Max Evans was born on August 29, 1925 in Ropes, Texas. He was a writer and director. In addition to writing, his career included soldier in Europe in World War II, a cowboy, a miner, an artist, and a smuggler. His writing focused on "post-war transition of the American West." His best-known novel was The Rounders, published in 1960. In 1965 it was made into a movie. The Hi Lo Country was published in 1962 and was made into a movie in 1998. His other books included Ol' Max Evans--The First Thousand Years, written with Slim Randles (an autobiography); Madam Millie: Bordellos from Silver City to Ketchikan (nonfiction); and Bluefeather Fellini, a collection of animal stories. His last novel was The King of Taos, published in June 2020. He published over 25 books and won multiple Spur, Wrangler, and Owen Wister awards. Max Evans died at the age of 95, on August 26, 2020.