Searchers continue to work on the Wonderland Treasure Hunt Books!
Since releasing his first book, The Hatte’s Hat in November of 2020, David Jacobsen has released quite a few others! There is now also The Mad Tea Party, Best Riddles 1 and Best Riddles 2, and his most recent – a children’s book: The Case of the Barking Dog. All of these have treasures inside to claim. Let’s learn more about each!
Six Questions with David:
- 1Q) Thanks David for participating in another Six Questions on your Wonderland Treasure Hunt books! It’s great to hear from creators from time to time to let searchers know their hunts are still active – treasures yet to claim! It is much appreciated. You recently released Best Riddles 2 – with the same riddle from Best Riddles 1 to solve. Are both books needed? Or just one or the other?
Thanks Jenny, always a pleasure. Only the first book is needed, however the second book does offer a subtle additional clue that may assist with solving the riddle. It is a difficult riddle and I thought an additional clue might prove useful.
- 2Q) I see you also recently published the children’s story – The Sherlock Holmes Detective! This is a treasure hunt too? Would it be for just children or is it like Masquerade by Kit Williams – where clues were in a children’s book, but adults were to solve the clues and claim the treasure. Please share more about this new release.
Thank you! I wanted this one to be accessible for everyone. I have kids myself, and I’ve been reading a lot of children’s books with them lately. We have a lot of fun together, and I thought it would be fun to do something the whole family can enjoy. Also, I have always enjoyed Sherlock Holmes stories and find myself gravitating toward the middle grade literary world.
As a writer, middle grade is the sweet spot for me. The Hatter’s Hat is middle grade as well, though more in the Lewis Carroll style (appealing to children in its subject matter but appealing to adults in its wit). Some of the best books are children’s books. Why not incorporate a treasure hunt into a children’s book, creating something that everyone can enjoy?
- 3Q) You’ve written quite a few books now – with the opportunity to find treasures. What do you enjoy about creating the puzzle hunts? Which has been your favorite to write, and why?
Thank you for that question. I love reading and writing books, and I also enjoy treasure hunts. I think adding treasure hunts to books adds a layer of intrigue and mystery that breathes life and dimensionality into what might otherwise be a plain and ordinary story. Treasure hunts embedded in books make the adventure more personal and more real.
- 4Q) The Hatter’s Hat – your first armchair treasure hunt book – remains unsolved. Many have searched in locations believed indicated by the clues in the book. What might searchers be missing? What do you feel is needed to discover the treasure? Also, some just hearing about The Hatter’s Hat may feel too far behind to get started, but are they?
I’ve said this before, but I feel I should probably say it again. Follow the clues. Many people have discovered the first major clue, but few have attempted to follow it. Clues are there for a reason. They’re designed to lead you somewhere. Ask yourself: where does the clue lead?
It’s definitely not too late to get started. I’m surprised how little progress has been made in the search. While this may be discouraging for people who have been in the search for a while, it gives new searchers a level playing field. Whoever discovers the clues and follows them first will win the treasure. That could happen in a year of searching, or in a day. As long as the treasure is still out there, it will always be a good time to get started.
- 5Q) In a previous Six Questions you revealed clues to the final riddle to be solved in The Mad Tea Party were within its section. Yet! It remains unsolved. What might searchers be missing with these clues?
The solutions I receive via email consistently make a common assumption, which is limiting searchers’ ability to think outside the box. If you read the riddle with more of an open mind, you may stretch your brain in just the right way required to solve the riddle.
- 6Q) What overall advice would you give to anyone just getting started in the hobby of armchair treasure hunting?
Do it! But only if you enjoy the search itself. Treasure hunting is not about the treasure, it’s about the process of finding it. It’s about the thrill of the chase, if you will. One of the reasons I limit the value of the treasures in my hunts is because I want it to be about fun, not about getting rich. Life is an adventure, and puzzles are a fun way to add a layer of excitement into your life while offering you a great opportunity to expand your mind. The treasure is just there to give direction and motivation.
Bilbo Baggins was rich long before he went seeking Smaug’s treasure. It was never about the money for him. It was about the adventure. It was about testing himself and growing in the process. We can all learn something from Bilbo Baggins.