Andy Adams was an American writer of Western fiction best known for The Log of a Cowboy. Drawing on his own experience with cattle and trail work, he portrayed the everyday labor behind the cowboy legend. His stories emphasize the practical skills, companionship, and difficulties of life on the range.

Raised on an Indiana farm, Adams learned to handle cattle and horses before moving to Texas as a young man. He spent years working in the cattle trade and traveling western trails, then tried business and mining. He eventually settled in Colorado Springs, where he began the writing career that preserved much of what he had observed.

Published in 1903, The Log of a Cowboy follows a fictional cattle drive from Texas to Montana. Adams wrote it partly in response to exaggerated portrayals of cowboys in popular fiction. His other books include A Texas Matchmaker, The Outlet, and Wells Brothers. Together, they offer a grounded view of ranching and trail life, shaped by the knowledge of someone who had taken part in that world.