The Ballad of the Prospector

BILLY BARKER struck gold during the harsh winter of 1862. This novel is adapted from his personal journal. It reveals never-before-seen secrets about the boomtown of Barkerville and details the sinister happenings that led its fiery demise.
Historians credit Billy Barker as the founder of the Cariboo Gold Rush…
He also doomed it.

Author WES BARKER is the great-great-great grandson of Billy Barker. He is a professional wrestler who uses the moniker 'The Prospector', an homage to his familial history.

Genre: Western
Audience: Ages 16+

REVIEWS
"From wrestling in the ring to writing on the page, Wes Barker understands the importance of character! Not even the best babyface is without flaw, the best heel without heart — that's what makes them human. This novel deserves a championship belt strapped around the cover."
- Jacques Rougeau
WWF Intercontinental Champion, 3x WWF Tag Team Champion, Only Canadian to beat Hulk Hogan

"This just in! The Cariboo Gold Rush gets an origin story as wild as the day Billy Barker made his claim to fame. This book strikes gold and doesn't stop digging. It's a sharp, clever blend of fact and fiction — the kind of tale that would have the Barkerville ghosts nodding in approval."
- Caden Fanshaw
Award-Winning Journalist

"O Canada! This western about the Cariboo Gold Rush hits as hard as I do in wheelchair rugby."
- Joel Ewert
Team Canada, 2024 Paralympics