We’ve had word that Scott Southard’s most recent novel, My Problem With Doors, has been selected for the required reading list of a first year English Literature course at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Congratulations, Scott!

Melissa L. R. Handa at AnnArbor. com recently did a review of Scott’s latest book, My Problem With Doors, and spoke to him about his inspiration:

“The author set out to create a work of fiction that could not be neatly categorized as a single genre or for a single audience. “I felt if I created something that fit many modes, not only would it have something for everyone, but it also will be that much more unpredictable and surprising,” says Southard. He hopes that the book’s crossover into sci-fi, action-adventure, historical fiction, martial arts and romance will offer something for most readers.”

Ms. Handa writes:

“My Problem with Doors lends itself very well to young male readers—an often under-approached readership. Adolescent and young adult boys will love living vicariously through Jacob as he uses his wit and battle skills to conquer foes, commandeer a pirate ship and even fall in love. Through a yearning for adventure, these readers will also learn a bit of history and be compelled to contemplate the deeper meaning that exists within the story’s action-packed pages.”

Dan McNeil was recently interviewed by Lorna Suzuki of All Kinds of Writing:

I’ve met some of the most interesting writers on Twitter and my guest blogger, fellow Canadian and debut novelist Dan McNeil is no exception! Before we talk about your book ‘The Judas Apocalypse’, let’s start with a little information about you. I know you were born and raised in Toronto. Any other personal details you’d like to share with the readers?

DM: I’m 47 years old and used to be married (separated now). I have two amazing daughters who keep me on my toes and on weekends I play in a classic rock band with some of the best musicians in Ottawa. (It’s really a kick-ass band, I gotta say…can I say kick-ass?)

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I Publish Press has published My Problem With Doors, Scott D. Southard’s most recent novel, read by Mark Smith.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toronto, ON, Greenville, SC, and Lansing, MI, February 10, 2010 — I Publish Press has published My Problem With Doors, Scott D. Southard’s most recent novel, simultaneously in print, audiobook, and ebook editions. The book relates the experiences of Jacob, whose life changed in a single moment when, as a toddler, he walked through his bedroom door only to find himself in the office of a British officer in Capetown, 1870. This would begin a thirty-year journey which would take him from ancient to future civilizations, and innumerable places and times in between. Through all of his travels, Jacob seeks for the purpose of his predicament, the significance of his life with all of its joys and suffering, loneliness and impermanence.

About the Author
Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Scott studied writing at college, receiving his Master’s in the subject from the University of Southern California. He is also the author of 3 Days In Rome, a dark comedy about the afterlife, and The Dante Experience, a radio play loosely based on Dante’s Divine Comedy. Scott resides in Lansing, Michigan with his wife and son.

About the Narrator
Mark Smith lives in Simpsonville, SC. Since his retirement as a chemical plant manager, he has enthusiastically taken up voice work on LibriVox.org, having narrated over 40 books. With My Problem With Doors, Mr. Smith welcomes the opportunity to read aloud more modern fare.

The 5.5 x 8.5 paperback (ISBN 978-0-9809160-9-6) is available for purchase on the publisher’s website as well as online through book retailers worldwide such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble for a suggested retail price of US $15.95.The audiobook (ISBN 978-0-9865220-2-4) is available for purchase on the publisher’s website for a retail price of US $15.95. As well, an e-book edition (ISBN 978-0-9865220-3-1), formatted for all major e-book readers, is available for purchase on the publisher’s website for a retail price of US $12.95. A media web page www.ipublishpress.com/ippblog/my-problem-with-doors/ consisting of reviews, author interviews, and a book trailer has been launched to coincide with the book’s release.

About I Publish Press
I Publish Press is a small independent publishing company that specializes in providing readers with high quality books on multiple platforms including print, audiobooks, and e-books. They also provide professional book design and layout services for self-publishing authors.

I Publish Press, P.O. Box 20036, Newcastle, Ontario L1B 1M3
www.ipublishpress.com (416) 619-5261

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Debra Spidal has reviewed The Judas Apocalypse at the Historical Novels Review Online, calling it “entertaining and well worth reading.”

Scott was a recent guest on the Tony Kay radio show. He talks about his inspiration for Megan, his background and education as a writer, and his current writing projects. Listen now: .

I Publish Press has published the audiobook edition of Megan, Scott D. Southard’s most recent novel, read by Karen Savage.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toronto, ON, Waco, TX, and Lansing, MI, October 21, 2009 — I Publish Press has published an audiobook edition of Megan, Scott D. Southard’s most recent novel. The book relates the events of a particular day in the life of Megan Wane, a single woman in a dead end job who escapes from the dreariness of her life in an imagined world in which she is both a princess and a hero. On this day, she will suffer a tragedy in both her real life and her fantasy world, a tragedy that will disturb her complacency and force her to make a life-altering decision.

About the Narrator
Karen Savage is a voice artist living in the Waco area. She has been a volunteer audio book reader on LibriVox.org since 2006 and enjoys giving back to the community through her volunteer work. A native of England, Ms. Savage has lived most of her life in Latin America and the United States. She is very active at her local theatre, having acted in, stage managed, and directed many productions.

About the Author
Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Scott studied writing at college, receiving his Master’s in the subject from the University of Southern California. He is also the author of 3 Days In Rome, a dark comedy about the afterlife, and The Dante Experience, a radio play loosely based on Dante’s Divine Comedy. Scott resides in Lansing, Michigan with his wife and son.

The audiobook (ISBN 978-0-9809160-8-9) is now available for purchase on the publisher’s website for a retail price of US $15.95. The 5.5 x 8.5 paperback (ISBN 978-0-9809160-6-5) is also available for purchase on the publisher’s website as well as online through book retailers worldwide such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble for a suggested retail price of US $15.95. A media web page www.ipublishpress.com/ippblog/megan/ consisting of reviews, author interviews, and a book trailer has been launched to coincide with the book’s release.

About I Publish Press
I Publish Press is a small independent publishing company that specializes in providing readers with high quality books on multiple platforms including print, audiobooks, and e-books. They also provide professional book design and layout services for self-publishing authors.

I Publish Press, P.O. Box 20036, Newcastle, Ontario L1B 1M3
www.ipublishpress.com (416) 619-5261

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I Publish Press has published Megan, Scott D. Southard’s most recent novel.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Toronto, ON and Lansing, MI, July 6, 2009 — I Publish Press has published Megan, Scott D. Southard’s most recent novel. The book relates the events of a particular day in the life of Megan Wane, a single woman in a dead end job who escapes from the dreariness of her life in an imagined world in which she is both a princess and a hero. On this day, she will suffer a tragedy in both her real life and her fantasy world, a tragedy that will disturb her complacency and force her to make a life-altering decision.

About the Author
Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Scott studied writing at college, receiving his Master’s in the subject from the University of Southern California. He is also the author of 3 Days In Rome, a dark comedy about the afterlife, and The Dante Experience, a radio play loosely based on Dante’s Divine Comedy. Scott resides in Lansing, Michigan with his wife, son, and a very opinionated dog named Bronte. You can find him on Facebook and MySpace, or follow him on Twitter.

The 5.5 x 8.5 paperback (ISBN 978-0-9809160-6-5) is now available for purchase on the publisher’s website as well as online through book retailers worldwide such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble for a suggested retail price of US $15.95. A media web page www.ipublishpress.com/ippblog/megan/ consisting of reviews, author interviews, and a book trailer has been launched to coincide with the book’s release.

About I Publish Press
I Publish Press is a small independent publishing company that specializes in providing readers with high quality books on multiple platforms including print, audiobooks, and e-books. They also provide professional book design and layout services for self-publishing authors.

I Publish Press, P.O. Box 20036, Newcastle, Ontario L1B 1M3
www.ipublishpress.com (416) 619-5261

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What was your favorite book when you were a kid?
The funny thing is that that is not an easy question to answer. Ever since I could read I was obsessed with books and would devour any book I could get my hands on, from one to two to three a week. The books that always had the greatest impact on me were the ones that offered pure escapism. They were not about learning new words, but exploring new worlds; and their characters were not stick figures, but fully developed personalities that I felt I knew.

Since we are talking about a semi-fantasy novel, I will say I remember the first time I read The Lord of the Rings very clearly. That was an overwhelming experience… Of course, one of the reasons I remember that reading so clearly is that one of my cousins evilly ruined the ending for me! Just mean.

What was the last book you read?
Recently, I’ve been going through a jazz kick and have been reading biographies on some of my favorite artists. The last two books I read were both about John Coltrane (Coltrane: The Story of a Sound by Ben Ratliff and Clawing at the Limits of Cool by Farah Jasmine Griffin and Salim Washington).

What are your other hobbies and interests?
My main interest has always been around storytelling to some degree, be it in movies, TV, or even certain video games. But for me to show a strong interest in something it has to have something unique in the tale…

I also love music. Big fan of jazz and some rock artists. Way too obsessed with the Beatles, some would say.

Which authors have influenced you the most?
Kurt Vonnegut, definitely. Ray Bradbury. Charles Dickens (love his characters). Jane Austen (Goddess).

Looking back at Megan, I think there are three main influences on the book. For her “reality,” I have to say Richard Brautigan and Virginia Woolf; for her “fantasy,” I am immediately drawn to C.S. Lewis and the language and style he used in the Narnia books.

Do you write to a routine?
I’ve found that whenever I try to incorporate myself into a schedule, my creativity disappears. It doesn’t work on cue for me. Usually, an idea sits with me, filling up like a bucket drop by drop, idea by idea, until I finally have to sit down and put it to paper. So while I may be thinking about a work for quite a considerable amount of time (many times years), the actual writing of the first draft could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months when I finally have no choice but to put it all down on paper. It’s odd, but it works for me. How successfully is for someone else to decide…

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what kind of music?
Definitely, a major necessity for me! Music helps me hit the emotion or feeling I am aiming for in a work or a tale. It helps me keep my focus, you might say. Usually, when I am working on a book I will get obsessed with a specific artist or album. (Much to the chagrin of my wife who has to listen to the same songs over and over again.)

I remember when I was writing Megan I was listening to Carla Werner, Beth Orton, and David Gray.

What was your inspiration for Megan?
The idea of Megan came to me while I was working a series of temp jobs. My wife and I had just moved back to Michigan from Los Angeles, and I was working wherever I could to support her going through grad school (she was at the University of Michigan). It’s fascinating the perspective you get coming into a strange new office and watching the people in it for a short period of time. The relationships between the people and how each of the workers feel about themselves and their work, without realizing it people tell you a lot more themselves than they know. I met a lot of Megans. I’ve also met variations on all of the characters. In many ways the characters in the book are caricatures of many of the people I saw during those two years, good and bad. I couldn’t point to a specific person for any of them.

But I think what drew me the most to write the book during that period in my life was the feeling of want I kept feeling from many of these workers I watched. The unattainable. The goal off in the distance. So many people seemed to work at a job that they didn’t want to define them or their lives and yet they spent a majority of their lives there.

The “Fantasy” idea fell into my lap though in a much more playful fashion. My wife and I were on the road and the idea just popped in. I asked for her help, and while I was driving, she took down some notes for me. I still owe her one for that.

Was it challenging for you to weave the two threads of the novel—the real life events and the fairy tale fantasy elements—together?
The really challenging thing for me was to keep it together as one book! In many ways, the fantasy part almost took over the book for me in the writing. I had to fight to keep it in its rightful place in the work. It’s supposed to be merely a representation of everything going on in her reality, it can’t control the reality! I couldn’t add adventures or characters that I could not justify in the real world, no matter how much fun I thought it would be. Plus, one was an adult story and the other was almost a teenage fantasy adventure. So, overall, I had to really keep a strong hand on the fantasy adventure.

Do you imagine that readers will see themselves in Megan, relate with her predicament?
The last thing I want to do is put any high hopes on anything I write changing someone else’s life. I’ve never tried to be that kind of writer. And, really, I’ve found that when people have that perspective their work can get a little too heavy handed. I wanted to just be true to Megan in the tale.

But if the book inspires someone to pick up that old paintbrush or to start that hobby they always wanted to or to go visit someplace they always wanted to in the world, I would feel great. My hope merely was to tell a good yarn, everything else that comes out of it is a bonus for me and maybe the reader.

You’re caught up in Dan McNeil’s tale of hidden treasure and ancient secrets, but you’ve got to drive to work? No problem. Now, you can now listen to The Judas Apocalypse on your iPod or carry it on your Kindle. We have produced an MP3 audiobook which can be freely listened to with any of several multimedia devices or burned to CD for added portability. The e-book is provided in the following formats: .epub (an open IDPF format), .lit (Microsoft Reader), .pdf (optimized for Sony Reader), .pdf (optimized for Adobe Acrobat Reader), .prc (Mobipocket & Amazon Kindle).