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Let’s learn more about Dyscordia! Searchers are excited to dive back into another puzzle-filled adventure from creators Nick Spera and Lisa Finch. Their latest puzzle hunt book brings fresh mysteries, clever twists, and challenges for solvers of every level.
Today, we’ll talk about the inspiration behind this second release, how the project evolved, and what readers can expect this time around.
Dyscordia – the book – releases May 10, 2026 – (Join discussions on the MW Discord or Facebook group page)
Six Questions with Nick and Lisa:
- 1Q) In 2023, you two released the puzzle hunt – Apocrypha. A treasure hunt book with clues to claim a treasure valued at around $4000! Please share a bit about how that project came to a close, and what inspired you to now release Dyscordia. Where can searchers find this current adventure?
Lisa Answers: Working with Nick on any project is a dream. Almost as soon as Apocrypha ended we started discussing Dyscordia. I wanted to write a longer book and Nick wanted to develop his artistic/creative skills further, so it seems like a natural progression for the both of us.
Nick Answers: Thanks for the Six Q’s, Jenny. Apocrypha couldn’t have ended better for us. Being able to write another book with Lisa has been a privilege. She is just a natural putting pen to paper no matter what idea i throw at her. We always were of the mindset of not letting a hunt go for more than a year. So right around the time we were pondering releasing a clue, things picked up between a few of teams and one figured it out at the 6 month mark. We couldn’t be happier. The book sold in 6 different countries and we released the detailed solution within 24 hours of it being solved, which I’m sure the community appreciated ( I already had it ready to go from day one.).
We were inspired to write Dyscordia way back in the process of writing Apocrypha. We had such positive feedback on the story and how we ran things that we decided to continue. We had this grand idea, but knew trying to cram it all into one book would have been too much. So following the release of Apocrypha we didn’t take much of a break and went right into the production of Dyscordia. After a few years of writing, we are happy to say it will be available on Amazon as of May 10th.
- 2Q) In Dyscordia, you made the deliberate choice to move away from a monetary treasure at the end. What inspired that decision? Do you feel a non-monetary treasure offers something more valuable for puzzlers?
Lisa Answers: For me, the journey is much more important than the prize. The journey I’ve been on with Nick (invaluable) and the adventure it might create for others, is paramount. I wanted to open Dyscordia up to a potentially bigger and diverse audience. Solving the puzzle is, of course, still a big focus but curious involvement is also key… for all age groups. I wanted us to combine a great storyline with a cool puzzle that is, ultimately, solvable. It’s all about engagement. I’d like younger puzzlers to read Dyscordia because they represent the next generation of treasure seekers.
Nick Answers: There are several reasons for the change. The landscape around prize-based puzzle hunts has evolved quite a bit from what I remember. In recent years, many hunts have ended in controversy, and the competitive side of the hobby has intensified. Teams have become larger and more strategic, which can sometimes discourage open collaboration. Newcomers may feel they can’t realistically participate without joining an established community, and many people simply don’t have the time required to compete at that level.
Technology has also changed the experience. From automated decoding tools and custom brute-force programs to AI systems that can aggregate information from multiple sources instantly, there’s now a much stronger emphasis on solving puzzles as quickly and efficiently as possible. While those tools can be impressive, they can also shift attention away from the craftsmanship, creativity, and intended experience behind the puzzles themselves.
That led me to ask an important question: what kind of experience do I actually want this book to create? For me, the answer was clear — I wanted something more collaborative, welcoming, and lasting than a race for a prize.
One of the biggest influences on that decision came from conversations with successful puzzle authors and creators of non-monetary hunts, including works like Journal 29 and Armillary Papers. Their experience has shown that when there’s no cash prize attached, communities tend to become far more open and supportive. People share ideas more freely, authors can interact and provide guidance without concerns about fairness, and the overall environment becomes more enjoyable for everyone involved. Ultimately, this book is designed to offer something deeper than a competition. It’s meant to be an experience — one centered around curiosity, discovery, community, and a story whose lessons and rewards can stay with you long after the final puzzle is solved.
- 3Q) Does a puzzler need any knowledge of Apocrypha to work on Dyscordia? Is this new release a stand alone?
Lisa Answers: It does an include a few threads from Apocrypha but it can be experienced fully without any prior knowledge.
Nick Answers: I would consider the story connected but the puzzle is standalone. One does not need to read Apocrypha’s solution in order to solve Dyscordia. The puzzle is pretty straight forward, with a few twists and turns. I will say reading Apocrypha’s story will give an added benefit when Dyscordia is all said and done.
- 4Q) In Apocrypha, you emphasized research over heavy cipher work, are you continuing that philosophy, or shifting direction, for Dyscordia?
Lisa Answers: Personally, I dislike cipher-heavy puzzles. I prefer learning facts, especially about history and places (probably something to do with a career spent in high school education.) I’m a lifelong learner but we’re all different. There’s no right or wrong way to write a puzzle, or try to solve it. Dyscordia is just our own spin on that. There should be something for everyone to enjoy in it.
Nick Answers: Good question. Yes, we have always felt the style of having the searchers do research and learn about places and things is what makes this hobby so special. The verse/Image style is very turnkey. Anyone can hop in and get going with no prior skill. Plus the style is more resistant to Ai as well, as it relies on a more lateral way of thinking (more human). In the current state of Ai, i can’t say the same for puzzles relying heavily on ciphers, its only a matter of time before it catches up. There are a few ciphers in there, but again, they are doable. I would also encourage readers to look closely at the images, as there are some hidden things there hiding in the background that needs a sharp eye.
- 5Q) When creating your books, do you find yourself thinking more like a storyteller, a game designer, or something else entirely?
Lisa Answers: I’m definitely the main storyteller. Nick is the clever one! My imagination will probably get me into trouble one day. For Dyscordia I wanted to create a storyline that could be read and enjoyed by puzzlers and non-puzzlers alike. There are few treasure hunts that really excite me these days. I still revisit The Tribute from time to time, and Oracle will forever drive me crazy. I guess I’ve shifted away from that (and the sleepless nights that used to plague me when a puzzle solution was almost within my grasp.) my goal is for readers to enjoy Dyscordia, whether they’re hunters or not.
Nick Answers: I’ve been a musician for most of my life, and honestly, my approach to creating these books is very similar to making a record. I once had the opportunity to speak with legendary producer Ross Robinson, and one thing he said always stayed with me: when the record button is pressed, the emotion has to be real. Every lyric, every drum hit, every note should come from a genuine place. The best albums happen when artists completely empty themselves emotionally and allow the work to speak for itself.
That mindset shaped how Lisa and I approached this book over many coffees and donuts. At its core, the story is deeply personal to both of us. We’re parents — Lisa has daughters, and I have an autistic son — and those experiences helped inspire our main character, Eris. She’s an introverted young woman who feels out of place in the world, someone who appears ordinary on the surface but carries something extraordinary within her. In many ways, she represents anyone who has ever struggled to belong, doubted themselves, or felt unseen. The book is ultimately about perseverance, connection, and overcoming darkness. It’s a reminder that even when someone feels close to giving up, there is still value in holding on. Sometimes a single interaction, a single act of kindness, can change the course of another person’s life in ways we never fully realize.
What makes puzzle storytelling unique is that readers don’t just observe the journey — they experience it. By working through the challenges alongside Eris, the reader becomes emotionally invested in her success. The struggle and triumph become shared experiences, and that emotional participation is something I find incredibly powerful.
So if I had to define what I am creatively, I’d say I’m a little bit of all of those things — a puzzle maker, a storyteller, and a writer — all working together to create an experience people can feel, not just read.
- 6Q) Are there ideas or formats you’re excited to explore that you haven’t attempted yet? Should readers take this second release, Dyscordia, as a sign that more puzzle books are on the horizon?
Lisa Answers: Probably. Perhaps with a global location hunt, or even one that circles the universe. When imagination and creativity is concerned, the world, puzzles, and what lies beyond, are your oyster. It’s a limitless horizon of opportunities.
Nick Answers: I would say our continuation really just depends on feedback and how much time life affords us to hunker down and get creative again. We are hoping by offering a more engaging experience to the MW readers, it will catch on and this vein of puzzle book styles will gain more traction. Time will tell. As far as new formats, my latest shout out would have to go to the brilliant couple over at wolfescapegames.com. They are on a different level when it comes to online escape room experiences. Give them a look.
I do have another separate idea brewing (haven’t even told Lisa yet), but not sure if people would have the stomach for it. It definitely hasn’t been done before. My threshold for horror, terror etc.. is a lot higher than most given my almost 20 years in the Fire Department. But I always have Lisa to keep me on a short leash if my ideas go too far, lol.
Dyscordia Available on Amazon – May 10, 2026 – Link to Apocrypha