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
OLLI Class and The Fallacy of Closure
I'm looking forward to leading an OLLI class next Tuesday in Tucson. The two hour session with focus on the process of writing and dealing with both inner and outer critics during the judgment of your work. At this time, there are thirty seven folks signed up for the...
A Tipping Point
This is my first post since the "Finished with Stacey Burns Case" post a couple of weeks ago. I can't resist reminding everyone that May is coming right up-yet another anniversary! Nine years! My next novel is finished and now in the editing stages before an expected...
Finished WIth The Stacy Burns Case
Tonight, I received a nasty and hurtful email because of a recent post on this blog concerning the Stacey Burns murder case. The message attacked my motivation, my integrity, and my character. The source is one close enough to the case for me to know that what was...
Now Available!
I'm excited to see my new book now available for sale in paperback, with e-book to follow soon. Check out my Amazon page to order. I'll post more specific information. Here's a portion of the blurbs about the book on the back cover. "Highly acclaimed for fiction...
Nice Post Plus Book News
At the Tucson Festival of Books, I met Terry Lee Marzell, author of Chalkboard Champions, and a retired educator, school librarian, and public speaker. Her outstanding book about a number of remarkable teachers is available on Amazon and other outlets as well...
A murder, but why a book?
Almost eight years ago, I held my first interview for my book about the Stacey Burns murder. It was not an official interview. I did not bring a recording device, and after fifteen minutes, I stopped trying to write notes and simply listened. The "interview" took...
The Burns’s House-May 9-10, 2009
With no comment, here is a poem, submitted and published anonymously but with permission, about the state of Stacey Burns's house the night she was murdered. 'Find Me In The Dark'. I sleep up stairs, over here in this room towards the back of the house Just come on in...
Out with the old!
Well, I've finally taken the advice of family, friends, acquaintances, and even a few strangers on the street! This is gone! This it the replacement. Now, if, in a Green Valley moment, I forget to put my feet down, I won't fall over. It's a 2005 PT Cruiser) Just an...
The Dream
The upcoming anthology, The Fallacy of Closure, includes a personal essay titled The Dream. It contains a number of anecdotes about our days as the owners of Beaver Hollow Campground in Ossipee, New Hampshire. This sign, with our mascot, "Eager Beaver," announced the...
Repost of Strong Comment, etc.
In yesterday's post, portions, for whatever reason, were left out. This is a repeat of that paragraph with the missing words. Today, I share a portion of a comment to a post from a week ago. It just gives us an important fact to remember in the killing of Stacey...
A Strong Statement plus Update
Today, I share a portion of a comment to a post from a week ago. It just gives us an important fact to remember in the killing of Stacey Burns. I thought it bears emphasizing. "What people fail to realize is that we are not looking for a killer; we are looking for a...
Apologies, Moving On and Giving a D___!
Today I offer apologies to any who may have taken my last post as a message that people have stopped caring about Stacey Burns and her murder case. I know, and have been reminded of such, that many, many people in Stacey's circle of family and friends care deeply and...