recollections, and a wartime newsletter, John Erickson traces David W. Ray's unusual life as preacher and teacher. Military chaplaincy in Europe and teaching abroad connect a story of service to Ray's enduring ties with Texas.

Cowboys, animals, children, and ill-advised pranks supply the material for this collection of short humorous pieces. Grouchy rancher Willie Onthenextranch returns alongside stories involving Ace Reid's tooth and an attempt to rope a fiberglass horse at the Library of Congress.

Hank is ready for a day when everything finally goes his way. Instead, ranch life delivers fresh challenges that test his pride, his patience, and his claim to be indispensable.

Hank gets lost in a dark forest that is far less magical than its name suggests. He must find a way through unfamiliar dangers while Drover and his ranch home seem far away.

A fox that appears to play the fiddle is more than Hank can ignore. He investigates the remarkable visitor, caught between curiosity, caution, and his responsibility to guard the ranch.

On Christmas Eve, a wounded buzzard brings an unexpected problem to the ranch. Hank must decide how to handle the bird while the holiday and his security work collide.

Monkey business arrives at the ranch, and Hank is certain it requires professional intervention. He investigates the unusual visitor while trying to keep the daily order from falling apart.

When a cat goes missing, Hank has a case that is both important and personally inconvenient. He follows the clues, despite his feelings about cats, to find out what happened.

Working cowboy and fiddler Frankie McWhorter recounts a life divided between ranches and country music. His memories of touring with Bob Wills and other bands sit beside adventures with cattle, horses, and fellow cowboys in the Texas Panhandle.

A blizzard leaves Hank lost in a world of wind, snow, and poor visibility. Finding his way home becomes a serious test of endurance, instinct, and his bond with Drover.

A dog obsessed with barking at cars creates a noisy new case for Hank. He tries to understand the behavior and restore peace before the disturbance becomes everyone else's problem.

A hooking bull makes ranch work dangerous, and Hank takes the threat personally. He tries to protect the people and animals around him while avoiding the bull's powerful attention.

A rustler is at work after dark, and Hank begins a midnight investigation. He follows suspicious signs across the ranch, hoping to catch the culprit before more goes missing.

Hank faces a cat that seems suspiciously vampire-like. His investigation pits him against feline trouble and forces him to decide whether the threat is real or simply very irritating.

A phantom in the mirror gives Hank a fright he cannot admit to easily. He investigates the spooky image, determined to protect the ranch without letting Drover see him worry.

Under the moonlight, ordinary ranch life takes a strange turn. Hank must decide what is real, what is rumor, and how to keep the night's madness from becoming a security disaster.

Black-hooded figures bring a dark-looking mystery to Hank's territory. He investigates the alarming visitors with Drover at his side, determined to learn what they want from the ranch.

Hank wants to impress Miss Beulah during quail season, but then she is kidnapped by Scraunch. He must put his pride aside and race to save the collie he cares about.

Hank buries three prized steak bones, then returns to find them gone. Empty cans in their place convince him that a bone monster is stalking the ranch at night.

Journals from John Erickson's work on the Ellzey ranch between 1979 and 1981 record cattle drives, difficult weather, horses, accidents, and practical frustrations. They offer a close view of the labor and companionship underlying cowboy life in the Texas Panhandle.

A vacuum sweeper seems like a vampire monster to Hank, and he is not taking chances. The strange household threat pushes him into a battle with an enemy that will not stop roaring.

Hank mistakes a bucket of mopwater for a powerful energy drink and challenges Rufus the Doberman. His burst of confidence quickly becomes a humiliating new file for Ranch Security.

Kitties in a haystack create a case Hank cannot leave to the cats. He investigates the situation while old rivalries, hidden animals, and his own assumptions complicate the rescue.

A fishhook vanishes, and Hank treats the disappearance as a serious breach of ranch security. Tracking it down brings a tangle of clues, suspects, and chances for trouble.

Hank hears of a garbage monster from outer space and prepares for the worst. His investigation turns a very odd threat into another test of courage, appetite, and common sense.

A cowboy with measles brings new worries to the ranch. Hank tries to handle the health scare and protect his friends, although he is not always the calmest member of the security team.

John Erickson investigates ranch roping's history and techniques, distinguishing everyday cattle work from rodeo competition. Alongside discussions of loops, throws, and competing methods, humorous stories show what happens when cowboys attempt to rope animals and objects best left alone.

Slim Chance's possible goodbye leaves Hank facing an unsettling change at the ranch. He tries to understand what is happening while keeping his friends, routines, and security duties together.

These articles and essays draw on John Erickson's ranch experiences, family heritage, and historical research. Cowboy tools, animals, rodeo, and changing landscapes become ways to examine both Western life and broader questions through a working cowboy's perspective.

A raging Rottweiler presents a direct challenge to Hank's authority. Protecting the ranch means facing a powerful rival, keeping his nerve, and finding a way through the confrontation.

A robbery at the saddlehouse puts Hank on a fresh trail. He investigates the missing property with his usual certainty, even as the evidence leads him into increasingly awkward situations.

Fourteen-year-old Riley discovers moonshiners operating on his family's Texas ranch and then finds hidden gold at school. With little help from the law, he, his brother, and their grandfather face outlaws whose activities extend beyond the secret still.

Hank is stranded in town after getting trapped in a cattle trailer, then lands in the dogcatcher's cage. Escaping with Dogpound Ralph begins an adventure that may be too good to last.

John Erickson remembers the people and animals who have shared his life in the Texas Panhandle. Cowboys, artist Ace Reid, fiddler Frankie McWhorter, and assorted four-legged companions appear in stories blending everyday ranch humor with moments of sadness.

A bird dog disappears, and Hank has a serious missing-dog case on his paws. He follows the trail with Drover, determined to find the dog before the ranch's worries grow.

This collection brings together Hank's comic ranch tales and songs. It is a lively visit with the Head of Ranch Security, his friends, and the odd emergencies that follow him everywhere.

A burrowing robot appears to be invading Hank's ranch. He takes on the unfamiliar machine with suspicion and courage, trying to protect his territory from a threat he barely understands.

A shipwrecked tree is an odd sight in Hank's world, and he is determined to explain it. The investigation sends him after clues that are stranger than the title suggests.

Riley McDaniels and his brother Coy expect a dull summer tending cattle until a visiting friend arrives with an archaeologist. Possible ancient sites on their West Texas ranch turn familiar ground into a source of discovery and outdoor adventure.

A twisted kitty mystery demands Hank's full attention. He tries to determine what happened and who is responsible, though working around cats has never brought out his most patient side.

Hank finds himself facing a place that sounds like the Dungeon of Doom. To get through it, he must rely on his instincts, Drover's support, and more bravery than usual.

A homeless pooch arrives with a problem Hank cannot easily ignore. Helping the newcomer tests Hank's generosity, his territory, and his belief that Ranch Security has room for only one chief.

John Erickson traces several generations of his family against the history and harsh landscape of West Texas. Pioneer women's efforts to hold families together connect stories of ranchers, outlaws, and conflict with the values passed down through changing times.

When the sky appears to be falling, Hank knows Ranch Security cannot sit still. He and Drover race to understand the threat before fear spreads through the ranch.

Something is wrong in the watermelon patch, and Hank is on the case. He searches for the culprit amid a summer mystery where food, suspicion, and ranch pride collide.

A burglar may be a monkey, which is exactly the kind of news Hank finds both alarming and insulting. He investigates the thefts while trying to keep the ranch safe from the unusual suspect.

Tiny cheeping chicks need protection, and Hank takes the assignment seriously. A ranch problem soon turns into a case full of suspicious activity, nervous caretaking, and Hank-sized theories.

Hank suspects a kitty cheater is causing trouble around the ranch. His investigation brings him into another battle of wits, where the evidence refuses to behave the way he expects.

A blazing sky makes Hank fear that something huge is happening over the ranch. He follows the clues through a high-stakes mystery where the weather itself seems suspicious.

Hank joins a quest to find the Great White Quail. The search takes him beyond his usual duties, where patience, loyalty, and a willingness to follow the trail all matter.

Hank discovers that his quiet sidekick may have secrets of his own. Curious and slightly offended, he follows Drover into an adventure that tests their friendship and changes the usual routine.

John Erickson explains why he became a writer and how patience shaped his progress toward publication. Reflections on developing themes and characters connect practical publishing advice with his beliefs about faith, storytelling, and the purpose a story serves.

Birds that seem almost prehistoric bring a strange problem to the ranch. Hank investigates the alarming visitors, determined to protect his territory before their presence causes bigger trouble.

A mysterious cookie moon turns an ordinary ranch day into a curious adventure. Hank and Drover investigate the odd sight, with Hank eager to prove he understands what is going on.

Coyotes invade Hank's territory, making his job as ranch protector more urgent than ever. He must defend his home while dealing with old rivalries and the limits of his own courage.

Rumors of a secret weapon give Hank a new reason to worry about ranch security. He and Drover search for the truth before the unknown threat can upset life at home.

A dancing cowboy brings unusual excitement to the ranch. Hank watches the newcomer closely, certain that any change in routine may require the quick action of Ranch Security.

A Valentine's Day robbery disrupts what should be a sweet occasion. Hank takes up the case, hoping to recover what was taken and show that romance does not distract a true professional.

Returning home through a blizzard, Riley and his grandfather learn that former sheriff Joe McGreggor has escaped and a bank has been robbed. Suspicious tracks on the ranch push the McDaniels family to defend their home against a growing threat.

A big question hangs over the ranch, and Hank is determined to supply the answer. His search brings out his stubborn side, his loyalty to Drover, and his talent for finding complications.

A pickup appears to be booby-trapped, putting Hank on alert. He must sniff out who is behind the danger and protect the ranch before someone gets caught in the trap.

An ancient bone is far too important for Hank to ignore. He guards the discovery and investigates its secrets, but the case soon attracts trouble from more than one direction.

A voice from nowhere has Hank convinced that the ranch faces a serious new threat. To solve the mystery, he must follow sounds, question suspects, and keep his imagination from taking over.

The arrival of a supposedly perfect dog challenges Hank's pride in his security skills. He has to prove that experience, loyalty, and a good nose matter more than a polished reputation.

A tricky trap turns Hank's daily patrol into a puzzle. Certain he can outsmart any enemy, he investigates the setup while trying not to become the trap's next victim.

When Drover disappears, Hank must put aside his usual bragging and find his best friend. The search becomes a personal case for Ranch Security, with real worry beneath the usual jokes.

A runaway windmill creates a problem no sensible Head of Ranch Security can ignore. Hank sets out to stop the chaos, with Drover alongside him and plenty of hazards in the way.

A game that begins with laughs starts to look dangerous to Hank. He investigates the strange situation as only he can, with bold theories, anxious help from Drover, and mounting ranch chaos.

A double bumblebee sting gives Hank a painful new problem and plenty to complain about. Still, Ranch Security has work to do, and Hank must press on through the trouble.

Reports of a prowling bear put Hank on high alert. Protecting the ranch means facing a frightening visitor, following uncertain clues, and keeping Drover from losing his nerve.

Strange visitors and Charlie Monsters are bad enough, but a tornado puts the whole ranch in danger. Hank and Drover need every bit of courage they have to face the storm.

A ghostly rabbit tale has Hank wondering what is prowling around his territory. He follows the mystery through the ranch, where old fears and new clues make for a spooky comic case.

Hank opens a new file when something monstrous seems to be lurking around the laundry. The Head of Ranch Security must separate scary stories from real danger before the mystery gets out of hand.

Three rings raise questions that Hank cannot ignore. As he searches for their meaning and their owner, the case draws him into a comic ranch mystery with unexpected turns.

The dreaded Charlie Monsters return, and Hank prepares for another alarming threat. He must keep the ranch safe while deciding whether the danger is exactly as terrible as it seems.

Hank investigates the puzzle of three rings and the trouble surrounding them. His determination to solve the mystery is strong, even when the clues leave Drover wondering what Hank is thinking.

A roundup that may be the last brings serious pressure to the ranch. Hank wants to help protect the operation, but his version of good security work creates fresh challenges for everyone.

Christmas on the ranch goes off course when a turkey disaster threatens the holiday. Hank tries to save the day with Drover's help, though his plans are never as simple as they sound.

A secret pledge leaves Hank determined to uncover what is being hidden around the ranch. Between suspicion, rumors, and Drover's worries, he must decide whom he can trust.

Hank heads west into an adventure that calls for grit, loyalty, and a sharp nose for trouble. The journey gives the Head of Ranch Security plenty of chances to turn a simple problem into a crisis.