Pre-Orders Coming For‘Wild Bill’s Mustache’

A new book by Gordon Hopkins and The Fairbury Journal-News examines how the media created a western legend in ‘Wild Bill’s Mustache,’ being released Nov. 1.The book delves into the life, myth and legend of one of the Old West’s most notable figures, James Butler Hickok, and how the media at the time covered, stretched and sometimes fabricated the life of Wild Bill. Taking news reports and stories from a variety of publications and examining their relevance, and sometimes trustworthiness, into account, viewing the life of Hickok with a modern lens.‘Wild Bill’s Mustache’ also includes an introduction by bestselling western writer Ron Schwab. An excerpt from the book:“Right now, in some casino somewhere in the world, perhaps in Las Vegas, perhaps in Council Bluffs, perhaps in an illegal gambling den accessible only through an unmarked door in a back alley in Tokyo, or perhaps in some suburban basement where a handful of drinking buddies are playing a friendly game of poker, someone is being dealt a hand: a pair of black aces and a pair of black eights.These were the cards James Butler Hickok held in his hand when he was shot in the back of the head by Jack McCall while playing poker at Nuttal & Mann’s Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood, in the Dakota Territory.While the legend of “Wild Bill” continued to grow throughout his life, and the tales of his shootouts seemed to multiply exponentially, in reality the later years of Hickok’s life saw a marked downturn. On April 15 in the year 1871, Hickok was made Marshall of Abilene, Kansas. It was here that his decline truly began.” The book examines what really happened in Hickok’s life and how the media portrayed his exploits.Author Gordon Hopkins is a nationally award-winning investigative journalist that dives deep into the materials surrounding Hickok and examines them with his scrutinizing eye to show how the media, even at the turn of the century, could turn someone into a celebrity, even a legend.Hopkins has also authored several fiction novels including ‘Fraudsters’ and ‘Broken’ and edited a book of travel stories, ‘Beyond Our Borders: Unexpected Travel Writing.’The Fairbury Journal-News has also published the books, “Nebraska At War: Dispatches from the Home Front and the Front Lines’ and ‘Familiar Faces: People of Jefferson County.’‘Wild Bill’s Mustache’ will be available Nov. 1 on Amazon or by contacting Fairbury Journal-News (402) 729-6141, www.fairburyjournalnews.com.Hopkins is available for interviews about the book by contacting (402) 729-6141 or gordon@fairburyjournalnews.com.

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