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
Frustrations- #1
At the program on September 29th, someone asked this question: (which I will paraphrase) Given where I am now in the process of writing a true crime book about the murder of Stacey Burns, what would I need to complete the narrative short of an arrest and subsequent...
More on Fear and Trepidation
A major factor in my determination to continue work on the Stacey Burns murder case book is the continuing fear which I found present during my trip to New Hampshire last weekend. This is not the palpable variety of fear which was so apparent four and a half years ago...
Fear and Trepidation
I am writing this at 40,000 feet on my way home to Arizona after an interesting weekend in New Hampshire. An earlier blog outlined my goals for the weekend and here are just two of the results. 1. "Adventures of a True Crime Neophyte" was presented to an audience of...
Update- The Jersey Trip
Successful presentations of "A Tale of Two Books" at the Burlington County Library and "I Can't Believe YOU Wrote That Book" at the Haddon Heights Public Library highlighted my week in New Jersey. A Favor Returned has been well received thus far. Can there be anything...
GOOD NEWS!
GOOD NEWS- Yesterday, the finalists in the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards 2013 were announced and A Favor Returned is among them in the Fiction (other) Category. This contest, sponsored by the New Mexico Book Coop, attracted over 1800 entries in all categories. The...
New Jersey Programs
Two literary programs will be presented next week in New Jersey. On Wednesday, September 25, at 7:00 p.m. at the Burlington County Library in Westhampton, "A Tale of Two Books" will feature a two part program. The first half will be a light and humorous look at how...
Stacey Burns Program
One week from tomorrow, I'll be in New Hampshire. "Adventures of True Crime Neophyte" will be presented at Willing Workers Hall on Route 109 in Melvin Village on Sunday afternoon. A "meet the author" session will begin at 1:00 p.m. with the new edition of A Favor...
An Author’s Best Gift
After the original version of A Favor Returned was released in May, 2000, I desperately wanted it to be reviewed by a respected source, such as, of course, the New York Times. That did not happen. I contacted an old acquaintance who happened to work in a New Jersey...
Stacey Burns-A Cold Case?
A frequent visitor to my blogs has commented that the Stacey Burns murder has gone into what appears to be an abyss of cold case files. I have trouble believing this because of the constant reassurances of the authorities that it remains an ongoing, active...
True life novels? And an update . . .
Doc, a brilliant, well-written, thoroughly researched and fascinating novel written by Mary Doria Russell, is a wonderful example of how a work of fiction can define historical events and characters through authentic dialogue. My opinion, as many who know me are...
A Fun Exercise for Writers
It really not a new idea but I just tried it with Murder in a Small Town: The Tragic Death of Stacey Burns. I extracted a section of the book, which, as you know, is non-fiction, and rewrote it using dialogue. Of course, making up dialogue changes everything as far as...
Haddon Heights, Here I Come!
In 1958, when I graduated from Haddon Heights High School, my senior year English teacher held my future in her hands. If I did not pass the final exam, I would not graduate. We were practicing for graduation in the auditorium and whenever the door creaked opened, Mr....