First published 2025
John Stetson stands in his Philadelphia workshop, studying the worn felt hat returned by a Colorado rancher. The brim shows years of sun and rain, the crown bears the shape of countless nights under stars. Stetson built his business crafting headwear for men who work outdoors, but now the frontier is closing. Railroads bring Eastern fashions west. His customers trade ranches for office jobs in growing cities. Orders decline as derby hats replace wide brims. Stetson must choose between preserving his craft for a shrinking market or adapting his designs for modern buyers. His workers depend on steady wages. His family needs the business to survive. The decision weighs on him as he watches his son sketch new hat designs that look nothing like the Stetsons worn by cowboys and cattlemen. This story captures one man's struggle to honor tradition while embracing change.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, american, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: changing-times, family-legacy
Setting: Philadelphia, Colorado
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century
320 pages · Hardcover · Rizzoli