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The Stories of Scott D. Southard

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  • July 19, 2013

    “Unstoppable Reading” New book giveaway and reviews for A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM

    Jane AustenRunning through August 9, there is a new book giveaway for A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM, but this one is different. One lucky reader will win an autographed copy of the novel. So if you have already read the ebook and enjoyed it, here is a chance to win one for the shelves. You can enter this fun giveaway here. Good luck!

    This week there were quite a few new book reviews for A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM. For example, on Good Reads one reader (author Jeannie Walker) wrote in a 5-star review:

    I like how this talented author, crafts his novel with Jane Austen spending her days writing and matchmaking until she goes to a ball that launches  her into searching for her own romantic love. Scott D. Southard puts us  into Jane’s world and right in the middle of the action with this well-written and carefully crafted novel… wonderful.

    And here is an excerpt from a review on the blog Mom’s Time 2 Write-

    I don’t know what I was expecting, but it has to be one of the best pieces of fiction I’ve read in a while.  Scott D. Southard’s “A Jane Austen Daydream” had me at page one.  He is a very gifted storyteller with the ability to bring you into the story quickly and keep you there.   I felt every disappointment, triumph and tragedy.  I literally could not put it down.  And the twist at the end was written so well that it took a moment for me to realize what he’d done.

    And finally on the blog Tricia’s Thoughts, the writer notes (in a review that does make me blush a little):

    Don’t you just love it when you happen to come across THE BOOK that you want to devour, as though starving; yet at the same time, attempting to force yourself to slow down in order to savor every word, procrastinating that inevitable ending. I know that I have to have another book available to alleviate the feeling of loss.

    I found it. My latest find, is A Jane Austen Daydream, is just that. I can’t remember finding one since The Help, that hit my over-the-top scale. I simply loved it. I have reviewed it, entered it in two book clubs to which I belong and given it to every reader I know!

    A Jane Austen DaydreamA JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM can be found on Amazon for the low price of 3.99 for eBook and print for 13.46 here.

    You can learn more (interviews, reviews, excerpts, and other links for purchase around the world, etc.) via the A Jane Austen Daydream page on this site.

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  • July 11, 2013

    “With a sharp knife.” Read an excerpt from the new A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM

    A Jane Austen Daydream“I consider this novel one of the best not only in regency era literature, but also in mainstream fiction.” -NovelTravelist.com

    Today I am happy to share an excerpt from my new novel A Jane Austen Daydream. A Jane Austen Daydream is a re-imagining of Miss Austen’s life as a work of fiction, influenced more by her own novels than what reality decided to give her, filled with love, rogues, heartache, adventures and a lot of wit… as well as a few new post-modern literary surprises.

    Published by Madison Street Publishing, it can be purchased in print and as an eBook for only $3.99 via amazon here.

    –

    From Chapter III of A Jane Austen Daydream

    “Cassandra,” Jane sighed, “you must take part in the play. I could never dream of opening the curtain without you by my side. Charles and I put your name on the poster; the posters alone would be ruined.”

    “Please, do not tease me like that, Jane. I do not dare be seen in public right now. I am uncertain what it will do to my heart. Can you imagine all the attention that we will get because of this dance?” As if expecting a crowd of onlookers to appear over the horizon, Cassandra looked behind herself to make sure that they still had privacy on their walk.

    No matter how exaggerated Cassandra’s concerns, she did have a point, and it was for this reason that the two sisters made a pact not to travel into town for a full week. So on this day, they were on a hike, making sure to walk away from Steventon rather than towards it.

    Cassandra almost tripped and Jane caught her.

    “You will not be on the stage, dear sister,” Jane said, helping her sister to stand up. “Lady Hampton will be on the stage. You will be in character and Hampton is a wonderful character, if I can compliment my own writing. If it makes you feel better, I will be dressed as a man for most of my appearances. I was to wear a mustache, but I promised it to Charles.” (more…)

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  • July 9, 2013

    “Wonderfully Artistic” “Clever” New Book Reviews!

    More reviews are sprouting up on Amazon for both A Jane Austen Daydream and Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare, my two latest books.

    A Jane Austen Daydream

    A Jane Austen DaydreamThis is one of those 5-star reviews an author can’t help but love. Bliss in just three sentences…

    I didn’t really think I’d enjoy this book, perhaps thinking that no one could do justice to such a wonderful woman and insightful writer. However, I am pleased to say that I was wrong and that I enjoyed every word especially the twist at the end. How I’d love to think this was true.

    A Jane Austen Daydream can be found on amazon.com here in both eBook and print.

    Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare

    Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare, CoverIf you want to be surprised by a new kind of book, this seems to be the work to check out.

    There are numerous plot twists, especially as the story builds up to the climax. I did not see how the tale would end until it hit me in the face. The author writes a clever mystery novel, making good use of the gothic setting. The setting is haunting and the characters are endearing and likable, especially Bob  Wordsworth and Maximilian Standforth.

    Maximilian Standforth… is on sale for only $1.99 as an eBook and $10.99 in print on amazon.com here.

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  • July 5, 2013

    “Genius or bonkers” Reviews and a sale (1.99) for Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare!

    Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare, CoverFor a limited time, the eBook of my experimental mystery/thriller novel Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare is on sale! You can find it on amazon (here) for only $1.99!

    So if you enjoyed my A Jane Austen Daydream recently and want to read more this holiday weekend or just want a new kind of book to read, why not check out this other new work?

    Reviews are starting to come in for this fun and odd little novel. For example on amazon.com one reader wrote in a 5-star review titled “Couldn’t put it down”:

    I really wasn’t sure what to expect since I’d never heard of Scott Southard, but  I loaded it onto my Kindle and headed out the door to drive to my son to his  orthodontist appointment. As you might imagine, normally I’d be excited  when my son was done and we could go eat lunch, but this time I was  disappointed. I was only about a third of the way through the book and  didn’t want to put it down… a real page turner.

    And there is this from a review on amazon.co.uk that begged the all-important question if the book is genius or bonkers:

    I started this book expecting a Sherlock Holmes style mystery with a bit more humour and got so much more than I bargained for!  Don’t be fooled by the first half of the book, it isn’t what you expect, and then it  isn’t what you expect again!  If you have read any Jasper Fforde,  imagine him writing whilst tripping on acid.

    You can find this surprising book on amazon.com here. (or on any Amazons on sale for that matter). If you want to learn more (or read an excerpt), please visit the page for the book on this site here.

    I hope you have a nice weekend!

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  • July 3, 2013

    Shock, Awe and a Call to Arms: A Writing Update

    This is me as a duck in a hatThere are a few moments in my life I have been truly shocked.

    Hearing my son cry for the first time (even though I was anticipating it) shocked me. Meeting my wife definitely turned my head. Getting into grad school at USC was a nice surprise… But this was a new one for me as an author.

    This week Madison Street Publishing, the publisher of A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM, did a two-day free eBook promotion of that new book and… The numbers were extraordinary!

    People from all over the world in just 48 hours jumped to grab my novel, bringing the total to… 7392.

    7392!

    Over 7000 people have found my book and may begin it; not all may finish it, of course, but the possibility is there. If these were sale numbers those two days could have dropped my book on lists I have only dreamed about approaching. (more…)

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  • July 1, 2013

    Free eBook! The new book A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM is free for a limited time!

    A Jane Austen DaydreamThis July 1st and 2nd, the publisher of A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM is sharing it as a free eBook on amazon!

    “I consider this novel one of the best not only in regency era literature, but also in mainstream fiction.” -NovelTravelist.com

    The free eBook (for a very limited time) can be found on amazon.com here (http://amzn.com/B00CH3HQUU), in England here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CH3HQUU), and in Canada here (http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00CH3HQUU).

    “If asked to sum up this book in one word, I would have to choose “unpredictable”… you will, in the end, be rewarded by a quick paced novel unlike any you can ever have read, which injects new ideas and possibilities into the world of Jane Austen.” -The Jane Austen Centre

    Pick up your free copy today! Here is the description of the work from the back cover:

    All her heroines find love in the end–but is there love waiting for Jane?

    Jane Austen spends her days writing and matchmaking in the small countryside village of Steventon, until a ball at Godmersham Park propels her into a new world where she yearns for a romance of her own. But whether her heart will settle on a young lawyer, a clever Reverend, a wealthy childhood friend, or a mysterious stranger is anyone’s guess.

    Written in the style of Jane herself, this novel ponders the question faced by many devoted readers over the years–did she ever find love? Weaving fact with fiction, it re-imagines her life, using her own stories to fill in the gaps left by history and showing that all of us–to a greater or lesser degree–are head over heels for Jane.

    “…universally charming… a love letter to all of her novels… when we need a tale that makes us laugh and hope for love we read Austen. Now I will also read Southard. I hope you will too.” -AustenHill.com

    And if you do take advantage of this very limited offer for A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM, please consider…

    • Telling a friend
    • Choosing it for your book club
    • Writing a review or a blog post about it
    • Suggesting it to your local library
    • Tweeting about it, sharing it on Facebook, or recommending it on GoodReads
    • Checking out my other new books, including the new MAXIMILIAN STANDFORTH AND THE CASE OF THE DANGEROUS DARE (Available on amazon in print and eBook- just 3.99).

    I would love for more readers to find the work. I am very proud of it and I believe it has something new and surprising for everyone, even those not inclined towards Miss Austen.

    “This is a must read for any Jane Austen fan. And it’s a perfect summer read for anyone.” -Definitely Not for the Birds.

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  • June 29, 2013

    “…perfect summer read.” New book review for A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM

    A Sketch of JaneThe book review site Definitely Not for the Birds has just given a glowing review for my latest novel A Jane Austen Daydream! Here is an excerpt:

    The tone of this novel goes hand in hand with the title – it is whimsical and lovely… much like what you’d expect from anything associated with a daydream.

    There’s also wonderful passages that detail Jane Austen’s inspiration/dedication to her writing.  These were my favorite parts.  These parts also showcase the great respect that Southard has for Jane Austen and just for writers/the process of writing in general.  It was wonderful.

    This is a must read for any Jane Austen fan.  And it’s a perfect summer read for anyone.

    You can read the entire review here.

    A Jane Austen DaydreamMy new books A Jane Austen Daydream and Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare are both available on amazon.com right now.

    You can find them via my author page on amazon here, available in print and eBook (just $3.99).

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  • June 21, 2013

    “Twisted” A new 5-star review for my book Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare

    Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare, CoverMaximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare has been out for over a week, and reviews are starting to come in from readers. Today, I received this 5-star review on Amazon and Good Reads from Author Jodi Woody:

    My first taste of author Scott Southard was through his book “A Jane Austen Daydream”, which I loved, so I don’t know what I was really expecting from this book. Not at all like Jane Austen. This book proved to me the writing skill of Mr. Southard! I believe the man has quite the imagination, albeit a twisted one. Maximilian Standforth is a mystery in the likes of Sherlock Holmes, but with a case that, possibly, even he couldn’t solve. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and give it 5 stars.

    You can also read this review via her writing website here.

    Both of my new novels Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare and A Jane Austen Daydream can be found on Amazon in print and in eBook format for the same price of $3.99. You can find links to both via my author page on amazon here.

    I hope you enjoy my books as well!

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  • June 16, 2013

    Thank you readers! I hope you enjoy Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare!

    Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare, CoverLast night the free eBook promotion for my new book Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare came to an end. I am happy to report that 544 readers decided to take a gamble on my crazy new adventure. I could not be more pleased.

    Thank you readers! I hope you each enjoy my book.

    If you do dig my new book why not consider…

    • Checking out one of my other novels? The reviews have all been phenomenal for the new A Jane Austen Daydream and the eBook is only 3.99. It can be found on amazon here. There are also eBooks available for My Problem With Doors and Megan, both can be found via Good Play here.
    • Writing a review or a blog post about the work.
    • Buying one of my books for a friend or family member.
    • Including it in your local book club (the print version is only around 10 dollars and also on amazon).
    • Telling your local library.

    In today’s over-congested writing world it is all about word of mouth. (And, honestly, there is only so far a writer can shout from their blog or twitter account.) One reader telling another reader who tells another reader… We are all part of that chain.

    I hope you enjoy your visit to the strange McGregor Castle!

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  • June 14, 2013

    Free eBook, New Reviews, a Guest Post, and a New Book!

    This has been a really fun week. With the release of my new novel Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare, there has been a lot going on. Let’s star with new Max news, before Austen…

    Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare

    Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare, CoverFor only a little longer, Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare is a FREE eBook on amazon.com. This is not just for the US Amazon, but also Canada and the UK! So if you are interested, this is the best time. The special ends on June 15 (where it will return to the low price of 3.99 for eBook and about $10 for print). You can find it on amazon here: http://amzn.com/B00CXSDEBE

    Now those who read my blog could probably sense I was a little nervous about how people would react to this book. I use the word “experimental” and I mean it. I am doing something very unique here. Well, the first reader review has emerged on GoodReads. And to my great relief it is 5-stars! Here is a quote from it:

    It is beautifully written. It reminded of these old fashion books I read as a child, that I used to read hiding from my parents and books that I understood without understanding them. Complicated I know but it is how I felt when I finished The Case of the Dangerous Dare (and dangerous, it was, believe me).

    And remember you can read an excerpt from the book as well as learn about it via my posts on the Max page (here). I hope you will check it out.

    A Jane Austen Daydream

    A Jane Austen DaydreamOver the last day a new 5-star review has come out on amazon for A Jane Austen Daydream. I love this review. It is the kind that can make an author smile for days. Here are some excerpts:

    Mr. Southard is an expert at writing in such a fashion as to induce feelings of hate, love, joy, sadness, and righteous fury. I wept, I laughed (out loud, scaring my cats, no doubt), I talked back at the characters making foolish decisions, I railed (in my mind) against those standing in the way of Jane’s happiness…In short, this author is a king at character development and mood setting… this book just might become a classic.

    I had a guest post on The Undercover Soundtrack on the music inspiration around A Jane Austen Daydream, Belle and Sebastian. You can read my post here.

    A Jane Austen Daydream is available via amazon.com where you can find it in print for just $13.85 in print and only $3.99 for the eBook. Here is the link: http://amzn.com/0983671923

    Thanks for reading everyone!

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