James H. Duncan

year in books

James H. Duncan’s Followers (44)

member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
member photo
Ashley
2,350 books | 107 friends

Ken
Ken
1,811 books | 527 friends

Bobbie ...
55 books | 36 friends

Erica W...
1,059 books | 408 friends

Bud Smith
661 books | 676 friends

Douglas
6,285 books | 1,259 friends

Ryan
2,242 books | 665 friends

Sara
2,519 books | 714 friends

More friends…

James H. Duncan

Goodreads Author


Born
The United States
Website

Genre

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

To ask James H. Duncan questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

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 · 125 ratings · 33 reviews · 21 distinct works
The Cards We Keep

4.56 avg rating — 18 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
We Are All Terminal But Thi...

4.50 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2017
Rate this book
Clear rating
Lantern Lit series Vol. 1

by
it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2014
Rate this book
Clear rating
Dealing With the Devil in t...

4.86 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2012
Rate this book
Clear rating
Vacancy

by
it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2019
Rate this book
Clear rating
What Lies In Wait

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

4.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2017 — 3 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
The Girl Who Loved Halloween

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
Berlin

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2014
Rate this book
Clear rating
Nights Without Rain

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2018 — 2 editions
Rate this book
Clear rating
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

Read more of this blog post »
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on August 13, 2025 16:54
Outside the Gates
James is currently reading
bookshelves: currently-reading
read in April 2023
Rate this book
Clear rating

James James said: " A brief but brilliant little novel, with subtle elements of fantasy and folklore, but at its heart a story of humanity, decency, and friendship. "

 
The Dictators: Hi...
Rate this book
Clear rating

 

James’s Recent Updates

James wants to read
Unforeseen by Molly Gloss
Rate this book
Clear rating
James started reading
Outside the Gates by Molly Gloss
Rate this book
Clear rating
James rated a book it was amazing
Winter Solstice by Nina MacLaughlin
Rate this book
Clear rating
James wants to read
Summer Solstice by Nina MacLaughlin
Rate this book
Clear rating
James finished reading
Winter Solstice by Nina MacLaughlin
Rate this book
Clear rating
James finished reading
Hitch 22 by Christopher Hitchens
Rate this book
Clear rating
James is currently reading
Winter Solstice by Nina MacLaughlin
Rate this book
Clear rating
James rated a book it was amazing
The Spies of Warsaw by Alan Furst
Rate this book
Clear rating
Alan Furst has become a favorite of mine. I've enjoyed each one, especially this one. And even if the general rhythms of all of his espionage books feel the same, at least it's a rhythm that works: the first third developing the life of our hero, his ...more
James rated a book really liked it
Getting Your Bell Rung by Dan Provost
Getting Your Bell Rung
by Dan Provost (Goodreads Author)
Rate this book
Clear rating
James is currently reading
Hitch 22 by Christopher Hitchens
Rate this book
Clear rating
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

220 Goodreads Librarians Group — 304231 members — last activity 0 minutes ago
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
66810 Vagabondage Press Books — 119 members — last activity Mar 26, 2012 01:11PM
Sign up to get news of our lastest acquistions and newest releases. Bloggers and Reviewers Welcome! Join for review ARCs, connect with our authors ...more
87172 Punk Hostage Press — 374 members — last activity Feb 19, 2020 09:45AM
Punk Hostage Press is a not-for-profit book publishing imprint that also acts as a an outreach program to connect writers and contemporary literature ...more
No comments have been added yet.