Friends : Cowboys, Cattle, Horses, Dogs, Cats, and 'Coons

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.

John R. Erickson, a fifth generation Texan, was raised in Perryton, Texas. After graduating from the University of Texas he studied at Harvard Divinity School. He is author of the nationally known Hank the Cowdog series, as well as his nonfiction titles in the Western Life Series from the University of North Texas Press, and Cowboy Fiddler in Bob Wills' Band with Frankie McWhorter. Erickson lives with his family on his ranch in the Texas Panhandle