• Age: 10 to 18
• Grade: 5 to 12

Anyone who has fantasized about becoming fabulously rich overnight can relate to this collection of treasure hunt stories — tales of buried pirate gold, of hidden outlaw loot, of wrecked ships loaded with valuable coins and jewels, and of “lost” gold mines.

Some of the stories are tall tales based on little evidence. Many a dreamer wasted money, energy, and perhaps even a lifetime chasing after a pot of gold that did not exist. But some hidden treasures are real, even if the stories about them are exaggerated.

Many of the stories came down to us from an age in which pirates were said to be in league with the devil and supposedly used black magic to protect their hidden plunder.

Ed Butts’s tales of adventure, of shattered hopes, and, occasionally, of dreams come true expose the greed and the challenges that motivated the searchers. A few of them got lucky. But X didn’t mark the spot for most of these adventurers — and that means undiscovered treasures still lie ready to ignite the imagination.

Ed Butts loved history and adventure stories as a kid, and started writing short stories, articles, and poetry in his teens. On the rare occasions when a magazine published his work, he was overjoyed, especially when they sent him a cheque for ten dollars. Since then Ed has written books about explorers, adventurers, criminals, hidden treasure, disasters, mysteries, and daring women. He has also worked at many other jobs, including teaching at a school in the Dominican Republic for eight years. Ed lives in Guelph, Ontario, with his daughter and six-year-old grandson.

Ed Butts' profile page

Praise for SOS! Stories of Survival:
“. . . compulsive reading for young teens. . . . The historical detail is fascinating, and a seamless mix of fact and creative license brings the stories to life.” — Quill & Quire

“[Ed Butts’] fast-paced journalistic style, compelling portraits of real-life heroes, rich historic detail and archival photos keep readers engrossed.” — Today’s Parent
Praise for She Dared: True stories of Heroines, Scoundrels, and Renegades:
“Butts’s writing is crisp and moves quickly through each story as it follows the interesting adventures of the subjects. “ — CM Magazine