 Besides the sporting interests , the Spirit was involved in the emergence of American literature , especially the " tall tale " form of humor . Porter encouraged Southwestern authors to write and publish their short stories in the Spirit , and was involved in getting their works published in book form . He was the editor for two of these collections : The Big Bear of Arkansas , published in 1846 , and A Quarter Race in Kentucky and Other Sketches , published in 1847 . Porter was instrumental in encouraging the career of Johnson Hooper . Another writer who contributed to the Spirit was Henry William Herbert , who wrote under the pen name " Frank Forester " . 
