Skip to content

The Stories of Scott D. Southard

  • In Jerry’s Corner
  • A Jane Austen Daydream
  • Permanent Spring Showers
  • Megan
  • Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare
  • The Dante 3
  • Me Stuff
  • Man Behind the Curtain
  • March 13, 2014

    Sunlight Breaking: A Writing Update

    SunOne of the things I have learned about myself over the last few months is that I am emotionally affected by the weather. We have been dealing with record colds here (and a snowfall that never seems to end) and it had completely warped me of any creative energy I had.

    I got up feeling already tired, a little depressed, and the idea of doing anything creative always felt like a struggle.

    The funny thing is, since I lived in Los Angeles for four years, you would imagine that those years would have been the best time of my life. Yeah, looking back it was a fine (and it was nice being warm everyday), but I don’t think I did anything more spectacularly then. I was writing more, sure, but I was also in a the MPW program at the University of Southern California. I had to write more!

    Whatever the case, we had actual sunlight a few days ago. Wonders upon wonders! I took walks outside, breathed friendly fresh air; suddenly life seemed worth writing about again.

    Okay, it’s not like I was completely stagnant during the time of the icy blahs. I was still doing my two or so blogposts a week, promoting my novels; heck, I even got a book deal for my latest novel (I’ll do a catch up below). I guess I just wasn’t feeling it… which mean I wasn’t feeling me, which looks really weird now that I wrote that.

    Let’s move on. (more…)

    Share this:

    • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
    • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
    • Print (Opens in new window) Print
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    Like Loading…
  • March 11, 2014

    Learn more about my new novel on 5 Prince Books

    5 Prince BooksPermanent Spring Showers won’t be published until October 2014, but you can already learn about my new book (and read my bio) on their website.

    Check it out here!

    Share this:

    • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
    • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
    • Print (Opens in new window) Print
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    Like Loading…
  • March 8, 2014

    My new novel, Permanent Spring Showers, to be published by 5 Prince Books (October 2014)

    5 Prince Books

    I’m really excited to announce that I have recently signed a contract for my new novel, Permanent Spring Showers, to be published by 5 Prince Books!

    The tentative release date is October 2014.

    I’ll do my best to keep everyone informed of the process as this moves forward. I can’t wait to share my new novel with each of you!

    Share this:

    • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
    • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
    • Print (Opens in new window) Print
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    Like Loading…
  • March 6, 2014

    Is the word “said” too boring?

    SpeakerWe live in a very fast world.

    The days of quietly sitting and putting all your focus solely on the words in front of you are gone. Books are not even always on paper anymore! We might listen to music while we read, have conversations, text message, the TV might be on, etc. And then consider how we read things on the internet?

    We are a pack of skimmers now. We skim articles, skim status updates, skim blogposts (Hello!), etc. Skim, skim, skim, SKIM! Yes, we might get the gist of what a writer is trying to say through that quick glance, and maybe that is enough, but we are just not consuming the words like we once did.

    So, as storytellers, one of our new challenges is to fight to keep the attention on the page… or screen… or whatever.

    We need to fight the distractions of television, movies, the internet, video games, and, well, life, getting our readers from page one to the last page with as few distracting hiccups as possible. Which brings me to my little controversial writing thought for the day…

    Have we (readers and writers) outgrown “said”? (more…)

    Share this:

    • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
    • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
    • Print (Opens in new window) Print
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    Like Loading…
  • March 3, 2014

    Learning to Share Disneyland

    Walt at the ParkSo last night I had a dream where I met Paul McCartney at Disneyland.

    I was standing in line at the Peter Pan ride with my family, and he was standing behind me with his family and some big bodyguards. I, of course, realized at once who this was, and when a pause happened in his conversation, I politely excused myself and said thanks. Thanks for everything since his music means so much to me.

    Paul was very gracious in return and we lightly talked. He asked about me and I told him about my writing and how I listen to his music a lot when I create and how it is a soundtrack around our house. He seemed to really appreciate that, especially the idea of his music inspiring other artists. I even asked him if the rumor that The Beatles were approached to be in The Jungle Book was true (I don’t remember his reply, but in many ways that is only an urban legend at this point).

    It was in this moment of the dream that my wife tapped me on the shoulder and asked who I was speaking to. I turned her around, and casually introduced her to Sir Paul.

    …And then my wife fainted in a very dramatic fashion.

    She even made a “whoosh!” noise as she collapsed, sounding almost like air escaping a tea kettle.

    Now, my wife is not the kind of person to faint for any reason (I would faint before she would faint), and it was that realization that woke me up. So I didn’t get to talk to Sir Paul anymore, or even get on the ride.

    All that standing in line for nothing. (more…)

    Share this:

    • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
    • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
    • Print (Opens in new window) Print
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    Like Loading…
  • February 28, 2014

    “Delightful” Two new 5-star reviews for A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM

    121610-brock-persuasionOver the last few days, two new 5-star reviews have appeared on amazon.com for A Jane Austen Daydream!  So very cool.

    Here is an excerpt from one of the reviews:

    Aptly titled, this entertaining tale is a true daydream or reverie and the author graces his pages with not one but THREE romances for Miss Austen to consider.

    The author brilliantly mashes up an authentic Jane Austen, many of her real family members, intermingles many of her own famous literary characters and tops it off with a generous helping of her most famous lines.

    We are treated to a Jane, who is bright, spirited, and enjoys poking her family, friends and acquaintances with her penetrating, yet lovable wit.

    You can read more reactions on amazon.com and GoodReads for my new novel. I hope you will check it out! A Jane Austen Daydream

    A Jane Austen Daydream can be purchased in print ($13.46) or as an eBook for the outrageously low price of $3.99 for Kindle. You can find it on Amazon here (http://amzn.com/B00CH3HQUU).

    Share this:

    • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
    • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
    • Print (Opens in new window) Print
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    Like Loading…
  • February 27, 2014

    New WKAR Book Review: Jim Harrison’s Brown Dog

    Current StateI am back on WKAR’s Current State with a new book review!  This time I am taking on Michigan author Jim Harrison and his collection of novellas entitled Brown Dog.

    You can listen to my book review here: http://wkar.org/post/book-review-jim-harrisons-brown-dog-novellas

    If you would rather read my review, you can do so below.

    Brown Dog can be found on Amazon.com here. You can check out my other book reviews for WKAR’s Current State via this page on their site and the links on my page here.

    I hope you enjoy my new book review! (more…)

    Share this:

    • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
    • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
    • Print (Opens in new window) Print
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    Like Loading…
  • February 24, 2014

    Non-Ghost Believer

    GhostSome people don’t believe, others do, I’m somewhere in the middle but leaning heavily much more to the “no” side. Not a full-time denier but someone who believes he has reality on his side. And I can roll my eyes and yawn with the best of them.

    Yes, I may watch the occasional special on a cable channel (I’m not recording them on my DVR or anything), but I would probably turn the channel after getting the gist of the ghost.

    “Beheaded… yada yada… tragic lover. Got it. What else is on?”

    Consider: If there were ghosts, the south would be filled to the brim with the ghosts of slaves; Germany would be unlivable because of the ghosts from the Holocaust; and every battle field (from Gettysburg to Iwo Jima) would need barriers to keep us living people out. And it would completely change the funeral home business.

    I live in a house where someone died. They died in the same room I sleep in each night! Who knows, I might even sleep on the very spot that he took his fated last breath. Yet… I got nothing.

    So why is it I can still be scared or hypnotized by the idea of a ghost? Heck, when I saw Paranormal Activity I was up for days, every bump was enough to wake me up fully.

    “This is ridiculous, Scott,” I mumbled to myself again and again. “This is absolutely ridiculous. There is no such thing as ghosts. No such thing… What was that noise?!” (more…)

    Share this:

    • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
    • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
    • Print (Opens in new window) Print
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    Like Loading…
  • February 20, 2014

    Five Things I Am Into Right Now, February 2014

    SteamengineWhen I started February I had steampunk dreams.

    See, I have this book I had written a few years ago and I’ve been debating what to do with it. It’s not a bad book, I’m proud of it; it’s just I want to add a special flair to it. Something that would make it stand out more. So I considered the idea of adding some steampunk to it.

    The book already had steam engines and hot air balloons, so adding more elements didn’t seem too difficult a concept. But the fact is the more I read and study steampunk the more I begin to wonder if this is too much an undertaking. Frankly, steampunk is like joining a literary masonic society with their own phrases, handshakes, words, etc. I really dig the vibe of it, but the last thing I want to do is fight the idea that I was writing a phony steampunk book or not embracing it enough. Jeepers! Writing a regency book in the voice of Jane Austen feels less intimidating if you can believe it.

    Maybe I am just overwhelmed by it all right now and need to take a deep breath. Honestly, it’s hard to take on too many big ideas right now and I think it is the weather. I feel trapped and tired, and I think we all do by this nonstop snow and ice. You can see this in my five choices this month, because it is all about escape and comfort for me. (more…)

    Share this:

    • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
    • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
    • Print (Opens in new window) Print
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    Like Loading…
  • February 17, 2014

    Thank You eBook Readers!

    An Illustration from AustenNow that was a cool Valentine’s Day weekend! The publisher of my novel A Jane Austen Daydream (Madison Street Publishing) had it as a free eBook for two days on Amazon. Over the weekend, I was able to see my novel top a few genre lists on Amazon and almost break the top 100. Wow!

    If you are one of the many that grabbed a copy of my book, I would first like to say “thank you.” I hope you like it! The second thing I would like to add is… well…

    See, to make it in this very congested world of writing there are primarily three possible paths to success for today’s authors. The first is sheer luck; the second is you know someone (agent, publisher, etc.); and the third is word of mouth. I am aiming for the third option. So if you downloaded a free copy of my book, and enjoyed it, would you help?

    Here are some easy options that you might consider:

    • Write a review of it on GoodReads or Amazon.
    • Tell a friend.
    • Gift it to someone.
    • Choose it for your book club.
    • Write about it on your blog, or review it on the site.
    • Share it on Twitter or Facebook.
    • Recommend it to your local library or bookstore for stocking on their shelves.

    And those are just the quickest and easiest options I came up with off of the top of my head. You might have a better option I might not have considered. Whatever the case, I would love for more readers to find my novel.

    Again, thank you for making my Valentine’s Day so memorable (like this moment below). Memorable moment

    Share this:

    • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
    • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
    • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
    • Print (Opens in new window) Print
    • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
    • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
    Like Loading…
Previous Page Next Page

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Loading Comments...

    • Subscribe Subscribed
      • The Stories of Scott D. Southard
      • Join 1,946 other subscribers
      • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
      • The Stories of Scott D. Southard
      • Subscribe Subscribed
      • Sign up
      • Log in
      • Report this content
      • View site in Reader
      • Manage subscriptions
      • Collapse this bar
    %d