Sevierville Author Pens Mystery Novel of Treasure Hunt in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Chris Schultz of Sevierville, Tenn. is the newest author to join the ranks of publisher Patriot Media, Inc. of Niceville, Fla. His novel “Lincoln’s Treasure” is a mystery/thriller about a hunt for gold that spans a century and a half. The mystery begins in the Deep South during the American Civil War when General William T. Sherman and his Union Army made their infamous march to the sea through Atlanta.

In 1864, a special train leaves Atlanta, with wounded Union soldiers and heads north to Washington D.C., but it also carries a secret cargo for the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. While en route, Confederate soldiers attack the train near Morristown, Tenn. and hijack its precious cargo, which disappears for nearly a hundred and fifty years.

Years later, Paul and Tina Mouchette find an unusual artifact and a personal diary written by Paul’s great-great-grandfather who fought for the Confederate Army during the Civil War. After investigating the items, they believe a large amount of gold is hidden in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tenn. Before Paul and Tina can realize their goal of finding the gold, career criminals and an unscrupulous politician tries to deprive the couple from their claim to the treasure. However, not all is what it seems and the mystery of “Lincoln’s Treasure” continues to deepen.

The modern day events described in “Lincoln’s Treasure” take place in the states of Mississippi, Texas and Tennessee with a major focus on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where the treasure hunters believe a large cache of gold is buried.

The area in and around the park is a major tourist spot and drew over 10 million visitors in 2014. At a recent interview, Acting Superintendent Clay Jordan said, “As we prepare to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016, we look forward to continuing to protect the resources of this special place and provide opportunities for discovery as people experience the park along a trail, river, or scenic roadway.”

Author Chris Schultz was born in west-central Alabama and after living and working near Vicksburg, Miss. for nearly 25 years, he and his wife Donna now live within sight of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and where they own and operate a small business near Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Chris became inspired to write the novel “Lincoln’s Treasure” after learning about his ancestor, Henry Mouchette, who fought in the American Civil War from March 29, 1862 until he was captured near Chattanooga, Tenn. on Nov. 24, 1863. Henry remained a prisoner of war until released on March 5, 1865.

Both Chris and Donna Schultz are members of two non-profit organizations dedicated to the preservation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Friends of the Smokies and the Great Smoky Mountains Association.

“Lincoln’s Treasure” can be purchased through Patriot Media, Inc. online at www.patriotmediainc.com and www.amazon.com for $18.95, plus shipping and handling, and is now available for preorder as an Ebook on Amazon Kindle with a scheduled release date of March 13, 2015.