Fred Kesey, the author's father, exerted the most significant influence upon Last Go Round, for it was from his father that Ken Kesey initially heard the story of the first Pendleton Round Up. The novel clearly reflects how well Kesey absorbed his father's ability to weave an action-packed yarn. In addition, Fred Kesey helped prepare his son for writing this novel when he read to him the western romances of Zane Grey. Grey's books inspired Kesey to tackle the subject of "cowboy glories."