Benjamin Gould
The Explorer
"Every adventure begins with a question."
The Pikki Likki Saga
Beyond
the Map
Stories of Legacy & Legends
"Every map ends somewhere.
Every great story begins beyond it."
Welcome
Every great adventure
begins with a question.
What if forgotten legends were true? What if hidden maps still existed? What if ordinary kids discovered extraordinary worlds?
Welcome to the official home of Patrick Bras, creator of unforgettable adventures where friendship, courage, mystery, and family lead the way.
Whether you're discovering The Secret of the Winona for the first time or following the growing Pikki Likki Saga, you're invited to explore stories that remind us wonder still exists.
Book One
Featured Book
The Pikki Likki Saga · Book One
The Secret
of the Winona
When Benjamin, Elizabeth, and Wyatt discover an old ship's log and a mysterious map, they have no idea their summer will become the adventure of a lifetime. The clues lead them to the lost ship Winona, a pirate treasure hidden for centuries — and a secret that someone will do anything to protect.
But the greatest secret of the Winona isn't just about gold. It's about bravery, family, and the choices that turn ordinary kids into heroes.
Paperback
Hardcover
eBook
Interactive
Explore the Winona
Click the glowing markers to uncover the secrets hidden in Cornelius Watson's map. Each location holds a piece of the mystery.
The Creek
Fallen Tree
Three Pines
Stone Marker
Hidden Tunnel
Hidden Harbor
✦ Click any glowing marker to reveal its story ✦
The Crew
Meet the Adventurers
Three friends. One map. An adventure of a lifetime.
Elizabeth Faye
The Heart of the Crew
"Some treasures are worth protecting."
Wyatt Riley
The Adventurer
"The best plans usually start with a bad idea."
The Mystery
Who is Cornelius
Watson?
Keeper of Secrets
Lives at Watson Manor — a house full of maps, journals, and locked rooms.
Knows more about the Winona than anyone alive.
Protector of a mystery older than the map itself.
Last known keeper of a forgotten legacy.
"Some secrets are not meant to be owned. Only protected."Discover More
— Cornelius Watson
The Pikki Likki Saga
The Adventure Continues…
Book One
The Secret of the Winona
Three friends. One ancient map. A pirate treasure hidden for centuries — and a secret worth protecting.
Book Two
The Curious Life of Cornelius Watson
Before the legend. Before the tragedy. A boy who dreamed, a love that changed everything, and a world of magic worth protecting.
The Adventure Continues…
Book Three
The Broken Compass
Benjamin, Elizabeth & Wyatt face the City of Ghosts — where even a broken compass may point toward the truth.
The Adventure Continues…
"Adventure isn't something we lose as we grow older — it is something we choose to keep searching for."
— Patrick BrasThe Author
About Patrick Bras
Patrick Bras is an Oregon-based author, husband, father, grandfather, and storyteller who believes the greatest adventures often begin in ordinary places.
After decades of collecting stories, ideas, and unforgettable characters, Patrick decided to bring the worlds he had imagined to life. Inspired by timeless adventures like The Goonies, Treasure Island, and Indiana Jones, Patrick writes stories filled with mystery, friendship, courage, and wonder — designed for readers of every generation.
His hope is simple: to remind readers that adventure isn't something we lose as we grow older — it is something we choose to keep searching for.
Based in Oregon, USA
Husband, father, grandfather
Environmental Health & Safety Manager
Inspired by The Goonies, Indiana Jones & Treasure Island
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New Books
Hidden Clues
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Behind the Scenes
Adventure Journal
Latest Dispatches
Behind the Story
Why Adventure Stories Still Matter
What if forgotten legends were true? What if ordinary kids could still discover extraordinary worlds? The question that started everything…
Read MoreWriting History
The Inspiration Behind The Secret of the Winona
It wasn't a pirate ship or a hidden cave that started it. It was a question — what if a simple creek led to a centuries-old mystery?
Read MoreFamily Adventures
More Than Treasure — The Heart of the Story
Beneath the adventure lies something far more valuable than gold: friendship, bravery, and the choices that define us.
Read More