The Stories of Scott D. Southard

May 23, 2013

Need a book this holiday weekend? The eBook of A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM is only $3.99.
“Unpredictable… a style entirely new. If you are looking for something new this summer—something light, for reading at the beach, perhaps… 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.

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

A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM

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.

“Buy this, you will love it.” Amazon.com review titled My New Favorite Book.

“Beautiful piece of literature… I strongly suggest this book for all readers; not just necessarily Jane Austen fans, but any who would love a good story.” GoodReads.com

“I loved this book.” GoodReads.com

A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM is available via amazon.com where you can find it in print for just $9.85 in print and only $3.99 for the eBook. Here is the link: http://amzn.com/0983671923

“Well, 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
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May 21, 2013

Unpredictable! Entirely New! The Jane Austen Centre reviews A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM!
Now and then, you get a review that you know will stick with you as an author. Sometimes they are good, sometimes they are bad, but they will be part of your makeup as an artist from that moment on, adding to your personal resume, changing you.

Today, I was honored to have The Jane Austen Centre in Bath review my latest novel A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM. Here is a quote from their review:

If asked to sum up this book in one word, I would have to choose “unpredictable”. Going into it, all I knew was that it was not a biography, and its purpose was to satisfy the author by giving Jane the happy future he would have chosen for her. Safe to say, even for the advanced Austen scholar, it will be impossible to predict where the tale will twist and turn. For those of you who are exhausted by the innumerable retellings of Austen’s novels, this is a style entirely new.

And then there is this from the review:

If you are looking for something new this summer—something light, for reading at the beach, perhaps—and can, like a purveyor of fine fiction, willingly suspend your disbelief, 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.

I could not be more honored. I am speechless (and for those that know me or follow my blog that is a trick to pull off). You can read the rest of the review via this link.

A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM is available via amazon.com where you can find it in print for just $9.85 in print and only $3.99 for the eBook. Here is the link: http://amzn.com/0983671923

I hope you enjoy A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM
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May 19, 2013

“…a novel for authors and for readers.” Three new reader reviews for A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM
A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM has been out for a few weeks and reader reviews are starting to trickle in on different websites. The first two have appeared on GoodReads both giving the book five stars:

“I loved this book…. There were times I forgot I was reading ABOUT a fictional Jane Austen rather than a book she herself had written.”

“Great read!”

And over on amazon, I was honestly very overwhelmed by the following new review:

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

[From the review “Taught me why I love Austen and storytelling.”]

A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM is available via amazon.com where you can find it for only $3.99 for eBook and just $9.85 in print. You can find it here: http://amzn.com/0983671923

I hope you will check out my new book!
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May 18, 2013

The Thin Muddy Line of Online Book Reviews: A Writer’s Thoughts
A few days ago I was given an offer, much like in The Godfather, that I supposedly couldn’t refuse.

At least that is how the offeror thought of it. See, there is a Facebook page I, from time to time, visit where writers will share links to their books and give updates on their writing. I do as well. Anyway, I had posted about my new book A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM, and underneath the book, the fair offer was given. It said, in so many words. “Hey, I’ll write a review on your book, if you write a review on my book.”

Of course, what the offeror was forgetting in that comment, but was definitely implied, was “positive review.”

If this was only a one-time occurrence of a back alley review deal, I would brush it off, move on, but the fact is I get about four to five offers like this a week. Sometimes they are through Facebook or Twitter, but many times they are over e-mail. Occasionally, the person offering the arrangement is playful in the asking, and some (like this guy in the comment) have no problem with anyone seeing the plan.

Usually, I try to be very kind when someone places such an offer to me, I bring up how busy I am with my own writing right then (which, honestly, is very true and I have had to say no to friends handing me things to read as well), but it always makes me feel very uncomfortable, because at the heart of such an exchange there seems to be a certain level of trickery.

Maybe trickery is too harsh a word, but you can’t escape the fact that reviews created in such an arrangement are put out there to convince a reader, someone who possibly doesn’t know better, to buy a book that might or might not deserve the rating it was just given. Leaving that future reader with the equivalent of a horse’s head in the bed when they wanted the full horse. (more…)
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May 15, 2013

Chasing the Ghost of Sherlock Holmes
As I write this I am surrounded by the ghost of Sherlock Holmes.

I am wearing a t-shirt for the BBC show Sherlock. You can also find the Blu Rays for the seasons behind me, alongside the box set containing all of the films starring Basil Rathbone and the series with Jeremy Brett (my favorite television Holmes).

Over to my side is my Sherlock Holmes deerstalker hat that I bought at 221B Baker Street in London many years ago. I remember that moment vividly.

Why?

Well, honestly, I have a big head. I can’t really buy hats since it is rare I find one that fits my large skull. After spending an afternoon walking through the properly messy rooms of the museum, I assumed I would be going home with just a copy of an illustration from the original books (now on the wall in my kitchen), but to my utter surprise there was a hat that fit me. My large head? Really? It was a glorious moment, as if the great detective was prepared for my arrival. (more…)
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May 14, 2013

“I just loved this book.” Reviews on Amazon for A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM
Reviews are starting to come in on amazon.com from readers for A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM, my latest novel!

Here are some excerpts from the reviews:

“I just loved this book…. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, beautifully written, I was excited to read it every night…. I will read it again. Buy this, you will love it.” [From a review titled “My new favorite book.”]

“In Jane Austen Daydream, Jane becomes a character herself–a literary creation formed from the melding of all of her heroines (complete with all of their foibles and graces)–who gets to live the adventure, heartache, and romance usually experienced only by those who populated her novels.” [From a review titled “A re-imagined life for the woman we love.”]

“Imagine what it would be like to be `a fly on the wall’ in the Steventon rectory in the late eighteen century, or to be a `bee in the bonnet’ of Jane Austen…. Jane Austen is portrayed as a real person – warts and all! At times she is angry, jealous, bitter, biting but throughout the book she is passionate about her writing and characters.” [From a review titled “An enjoyable read for an Austen fan!”]

“The story was entertaining from start to finish, and I really loved seeing Jane’s progression as a character throughout the story.”

A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM is available via amazon.com and on sale for only $3.99 for the eBook and $9.85 for the print version. You can purchase it via this link- http://amzn.com/0983671923

I hope you will enjoy A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM!
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May 14, 2013

My new book MAXIMILIAN STANDFORTH AND THE CASE OF THE DANGEROUS DARE to be released on June 11. And a book giveaway!
I’m pleased to announce that my new book MAXIMILIAN STANDFORTH AND THE CASE OF THE DANGEROUS DARE will be released on June 11. It will be available via amazon.com. Here is a description of my fun (and possibly mad) book:

The cursed and foreboding McGregor Castle is the most terrifying and haunted location in all of the British Empire. Only a brave (or foolish) soul would consider visiting it, let alone staying within its walls for five days. In other words, a perfect dare for a man like Maximilian Standforth!

Maximilian Standforth, famed playboy aristocrat and private detective, is a genius with dangerous tastes. With Bob (his trusty carriage driver, biographer, and body guard) and Maggie Collins (actress, spy, and maid) by his side, Maximilian will experience horrors and madness unlike any seen before. For it is at McGregor Castle that the team will discover more than they ever could imagine in this very experimental and genre-breaking thriller.

There is also a book giveaway for the work on GoodReads! Two readers will win a print copy of the book. The book giveaway goes through June 12. I hope you will consider entering below.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare

by Scott D. Southard

Giveaway ends June 12, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

I hope you enjoy my new book!
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May 10, 2013

Book Giveaway, Author Interview, Review and Hello to My 602 Blog Followers! A Friday Writing Roundup.
Hi Everyone.

I love days like this! The sun is shining, the grass is green and my ego is the size of Manhattan for today I have reached 602 blog followers!

This is a big deal for me, my writing and this crazy author dream I’ve had since I was child. Thank you so much! I hope you continue to enjoy my writing!

This has also been a fun week for my new novel A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM, recently published by Madison Street Publishing (Out now and under ten dollars!).
- Through May 12 there is a book giveaway going on at English Historical Authors. To enter you simply need to visit this link and enter a comment. One lucky person will win a print copy of my latest surprising novel.
- This week I also had the opportunity to have a fun interview with the website Austen Hill. Kelly, who runs the site, also reviewed my book on Wednesday. A review that still makes me blush. You can read the interview here and the book review here.
- A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM is still being sold exclusively via amazon.com where you can find it in print now for ONLY $9.85 and as an eBook for just $3.99. I hope you will consider buying it via this link. (You can also learn more about the book, see reviews, and read an excerpt on the DAYDREAM page on this site here).
On a side note, I am currently locking down my book MAXIMILIAN STANDFORTH AND THE CASE OF THE DANGEROUS DARE (I gave an update on this book I am self-publishing here). Yesterday, I ordered a proof copy of the book which I should have next week. I can not wait to see it and, more importantly, share it with you.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend, is enjoying A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM, and continue to enjoy my little verbal adventures (posts).

Thank you so much for reading!
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May 9, 2013

Five Things I Am Into Right Now, May 2013
My life revolves right now around books.

Well… let me correct that. My life revolves right now around MY books. And that is not a bad thing. A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM was just published by Madison Street Publishing (you can find it for an incredibly reasonable price on amazon.com right here), I just ordered the proof copy of MAXIMILIAN STANDFORTH AND THE CASE OF THE DANGEROUS DARE to review, and I am debating what to do with PERMANENT SPRING SHOWERS.

Remember PERMANENT SPRING SHOWERS? It was my novel experiment last year. I wrote a book in real time, one chapter a week. It was originally based on a screenplay, but that went out the window after chapter 2. It was a fun challenge and looking back I am really proud of myself for getting through it with my creativity in one piece. My hope is to find a publisher for the book later this year; of course, it really comes down to how good JANE and MAXIMILIAN do on the market (sales, reviews, etc.).

Until then, I need to be strategic around the book. Which means, as soon as I get a spare evening, I’ll probably be taking it down from my website. The page will stay up with my updates, insights and lessons learned on the process, you just won’t be able to read it. (For those that are still working their way through the book you have been warned.)

Anyway, with summer fast approaching, and the idea of a lot less on my plate, most of the things I am enjoying right now emphasize the word “fun” with only one little book reference in the list. (more…)
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May 8, 2013

“Universally Charming” A New Book Review for A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM
Today, I am happy to share a great review for my new novel A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM. It was written by the site Austen Hill where I gave an interview earlier this week (you can read it here). Here is a quote from the review:

I found myself thinking of it as a love letter to all of her novels. Readers will recognize characters from each scattered amongst her real-life family and acquaintances. A meddling matchmaker, a loving sister, a dashing suitor. Obstacles and misunderstandings…….triumphs and tragedies. Not to worry though, despite their appearance these plot devices don’t seem contrived in the least. Split into three sections, it’s also worth mentioning that I found myself drawn to the prologues for each. They offer quite a bit of hefty inspiration and create a wonderful frame for the reader’s subsequent experience. The novel also does a great job of showing how Jane’s own adventures in love might have influenced the lives of her characters.

You can read the rest of the review here.

And don’t forget there is a book giveaway going on right now for a copy of the book on English Historical Authors through May 12! You can enter here.

A JANE AUSTEN DAYDREAM is available exclusively via amazon.com where you can get as an eBook for $3.99 and in print for $13.46. You can purchase the book via this link.
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