Welcome! I’m Duke Southard, an author, retired educator, and lecturer.
I have published seven novels, a commissioned history, and an anthology of
award-winning short stories and essays.
Please check out my blog where I write about true crime and a wide ranging variety of literary and everyday subjects.
My Programs
My programs are offered free of charge to any schools, public libraries, and educational/community groups.
Free Book
Grab a free copy of my book, The Week from Heaven and Hell
My Books
View a list of my published books, including Tainted Justice.
Recent Posts
Who did it, Duke?
A comment from a reader of my blog raised this question, based on what I have learned from my research and interviews for Murder in a Small Town: The Tragic Death of Stacey Burns. It is a valid question but has no answer YET. Here is my response to the question at...
Motive versus Intent
One need not research the subject too deeply to find a plethora of postings, blogs, articles, and expositions explaining the legal differentiation between a motive to kill someone and the intent to kill someone. Can anyone argue that Stacey Burns' murderer intended to...
What a difference a year makes! Or does it?
My sincere apologies to those who noticed an error in the last blog. A quote from Jeff Strelzin appeared in a newspaper article about his meeting with the Wolfeboro Police Commission. The newspaper was dated February 17, 2011. I said in the blog that it was twenty two...
Murder in a Small Town . . .Update
As promised in the last blog, here is an update on the progress of my work on Murder in a Small Town: The Tragic Death of Stacey Burns. 1. Obviously, there has been no new information coming from official sources. The closest I've come to hearing anything from anyone...
Five Sad Christmases
December 25, 2013 will mark the fifth Christmas that the children of Stacey Burns will be without their mother and the rest of her family and friends will be missing her as well. Now the family is dealing with further loss and fathomless grief. I hope (and pray) on a...
Validation = Free Book
The new, revised edition of my novel, A Favor Returned, was named a finalist in the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards in the Fiction (Other) category. The director of the awards informed me that at least three judges read the book and it earned it's finalist designation...
Jeff Strelzin, Prosecutor
Supposedly, a representative from the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office was present at the Grand Jury hearing mentioned in a previous (but recent) blog. I know, from previous experience, that extracting information on the case of the murder of Stacey Burns from...
Grand Jury Hearing
About six months after the murder of Stacey Burns, there apparently was a Grand Jury hearing regarding the case. I will be requesting, through the Freedom of Information Act, the content of that hearing as soon as we return to Arizona in early December. If anyone...
End Justifies The Means?
As I continue to work on the revision of the first draft of Murder in a Small Town: The Tragic Death of Stacey Burns, I keep running across references to time periods which no longer apply. What follows is an example to illustrate this point. From Chapter Twelve,...
Amazon.com Bargain!
I just noticed that my novel, A Favor Returned, is available at a reduced price on Amazon. I am never sure how the price thing works at Amazon but it is chance for readers to buy the novel for about 40% off. The Kindle version is also priced lower than many other...
Trip to Albuquerque
Thanks to all my "fans" regarding my trip to the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards! Bad news (sort of) I did not win the grand prize in my division! )-: Good news (sort of) The book that won in my division also won the best book in all categories for New Mexico so I'm...
Albuquerque, Here We Come!
Tomorrow, my wife and I drive to Albuquerque for the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards Banquet. The new and revised edition of A Favor Returned is a finalist in the Fiction-Other category of these awards. For those who are following this blog, I thank you and will...