🗺️ Why I Write About Lost Treasures: From Oak Island & Vikings to Clive Cussler
By D.C. Salmon ⏱️ Reading Time: 7 minutes
- In this post: Why The Curse of Oak Island hooked me, the truth about who actually discovered America, how Clive Cussler's The Eye of Heaven inspired my novels, and navigating the wild world of Instagram & TikTok reels.
Why did I start writing about lost treasures in the first place?
I suppose I’ve always loved the thrill of the hunt—the idea of uncovering something deeply valuable that has been completely lost to time.
For years, I’ve been fascinated by shows like The Curse of Oak Island. Okay, the series has dragged on a bit now, and the narrator's voice-over constantly asking, "Could this be a long-lost Templar artifact...?" has become a running joke. And yes, we all hoped they would have excavated a massive hoard by now!
But for me, it’s all about the history behind it. There is zero doubt that something major happened on that tiny island off the coast of Nova Scotia centuries ago.
It highlights something I think about often when researching my books: the history we are taught in school is usually just the victor's version of events. The people on the losing side often had their accounts silenced and their documents destroyed. The victors got to write the history books, naturally making their achievements seem far bigger and bolder than they actually were.
⛵ Who Actually Reached the Americas First?
Take Christopher Columbus. We grow up being told that this sailor discovered "The Americas" in 1492. In reality, he was an Italian navigator (Cristoforo Colombo) sailing on behalf of the Spanish Crown. He made landfall in the Bahamas, explored parts of Cuba, Hispaniola, and Central/South America, but he never once set foot on the continental mainland of North America (the United States or Canada).
More importantly, tens of millions of Indigenous peoples had already been thriving across the Americas for over 15,000 to 20,000 years!
If we look strictly at transatlantic European exploration, the chronological reality tells a completely different story:
- 1. The Norse Vikings (c. 1000–1021 AD): Nearly 500 years before Columbus set sail, Leif Erikson and Norse explorers landed in Newfoundland, Canada. This is an undisputed historical fact. Archaeologists uncovered the settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows, and in 2021, tree-ring radiocarbon analysis proved Vikings were actively living and cutting timber there in 1021 AD.
- 2. The Scottish Legend of Sir Henry Sinclair (1398 AD): Folklore claims that 94 years before Columbus, Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney and Baron of Roslin, sailed west to Nova Scotia and Massachusetts. While enthusiasts point to the "Westford Knight" rock carving in Massachusetts, mainstream archaeology views this as unproven folklore with no verified physical evidence.
- 3. John Cabot (1497 AD): Sailing out of Bristol under King Henry VII of England, Cabot made landfall on the coast of North America (likely Newfoundland or Cape Breton), becoming the first documented European since the Vikings to reach the North American mainland.
- 4. Juan Ponce de León (1513 AD): Landed in Florida, marking the first documented European arrival on the contiguous US mainland.
History is full of documented voyages, daring crossings, and tantalising legends. But what actually happened on Oak Island, and who built those underground flood tunnels, remains an unsolved mystery.
📖 The Book That Started It All: The Eye of Heaven
The spark that actually got me writing adventure thrillers was the Fargo Adventures series by the late, great Clive Cussler.
I remember it vividly. We were away on a family holiday—staying in a static caravan, if memory serves—and we popped into a local supermarket. I fancied picking up something to read, and my eye caught a paperback titled The Eye of Heaven.
I read the opening blurb on the back cover:
"In the stormy wastes of Canada’s Baffin Island, treasure hunters Sam and Remi Fargo make an astonishing discovery—a Viking longship frozen in the Arctic ice..."
That single sentence hooked me instantly. I picked it up, thought yes, this is my kind of book, and loved it so much that I immediately went back and bought Book 1, Spartan's Gold. I still have that original copy on my bookshelf alongside the rest of the series (minus a few copies I've lent out over the years!).
When I sat down to write An Irish Mystery, I knew I didn't want to chase overused tropes like the Amber Room or Fabergé eggs. I also didn't want to invent a fictional treasure out of thin air.
After digging through historical archives, I settled on the Irish Crown Jewels, stolen from Dublin Castle in 1907 and never found. The only catch? Because I’m a Pantser, I had already written Chapters 1 and 2 before deciding on the jewels! That spontaneous decision is the exact reason the story kicks off across the Atlantic in North America and winds up taking the journey it does.
📱 Navigating the World of Instagram & TikTok
Away from the writing desk, I’ve been trying to push myself out of my comfort zone by posting more short-form videos on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Are they translating directly into a massive flood of book sales? No. But are people actually discovering my work? Absolutely!
A couple of recent reels on Instagram hit 1,600 and 2,400 views, with great engagement. To massive influencers, 2,400 views might not sound like a huge deal, but when you’re used to getting 10 to 20 views, seeing hundreds of readers watching and commenting is a fantastic feeling.
TikTok is another beast entirely. I currently seem to be stuck in that classic "200–300 view jail", but I’m sticking with it. If nothing else, my follower count on there has doubled over the past few weeks to a grand total of 36! 😂
We all have to start somewhere!
🏛️ Free Bookfunnel Promo: Archaeological Action & Adventure!
Before you go, I have a fantastic extra treat for all the thriller and adventure lovers reading this post!
This month, I am taking part in an exciting book promotion on Bookfunnel alongside a group of fantastic fellow indie authors. If you love stories packed with real-world lost cities, treasure hunters, exotic far-flung locations, and archaeology—think Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, or books by Clive Cussler, Ernest Dempsey, and Luke Richardson—then this promo was made for you.
👉 Click Here to Explore the Archaeological Action & Adventure Promo
Head over to the link, browse through the collection, and go find your next favourite author!
💬 Over to You!
What is your favourite unsolved historical mystery—are you an Oak Island believer, or fascinated by something else lost to time? And do you prefer real-world historical artifacts in fiction or entirely fictional treasures? Let me know in the comments below!
📚 What I’m Reading...
Celtic Empire by Clive Cussler (with Dirk Cussler)
Okay, full confession: I still haven’t quite finished Celtic Empire, but the finish line is finally in sight!
I’m now onto the very last section: Part IV – Skellig Michael. Part 3 was a long... well, let’s call it a lengthy episode! Part 4 is only about 47 pages long, so as long as I get a quiet hour or two to myself today, I should finally have this one completely wrapped up.
The story has truly evolved into a classic, unapologetic Clive Cussler adventure. We’re talking non-stop action, shootouts, high-speed car chases, boats, submarines, and brilliant, over-the-top antagonists. Absolute perfection and right up my street.
It definitely started off at a slower pace—or at least the plot took its time revealing its hand with all the jumping between ancient tombs in Egypt and boat accidents in Detroit. But the Cusslers certainly know how to weave seemingly disconnected subplots into one cohesive, high-octane thrill ride.
Once again, Clive Cussler has reminded me exactly why I fell in love with his books in the first place. I can't wait to see how it all ties together on Skellig Michael!
💌 Want More?
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📚 The Newman Adventures
An Irish Mystery A fast-paced historical adventure about stolen treasures, hidden histories, and the cost of obsession. The story that started it all.
An American Treasure The journey continues! Cedric Newman returns in a high-stakes hunt for the lost riches of Mosby's Rangers. Action, mystery, and a new enemy await.
Available in Ebook, Kindle Unlimited, Paperback & Hardcover
📱 Let’s Connect
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What is your favriote Clive Cussler Book?
ReplyDeleteI like the Fargo Adventure Series.
ReplyDelete