Return to Treasure Island received the prestigious Silver Medal Award by IPPY for Yong Adult Fiction. Additionally, the book is forwarded by LeVar Burton, of Star Trek and reading Rainbow fame.

Clive Cussler stated it was ‘’creative and absorbing. ” Midwest book review touted it saying that ‘Return to Treasure Island is a fun and fascinating read for those seeking an old school adventure novel of piracy and discovery.’

“I loved writing the book,” states the author. “Continuing the original adventure, with Long John silver and Jim Hawkins, was a passionate process. I am humbly heartened by the positive reviews on Amazon… it has been very encouraging.”

‘If you loved Treasure Island,’ states the publisher, ‘you will treasure Return to Treasure Island. You will experience the adventure and characters of Treasure Island like never before. And s few new ones too!’

The official web-site for the book, www.TreasureIslandBook.com, contains many fun and exciting links for pirates, codes and further reading. It also offers a free download of the original Treasure Island Book.

Priced at only $9.95, the publisher has assured that the new kindle version will be affordable to both adults as well as young adults.

About Return to Treasure Island

The story is set three years after his triumphant return from Treasure Island. Jim Hawkins learns that Long John Silver has been captured and sentenced to hang. Jim’s fateful decision to help Silver propels them into a dangerous search for the greatest treasure of all time The Pharaoh’s Gold. A cryptic map, secret codes and puzzling clues all lead back to Treasure Island where courage, cunning, and mutual trust are the only weapons that can save Hawkins and Silver from a horrific death and help them in their quest to find the treasure. Written in first person narrative, the book blends the cadence and style of the original Treasure Island while introducing memorable new pirate characters and locations. Additionally, a coming of age love story interweaves the adventure.

Return to Treasure Island harkens back to the days when action, mystery and adventure rode hand in hand with storytelling, and promised to entertain readers of all ages.

About Author John O’Melveny Woods

John O’Melveny Woods is a successful entrepreneur who attended USC cinematic Film Schooll, and has written numerous television shows, screenplays, articles, and non-fiction books. Return to Treasure Island is his first novel. His next book, Jesse James Secret: Codes, Cover-Ups and Hidden Treasure is due out Fall 2010, and was the basis for’ Jesse James Hidden Treasure,’ one of History Channel’s highest rated shows. He lives in Leucadia, California.

Woods felt sad when the story ended, and that prompted him to write its sequel.

“Return to Treasure Island” begins three years after Jim Hawkins leaves Treasure Island, when Jim learns that Long John Silver has been captured and sentenced to hang. Jim decides to help Long John Silver. The two set out to find a huge treasure — the pharaoh’s gold.

In an online video interview, Woods described his trepidation about writing a sequel to one of the world’s great classics. “A bad version would be worse than none at all,” he said.

The first step in re-creating Jim’s world was getting a feel for the language, Woods explained.

“The book was written in the late 1800s and language had a different cadence then,” he said. “It’s a more difficult language for modern readers to understand, but I didn’t want to make it completely modern, so I split the difference.”

Woods recorded all the pirate dialogue to train his ear. “Once I got the language, it was clear how the book was going to sound,” he said.

He decided to retain as many of the original characters as he could, then added additional characters plus a romance.

“The first book was a coming-of-age story, from boy to man. This one also includes a love story,” Woods said. “I also needed to get Hawkins back to Treasure Island, so I created a reason for him to come back.”

Woods aimed to provide the means for readers to revisit the world of the original story.

“My hope for ‘Return’ is to bring the reader back into the joy and adventure of ‘Treasure Island,’” he said. “I brought Jim back to the same kinds of moral dilemmas he faced in the original, and I wanted the reader to have the fun of going through a treasure hunt.”

Readers sometimes tell Woods that reading “Return” made them want to read the original again. “That to me is a very fulfilling moment,” he said.

Woods will visit Pages Bookstore Thursday, July 22, at 7 p.m.

The Book Works, Monday August 23rd, 7:00 Pm.

"A first-class sequel to the original. Woods has skillfully brought us back into the life of Jim Hawkins in the most successful way imaginable.”

— LeVar Burton, PBS’ Reading Rainbow

“The adventures are just as wild, and Jim’s heart is as stout and his wit as quick as ever.”

— Jack Butler, Award-Winning Author and Poet

The Event

The Book Works proudly presents author John O’Melveny Woods. On Monday, August 23rd, at 7:00pm. Woods and trained actors will give a dramatic reading from his adventure novel Return to Treasure Island. There will be time for Q&A and a book signing will follow. This event is free to the public.

The Book

Three years after his triumphant return from Treasure Island, Jim Hawkins learns that Long John Silver has been captured and sentenced to hang. Jim's fateful decision to help Silver propels them into a dangerous search for the greatest treasure of all time The Pharaoh's Gold. A cryptic map, secret codes and puzzling clues all lead back to Treasure Island where courage, cunning, and mutual trust are the only weapons that can save Hawkins and Silver from a horrific death and help them in their quest to find the treasure.

The Author

John O’Melveny Woods is a successful entrepreneur who attended USC Film School, and has written numerous television shows, screenplays, articles, and non-fiction books. Return to Treasure Island is his first book; his second Jesse James Secret: Codes, Cover-Ups and Hidden Treasure is the basis for the History Channel’s highest rated show, and is due out Fall 2010. He lives in Leucadia, California.

The Location

The Book Works is located just east of I-5 at Via de la Valle: in the Flower Hill Mall, on the 2nd level, next to Pannikin Coffee & Tea. 2670 Via de la Valle, Del Mar, CA 92014. (858) 755 3735.