Leaving Kansas

Harrison Wilke #1

by Frank Roderus

Sensitive, intellectual Harrison Wilke, the heir to the Running W Ranch, plans, on the basis of his inheritance, to marry Martha Trope, take his money, and escape the monotony of Red Bluff, Kansas

256 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Frank Roderus wrote his first story—it was a western—when he was five. It was really awful, as might be expected, but his mother kept that typed and spell-checked short story tucked away until the day she died.
Later, Frank became a newspaper reporter, thinking that books are written by authors which he most assuredly was not. He kept trying to write though, and eventually did it wrong enough to learn how to get it right. That first sale, a young adult novel published by Independence Press, was more than thirty years and a good many books ago.
As a journalist, the Colorado Press Association awarded Frank Roderus their highest award, the Sweepstakes Award, for the best news story of 1980, and the Western Writers of America has twice named Frank recipient of their prestigious Spur Award. Frank passed away at age 73 in December 2015.

Reviews

[Bob Reisig · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the tease of "Book 1". For me there won't be a book 2. I am no expert so I won't speak to the technical aspects of the writing but the plot and the characters driving this book left me cold. The main protagonist is really a mealy mouthed wimp, backstabber and egotist. When you live in an area surrounded by them, I don't want to find them in my books.

[Bryan Boswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out slow for me and I did not think I would like it at all. Self absorbed Harrison Wilke kind of turned me off. As I got farther into the book I started liking the book more and more. He got what was coming to him in the end though.

I received an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

[Paul Dodson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow and pondering

I kept reading in the hopes that there would be a story. Something to hang your hat on. The story was really slow but I continued reading to the end still looking for the catch line. It just continued to meander around nothing.

[Anthony Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling Story

Harrison Wilke is a flawed young man with a compelling story from the old days in western Kansas. I thoroughly enjoyed this get acquainted first book and am looking forward to the second one!

Anthony Lyons of Dodge City

[Fred J. Neslage Jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, but a but it takes a long time to develop.

[Joanne Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Would not recommend

Boring and very boring. Sorry but This is not my idea of a western. Good thing I didn't buy this book and its sequel I would have asked for my money back.

[Dan Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE SERIES.......HARRIIDON WAS QUITE THE CHARECTER .........GLAD HE MARRIED AMELIA AND NOT MARTHA..........DAN MILLER FROM ALEXANDRIA VA.

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An FR Western About/Cattle Rustling/Rustlers/A Cowboy Wearing the Wrong Outfit

FR had penned an unusual western about a young man who is born totally out of element as a cowboy. He has been raised in a cattle ranch but has absolutely no clue as to what to as a cowboy. He has admitted to himself that he is not one will be a cowboy ever. He plans his own future which includes leaving Kansas. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

An FR western about a young man raised on a ranch in Kansas. He I is wee

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winner, 1983 Spur Award for Best Novel