About the Book

Book: The Lost Dutchman’s Secret

Author: Rebekah Jones

Genre: Christian Historical Mystery, Fairytale retelling

Release date: November 2, 2021

There’s a deadly secret in them thar hills—and gold, or so they say.

Deeply in debt to a wealthy local, Charles Sinclair, Dorothy Hodges’ father finally promises she’ll pay and in gold, no less. If only Dorothy could take to take the promises he spins out of thin air and turn them into that gold, all would be well.

With the help of a strange, rumpled man, Dorothy does manage to bring payment to one of Sinclair’s sons only to discover it won’t pay off the debt. Will the next payment be enough?  The next?

When Charles Sinclair ends up dead, Dorothy is the obvious prime suspect, but Sinclair’s son isn’t so certain. Together they work to clear her name and find the real murderer of the Superstitions, but will they find the answers buried in those hills?

Find out in this next book in the Ever After Mysteries, combining beloved fairy tales and mysteries. The Lost Dutchman’s Secret offers a retelling of “Rumplestilskin” that requires more digging than a miner searching for The Lost Dutchman Mine.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Rebekah Jones is first and foremost a follower of the Living God. She started writing as a little girl, seeking to glorify her King with her books and stories.
Rebekah is an old soul in a young body (she’s not 12 —honest!) While her exact age is classified, her interests are not. Among them are reading a variety of books, singing, playing, and composing music, studying all manner of subjects, nannying an adventurous group of youngsters, and, of course, writing her books, poems, articles, and short stories. She writes a wide range of books from gentle children’s adventures to family sagas to murder mysteries.

More from Rebekah

“They say that no one had ever seen gold ore like it before, neither have they ever since. Except in the possession of Jacob Waltz. His mine had ore of higher value and higher potency than any other mine found in Arizona…”

What if the Miller’s daughter from the tale of Rumpelstiltskin didn’t have to spin gold, but pay it? And because of an enormous debt – that she had no way of knowing the value? And her father wasn’t a miller, but an old miner with a penchant for carving animals while living in the Arizona desert? And what if, for her pains, she found herself mixed up in a murder?

And what if, somehow intermixed with this poor young woman and her troubles, came the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Goldmine?

If you don’t know about the legend of that lost mine, you should. Or I think that you should. It’s a real legend as old as the 1860’s. Except, it wasn’t lost when Jacob Waltz went bragging about it. That came later.

The mountains that house the legend are magnificent. When a friend of mine came to visit me, she and I went to explore the area around the Superstition Mountains, as well as a part of the mountains themselves. Standing in a forest of cacti and brush, the jagged rocks and sharp peaks towered above my head, while a critter skittered unseen. Beautiful isn’t quite a strong enough word to describe it. As we hiked up the mountain, making our way through a myriad of desert plant life, rocks of so many shapes and sizes, and tiny critters, I could picture Dorothy, the miner’s daughter.

The modern structures and buildings in sight, faded in my mind’s eye, and I could imagine the young woman partway up the mountain in 1929, wearing her old, faded dress, and staring out across the valley. We plotted out where her father’s shack would have stood, and I made note of a perfect crevice of rock where she might have sat to think or read. I rather found myself wishing I could live out there myself, even if living in a shack in the heat of the Arizona summer doesn’t wholly appeal to me.

When I finally got in front of my manuscript again, I could see Dorothy’s world so clearly, I can only hope I managed to capture it in the book itself. I doubt if I could have captured the beauty of those mountains in words, the sight of them as they changed colors in the sunset, or the glowing starry sky above them after dark.

As for the Lost Dutchman’s Goldmine, I would be lying if I said I didn’t entertain fantasies about exploring the mountains to discover it, but we certainly did not go that far into the mountains. Besides, it was June in the Arizona desert. One does not blindly venture into the mountains on such an errand in such a time of year, unless one has a death wish. It’s rather fun to imagine though. Perhaps one day, I can go on a search – though I confess, I doubt it.

As for the book, I won’t say whether that lost goldmine is discovered or not. I’ll leave that for a reader to discover for themselves.

Interview with Rebekah

• When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I wanted to tell stories from two or three-years-old, I think. I would draw picture books, since I had no idea how to write. Then, when I began to learn to read at around seven-years-old, I immediately put my newfound knowledge of letters to use in story form. I began my first novel at eight, and while writing that book (which shall not see the light of publication ever, I hope!) I distinctly remember deciding that I wanted to be a published author. I believe I even prayed that it would come to pass.

• What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I write all of my books (and usually poetry, songs, even blog posts often,) by hand using paper and pen. Usually a fountain pen. I think better that way and I write exceptionally better.

• Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

It really depends on the book. I have read a lot. Stories seem to show up, almost of their own accord. With The Lost Dutchman’s Secret I had been dreaming about the Lost Dutchman’s Goldmine for much of my life and Rumpelstiltskin is one of my favorite fairytales. When I started putting those two together, I read every Lost Dutchman story I could get my hands on, reread the fairytale – mostly on the internet – checked out every book at the library that showed Apache Junction and the Superstition mountains in the 1920’s, took a trip to the local museums for the area and hiked the mountain. I also had a great book about the Lost Dutchman’s Goldmine that I kept with me whenever I wrote; I read the book and referenced it frequently. The rest, the story, started with the characters and flowed from there.

• What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I like to do a lot of things. Read, sing, practice piano, study. I enjoy taking care of children and am learning more and more that I enjoy cleaning and organizing.

• What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?

With The Lost Dutchman’s Secret – probably the origins of Apache Junction, Arizona. At that point in time, one man owned most or all of what is now a much larger town. He seemed very entrepreneurial and I was surprised that he even had Arizona’s first zoo at his tiny junction.

• Do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer? If so, what are they?

Read a lot of good and old literature. Even the writers that you’ve been told are boring, but have lasted the test of time as great authors. Learn from them. Don’t copy them, but learn from them. Always be open to improvement, but don’t obsess over perfection either.

• What’s your favorite part about being a writer? Research? First Draft? Editing?

Honestly, all the parts are my favorite. Except writing a story synopsis. I find those stressful.

• What do you think makes a good story?

An engaging narrator voice and well written characters. I recently read an old book with a bizarre story revolving around a less than always lovable character and a whole cast of crazy people, but the author told the story in such an engaging manner and with such whimsy, that I still enjoyed reading.

• As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be an author, a wife, and a mother. I also dreamed of being a concert pianist. I am thankful to be an author, though the other things have not come to pass.

•  What project are you working on now, and how do we find your books?

I’m currently working on turning Pinocchio into a WWII era murder mystery. It’s been fun, but I have a long way to go.

All of my books can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rebekah-Jones/e/B00AQ7R1SG

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 17

An Author’s Take, December 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 18

Texas Book-aholic, December 19

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 20

Genesis 5020, December 20

Inklings and notions, December 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 21

For Him and My Family, December 22

For the Love of Literature, December 22

deb’s Book Review, December 23

Simple Harvest Reads, December 23 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Blogging With Carol, December 24

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, December 25 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 26

Vicarious Living, December 26

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 27

Connect in Fiction, December 27

Connie’s History Classroom, December 28

Mary Hake, December 28

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 29

Back Porch Reads, December 29

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 30

Through the Fire blogs, December 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rebekah is giving away the grand prize package of $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!! Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/14f1b/the-lost-dutchman-s-secret-celebration-tour-giveaway