Not many cowboys roam the plains of Ohio. True, there are some (baseball variety) Indians in Cleveland, but no cowboys. Jim Willoughby, born and raised in Ohio, moved to California in 1947 and then to Prescott, Arizona, in 1985. Drawing on the folklore and legends surrounding cowboys, Willoughby is able to present a humorous view of the lives they lead.
The author is no stranger when it comes to cowboys and western lore. From 1978 to 1988 he sculpted Western subjects, and had these then cast in bronze. His first casting was of an Indian woman with a pot on her head, and was purchased by none other than the Duke himself, John Wayne!
Willoughby's career includes working for more than 20 years as a layout artist and storyboard artist for various animation studios, including Hanna Barbera. He is the author and illustrator of several books. Among these, he illustrated Arizona Humoresque, also published by Pelican.
Jim Willoughby has collaborated with his wife, Sue, on their next book, A Dude's Guide to the West, due out this fall from Pelican.