DARK HISTORY
‘Lost Order’ novel focuses on clandestine Knights of the Golden Circle
History. It’s something that fascinates Steve Berry.
It’s also the impetus behind many of his books, including his latest, “The Lost Order.”
Oh, not to mention that it takes him time to write and research.
“All the novels take 12 months to write,” he says in a recent phone interview. “It’s 18 months total, with six months of preliminary work.”
Berry says he works best in the morning. “Hopefully, by 2 p.m. each day, I’ve done my 1,000 words,” he says.
“The Lost Order” is set in locations ranging from the backrooms of the Smithsonian to the deepest woods of rural Arkansas, and finally up into the rugged mountains of northern New Mexico.
He says it’s a perilous adventure into our country’s dark past, and a potentially even darker future.
It centers on the Knights of the Golden Circle, the largest and most dangerous clandestine organization in American history.
The organization, which promoted slavery, amassed billions in stolen gold and silver, all buried in hidden caches across the United States. Since 1865, treasure hunters have searched, but little of that immense wealth has ever been found.
Now, more than 150 years later, in his novel, two factions of what remains of the Knights of the Golden Circle want that lost treasure — one to spend it for their own ends, the other to preserve it.
“Little is known about the order, because the Confederate records that dealt with it disappeared after the Civil War. Conjecture, legend and myth is all we have to rely upon, which makes it perfect for fiction,” he says. “History says the order faded around 1910, when everyone finally conceded that another Civil War was not coming. Whether it still exists today is a matter of debate.”
Berry says he went to the Smithsonian, as well as other locations, to research for the book.
One location he never made it to was Carson National Forest, where the climax of the book takes place.
“I wrote that part of the book from pictures. I would love to see it in person,” he says.
In fact, Berry’s trip to Albuquerque on April 11 will be his first to New Mexico.
“I have writer friends in Santa Fe and want to visit with them,” he says. “Maybe the trip will inspire some more books.”
STEVE BERRY
WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 11 WHERE: Bookworks, 4022 Rio Grande NW HOW MUCH: Free