The story begins here. It's 1964, and Danny takes a summer job as hired hand on Mike's farm. (updated, 7-08)
Blue Paint Special
Flashback. College-boy Danny gets an unforgettable lesson in life and art. (complete)
Mike and Danny Go to College
It's 1965, and the boys take in a Winter Carnival at the college where Danny has been going to school. (complete)
Mike and Danny: The Snowstorm
A little later, while Mike is away from home with Don, a trio of winter travelers converges on the farm during a blizzard. (complete)
Mike and Danny: Straight Crush
Winter 1972, and Danny has a teaching job at a college, where a student takes a liking to him. (complete)
Mike and Danny: Stuff Happens
Spring 1972, and Danny almost strikes out with a couple of baseball players. (complete)
Mike and Danny: Dog Days
Summer 1972, and four visitors show up at the farm, each of them looking for Mike. (complete)
Mike and Danny: In Love
Summer 1972 (cont.), and Danny picks up a hitchhiker with unexpected results. (complete)
Friday Night Football
Flashback. It's 1963, and Danny gets a part-time job as a sports writer. (complete)
Mike and Danny: Restless Hearts
Fall 1972, and we check in on many of the ongoing characters before following the adventures of Rich and Ty, Virgil and Marty, and Ed and Ted. (complete)
Mike and Danny: Big Hopes
Fall 1972 (cont.). Kenneth learns about love and relationships on a journey to Canada and back. Randy is on the road again, too, meeting up with an old friend who has an unwelcome surprise for him. (complete)
Mike and Danny: Forever
Christmas 1972. Mike's father pays a visit and has a surprise for Mike. Randy takes an interest in Chad, and Danny's friend Craig has to make a decision.
New story "Forever" (4-09). Click here.
Previous story "Big Hopes" (11-08). Click here.
Take a virtual tour of the Nebraska Sandhills. See the ranch country where these stories take place. Click here.
Pics of characters from the most recent "Mike and Danny" stories. Click here.
See the Mike and Danny video at YouTube.. Click here.
The author answers questions about everything from where he gets his ideas to what readers say about the stories. Click here.
Updated with comments about the latest stories. Click here.
He has also written short stories that involve some of the same characters: "Blue Paint Special," "Friday Night Football" and the Mike and Danny stories. All have been published by the good folks at nifty.org and many have also been posted at Rainbow Community Writing Project and CRVBOY.
Rock Lane Cooper currently lives and works in Los Angeles. He listens to bluegrass, western swing, honky tonk, and roots music and enjoys reading fiction and nonfiction books set in the West. He likes rodeos, riding horses, two-step and line dancing.
Pictures of the characters from the Mike and Danny stories. Click here.
See pictures of Mike and Danny's farm and neighborhood, plus scenes from Two Men in a Pickup. Click here.
Play list from the "soundtrack" of Two Men in a Pickup. Click here.
Lots of books for the Western reader from Andy Adams' Log of a Cowboy to Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove. Click here.
Elko, Nevada, is probably not ready for these, but readers of the Mike and Danny stories should like 'em. Click here.