Read, Unravel, Retrieve, Redeem! Four easy steps to claim cash prizes in CustardQuest treasure hunts. The following Six Questions is with the creator of these exciting armchair treasure hunts.
Since 2012, over $1000 in cash has been awarded to finders! One hunt, CustardQuest IV, remains yet to be solved, and there possibly more hunts to come! I’m so glad for the opportunity to ask ‘Custard Marks’ about these hunts, and more!
Let’s get to it! Enjoy!
Six Questions with Custard Marks:
- 1Q) Armchair treasure hunting offers lots of fun, opportunities to explore different places, and a chance to win prizes. Treasure hunting can also help keep the mind and body in shape! But what inspired you to create the CustardQuest treasure hunts? Was it for those things or more?
First, although I realized that adults would enjoy CustardQuest, I really write the investigative notes hoping kids will read them and get involved. I like going on adventures obviously. Every CustardQuest investigation and the subsequent notes are an adventure for me, and, hopefully, every adult and kid who goes out in search of the stones sees himself or herself as part of my adventure. Second, third, and fourth, CustardQuests are good for critical thinking, they’re fun to read, and they pull you away from the iPad, computer, and TV for a while if you actually head out in search of a stone. Hopefully, it’s not about the money — it’s about joining me on an adventure of the mind and then going on an adventure of the feet with your family or kids.
- 2Q) The treasure hunts, CustardQuest I, II, and III, have all been solved with cash prizes awarded to their finders. What did you most enjoy about those hunts? Did they go as you expected? Was there anything that surprised you about them?
I really did not know what to expect when I wrote the first CustardQuest. My original intent was to release only one at a time — if it took years to solve any of them, then so be it — I’m only in sixth grade, I have time. After about six months with nobody solving CQ1, some readers in some treasure-hunting and puzzle-solving forums were encouraging me to release more, and, admittedly, I got a little antsy, so I released two more. But then they were all solved within a short period, so I figured the readers were on to me. They had caught on to my methods and patterns. So I decided to make CQIV more challenging.
Two surprising things: (1) That anybody can solve these. I would not be able to solve them myself. There are some very clever, keen, and dedicated readers out there; and (2) That Travis solved two of the three CQs. It seemed so unlikely to me that I was afraid readers would wonder whether the whole thing was legitimate. It was also very coincidental that Travis had grown up in West Virginia (CQI) and lived in Virginia (CQIII). Almost unbelievable.
- 3Q) CustardQuest IV has remained unsolved for over five years now! What do you think is keeping Searchers from finding the hidden stone? Can you offer any sort of hint or direction on how to solve it?
As I mentioned above, I thought CQIV would be more difficult, and I intentionally tried to make it so. The readers had me and my ways pegged, so I had to devise some new tricks. I don’t give out clues, but I will reiterate that CQIV is different, and the reason it is different is included in the clues. Gasp! — was that a clue? I’ve said too much . . .
- 4Q) Although you can never be 100% certain the coded stone is in the place you hid it, do you feel you left it in a secure enough place that is should still be there? Do you think it could have been moved or accidentally found by someone not familiar with CustardQuest? Is there a chance nature (animal or elements) could disturb its resting place?
Hmm, hard to say. None of the first CQs were in very “secure” spots, in my view. I was really worried about CQIII. As you can see from the photos taken before Travis found it, the stone was completely visible — it was just mixed in with other normal stones.
That’s always my big worry — that readers will waste their time and be led on a wild-goose chase because the stone has been unwittingly found and removed. I can say this though — similar to the other stones, the stone has “CQIV” engraved on it, and a simple Google search for “hidden stone” and “CQIV” reveals what the stone is all about, so I would think that nobody has found the CQIV stone, or the person would have attempted to collect the reward money. But, obviously, I can’t be sure.
- 5Q) As a creator of treasure hunts, have you personally worked on any armchair treasure hunts yourself? In the past or present? If so, what do you like about them, or can you tell us a little about your experience in treasure hunting?
No, before CustardQuest, I had never participated in any treasure hunts as a hunter. But I like unsolved mysteries, and I really like the idea of there being this cool little hidden object out there in the universe that nobody knows about, just waiting to be found.
- 6Q) These last hunts have been awesome. Many people enjoyed ‘reading, unraveling, retrieving, and redeeming’! Do you plan on producing any more? Or what other hobbies and things do you like to do?
I’ve mentioned this to readers who have messaged me on Facebook and on the Tweleve forum — I 100% want to and intend to write more CustardQuests. In fact, for several years, I’ve been patiently waiting to release the next CustardQuest when CQIV is solved. The paranormal investigation has been completed, and the stone is already out there.
Honestly, the biggest impediment to more CustardQuests is time. When I wrote the first CQ in 2012, my life was much different. I was in sixth grade with few responsibilities. Well, I’m still in sixth grade, but my life is vastly different. I don’t have many friends – except Will and Windy; I don’t get invited to many parties; and I’m not good at sports, but life just has gotten more complicated for me the past six years.
But I will end with this — if you can stick around, I guarantee you that more CustardQuests will eventually come. Sooner rather than later. And I don’t mean just a few. I mean years and years of CustardQuests — until I can either no longer write, or all of the real-life, true, unexplained phenomena of the universe have been explained.
Your pal,
Custard Marks
Thanks for providing us with such fun adventures! They really are a perfect way for a family to get out and have fun exploring. And it is so exciting to think some small hidden stone is waiting out there to be found! We will look forward for more, while keep working on CQIV. It will be found someday!
Enjoy your summer vacation….. and good luck in school next year!
Below is a video of my family and I on the hunt of CQIV: (and a blog about it: CQIV Treasure Hunt Location Ideas)
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Love all this.trying to figure out the mystery object.
Thanks for the shout out Custard! I may have to dust off the old thinking cap for CQIV.