The Stories of Scott D. Southard

May 6, 2013

An Interview on Austen Hill on A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM
There is a new interview with me today up on Austen Hill (here). This interview was a lot of fun and she had some great questions, discussing everything from literature to inspiration to, of course, Jane Austen and my new book A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM. Here is an excerpt from one of my answers, where I give my favorite advice for new authors:

I think what was smart for me as a young writer, looking back, is that I always wrote first for myself. In other words, I took on stories that I would want to read, not worrying about publishers, agents, marketing, etc. See, it is when you dip into that business world of the art that it gets risky, because it can kill your creativity, starve the part of the brain that just loves to see where the imagination may lead. So whenever I meet a new writer or someone asks for advice, I will usually say write for yourself, if success comes, it comes; but if you write for yourself first everything else is a nice bonus and you will never feel like a failure.

You can read the rest of this fun interview at Austen Hill here. And don’t forget about the new book giveaway (through May 12) which you can enter here! My new novel A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM is available exculsively through amazon.com (here) where you can find it in print for $13.46 and in eBook for $3.99.

I hope you enjoy the interview!
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May 6, 2013

A New Book Giveaway for A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM on English Historical Authors
Today begins a new book giveaway for my novel A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM! This book giveaway is being held on the site English Historical Authors.

From May 6 – May 12, you can enter to win a paperback copy of my new novel simply by leaving a comment on this page (http://englishhistoryauthors.blogspot.com/2013/05/giveaway-of-jane-austen-daydream-by.html) with your e-mail address. Easy and fun.

I hope you will consider entering the contest and, of course, checking out my new novel! It is available exclusively via amazon.com (here), where you can find it in print for $13.46 and as an eBook for only $3.99.

Thanks for reading (and entering)!
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May 6, 2013

My Awkward Relationship With Winnie-The-Pooh
I’ve always had an awkward relationship with Winnie-The-Pooh, starting as a child and even reaching to now, the grown author with a blog.

Above, this post, in my cover image, you have a collection of items representing my interests and writing (some of my novels and scripts, favorite books, the all-important pretzels) and in the middle is Pooh bear. He is a part of my life, a part of what drove me to write and be who I am, but still an awkward member of the company.

I can’t begin to tell you how many visitors’ eyes are drawn immediately to that silly old bear. Every time people reference that image to me, they bring up the old bear (I have yet to have anyone ask about that pile of screenplays which makes me sad). And, not surprisingly, I’ve had people taunt me because of him; bringing back to the surface that feeling we all had in elementary school when teased by a bully. (You think you forget how it feels, you really don’t, it just goes into hiding.)

So why is he there?

Shouldn’t he be out stealing a pot of honey or something?

Well, it’s complicated. As Pooh would say, “Think. Think. Think.” (more…)
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May 4, 2013

The Novel Travelist’s First Thoughts on A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM
One of the really fun things about being a writer in today’s internet world is seeing when your writing inspires someone else to write. Sometimes they write good things, sometimes bad. Heck, I had both this week!

(That is not a joke. My blog post about so many authors choosing to write a series still generates a response.)

The Novel Travelist is currently reading my new novel A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM and had to write some initial thoughts on my characterizations in the book. Here is a quote from the piece:

Rarely does a real life person or scenario completely transpose themselves into a novel. We, as authors, take pieces of events and people and mix and match to our liking. I’m pleased that Mr. Southard realized this when creating the fictional character of Jane Austen. All of Southard’s characters incorporate pieces of Austen’s characters, but nothing is blatant, it is all subtlety, as Austen is herself.

You can read the rest of the article here.

A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM is out now exclusively via amazon. You can get it in print for $13.46 and $3.99 as an eBook by clicking here. I hope you will check it out.
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May 3, 2013

Need a book to read this weekend? Want to learn more about my new novel A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM?
Right now I am suffering from a literary internet addiction. With the release of my new book A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM I can’t stop looking at amazon.com and GoodReads.com. I want to know what people think of my new work. I know the book has only been out for a few days, but I can’t help myself. I want everyone to read this book! And I want everyone to like it. It’s kind of like the feeling of being dropped off at camp for the summer and wondering if you will have any friends. Will you be my book’s friend? Please? I’m sure we have much in common.

Seriously though, if you would like to know more about my surprising, touching, and witty new book there are some great options out there for you.
- Before the release of the novel, I gave an interview with the Jane Austen Centre in Bath. You can read that interview here.
- Recently, author and book blogger Deborah Kalb interviewed me about the book on her site. You can check it out here.
- I have written three different introductions to the book on this site over the last few weeks. The first dealt with having the courage to write the book (Braving Austen), the second was about finding the character of Jane (Visiting Austen), and the third was about how I wrote the book as a surprise for my wife (Austen in Stealth).
- Also, this week I shared an excerpt from it. It is from Volume II of the book and I think it introduces the character of Jane and the style of the book in a very fun way. You can read that here.
A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM is being sold exclusively through amazon.com. It is availale for $3.99 as an eBook and only $13.46 in print. You can buy the book via this link- http://amzn.com/0983671923

I hope you enjoy my new novel.
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May 2, 2013

“Not all devils come in red.” An excerpt from A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM
I’m proud to share with you today an excerpt from my new novel A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM. Published by Madison Street Publishing, it can be purchased in print and as an eBook for only $3.99 on Amazon here.

In this chapter, Jane Austen is doing her best to avoid a proposal from the questionable and arrogant Reverend Blackwell. I hope you enjoy the selection

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Chapter IV from Volume II

It has often been said that good things come to those who wait, but the fault with the expression is that it does not take into consideration the especially bad things that you are doing your utmost to avoid. Do bad things travel in different paths and fashions to the good? Can bad things be avoided since they, unlike most good things, are rarely expected or hoped for? Jane had a bad thing that she wanted to avoid, and the only plan she could come up with after an evening contemplating it was to run away—fast.

“Why do you need me to go on this walk with you?” Charles complained. He grabbed a branch from the ground and swung it around himself like a sword. Jane had to step back to avoid being hit.

Jane decided not to answer Charles’ question. “Is it wrong to enjoy our fields and hikes, Charles? Should not the pleasures of walking and breathing fresh air be enough? This may be our last time walking this trail together.”

“That is what you said a few days ago,” Charles moaned. “You cannot have two last times.”

Jane stopped and looked across the valley. The shock of the upcoming journey to Bath seemed to almost take her aback more now than it had earlier.

“I grew up here,” she said quietly, more to herself than to Charles.

“I grew up here too,” Charles said and sat on the ground by her. “I hardly see why that is so important a detail.”

“It is to me.” (more…)
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May 1, 2013

Interview With Deborah Kalb on A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM
Today, Deborah Kalb, author and blogger, has up an interview with me about my just released new novel A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM. You can read the interview here. Here is an excerpt from the interview:

While Jane Austen is the main character and it is a treasure trove for Jane Austen fans, I don’t want people to think this book is only for Austenites. Not at all. If it was, well, then it wouldn’t be my book. There is a lot more going on here.

Yes, there is romance in the book, but it is also very witty, touching and filled with literary experiments. I like to believe there is something in it for everyone.

You can read the rest on the interview on her site by clicking here.

A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM was published yesterday by Madison Street Publishing. It is available exclusively via amazon.com where it is priced at $3.99 for the eBook and $14.99 for the print version. You can visit the amazon page for the book here.

Thanks for reading!
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