Anyone with an interest in the history and lore surrounding treasure will want to read these books. -KLIATT Review By putting many miles on his pickup truck, scouring many old books, journals, and maps, and interviewing countless Ozark natives, W.C. Jameson compiled Buried Treasures of the Ozarks, a collection of 43 legends from Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. As they are handed down and passed around, these tales share certain elements--mysterious strangers bearing maps, social eccentrics who die rich but spurned, good folk who squander their lives on the search for treasure. Again and again, an untimely death (from pneumonia!) or cave-in, a sudden flagging of hope or interest calls searchers away just when they're on the verge of discovering untold riches. But despite their common themes, the stories are always rooted in local detail and at least partly verifiable fact. And again and again a reader is left with the haunting image of gold or silver deep in some Ozark cave, waiting to be exposed once more to the light of day. These American stories of outlaws and treasure teach readers the importance of resourcefulness, courage and responsibility.
About the Author: W.C. Jameson Bio: W.C. Jameson is the award-winning and best-selling author of more than seventy books and over 1,500 articles and essays. In addition, he is an accomplished songwriter and performer, having recorded five albums of his original music and acted in five films. He has written the soundtracks for four films, and wrote and performed in the musical, "Whatever Happened to the Outlaw, Jesse James?" Jameson is the best-selling treasure author in the world. Perhaps he is known best, as the creator of the popular Buried Treasures of America series for August House. His success and fame as a professional treasure hunter has led to appearances on television's "Unsolved Mysteries," the Travel Channel, the Discovery Channel, Nightline, and National Public Radio. He also consulted with the production team for the highly successful feature film, "National Treasure," starring Nicholas Cage. One of Jameson's most popular books is Billy the Kid: Beyond the Grave, a regional bestseller. This controversial book presents stunning evidence that the famous outlaw, Billy the Kid, was not killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1881 but went on to live an adventurous and productive life for the next sixty-nine years. Jameson has won numerous awards for his writing from a number of professional associations. A nationally recognized and honored author, he has served as a judge for several prestigious literary competitions. When not on an expedition or writing a book, Jameson tours the country performing his music at folk festivals, colleges and universities, concert halls, and roadhouses.