Tokyo-ing! Three Novellas

Tokyo-ing!

“These three novellas get right to the heart of what it’s like to live in Tokyo — the search for love, the pressures of work, the confusion of meanings in a city too huge for anyone. In these three compelling novellas, Madeen paints a picture of the hustle-bustle of Tokyo and the inner worlds of its citizens. The complexities of intercultural affairs, difficult workplaces, and the emotional side of the city are all handled with sensitivity and insight, and a good dose of irony and humor. You can’t help but root for the characters and be surprised by how things turn out. These are real tales of Tokyo.” — Michael Pronko, author of the Detective Hiroshi mystery series

“Amazing book! Extremely well-executed! From an American professor falling into a sex trap set by a Chinese female student, to a Japanese career woman plunged into after-work drinking culture to a fascinating love story starring in the end a rarity in the Far East: a woman born in a Fire Horse year!!! All told, Tokyo-ing! is a terrific trio that’ll rock your socks!” — Cami Michaels, Sci/Fi Fantasy author of The Sheffrou Trilogy

“Tokyo-ing is a masterful tour de force of a book, combining three short fast-paced novellas into a compassionate and profound look at life and culture in contemporary Japan. Though author Eric Madeen has taken on serious matters — karoshi (overwork death), alcoholism, Machiavellianism in academia, eroticism, the disruption of traditional male/female work and family roles, old world superstition and new world attempts at life solutions — his tales are told with sly ingenious humor, affection, and happy fable-like endings which reward emotional growth through endurance and struggle. He is a stunning and tricky literary writer, who straddles the roles of both soto (outsider) and uchi (insider), a necessary attribute for any fine writer, but invaluable for unpacking the intricacies of Japanese culture. If you want to be entertained as you learn about the complex underpinnings of modern Japan, I highly recommend Eric Madeen as your virtuoso guide. Trust me, you’ll enjoy the ride.” — Marnie Mueller, author of The Climate in the Country, set in the Tule Lake Japanese American High Security segregation camp during WWII

Tokyo-ing! Three Novellas is available on Amazon as paperback and ebook.

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New Novel Published!

new novel

new novel

Eric Madeen’s new novel is here!

“Madeen’s exuberant prose whisks the reader through the trials and tribulations of tennis enthusiast David Adams, a big, blustery American university lecturer on a limited contract, struggling to make his way and maintain his dignity within the constraints of Japan, as he deals with archrival K. Many of David’s misadventures are laugh-out-loud funny, but there is enough truth within these pages to make a long-term foreign resident wince. This is a rollicking read sure to entertain!” — Suzanne Kamata, author of THE BASEBALL WIDOW

“While I came into it expecting a cringy sports novel I was amazed at its wit and insight into Japanese culture, layered deeply and transcribed brilliantly in all its idiosyncracies. The characters, particularly the professor’s wife, are endearing. Tennis Clubbed is breathtaking tennising across cultures …” — Scott Collins, Mount Airy, North Carolina

Tennis Clubbed, Snubbed and Rubbity-Dub Dubbed is available on Amazon as paperback and ebook.

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Third Book Published!

Third Book

Third Book

“Massage World: The Novel is a titillating and wild-ass ride through the booming world of massage therapy, unveiling by turns a crystally and oily tale of ambition, sensuality, and dogged competition. Ingrid Swanson, a determined massage therapist, is hell driven to open an upscale, straight health spa, but her plans meet a hard to define gangsterism from the massage parlor lord, Jack Cobb, and his  crooked vice dick eliciting “extras.” It’s Rousseau meeting De Sade in overtime.What ensues are heated battles adding up to the curious coinage “massage wars,” as Ingrid fights to establish her business against all sordid odds. The story takes a gut drop when a police raid and ensuing bust prompt a neighborhood organization to rally and then a newscaster to open the 6 p.m. feed with: “You get more than just a massage at the new upscale health spa Massage World!” Finally, add the whole wobbly house of cards up and you get Massage World and the reader – this reader – being struck by the delirious Americana divisions that the rest of the world cannot take their eyes off of.” – Vladimir Nenchev; Sofia, Bulgaria

“Massage World combines gritty realism, lurid sensationalism, and darker-than-black comedy to conjure up a phantasmagoric vision of a world in pain … The war of the sexes writ mind-blowingly large.” — Larry McCaffery, author notably of Some Other Frequency: Interviews with Innovative American Authors 

“It’s a sizzler of a thriller bursting with eccentric energy.” — William Luvaas, winner of a Huffington Post Book of the Year award 

“Very cinematic with a canny and calculated construction. A really high-octane potboiler. Motion and emotion. Exotica and erotica  from SoCal to Japan and back. Conflict galore. Kinkiness with and without aromatic oils. Who could ask for more?” — Harold Jaffe, Editor of Fiction International and professor of literature and literary writing at San Diego State University

Hear the radio interview on Youtube.

Massage Word: The Novel is available on Amazon as ebook and paperback.

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“Water Drumming in the Soul” First Novel Published

water drumming

Water Drumming in the Soul is a novel I won’t soon forget, which is the highest compliment I can pay an author. Eric Madeen’s richly developed characters and superbly built world drew me in and didn’t let me go. I could especially feel David’s dedication, frustration, and pain, and while, by the time I reached Part 2, I thought I was going to end up disliking Assam, the story was woven so beautifully and realistically that I was even able to ‘get’ her. I wasn’t, however, bargaining for needing quite so many tissues! That’s a good thing, too, though. In my opinion, this novel is on par with works by whom we consider masters…Hemingway definitely comes to mind. So very highly recommended!” — Elizabeth Montaño, author notably of The Eternal Dawn Trilogy

“We are at once inside David’s head … as well as in the head of Assam, an extraordinarily beautiful black woman. Her mind informs us about her world of myths, witches, spells, taboos, beauty, customs and so much more. The story is spellbinding as pain, illness, weather, emotions, myths or reality, loneliness, friendship, understanding, and kindness collide and spin the characters … A remarkable description of the complexities of life far from home for one and right at home for the other.” — Reviewed for Peace Corps Worldwide by Sue Hoyt Aiken, RPCV (Ethiopia)

Water Drumming in the Soul is available on Amazon as paperback and ebook.

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