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 the first promotion.