Michael Stadther

Michael Stadther has been thinking about treasure hunts since he was a boy, digging holes in his grandmother's yard looking for buried treasure. As a teen he read Masquerade and dreamed that one day, he, too, would write a story and hide a treasure.

After a successful career in banking software, he decided to put his efforts into creating a national treasure hunt that could engage millions of adults and children alike, providing adventure, fun and opportunity for everyone.

He wanted the hunt to be accessible and encourage puzzle- solving, reading, and exploring. It took him eight years to figure out how to do it.

Mike decided to hide his clues in A Treasure's Trove , a fairy tale that he wrote and brilliantly illustrated over a period of 8 years.  Each piece of meticulously painted artwork took him up to 300 hours to create.  He based the hero of the story, Pook, on Misty, his favorite dog.

When he's not painting or dabbling in real estate, Mike studies with world-famous chess grand master Gregory Kaidanov.  He also practices the 10-string Baroque guitar.