 Author of 40
novels, published over more than 50 years. Latest include THE
WAY OF THE COYOTE, THE BUCKSKIN LINE, THE SMILING COUNTRY,
CLOUDY IN THE WEST, THE PUMPKIN ROLLERS, HONOR AT DAYBREAK,
STAND PROUD and THE WOLF AND THE BUFFALO. A 40th novel, RANGER'S
TRAIL, is due in September 2002. Click
here to read the first chapter.
Three of his
novels have appeared in Reader's Digest Condensed Books. Four
books have won the Western Heritage Award from the National
Cowboy Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City: THE TIME IT NEVER RAINED,
THE GOOD OLD BOYS, THE MAN WHO RODE MIDNIGHT, and the text for
THE ART OF HOWARD TERPNING. Six have won the Spur award from
Western Writers of America: BUFFALO WAGONS, THE DAY THE COWBOYS
QUIT, THE TIME IT NEVER RAINED, EYES OF THE HAWK, SLAUGHTER and
THE FAR CANYON.
In 1987 he
received the Barbara McCombs/Lon Tinkle Award for "continuing
excellence in Texas letters" from the Texas Institute of
Letters. In 1990 he received the Distinguished Achievement Award
from the Western Literature Association. The Texas Legislature
proclaimed Elmer Kelton Day in April 1997. In 1998 he received
the first Lone Star award for lifetime Achievement from the
Larry McMurtry Center for Arts and Humanities at Midwestern
State University, Wichita Falls, Texas. He also received
honorary doctorates from Hardin-Simmons University and Texas
Tech University. He was given a lifetime achievement award by
the National Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock, Texas.
He is a
native of Crane, Texas. He grew up on the McElroy Ranch, with
which his father, the late R. W. "Buck' Kelton, was associated
for 36 years. After graduation from Crane High School he
attended the University of Texas at Austin in 1942-44 and
1946-48, earning a B.A. degree in journalism. He spent 15 years
as farm and ranch writer-editor for the San Angelo
Standard-Times, five years as editor of Sheep and Goat Raiser
Magazine and 22 years as associate editor of Livestock Weekly,
from which he retired in 1990.
He served
two years in the U. S. Army, 1944-46, including combat infantry
service in Europe. He and his wife Ann, a native of Austria,
celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary three years ago. They
have two grown sons, a daughter, four grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren.
http://www.elmerkelton.net/Author Bio.htm |
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Frequently Asked Questions *
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When and where were you born?
Brooklyn Naval Hospital, NY in 1945 during WW II. My dad
was in the Navy. Baxter's birthday is the 2nd Friday of
January every year. |
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Where did you grow up?
Las Cruces, NM. |
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What were your interests and achievements in school?
FFA president and reporter, senior class president,
lettered in wrestling one year. |
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Did you rodeo at all?
I rode bulls in high school and college. |
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What made you decide to become a cowboy?
You either are one, or you aren't. You never have to
decide. |
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Where did you go to college?
New Mexico State University and Colorado State
University, graduated in 1969. |
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What was your greatest struggle in college?
Passing calculus and trigonometry which were required to
apply for veterinary school. |
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How did education play a role in your life?
Education taught me to read, and taught me how things
worked. |
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How did education have significance later in your life?
It allowed me to practice veterinary medicine. |
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What is the most unique animal you have looked at
lately?
A cow that had been snake bit on the tongue. |
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What is the most thrilling call you had to make as a
vet?
Looking at a cow that might have been rabid or one that
might have had anthrax. |
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Would you suggest becoming a veterinarian to someone
just graduating high school?
It depends on what you find satisfying. |
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How did you go from veterinarian to poet?
The last company where I was working as a tech
veterinarian changed hands and let me go. I was doing
"speaking" on the side and people just kept calling, so
here I am. |
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What inspired you to become a poet?
Just sort of an accident. I thought I was a song writer. |
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When did you start writing poems?
In my mid-thirties. |
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When were you first published?
First column was published in July 1980 in the Record
Stockman, Denver, Colorado. |
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Who is your favorite poet? Favorite poem?
Of the "dead guys" Australian poet A.B. "Banjo"
Patterson who wrote "The Man from Snowy River". |
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Who do you admire - who has inspired you?
My mother. |
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Who are some of the most influential people in your
life?
My parents, my Ag teacher (Rupert Mansell), my
veterinary mentor Dr. Van Brimhall, my best boss John
Basabe, and my entertainment friend and counselor, Red
Steagall. |
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Q.
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What would be your advise to someone interested in
writing?
Write about what you know. |
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What is your definition of a cowboy?
Someone who can replace a uterine prolapse in a range
cow in a three section pasture with nothing but a horse
and a rope. |
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Are you married?
Yes. |
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Do you have kids?
Yes. |
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What are you currently doing?
I make a living speaking at agricultural banquets,
writing my column and selling my books and tapes. |
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Do you have any funny stories or events that have
happened to you?
Yes, my books are full of them! |
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Do you have any "quirks?"
I do not like Italian food, brownies or bananas, and I
do not accept awards. |
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What would you say are your top 3 accomplishments?
I haven't accomplished them yet. |
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How do you want to be remembered?
As someone who didn't embarrass his friends. |
http://www.baxterblack.com/t-faq.aspx |
