| The True Grit
phenomenon that is sweeping the movie world and nation has generated a renewed
interest in western culture, and the unique cultural icon that is the American
cowboy. Millions across America are
drawn to the film, and to the adventure, romance, action and spirit of adventure
that is embodied in the cowboy life. Willie Nelson and Neil Young said it best
with Young's lyrics asking ..."Where the cattle graze and an old grey
barn still stands" Are
there any more real cowboys in this land?
And that’s where Mackey Hedges comes in. He is a
living tribute to that legacy: a born and bred American buckaroo who has been
riding the ranges for his entire life. Now 67 years old and still in the saddle
in his native Nevada, Mackey has never known any other job or life. The only dollar
he made outside of working with horse and cattle came from Uncle Sam during a
four year tour as a United States Marine. He’s among the last of a vanishing
breed, regularly called upon to handle the tough jobs a new generation can’t
or won’t do.  But
Mac is not your average everyday cowboy. He is that rarest of breeds- adept at
riding, roping and writing. When a 1995 riding injury took him out of the saddle
for months, Mackey used the time to reflect on his life, his work, the vibrant
and intriguing people he had met and most memorable; the unforgettable tales spun
by his cowboy father and grandfather. The result was his popular novel Last Buckaroo,
a rollicking tale of a cowboy and the man he would mentor, complete with wide
open spaces, barroom brawls, romance, adventure and much more.
 It’s
the real story told by the real deal. Beloved by the most important critics of
all…the cowboys who actually live the life he writes. Now Mack and his cowboy
heroes are back for more in the sequel, Shadow of the Wind. It’s another
expansive tale, at times grand and gritty, and paints as pure a portrait of the
Cowboy Way as any you would hope to find on any page, stage or screen.
So while True Grit has obviously struck a chord with
America, why not take this opportunity to show them what a real Cowboy is all
about? I’d love to send you a copy of Shadow of the Wind and set you up with
an interview with Mackey. He’s a character you and your audience will remember
for a long time.
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