Michael StadtherMichael Stadther, author and illustrator of Secrets of the Alchemist Dar, has loved treasure hunts ever since he was a boy, digging holes in his grandmother's yard, looking for buried treasure. His first book, A Treasure's Trove,was a New York Times bestseller and launched a national treasure hunt. This book also ignited the nation's rediscovery of the importance of reading together as a family.

He and his wife of twenty-five years, Helen Demetrios, launched, built, and sold two banking software companies; after the sale of the second, Mike focused on a notion he had been thinking about since the mid-1980s -- creating a national treasure hunt that would captivate Americans, young and old.

Encouraged by the success of A Treasure's Trove, Mike embarked upon his next project -- crafting a worldwide treasure hunt. Secrets of the Alchemist Dar's magnificent illustrations and intricate story are the starting points for this new adventure.

Mike has been featured in newspaper articles, radio, and television programs throughout the world. He and Helen live in upstate New York, U.S. Read More Read Less