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Author of Earp book says publication will end

The UA Press' relationship with Glenn Boyer and publication of his best-selling book has come to an end, according to the author.

In a statement written Jan. 29 on Amazon.com, an online bookseller, under editorial reviews of the book, Boyer stated that the book will soon go out of print and has requested that the UA Press return the rights to the book.

Boyer cites being tired of all the conflicts surrounding "I Married Wyatt Earp" as one of the main reasons for ending its publication.

"I've stuck my neck out, and all I've got is a bunch of bruises," Boyer said.

University of Arizona attorney Mike Proctor declined comment yesterday and Christine Szuter, director of the UA Press, could not be reached for comment.

"I Married Wyatt Earp: The Recollections of Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp" was being reviewed for re-publication and a potential change of writing credits by the UA Press, Boyer said. Josephine Earp, wife of Wyatt Earp, is credited as being the author of the book while Boyer is listed as the editor. The change would have listed Boyer as the author of the book, he said.

"(The UA Press) decided they ought to show me as collector and editor," Boyer said. "I can't see why they didn't originally say I was the author."

First classified as historical non-fiction, the UA Press wanted to change the book's listing to historical fiction, Boyer said.

The book has come under fire from critics who say that half of the book's sources are falsified. The book relies on two texts, the Carson Manuscript and the Clum Manuscript.

There has been no argument over the validity of the Carson manuscript, but the existence of the Clum document has been the source of accusations and confusion.

"No matter how much double talk there is, you can't get around the basic fact that Josephine Earp was listed as the author," said Allen Barra, author of "Inventing Wyatt Earp: His Life and Many Legends" and critic of Boyer's book.

"This was doomed from the outset," Barra said.

Barra is one of many who have accused Boyer of falsifying all the information supposed to be included in the Clum manuscript.

"(The Clum manuscript) has gone through three complete metamorphoses," Barra said. "It's a collection of reminiscences, but whose?"

Boyer said the title "Clum manuscript" is just a name for a collection of documents that are the source of his book.

"The Clum manuscript is a generic term," Boyer said. "This - in addition (to other source materials) - was supported by literally hundreds, maybe thousands of letters and documents."

This case has received media attention from publications such as the Phoenix New Times and the Arizona Daily Star. Boyer claimed to not have been truthful with reporters in the past.

"I've been being very evasive about this because it makes these guys crawl around like ants on a hot frying pan," Boyer said.

Boyer said he plans to write another book called, "I Divorced Wyatt Earp," detailing his dealings with the first book.