James H. Duncan

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James H. Duncan

Goodreads Author


Born
The United States
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Influences
John Steinbeck, Alan Furst, Stephen King, Carson McCullers, Charles Bu ...more

Member Since
September 2012


James H Duncan is the editor of Hobo Camp Review and the author of We Are All Terminal But This Exit Is Mine, What Lies In Wait, The Cards We Keep, Dead City Jazz, and Vacancy, among other books of poetry and fiction. He is a former editor with Writer's Digest, a columnist for Albany Poets, and a reviewer of independent bookshops at www.TheBookshopHunter.com. He currently resides in Upstate New York. For more, visit http://www.jameshduncan.com. ...more

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James H. Duncan The best way to deal with writer's block is to set aside the project that feels stuck and work on something completely different. If a novel writes it…moreThe best way to deal with writer's block is to set aside the project that feels stuck and work on something completely different. If a novel writes itself into a corner, go write some poetry or flash fiction for a few days. If the poetry feels forced, set it aside for a bit and try an essay or try journaling or writing a book review. It helps not to let a project languish for too long or you'll lose the thread, but you can't force it if you're stuck. Step back, try something different, and return with fresh eyes. The important thing is to keep writing, something, anything. (less)
James H. Duncan I'm currently expanding a previously published novella (post-apocalypse survival story I based on my sister) into a full-length novel and slowly putti…moreI'm currently expanding a previously published novella (post-apocalypse survival story I based on my sister) into a full-length novel and slowly putting together another poetry collection I'm calling The Midnight Dictionary, all while shopping around 3-4 books among presses and agents. Busy times! (less)
Average rating: 4.74 · 127 ratings · 33 reviews · 21 distinct works
The Cards We Keep

4.58 avg rating — 19 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions
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We Are All Terminal But Thi...

4.50 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2017
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Lantern Lit series Vol. 1

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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2014
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Dealing With the Devil in t...

4.86 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2012
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Vacancy

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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2019
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What Lies In Wait

4.67 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions
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Proper Etiquette in the Sla...

4.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2017 — 3 editions
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Nights Without Rain

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions
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The Girl Who Loved Halloween

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions
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Berlin

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2014
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More books by James H. Duncan…

Summer News and Autumn Goals

I haven’t posted a whole lot this year but it’s been a busy summer so far. A quick trip to Philadelphia, a cancelled camping expedition, baseball games, pool adventures, parades, and I moved in with Amelia and Henry at long last. I’m settling in and getting back into a writing groove after spending most of the spring packing. Beyond a busy summer personally, I’ve been busy publishing and writing t

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Published on August 13, 2025 16:54
Under the Banner ...
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by Jon Krakauer (Goodreads Author)
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Don't Skip Out on Me
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City Lights Pocke...
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Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
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Don't Skip Out on Me by Willy Vlautin
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The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer
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Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
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Somehow this book is both fascinating and dreadfully tedious at the exact same time. There are philosophical nuggets of brilliance about the brevity of life and how to best navigate a hectic and overwhelming world in a healthy (for the most part) man ...more
James and 1032 other people liked Alexandra Petri's review of Meditations:
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
"This basically consists of Marcus Aurelius repeating, "Get it together, Marcus" to himself over and over again over the course of 12 chapters.

SPOILER ALERT:
-The time during which you are alive is very very brief compared to the time during which you" Read more of this review »
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Cabin by Patrick Hutchison
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Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen
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Expertly details the depth of Trump's corruption and moral vacuity, but this was a tough read in 2026, where it's just so clear that his brand of vile politics is still in full control and going nowhere. (Audiobook version) ...more
James and 1 other person liked Annika Bee's review of Surviving Autocracy:
Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen
"Gessen’s expertise on the rise of Putin makes her uniquely qualified to call out the parallels during Trump’s first administration. As the president-elect prepares for a second term, and drops cabinet position after cabinet position, each more outrag" Read more of this review »
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More of James's books…
Chris Crutcher
“I believe there was a big bang and that because of that we are all connected into infinity, and I know very little having to do with human beings that doesn't also have to do with connection.”
Chris Crutcher, King of the Mild Frontier: An Ill-Advised Autobiography – The Riveting, Laugh-Out-Loud Funny Young Adult Coming-of-Age Memoir

Charles Bukowski
“It was like the beginning of life and laughter. It was the real meaning of the sun”
Charles Bukowski, Factotum

Alan Furst
“Politicians were like talking dogs in a circus: the fact that they existed was uncommonly interesting, but no sane person would actually believe what they said”
Alan Furst, Dark Star

Fredric Brown
“The shortest horror story:

The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door.”
Frederic Brown

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