Brian Burks

Background

Brian Burks was born on September 27, 1955, in Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States. He is a son of Seldon Burks and Joy Burks (maiden name Shook).

Education

Brian Burks attended New Mexico State University.

Career

The start of Brian Burks’s career can be counted from the military service at the United States Air Force, which he began in 1975. He completed the service in 1979 in the capacity of a sergeant.

Later, he did the variety of jobs principally technical or related to land, ranches, cattle or horses. So, he has worked as a rancher, lumber yardman, surveyor, engineering technician, heavy equipment operator, ambulance and truck driver at different times. Finally, Burks has become an owner and operator of horse rental stables in White Oaks, New Mexico.

Knowing firsthand of horses, guns, and cattle as a seasoned cowboy and rancher, Brian Burks has developed an interest in the cultural and historical aspects of the southwest, in particular, in the history of the Apache Indians. The passion led him to do the researches on the topic which resulted in his first novel of 1995 titled ‘Runs with Horses’. The central character of the book is a sixteen-year-old boy determined to become a Chiricahua Apache warrior. The subsequent years, he created such books as ‘Soldier Boy’, ‘Walks Alone’ and ‘Wrango’.

Another one of Burks’s well-known projects is the ‘Murphy’ series co-authored with Gary Paulsen. Murphy’s Stand, Murphy’s Ambush, and Murphy’s Trail are all centered around the character Al Murphy who manages to overcome adversity through the help of a friend.

Achievements

• Brian Burk is a talented writer whose adventure novels and westerns provide the readers with the fascinating facts about Apache Indian customs and traditions.
  
  Burk received such awards as Spur Award for Best Western Juvenile Fiction, Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers for his books about warrior ethos. In 1996, the ‘Runs with Horses’ novel was named the Best Book for the Teen Age by the New York Public Library.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Walks Alone

    (This powerful, factually based novel explores the human i...)

    1998
  • Soldier Boy

    (This gripping historical novel set during the final years...)

    1997
  • Runs With Horses

    (A book about the adventures of sixteen-year-old Runs With...)

    1995
  • Murphy's Stand (A Walker Western)

    (Written in collaboration with Gary Paulsen, the book tell...)

    1993
  • Murphy's Trail

    (Written in collaboration with Gary Paulsen, the book tell...)

    1996
  • Murphy's Ambush

    (Written in collaboration with Gary Paulsen, the book tell...)

    1995
  • Wrango

    (A book about the struggles of George McJunkin and his family)

    1999

Membership

• Western Writers of America , United States

Interests

• Ranching, playing the guitar and fiddle, riding horses

Connections

Brian Burks married Lynn Virden on June 15, 1973. The family produced five children named Alex, Justin, Tami, Leandra and Carl.

Father:

Seldon Burks

Mother:

Joy Burks

Spouse:

Lynn Virden

Son:

Alex Burks

Son:

Justin Burks

Daughter:

Tami Burks

Daughter:

Leandra Burks

Son:

Carl Burks

colleague:

Gary Paulsen