Moonshiner's Gold

Riley McDaniels #1

by John R. Erickson

When fourteen-year-old Riley can't get any help from the law to rid his ranch of the moonshiners squatting on his property, he teams up with his grandfather to do it without legal assistance. Reprint.

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2001

About the 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."

Reviews

[Miss Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

gr 5-9 199pgs

1927,Canadian, TX. 14 year old Riley, his mother, and his brother are struggling to keep their ranch after Riley's father dies. When moonshiners set up a still in the canyons on their property and the relative who owns their land demands they pay the money they owe, their problems worsen. Riley's grandfather isn't know for being dependable, but he insists he can help...


Great story with an interesting ending.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book has an awesome setting, but with a little haunt, oil money, and excitement!

[M Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished- a book really full of adventure. And I thought it was just going to be about moonshiners!

[Teresa Henson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much! Very different than his Hank the Cowdog books, but I have found that I enjoy everything I've read by this author.