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
Memoirs, Memoirs, Memoirs!
I am very excited to be part of a panel discussion with two outstanding authors (and very special folks) on October 6, 2014 from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Joyner Library in Green Valley, Arizona. The title of the program is "Looking Back, Moving Forward" and it features...
A Revelation!
This book took nine years to write and it is only 130 pages in length. Why? The subject matter was so powerful that more time was spent in tears than were spent writing. I wrote two long novels in less time than it took to write this book about the sudden death of...
Time Is Not On Your Side
This is not a startling revelation but if one considers the source, it will assume much more credibility. Two days ago, I had a conversation with a friend of ours from our church here in Arizona. He is a retired homicide detective; actually he headed a state police...
Stacy Burns Book- Update
Time marches on! Every once in a while, someone asks me to be more specific about my progress on my book about the murder of Stacey Burns. This post will outline where that work stands at this moment for those who are interested. 3rd draft stage- Chapters 1-4, 43...
Momentum!
What a fun week of writing I have had! In my opinion, it is all because of momentum. When the week began last Sunday, I promised myself that I would write, at a minimum, three "keeper" pages a day. Whether those pages were from Murder in a Small Town: The Tragic Death...
326 People!
Please excuse this brief rant. I love that 326 people were reached with my post entitled "There MUST be a conspiracy." There is a puzzling aspect to that reach. The content is, in my opinion, controversial. In effect, it says that the killer and at least one more...
It MUST be a conspiracy!
In the murder of Stacey Burns, it may be stated as a fact that a conspiracy is in play. Is there a flaw in the following logic, and if, can you find it? Given: Stacey Burns was murdered in cold blood by a amoral, sociopathic killer. Given: Since there has not been an...
Unbalanced
No, this is not about the demented killer of Stacey Burns. A professional editor of my acquaintance suggested that my blog has been unbalanced. Approximately nine out ten posts have addressed my work on Murder in a Small Town: The Tragic Death of Stacey Burns. As...
“You just don’t get it, do you?”
A long time friend ( now a former friend for fifteen years or so) once said this to me in a letter. "You just don't get it, do you?" It doesn't matter any more what he was referencing in that comment but he was right. I didn't get it. In no particular order, here are...
Votes (some) are in!
Re: Murder conspiracy- So far, four for yes, more than one person was involved in the murder of Stacey Burns; one has no idea. Duke
No Reviews!
Thus far, the second edition of Agent for Justice has not been reviewed on Amazon- hey- one star is better than no stars! Duke
No votes!
In the post entitled "No conspiracies?", I mentioned a poll. Over one hundred people saw that post which asked a simple question. Did the murderer of Stacey Burns act alone or in consort with others in the commission of the crime? Thus far, I can't post the results...