Echoes of Fortune: The Search for Braddock’s Lost Gold follows a man and his friends who, after discovering a clue to a long-lost Braddock’s gold, set off on a dangerous quest to find the missing treasure. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I grew up in the region where much of the French & Indian War (Seven Year’s War) took place, including Braddock’s campaign. I go between Southwestern PA and Garrett County (Western Maryland), where most of the story takes place. I love to read historical fiction as well as history itself. I am aware of a number of legends that are spread across our country, many stemming from the early parts of the US, including the one surrounding Braddock’s lost payroll and bribes. I have seen people using metal detectors along the Youghiogheny River and some in the woods when we have taken the hiking trail that follows much of Braddock’s expedition. Given that knowledge and knowledge of the area, it made sense to craft a story surrounding it that takes into account many of the theories as to why General Braddock followed that dangerous route when Washington took a different trail the year before, and General Forbes took another 3 years later.

The supporting characters in this novel, I felt, were intriguing and well-developed. Who was your favorite character to write for?

It’s a toss-up on Steve and Emma. The characters are based on the people that surround me, or I grew up with. Sometimes a single person, or a combination of two.

For example, my quiet, unassuming wife can be a bit of a badass. Everyone’s jaws drop when they hear some of the things she does, like whitewater rafting, scuba diving, or jumping off a cliff and into a river. She’s the “don’t judge a book by its cover” person, as she can be fierce when she needs to be.

Steve is mostly based on my best friend; we grew up and went to school together from 2nd grade through college. He’s a brilliant engineer, one of the top students in our high school class, and won the top engineer student award at Penn State, but he also has black belts in Hapkido and Taekwondo and always tries to crack you up. Steve’s last name came from my friend’s nickname from the engineering school, who put the wrong last name in the awards program. Steve’s first name came from another good friend, a former marine who served in the Persian Gulf, and that is where the idea of Steve’s military background came from. You’ll see why I chose the Navy in the next book.

I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically writing?

A little of both. I did not want to do the usual find a cryptic clue, go to the next clue, solve it, go to the next clue, etc. (although I enjoy those) I wanted it to be more realistic and focused on the story and characters so there was more to it. Yes, I wanted the thrills and suspense, but I wanted more. The first thing I do with any writing is build an outline and timeline (or, in this book – timelines). I flesh out more details, making sure I include relevant facts that are known and refine them several times before starting to write. I also figured out who the characters I needed were, their personalities, backgrounds, speech, problems (flaws), and what they looked like. For example: Jack’s OCD, Emma’s fear (of several things), and Steve’s social awkwardness and how he compensates for things (btw-my best friend is not like that). However, as I write the story, I get a better feel for things and often realize I have to make changes as I go. Or even add characters to solve an issue. In my case, I did not like the initial ending, so to create a better one, I changed who I killed off. I also changed the complete role of a side character in the story when writing.

Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?

Yes. I am working out two possible stories. The one that is “in the lead right now” has to do with how the end of the Civil War played out, where Jefferson Davis sent much of the Confederate treasury into hiding in several places. I do not want to give away too much. Although the story starts as another treasure hunt, it quickly transitions into a full-blown thriller where Jack’s and Steve’s military backgrounds come out more and are needed. Yes, there will be a new “interest” for Steve, and yes, more twists and turns.

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Can one man change his past with the discovery of a lifetime?

Echoes of Fortune: The Search for Braddock’s Lost Gold is a multi-award-winning thriller that weaves mystery, suspense, and historical intrigue across centuries. Winner of the 2024 PenCraft Book Award for Best Thriller, 2nd place in Action & Adventure at the 2024 Book Fest Awards, a Gold Book Award from Literary Titan, and a #1 Amazon New Release in Mystery/Thriller (September 2024), this novel will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Driven by obsession, Jack Sullivan has lost nearly everything in his pursuit of an untold secret—a secret lost for centuries during the chaos of war. Left heartbroken and alone, luck has given him one final chance for redemption that leads him into the shadows of historical mystery and peril.

Be transported between the heat of the battle during the French & Indian War and the high-stakes hunt of today. When Major General Braddock faces his final foe, a fortune in payroll disappears—centuries later, Jack embarks on a daring quest to uncover it, facing cryptic clues, deadly traps, and relentless adversaries. Witness Jack as he follows the echoes of the past “Dan Brown-style,” and risks everything to bring the past to life—and perhaps restore his own.

Described as “National Treasure meets Indiana Jones,” this high-stakes, action-packed thriller blends rich history with relentless suspense. Echoes of Fortune dives into high-stakes, edge-of-your-seats adventure where love, loyalty, and courage are tested to their limits.