About the Author

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was award-winning author of more than forty novels, including and . He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, , was published in 1956. Among his awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years. He served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.