Christopher Eckhoff

In many ways, being an outdoorsman on the plains and prairies of North America is much the same today as it was one hundred years ago. The hunting concept of fair chase, the respect for the environment, even the dangers associated with being out on the prairie on a frigid winter day in pursuit of game hasnt changed over time. Fricks Creek and Other Tales takes the reader on a humorous and thought provoking journey across the plains. It loosely follows one extended family in a tight-knit community, showing how youngsters are taught the code and how adults live by it. A short novella about a champion bird dog, told through the mind of the dog, is included as well. The author has been training and competing with these rare dogs for over thirty-five years, and he has come to understand their true nature as much as a person can. Anyone who has owned, trained, and/or handled these dogs knows there is something different about the way they think. This novella gives the reader a good idea of what that thinking is. The journey starts at birth and continues well beyond the dogs competitive years. At times heartwarming and tragic, this story is riveting throughout.