"When John Erickson wrote the first stories about his most well-known protagonist, his intended audience was adults — farmers and ranchers.

     To his surprise, the tales he wrote for The Cattleman magazine introducing Hank the Cowdog in 1982 appealed to all ages.

     'It was beginning to look like Hank was a star,' Erickson said in a telephone interview. 'It was a surprise to me.' Erickson is this year’s honoree for the A.C. Greene Award at the West Texas Book Festival, which begins at noon today with a program at the downtown library.

     Erickson will be honored at the Boots & Books Luncheon Saturday at the Abilene Civic Center.

     Chatting with Erickson is like sitting in a pair of rockers on the porch, sipping lemonade — low-key, easy and familiar.

     His ability to translate that same feeling to his books is one of the reasons they are so popular. 'Hank the Cowdog #60' will hit the shelves Oct. 11."

Entire article in Abilene's The Reporter