Hunting Buddha

Dear Jame, I got so excited when I saw that you had backed, "He Loves Me." Thanks so very much. :) Since I have already "backed" your book, I will also put your book on my "watchlist." Could you please take a moment to "back" my completed unedited memoir version? "Tell Me True Love Stories," which at the end tells of my illness now & 6th abusive marriage. I'd be ever so grateful. :) Thank you. :) Love, Susie :)
p.s. Remember: Every time you place a book on your bookshelf, your recommendation pushes the book up the rankings. And while that book sits on your bookshelf, your reputation as a talent spotter increases depending on how well that book performs. :)

Dear Jame, I love the intrigue - it must have been based on fact for it to end this way. Before I began to read your book, I was prepared by your recap/pitch,which was very well done. Your story is good because you create interest by having short paragraphs & lots of dialogue, which makes me want to keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. I'm "backing" your book to help it advance - this will help yours & mine move up on the charts. :) Could you please return the favor by taking a moment to "back" my TWO memoir books, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" & my completed memoir unedited version? "Tell Me True Love Stories," which tells at the end, my illness now & 6th abusive marriage." Thanks, Susie :)
p.s. Remember: Every time you place a book on your bookshelf, your recommendation pushes the book up the rankings. And while that book sits on your bookshelf, your reputation as a talent spotter increases depending on how well that book performs. :)

Your first chapter is well written and is enough to keep the readers attention. It has an authentic tone as if you have some knowledge of the culture and dialogue. Worth backing. Good luck with it!

Your first chapter is well written and is enough to keep the readers attention. It has an authentic tone as if you have some knowledge of the culture and dialogue. Worth backing. Good luck with it!

It is a very interesting story. I backed with admiration.
Please take a look at Bamboo Promise.

Bora Matarazzo
Bamboo Promise

Hi, Jame -

I just read through your first chapter and was really impressed. At first, I thought you included way too much detail in your description of the Tokyo night; was starting to feel like an info dump. Then I noticed how it was all beginning to feel like one of the early scenes in Ridley Scott's "Black Rain". You did a masterful job of plopping me right into the middle of an environment completely alien to anything I've ever experienced, and I could see it all playing in front of me as a scene from the movie.

Great job of slowly spoonfeeding small doses of tension throughout the chapter and ending it on a scene that foreshadows something large and dark headed our way.

I only noticed one small thing in the chapter which struck me as odd. Down toward the end of the chapter, you have your mc say, "He blew me out", which is an incorrect use of the colloquial. Should read, "Blew me off'. But that's your call.

Other than that, this its a terrific piece of writing and I'm happy to back "Buddha".

Best of luck here, and I'd love it if you could take a look at my book.

Thanks.

-Jeff Lee
THE LADIES TEMPERANCE CLUB'S FAREWELL TOUR

ARISE, AUTHONOMY GHOST!

Ease those weary, withered limbs from your coffin. Push away the stone from the mouth of the tomb.

You have one last task to perform. One last, sacred shelf to confer.

Whether you were plugger, spammer, gusher or troll, whether you flirted or fought in the forum or beavered away in the shadows, now is the time for your resurrection.

One last time. Marshall your strength, muster the last vestiges of your power and carry out your final Authonomy act:

Back my book, MIRROR IN THE SKY.

Then, only then, you may rest easy in your Authonomy grave.

Nick Poole2 (formerly known as NickP)

Jame, thanks for your comments - back for a few more of your chapters. I have uploaded my original prologue at the beginning of chapter one - is that a better hook?

Jame, you were among the first Authonomists to comment on “Out for Blood” as it was called then. “Lifers” as it is called now has been extensively altered thanks to your comments. I have also broken down the chapter length to no more than a couple of pages. Do you think you have time to read one or two beginning chapters to see if it is coming together any better?
I would appreciate your feedback immensely on this.
If however you are too busy to do this, then that’s fine.

Thanks very much either way,
Mark.

Just stumbled upon Hunting Buddha and read the first chapter all the way through, which is rare. Enjoyed the description of the Tokyo night. Haven't been there myself, but was reminded of Lost in Translation (the movie). No time for more now, but I have it on my watchlist and I'll definietly be back for more.

please try www.350.org/invite it will take one minute.

I really only have time to glance at stuff on here. Sorry. But this is one of the best glances I've had. It reminded me of William Gibson. You're on a shelf.

Hi James - just another couple of chapters. It's still moving along well. Will be back again soon.

James enjoyed that, intended to read a couple of chapters and thought i'd better go back to work at chapter six. I've never been to Japan, but felt like I was there. It reads well, nothing stood out or stopped me reading. Will read first chapter again tonight after work. On my watchlist.

Jame; HB has got off to a lively start. It is well written and I like the stuccato style, which I feel works best with this type of plot. It seems very authentic and well reserched. Japan is one of the few spots on the globe that I am totally unfamiliar with. It is a long first chapter! but I dont think this detracts unduly. On my bookshelf and I will revert asap.

Hi, thanks for your honest comments about NIne Dragon Town. I've had a similar response from another reviewer who said my main characters sounded like something out of a bad 1970s American cop show. You have to have a thick hide in the writing game! I've left with a bit of a problem however. To give Officer Lin a chinese accent would make her a Charlie Chan figure, while no accent or particular word choice make her character bland. Any suggestions?

Hi Jame - thanks for the kind words on 'Pistols for Two...'. Reading your first chapter, I can quite see why certain aspects of my style may frustrate. Yours is far more economical and concise (no bad thing, particularly for the type of prose you write). And it is the mark of a good journalist to be sure. While the Flashman stories do move at pace, they also take time to explore the byways. I'd be interested to learn how far you went with Hammersley, and would love to hear any other thoughts. The opening chapter is a little more drawn out than others - it is, after all, where this preposterous character is established and introduced.

I enjoyed what I read of 'Hunting Buddha'. You've created a very clear and vivid description of the Japanese hostess culture, and the characters come across as clearly defined and well thought out. As a very personal aside, I thought the 'ass' and 'tits' references were a little incongruous in some otherwise very stylish writing. Sharp, modern and efficient prose - a huge market awaits you. Will be interested to read further when you have uploaded the full MS.

I wish I could offer something constructive to say, but you appear to have a well polished story that I can't find fault with! The prose is at times eloquent, transporting me to a country that I have never visited, but one that I wish to do so (although not the darker, seedier side that you reveal), and at other times pacey enough to make me want to continue reading. I will have to shuffle my bookshelf.

I thought you captured the Asian nightclub scene well, and the dialogue was individual to each character rather slabs of similiar monologue as in some pieces. The descripitons were both evocative and poetic. Liked the skeletal hands rested on a cane. Will keep reading. David B.

Hello Jame. I came across this and started to read becaue of the title and the synopsis - both intriguing.
I really like the way that you begin with the city, as if it is a protagonist. It is something which has long impressed me from the Alexandira Quartet of Durrell and which I try to keep the spirit of in my own writing( my novel, A Sea of Straw).I wish more writers would do it as it really grounds the reader, giving a context for the imagination.
I like the way you paint the passersby with colours we can see in the night,and introduce the main characters and habitues later in the club. I only wonder if you really need to tell us about the two categories of girls, and whether that would come across anyway from the way you show them.
I am not generally a thriller reader but I shall put this on my watchlist as it seems well-written and promises much. Thank you

Hi Jame,

As my own novel (Prester John) involves a lot of travel in Thailand and Laos this caught my eye and I think you have the makings of a good work here. the dialogue in the first chapter is very convincing and creates a good feeling of Tokyo's seedier side. You are on my bookshelf as I think this is one that I will enjoy reading.

Wayne

Hi Jame, I've left an answer on my page for you concerning the comment you left for me. Thanks for reading Sunday's Child, and for taking the time off to comment.

I've read half of your first chapter, I couldn't go any further because of the tiny print, and NOT because of the writing. The book instantly pulls you in. The story is told remarkably well, and sets out to draw the reader closer with concerns of what would happen next.

I liked the way you set this first half of the chapter up. I'm hoping that the rest of it gets down to the story, because the scene is now set, and the reader is ready for the big punch.

There were a few things I noticed, which you may like to give some consideration to.
1. We seem to be jumping from one person's head to the next. This can be somewhat confusing.
2. Typo, 'met settled' instead of 'men settled'
3. 'But secrets?' in the second paragraph. I do not know what this means or how it relates to the rest of the paragraph.
4. It may be a good idea to change the font to a larger one.

All in all, a fantastic read, one to certainly add to my watchlist at the end of the month, when I will have several places.

best
anne

James thanks again for that, however i don't feel that introducing characters in a bio/memoir is relevant because they are not the important part of the story, they are simply people who may or may not have been there or did something during what was probably a brief period in my life therefore not important to the whole outcome. Please read beginning again and see if that draws you in. - Jon

James

Have another look - i think i am with you now - Cheers Jon

James - thank you for the comment you made about my book and the opening paragraphs, i am not sure what you mean about 'backstories' maybe you could enlighten me and then if i agree address the beginning of the book again. As the book moves into chapter 2 and further on it does get very exciting however i would like to take your comments on board if i understood them.

Hi James - thank you for looking at System Reset. The Necromancers is deemed by some to be too slow. System Reset is thought by you to be too rushed. De gustibus non est disputandum.

Just browsing, this caught my eye. I'll give you a bump. Sounds thrilling. Synopsis is good and first paragraph of chapter one, equally so.
all the best,
cheers
PS I'll be back...