Major Works
Ernest Herndon, photo courtesy of the author
Nonfiction
- Paddling The Pascagoula (2005) (with Scott B. Williams)
- Nature Trails and Gospel Tales: Stories of Grace from the Wilds of Mississippi (2004)
- Canoeing Louisiana (2003)
- Canoeing Mississippi (2001)
- In the Hearts of Wild Men (1997) republished in 1998
- Self-Defense: A Body-Mind Approach (1987)
Fiction
- Eric Sterling: Secret Agent series
- Deathbird to Paradise (1997)
- Little People of the Lost Coast (1997)
- Trouble at Bamboo Bay (1996)
- Sisters of the Wolf (1996)
- The Secret of Lizard Island (1994)
- Double-Crossed in Gator Country (1994)
- Night of the Jungle Cat (1994)
- Smugglers on Grizzly Mountain (1994)
- Deathbird to Paradise (1997)
- Backwater Blues, (1991)
- Island Quarry (1990)
- Morning Morning True: A Novel of Intrigue in New Guinea (1988)
Biography of Ernest Herndon (2001)
by Stephanie Ward (SHS)
On the 29th of December in 1955, Ernest Herndon was born in Memphis, Tennessee. When Ernest reached the third grade, he moved to Millington, Tennessee. The next year, he moved to Okinawa, Tennessee, where he lived from 1968 to 1970. He then moved back to Memphis where he lived for eight years (Herndon). In 1978, Ernest moved to Amite County, Mississippi, where he still resides with his wife, Angelyn. Herndon received his master’s degree from the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee (Publishing History).
Herndon has written numerous books, eight of which are part of a children’s series about three pre-teen detectives who are sent on various outdoor adventures throughout the world. The other books he has written includeCanoeing Mississippi, a book about canoeing and camping in Mississippi; Self-Defense: A Body-Mind Approach, a college textbook; In theHearts of Wild Men, an account of a missionary adventure in Papua, New Guinea; and three adult suspense novelsBackwater Blues, Island Quarry, andMorning Morning True. Herndon has written articles for many newspapers and magazines including American Karate, Black Belt, Bowhunter, Boy’s Life, Canoe & Kayak, Escape, Frets, Fur-Fish-Game, Inside Kung Fu, Interest, Mississippi Game & Fish, Paddler, Sea Kayaker, and Sports Afield (Publishing History).
He has also received multiple awards, including five first places in Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press annual contests, six first places in Mississippi Press Association Better Newspaper Contests, two firsts from the Mississippi Sportswriters Association, the 1995 Special Merit Award from the Mississippi Wildlife Federation, one first place in the eleven-state Outdoor Press Association and two honors from the Mississippi Humanities Coucil/Mississippi Press Association Newspaper Project (Publishing History). Ernest currently lives in McComb, Mississippi, where he is the outdoors editor and religion editor for Enterprise-Journal, a newspaper to which he has been contributing since 1979. He enjoys worldwide traveling with his wife Angelyn. Herndon’s book, Canoeing Mississippi, was published in spring 2001.
2008 UPDATE: Since 2001, Herndon has published Canoeing Louisiana in 2003, Nature Trails and Gospel Tales: Stories of Grace from the Wilds of Mississippi in 2004, and most recently Paddling The Pascagoula in 2005 with Scott B. Williams.
Timeline
- 1955–December 29, Ernest Herndon born in Memphis, Tennessee
- 1979–Began working at the McComb Enterprise-Journal
- 1987–Published Self-Defense: A Body-Mind Approach-Zondervan Publishing Company
- 1987–Published In the Hearts of Wild Men-Enterprise Journal
- 1988–Published Morning Morning True-Zondervan Publishing Company
- 1990–Published Island Quarry-Zondervan Publishing Company
- 1991–Published Backwater Blues-Zondervan Publishing Company
- 1994–Published The Secret of Lizard Island, Double-Crossed in Gator Country, Night of the Jungle Cat and Smugglers on Grizzly Mountain-Zondervan Publishing Company
- 1996–Published Sisters of the Wolf and Trouble at Bamboo Bay-Zondervan Publishing Company
- 1997–Published Deathbird to Paradise and Little People of the Lost Coast-Zondervan Publishing Company
- 1998–Republished In the Hearts of Wild Men-Grace & Truth Books
- 2001–Published Canoeing Mississippi-University Press of Mississippi
- 2003–Published Canoeing Louisiana
- 2004–Nature Trails and Gospel Tales: Stories of Grace from the Wilds of Mississippi
- 2005–Published Paddling The Pascagoula (with Scott B. Williams)
Reviews
A Review of Eric Sterling: Secret Agent: Smugglers on Grizzly Mountain
by Stephanie Ward (SHS)
Stephanie Ward, SHS Researcher
“Eric Sterling: Secret Agent” Smugglers on Grizzly Mountain, by Ernest Herndon, is a charming book for children aged eight to twelve. It is about three pre-teen special agents for Wildlife Special Investigations (WSI), who are assigned a case involving mushroom smugglers. The three children, Eric C., Erik K., and Erik’s sister Sharon, are sent off to Alaska where they meet with Martin Bull, who shows them what they are to do. After a brief overview of their case, the three are sent to climb Bear Ridge Mountain armed with camping supplies, a telescope, and bear mace. As soon as they reach the summit, the three detectives spot the mushroom smugglers and radio down to Mr. Bull. Mr. Bull tells Eric to come back down the mountain first thing the next morning. As soon as Eric wakes up, he packs up all of his supplies and heads down the mountain. After his long hike down the mountain, poor, tired Eric is greeted by an unfamiliar man who tells him that there is an emergency and that Mr. Bull had to head home. However, Eric smells something fishy. He knows something is not right. But I won’t tell you what it is, you will have to read this book for yourself to know what the exciting ending is to this great book of outdoor expeditions. I recommend this book to all pre-teens interested in outdoorsy fiction novels. It is an interesting story that creates a smile on your face and even makes you root for the “bad guys.”
Interview with Ernest Herndon, by phone on April 9, 2001
by Stephanie Ward (SHS)
1) When and where were you born?
December 29, 1955, in Memphis, Tennessee.
2) Where have you lived?
I moved to Millington, Tennessee, for a year when I was in the third grade. Then I lived in Okinawa, Tennessee from 1968-1970. I then moved back to Memphis where I lived for eight years. In 1978 I moved to Amite County, Mississippi, where I still reside.
3) How many books do you have published?
Fourteen
4) Is there anyone who inspired you to become a writer?
No, not really, it had always been a hobby of mine since I was old enough to put the letters together and write.
5) What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I canoe, and I play the banjo for a Bluegrass gospel group at Woodland United Methodist Church.
6) Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Learn correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation; these are the tools of the trade.
Related Websites
- Library site lists all eight Eric Sterling, Secret Agent book.
- Herndon is a regular writer of articles at the Enterprise Journal
- This is a web site where you can purchase Herndon’s book Canoeing Mississippi.
- At this web site, you can purchase the only adult novel of Herndon’s that is still in print: In the Hearts of Wild Men.
Bibliography
- “Ernest Herndon” Amazon.com. Available (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/102-4353664-1141761) March 29, 2001.
- “Ernest Herndon: Publishing History” Provided by Ernest Herndon. April 2001.
- Herndon, Ernest, Eric Sterling: Secret Agent “Smugglers on Grizzly Mountain.” Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994.
- Herndon, Ernest. Telephone interview. 9 April 2001.