James H. Duncan

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James H. Duncan

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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: 4.73 · 124 ratings · 33 reviews · 21 distinct works
The Cards We Keep

4.56 avg rating — 18 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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What Lies In Wait

4.67 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions
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Vacancy

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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2019
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Proper Etiquette in the Sla...

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

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions
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More books by James H. Duncan…

New Interview on the Meat For Teacast

In late 2025, I had the pleasure of joining my poetry writing partners Gabriel Ricard and Kevin Ridgeway on an episode of the Meat for Teacast, a podcast hosted by Elizabeth Macduffie, where we discussed our last book We Have Waited Long Enough, a collection of response poetry we all sent back and forth to each other until we had a full collection. We also touched on a wide range of music, film,

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Published on January 01, 2026 12:29
Japanes Death Poems
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Don't Skip Out on Me by Willy Vlautin
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Damn, this book hits harder than a desperate boxer's KO body shot. Vlautin is simply the best. ...more
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The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides
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The Wager by David Grann
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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
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Japanes Death Poems by Yoel Hoffmann
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Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
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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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