The Early Years of 'Squirt' Malone
At twelve years old, he ran away to join the carnivals… and became a wrestling legend.
John “Squirt” Malone was never meant for anything beyond ranch life. Hard days, harder expectations, and a future already written for him in dust and cattle.
Then the carnival came to town.
Inside the tents and traveling shows, he discovers something strange and dangerous—early professional wrestling, where sport and spectacle blur into one brutal performance. What starts as fascination becomes obsession. What starts as obsession becomes escape.
Armed with nothing but determination and a mail-order wrestling course, Squirt runs away at twelve years old to chase a life inside the blood, sweat, and theater of America’s earliest wrestling circuits.
Before pro wrestling had rules, it had boys like him trying to survive it.
Paperback / Hardback
Books and E-Books
John “Squirt” Malone was born into a life of hard work, long days, and limited choices. As the lightly educated son of a cattle rancher in the early 1900s, his future seemed all but decided for him.
Then the carnival comes to town.
Captivated by the strange world of sideshow wrestling—where larger-than-life grapplers blur the line between sport and spectacle—John becomes obsessed with the idea of becoming a professional wrestler himself. After secretly studying the craft through a mail-order correspondence course, he makes a decision that will change his life forever.
At just twelve years old, John runs away from home to chase his dream through the brutal and unpredictable world of carnival wrestling.
Inspired by the history of the Goldust Trio, The Early Years of “Squirt” Malone is a historical fiction novel exploring the birth of professional wrestling, from dusty carnival lots to the rise of organized promotions.
Inspiration for The Early Years of 'Squirt' Malone
Joseph Mondt, Ed Lewis, and Billy Sandow created the first wrestling promotion in America, the Gold Dust Trio
Frank Gotch and Georg Hackenschmidt wrestled the largest gate in the history of single match wrestling cards
Cora Livingston, first Women's World Champion of professional wrestling
Joseph 'Toots' Mondt
Ed "The Strangler" Lewis
Frank Gotch
Georg Hackenschmidt
Cora Livingston
Billy Sandow
The Life of wrestlers
After the turn of the century professional wrestling already showed the tale tell signs of their outcomes being predetermined. But the struggling type of theater would never have survived in such hard times. This is the story of those wrestlers who built an industry by creating drama and spectacle.
Straight from the mouth of the readers
“A poignant story that will tug at your heartstrings and will remain etched in your memory long after you turn the final page.”
“From the very first lines Richard W. Kelly transports us back in time”
“It felt as though someone was sitting next to me and telling me the story as I read this book.”
“The characters are lovable and believable. The storyline is riveting.”
“This author writes a riveting tale of a boy’s decision to leave home, join the circus and pursue a managing career in wrestling shows.”
“I have no interest in wrestling, but this story made me want to!”
“This was a great book”
“The author really draws you in and you become a part of the story.”
“The author can create characters that the reader cares about.”
“Thanks to the author for writing this wonderful story.”
“Even though I am not a wrestling fan I loved the story”
“I genuinely became interesting in wrestling through reading this book”
“There is action, drama, and romance”
“Despite my initial disinterest in wrestling, I was completely engrossed”
“I really enjoyed this book.”
“Definitely recommend”
A historical coming-of-age story about a ranch boy who runs away at twelve to join the early carnival wrestling circuits and becomes a legend in the making.
Paperback / Hardback
Books and E-Books
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