Bud Shrake

Bud Shrake (1931-2009) was a prominent American journalist, sportswriter, novelist, and screenwriter who made significant contributions to Texas literature and sports writing. His most commercially successful work was co-writing Harvey Penick's Little Red Book, which became the best-selling sports book in publishing history. As a journalist, Shrake worked for several major publications including the Fort Worth Press, Dallas Times Herald, and Sports Illustrated. His literary career spanned multiple genres, producing novels such as "Blessed McGill" and "Strange Peaches," as well as screenplays for films including "Kid Blue" and "Tom Horn." A member of the Texas Film Hall of Fame, Shrake received numerous accolades including the Lon Tinkle lifetime achievement award from the Texas Institute of Letters and the Texas Book Festival Bookend Award. His work consistently explored Texas themes and culture, earning him recognition as a significant figure in Texas literature. His collaborations with golf coach Harvey Penick produced several influential golf instruction books, demonstrating his versatility as a writer across different forms and subjects. Beyond his professional achievements, Shrake was also known as part of a group of Texas writers and journalists who helped shape the state's literary landscape in the latter half of the 20th century.

Readers appreciate Shrake's intimate knowledge of Texas culture and sports, with specific praise for his novel "Blessed McGill" and golf guide "Harvey Penick's Little Red Book." Several reviews note his ability to blend historical detail with compelling characters in his fiction works. Fans cite his journalistic background as strengthening his non-fiction writing, particularly in sports coverage and biographical works. On Goodreads, readers highlight his "crisp prose style" and "authenticity in depicting Texas settings." Some readers find his novels uneven in pacing and note that his earlier works can feel dated. A few reviews criticize certain books as overly regional in appeal. Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: "Blessed McGill" - 3.8/5 (124 ratings) - Amazon: "Harvey Penick's Little Red Book" - 4.8/5 (1,200+ ratings) - "Strange Peaches" - 4.2/5 (limited ratings) Limited review data exists for many of his works due to their publication dates predating online review platforms.

Willie: An Autobiography (1988) A collaboration with Willie Nelson that details the country music star's life story, career, and personal philosophy.

Harvey Penick's Little Red Book (1992) A collection of golf teachings and wisdom co-written with legendary golf instructor Harvey Penick.

Blessed McGill (1968) A historical novel set in post-Civil War Texas following the adventures of Peter Hermano McGill.

Strange Peaches (1972) A novel set in Dallas during the time of JFK's assassination, following a television actor who quits his job to document social changes.

But Not for Love (1964) A novel exploring the lives of young people in Fort Worth during the 1950s.

Kid Blue (1973) A screenplay about a reformed train robber trying to go straight in a small Texas town.

Blessed McGill (1968) A historical novel following a half-Spanish, half-Irish Texan through the post-Civil War frontier.

Land of the Permanent Wave (2008) An anthology of Shrake's essays and journalism spanning his career in Texas.

Custer's Brother's Horse (2007) A novel set in 1870s Austin exploring political and social tensions of post-Civil War Texas.

Harvey Penick's Little Green Golf Book (1997) A follow-up instruction book continuing Penick's golf teachings and philosophy.

Larry McMurtry wrote novels about Texas life and culture during similar time periods as Shrake, focusing on both contemporary and historical stories. His work shares the same deep understanding of Texas culture and social dynamics that characterized Shrake's writing.

Dan Jenkins was a fellow Texas sportswriter who moved between journalism and fiction writing, covering golf and football extensively. Like Shrake, he wrote for Sports Illustrated and produced both sports coverage and novels that captured Texas culture.

Gary Cartwright worked alongside Shrake at multiple Texas newspapers and shared his interest in blending journalism with literary storytelling. His writing covered similar territory in terms of Texas crime, culture, and sports topics.

Willie Morris wrote both journalism and literary works that examined Southern culture and social change during the same era as Shrake. His career path from journalism to creative writing paralleled Shrake's trajectory.

Pete Gent played for the Dallas Cowboys and wrote about Texas sports culture from an insider perspective similar to Shrake. His work combined sports knowledge with literary ambitions in the same way Shrake approached his sports-related writing.