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
What’s fair is fair. . .
One of my correspondents asked me to release the name of a woman named to me in interviews as a possible suspect in the Stacey Burns murder case. After all, Jim Vittum's name, along with others, has been bandied about in this blog so what's fair is fair. Well, in my...
One Winner and Another Finalist
Despite evidence to the contrary, I really do have trouble with self-promotion. However, since I have a blog post coming up on the subject of personal and writer's credibility, I have to let my readers know of these latest two developments in my writing career. First,...
Active investigation? (Again)
In August, while in Wolfeboro for a book signing, I interviewed two people about the Stacey Burns case. In both instances, a woman was mentioned as a possible suspect in Stacey's murder. In one case, the actual name was given to me. In the other, the name was not...
Truth is not enough!
In a reader's guide to her outstanding book, Twain's End, novelist Lynn Cullen makes this interesting observation. ". . .when spoken with conviction, falsehoods and accusations carry the same weight as truths. Whoever speaks the most loudly is believed, not...
an answer
This post was published in reply to "Conspiracy Theory #4" I have his report and his documentation for his idea. This is simply a response. Please do not give up-Your theory and evidence to back it up is compelling. I truly believe that the evil men (or women) can do...
Quitting? I Hope Not!
To the readers of this blog, now 425 posts into it: You tell me. When is it time to face the fact that you are not making any difference in the Stacey Burns murder case? Please don't interpret the following as a "poor me" complaint but facts are facts and those facts...
Interesting Law Enforcement Quotes
Yesterday, I went through hundreds of pages of notes, e-mails, transcripts of recorded interviews, and newspaper articles related to my work on Murder in a Small Town: The Tragic Death of Stacey Burns. My first notes begin in mid-2010 and continue right up to the...
End of an era. . .
No Stacey Burns case, no new books, no event announcements- just a brief goodbye to a vehicle that has been in our family for over twenty two years. I know, I know, it's just a car but a special one it was. For a number of years, it was Pam's baby then became...
Fascinating Interview
On July 12, 2016, my post mentioned an encouraging sign in the Stacey Burns murder case. A source informed me that two New Hampshire State Police detectives drove to Wolfeboro and interviewed this source for over an hour about new information which seemed pertinent to...
The New Hampshire Trip
Country Booksellers of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire outdid themselves in welcoming me to the book signing on Sunday. With a great crowd attending, they supplied refreshments and friendly greetings. My thanks to Karen Baker and her wonderful staff! The photo shows a few of...
No new action on Stacey?
Exactly one month ago, on July 12, 2016, I published a post on this blog titled "Action on Stacey Burns?" In that post, I expressed some optimism because the NH State Police had actually sent two detectives to Wolfeboro to interview someone who may (emphasis on MAY)...
The Evil Media
Today's post will be brief but it poses a question that has puzzled me for a long time. Politicians, entertainers, religious leaders, law enforcement, anti-law enforcement groups, teachers, anti-teacher groups-the list could go on and on-often harp on the issue of the...