Six Questions with Pete Bissonette: Author of the Breakfast Tea & Bourbon Treasure Hunt

Readers of Pete Bissonette’s book, Breakfast Tea & Bourbon, are not only inspired by reading about the adventures the characters of his book enjoyed, but are also encouraged to strike out and enjoy adventures all of their own.

The book Breakfast Tea & Bourbon is a story about a treasure hunt, but yet contains clues for an actual treasure hidden somewhere within the lower 48 states for readers to find!  How exciting!  $50,000 dollars exciting! Pete’s Learning Strategies company and passion to uplift people seeps through and into this powerful book’s tale.

I was so happy for the opportunity to ask Pete the following Six Questions. I was eager to learn more about this entertaining and intriguing treasure tale and hunt.  Can it be found?  Will it be found?  How or When might it be found?  Read on and see!  Enjoy!

 

• 1Q) It’s wonderful you created a treasure hunt within a story about a treasure hunt.  We won’t give away the ending of the book, but it is quite a surprise treasure they find!  With twists and turns!  When did you first think of creating this type of hunt? And why did you write a book which included an incredible $50,000 prize?

I got the inspiration in July 2013 while having lunch with friends in La Jolla, California.

In September I chose the treasure’s location. It involved a map of the United States, closing my eyes, twirling a finger in the air, and randomly landing on the map.

I wrote the first third through 2014 in my spare time and finished in 2015. 2016 was all about the business of getting the book promoted and published.

Why $50,000? That’s large enough to get people’s attention, but not too large that people won’t think they will be able to find the treasure.

Why a prize in the first place? Again, to get attention and to get the reader involved in the book. As it turned out, folks are reading it two, three, four times, which is exactly what any author would want.

That said, this is a real nationwide treasure hunt with a significant cash prize. All the clues are in the book, and some reader will find the treasure.

 

• 2Q) While the final treasure will be $50,000, searchers aren’t really looking for a half ton of coins, are they?  It seems you have hidden a secret ‘something’ to find and then use to claim the monetary prize.  How special or unique is this object?  Will a searcher know what this item is before they find it, or is it sure to be a recognizable object once seen?  Can you share the approximate size?

I did not hide 50,000 dollar coins. I hid a treasure, but I’m keeping that a secret.

Some readers have figured out what they are looking for, but most have not. Anyone who reads the story and finds the treasure, will know with complete certainty that it is the treasure of the book. They will get goose bumps, but they might be too excited to notice.

And that’s why we say to create a video journal and film yourself finding the treasure!

 

• 3Q) So many interesting recipes in the book. Which one do like best? Do they contain clues or are they included because you simply have a passion for sharing exquisite foods and drinks?  And I must ask, when someone finds the treasure, what drink or recipe do you recommend they should celebrate with?

I love to eat and I love to drink. Those recipes are absolutely superb. Some of my favorites. Do the recipes contain clues? I’m not saying!!

The person who finds the treasure can claim a $50,000 cash prize (of course, we can give them a check if they don’t want to haul home a half ton of U.S. dollar coins)… And $5,000 for their favorite charity… And 100 bottles of Lido Bay wine for their massive celebration.  So, that’s what they should celebrate with.

And when they come to Minnesota to claim the prize, we’ll have a grand celebration party for them here, too. I’ll mix up whatever drink they’d like.

 

4Q) You have mentioned about 3/4 of the book provides clues to the ‘city’ of where in the lower 48 states the treasure is; and that about the last bit of your book describes the characters of the story finding a treasure, and this is what we are to follow in order to find the treasure within the city’s boundaries. Is that right?  Do you feel certain someone will discover the city, and from there locate the treasure?  From the supposed multiple ways to discover the city, are some easier than others? Do you know, or can you say, if any searchers have discovered the general location already?

I’m not saying! You have to figure it out! Everything is in the book!

Here’s a video which mentions how 3/4 of book involves finding the city and the rest shares how to find it there:

 

 

• 5Q) I wonder what you are enjoying most about the release of the treasure hunt and book?

I’ve really enjoyed things these past few weeks:

1) The fun and rewards folks are having unraveling the clues and searching for the treasure.

I love the stories of a fifth grade class working on the treasure hunt together, parents who have turned the hunt into a family affair, a nursing home where members are working it together with plans to send a grandson to retrieve the treasure, and on and on. The stories are all treasures in themselves.

2) The enjoyment readers are getting from the story. I knew people would like the story. I am heartwarmed by how readers are identifying with the characters and want to invite them over for dinner.

I love what notable reviewers and bestselling authors have been saying. They are indeed saying the novel is superb even without the treasure hunt!

“I love this road-tripper’s guide to the universe.” Kevin Farley, actor and comic

“Magical. Funny. Friends for life at their best.” Chaka Khan, 10-time Grammy Award winner

 “This is a fun, wild ride of discovery and intrigue.” Jack Canfield, creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul

 “A clever, engagingly comic novel with a hero’s journey that is part Gonzo road trip and part spiritual voyage. Pete Bissonette exploits his flair for wildly funny observation to tell a tender story of seeking and finding.” Barnet Bain, movie director

“Breakfast Tea & Bourbon is for anyone who believes in magic, greater possibilities, and the deep love of friendship.” Sandra Joseph, performed Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway for 10 years.

“A perspective so generous, hilarious, and bursting with real, tangible ways of looking at and living a better life.” Kevin Kling, playwright, NPR humorist, and bestselling author

“I love this book. It’s a wonderful story about friendship, the twists and turns of life, and finding treasure.” John Gray, New York Times bestselling author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus

“It is positive, uplifting, fun, and quirky.” Lisa Nichols, New York Times bestselling author

“Five friends take a profound journey hunting for a treasure of $50,000, and what they found surprised even me.” Sonia Choquette, New York Times bestselling author 

“An unusually fun fictional tale – crackling with humor and brilliance throughout.” Mike Dooley, New York Times bestselling author

“A quirky, intriguing adventure tale that rolls along at a good clip.” Susan Fraser King, bestselling author

“I couldn’t put the book down. I surprised by the twist that turned the whole story upside down.” Raymond Aaron, New York Times bestselling author

“It’s a welcomed break from the craziness of the world.” Lynne Twist, bestselling author

“At times I laughed, at times I mused.” Jonathan Odell, bestselling author

“An amusing and upbeat story that’s delightful to read.” Marci Shimoff, New York Times bestselling author

“Masterfully written, engaging, funny.” Nick Ortner, New York Times bestselling author

“A rollicking read.” Sam Horn, bestselling author

 

And the third thing I’ve really enjoyed…

3) How the life lessons woven into the book are impacting readers’ lives. I hadn’t planned on writing them into the book, but I am a self-improver and that’s what my company does, so it just automatically began showing in the story.

Are searchers discovering the clues like you thought they would,

No comment!

and realizing treasures of so many different sorts while trying to find the $50,000 treasure?

Yes, they are, and more so than I expected.

Is the hunt going on as you expected?  

I subscribe to the Ninth Beatitude: Blessed is he with no expectations for he cannot be disappointed. Only pleasantly surprised.

Do you have advice you’d like to give to searchers?

Have fun! And even if you don’t find the treasure (and some reader will, and that reader may as well be you) find joy and happiness in every flip of the page, twist of the mind, and trek down a trail.

• 6Q) The company, Learning Strategies, offers lots of different products to help build and guide a person to achievement and finding deep happiness. Treasure itself, and one of the best.  Helping people in this way must be a real joy to experience.  Would you like to share some of your ‘finding treasures story’ in that respect?

We’re all about helping folks maximize their potential, get great at living live, and realize their hopes and dreams. We do that by helping them access their inner treasures residing in their inner mind such as creativity, resourcefulness, and ingenuity, because with them you can accomplish any ambition whether related to success, relationships, health, or growth.

And what keeps us going each day at our company, Learning Strategies, are the calls and emails from clients doing just that.

 

 

Excellent answers, Pete! Thank you for taking time to share with us. I love the stories of those enjoying the book already. How touching and overall exciting! The story, adventure within the story, and then the real life adventure to hunt for hidden treasure offers anyone the opportunity to get out, dream, and have thrills beyond the ordinary! Which makes your book, Extraordinary! 🙂 Thanks again!