36 ratings | 8 reviews | avg rating:4.97

James Duncan’s Followers (5)

James’s Bookshelves

to-read (7)
currently-reading (1)
read (36)
walking-on-glass (0)

James’s Friends (23)

Susanna Eun

44 books | 27 friends

Dede

611 books | 127 friends

D.B. Kennison

171 books | 947 friends

Karen Fielding

131 books | 24 friends

Teshelle Combs

24 books | 477 friends

Julie Isaac

124 books | 4,864 friends

Clare Johnston

12 books | 119 friends

Sarka-Jonae Miller

269 books | 658 friends

More friends…

James Duncan

Goodreads Author

Born

in Rainham, The United Kingdom

Website

http://jduncanbooks.blogspot.com

Twitter

James Duncan@jduncwriter

Genre

Thriller, Humor and Comedy, Spirituality

Influences

Paulo Coelho, Roald Dahl, Iain Banks, George Orwell

Member Since

August 2010

edit data

I wrote my first book at the tender age of 17. There were some good ideas in there, but my naivety and total lack of knowledge about my subject, shone through.

My second book, at 18, was better. It was a silly set of stories about a large sweet shop owner, called Mr Jolly. The joke was, that he was anything but jolly. He was nasty, selfish, and pompous. A big publisher showed interest, but didn't take it up. I learnt my first important lesson about writing. If you enjoy it, carry on, even if you are drowning under a mountain of rejection slips.

I wrote a couple of sit-coms in my 20's and was generally consumed by partying and life, before returning to my first love, which is writing books. And I do love writing books.

I have written several I wrote my first book at the tender age of 17. There were some good ideas in there, but my naivety and total lack of knowledge about my subject, shone through.

My second book, at 18, was better. It was a silly set of stories about a large sweet shop owner, called Mr Jolly. The joke was, that he was anything but jolly. He was nasty, selfish, and pompous. A big publisher showed interest, but didn't take it up. I learnt my first important lesson about writing. If you enjoy it, carry on, even if you are drowning under a mountain of rejection slips.

I wrote a couple of sit-coms in my 20's and was generally consumed by partying and life, before returning to my first love, which is writing books. And I do love writing books.

I have written several and each one has been a joy. For me, plot is only a loose structure, for once I have good characters, they take over the plot, they drive it forwards. With great characters, the writing process is easy, for if they have sufficient depth and I know them intimately, I am merely the vessel that writes down what they say and do. Of course I have to do the research, make some decisions about challenges they may face etc, but the fact is that the characters are in charge. Once I have an idea I like, the theme of my book, I look for my characters.

Of course, I draw upon people that I have met or observed in real life (but have only used aspects of their character rather than a total steal!), and sometimes I look inwardly to create a good character.

When I was writing childrens' stories, I listened to my inner child and developed the theme that enthused him. For 'Dominic And His Daydreams', (not currently available, the publisher controversially went out of business, it's a long story) I drew upon my own experience as a child. I was an avid reader and always daydreaming about going into those exciting worlds of the books I read. So the protagonist, Dominic, becomes a Fictionalis Special Agent, going into books and getting involved in wonderful adventures. I wrote 'Sweets That Eat Children!', inspired by my lifelong love of Roald Dahl.

My new book, 'Serendipity' is a thriller/satire/spiritually uplifting novel. Many influences there, but Paulo Coelho deserves special mention. His profound body of work taught me that I could infuse a spiritually uplifting element into my work.

I am currently working on a new satire/thriller, not sure how it is going to end. That's up to the characters - they're autonomous! ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask James Duncan questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
James Duncan’s books

Average rating: 4.57 · 14 ratings · 9 reviews · 7 distinct works

	Crazy On You (Archie and Isabella, #1) by James Duncan (Goodreads Author), J. Kahele (Goodreads Author) 4.45 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2015 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Serendipity it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Naturalist's Library Entomology, Vol. 7: Exotic Moths by William Jardine, James Duncan (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 15 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Entomologia Edinensis: Or a Description and History of the Insects Found in the Neighbourhood of Edinburgh by James Wilson, James Duncan (Goodreads Author) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2015 — 19 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Naturalist's Library Entomology, Vol. 3: British Butterflies by William Jardine, James Duncan (Goodreads Author), Georges Cuvier 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1835 — 25 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Foreign Butterflies by William Jardine, James Duncan (Goodreads Author) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Naturalist's Library Entomology, Vol. 40: British Moths, Sphinxes by William Jardine, Georges Cuvier, James Duncan (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1840 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by James Duncan…

2 posts
James Duncan's Blog

'Serendipity' Sample Chapters

CHAPTER ONE.

Edward Noble stared through the bay window at his enormous, perfectly manicured lawn, and nodded approvingly. There wasn’t an identifiable weed in the rose border and the privet hedge was trimmed to perfection.
Perfection.
Edward stared at his creation – and the perfection that surged from it was comparable to the magic mirror that oozed back pure flattery to Snow White’s stepmother. Ed Read more of this blog post »

1 like · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 30, 2014 17:10

View all 2 posts »

James is Currently Reading

James Duncan is currently reading

Walking on Glass

by Iain Banks

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Sep 12, 2014 10:28AM

James’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-1) post a comment »

date

newest »

message 1: by James

Feb 02, 2015 11:33AM

The worlds of the New York Mafia and the top London crime syndicate are about to collide! The much feared Pope Crew, a bunch of psychopathic criminals, try to pull off a multi-million weapon trafficking deal with the murderous Mafia Don, Giovanni Commarata. Then Archie Pope, a kitten and flower loving softie blows it by falling for Giovanni's daughter, Isabella - a "crime" punishable by death. War is declared between the two factions. The Popes team up with the Zaffutos - a family under Giovanni's control, and vicious and explosive urban warfare breaks out. All Archie wants to do is woo his beloved Isabella. Everyone else wants him to kill her father. Not ideal conditions for an otherwise beautiful courtship! This is a rom-com with a difference. It's probably the most terse, thrilling, edge-of-your-seat rom-com ever written. Touching but deadly.

This is the gangster rom-com that I penned with Goodreads author J Kahele. Fans of this fantastic writer, will already be aware of her talents at writing romance - all aspects - from the seductive sensual to the ups and downs of love. She also writes brilliant thrillers and can do unsettling monsters with ease and panache. I write comedy and action thrillers, I also reflect on spiritual aspects of life, so I often strive for an uplifting feel-good factor. I am English, J Kahele is American. Read how we merge our styles, with J Kahele writing for American character, Isabella Commarata, and myself writing for East End Crim, Archie Pope.

She moved in for the kiss and our lips met with an urgent force as we necked wildly. A long time passed before we were finished. Isabella opened her eyes and smiled at me. Then her eyes flashed over to somewhere behind me and a look of horror filled her face.

'Oh my God! Archie! It's Papa!'

The main reason why I am still alive is that I have hypersonic reflexes. I dived to the ground, pulling Isabella with me. Bullets whizzed overhead. The bodies of nightclub ravers standing at the bar fell. Several bullets' destination was the optics and it shattered from the almighty impact, hurtling cascades of glass and liquor across and over the bar, glass shards penetrating the backs of bartenders and the faces and bodies of customers. I spun myself around, hauling out my gun as I spun on my stomach. I held it aloft, pushing the safety level down to fire position, my finger straining against the trigger; I would shoot the micro-second I observed my target. The spin completed, my brain registered 6 armed, black ski-masked figures. Giovanni was eminently identifiable, from his stocky body shape and his cold eyes that wouldn't have looked out of place in a cobra's head. I discharged my semi-auto frantically...

reply | flag