From the Preface by John R. Erickson: "Hank has become a popular fellow. We have sold over nine million books about his adventures, and we are now hearing from second and third generation Hank fans. They, too, are curious. They want to know...who is Hank? Where did he come from and how did all of this come about? In Q&A sessions and in replies to fan letters, I'm not able to address those questions in the manner they deserve because the answers are not always short or simple. They require a bigger canvas and that is the purpose of this book." There are fun and interesting answers to questions about where characters in the Hank series came from, got their names, are any based on real animals or people, growing up in Perryton, recording Hank on audio books, Hank songs, where do story ideas come from and so many more questions? Packed full with color illustrations and pictures, this behind-the pages book is the ultimate gift for Hank the Cowdog fans and readers.
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."
