Samurai Awakening - Latest Comments

Re: Contact Jitsugen Samurai

Benjamin Martin — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 21:19:51 -0000

Hi Kamari, It's only available on Amazon Kindle at the moment. Subscribers to their unlimited reading can get it for free.

Re: Contact Jitsugen Samurai

HiddyK89 — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 18:31:04 -0000

I cant find your betrayal book.. I really want to know what happened... especially now he is in the palace...

Re: Contact Jitsugen Samurai

Benjamin Martin — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 20:25:44 -0000

Hi Justin, Thank for contacting me and thanks for reading! If you'd like to send an email, feel free to use morethingsjapanese [at] gmail.com

Re: Samurai Awakening

Benjamin Martin — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 20:24:09 -0000

There are a couple different types of seaweeds eaten and grown in Okinawa, but they all have different harvesting times. A lot of them are very short term as well. I would suggest trying to plan your trip for a time when they're in season (April-May for Mozuku!)

Re: Contact Jitsugen Samurai

Justin Rodriguez — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 13:44:13 -0000

I was wondering if there was a proper way to send fan mail to Benjamin Martin? I have read the samurai awakening series up too its mosy current point and just want to give back a little.

Re: Samurai Awakening

Richard Snashall — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 23:02:00 -0000

Hi Benjamin, I am an Australian interested in doing a short film and some radio stories about brown seaweeds, diet and long lives in Okinawa, hopefully in March. I saw and am encouraged by your great little film on Mozuku. I am hoping to turn up and see what I can put together, just wanted your thoughts on whether that's a silly approach! I would love any suggestions you might have. Cheers Richard

Re: Samurai Awakening

Benjamin Martin — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 21:09:50 -0000

Not being in Tokyo I can't offer specific suggestions. I would say go to the biggest grocery store you can and ask for "Fu." The kanji is 麩... or you can order online. http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E3...

Re: Samurai Awakening

dheeraj singh — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 23:56:03 -0000

Thanks Benjamin, i meant Gluten only. i have been looking for it but someone couldn't find it. do you know some specific stores?

Re: Samurai Awakening

Benjamin Martin — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 21:19:56 -0000

Are you referring to gluten? It will likely be in same section of food stores that sell miso and dashi as it's sometimes used in miso soup.

Re: Samurai Awakening

dheeraj singh — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 05:09:34 -0000

Hi Benjamin, any idea where i can buy Fu package in Tokyo?

Re: Contact Jitsugen Samurai

Benjamin Martin — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 01:45:50 -0000

Hi Brian,

I do have the next book in the works. Working to make sure its as good as it can be. Thanks for reading and checking in!

Re: Contact Jitsugen Samurai

Brian — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 16:53:31 -0000

hey i was wondering is there going to be a another book after "revenge of the akuma clan" i can't wait to read it

best wishes Brain

Re: Samurai Awakening

Benjamin Martin — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 05:23:39 -0000

Hello and thank you for taking the time to comment! I'm glad you enjoyed Samurai Awakening. Unfortunately I can't answer your question because Rie is such a big part of this series and I don't want to give away any spoilers!

I hope you continue to enjoy the series.

Re: Samurai Awakening

Remco Thoen — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 01:41:55 -0000

Well, I must say that I have a bitter sweet taste in my mouth. I only picked up Samurai Awakening today, read through it within several hours and loved it... Such a shame I didn't get to enjoy experiancing exciting world before. But I find out that the sequel is due to release this month! Lucky me xD

This series is awesome!
One of the questions I have from reading the first book is... Is it possible for a Jitsugen Samurai to gain a new partner in the rare case that the bond they have with their previous partner breaks? This would perhaps allow David and kou to bond with Rie and involve her in the story a bit more.

Kind Regards

Remco

Re: How I Got Published

Holly Helt — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 22:54:58 -0000

Thanks for sharing this experience! Congrats too - well done. I've just self-published a hardback on Japanese green tea (Green is the New Black - the glorious rise of Japanese green tea) while shopping it around to publishers, including a personal contact at Tuttle. You give me a glimmer of hope, Ben! Thanks a bunch! If you ever get to Kyushu, pop in to visit me for some really amazing green tea. :o) BTW, I lived in Scottsdale AZ for two amazing years.

Re: Samurai Awakening

Benjamin Martin — Sun, 05 May 2013 04:05:06 -0000

Thanks for commenting and congrats on your placement with the JET Programme. You've definitely got an adventure of your own ahead. Good Luck with your preparations!

Re: Samurai Awakening

Maggie Moor — Sat, 04 May 2013 16:35:59 -0000

I picked up this book for some fun reading before I head to Japan with JET Programme, and I was thrilled to find that the author is in JET too! This book is a fun way for me to learn a bit about Japanese culture - not to mention a thrilling plot!

Re: Samurai Awakening

Benjamin Martin — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:46:07 -0000

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Revenge of the Akuma Clan will be out this October!

Re: Samurai Awakening

MTMS Teacher — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:29:44 -0000

What a GREAT BOOK!!! Can't wait for more from this author!!

Re: February Giveaway!

Silvia Groniewicz — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 05:15:38 -0000

Lovely idea! I could used a good luck charm and some reading material :)

Re: Samurai Awakening

Benjamin Martin — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:07:30 -0000

Hi, there will definitely be a sequel. Its scheduled for Fall 2013! I also just released The Tanner's Daughter for free on smashwords, wattpad, and for $.99 on kindle.

Re: Samurai Awakening

A.M. — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:28:32 -0000

Will there be a sequill, please tell me there's going to be a sequill.

Re: How I Got Published

Benjamin Martin — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 02:25:21 -0000

That's one of the harsh realities of writing long pieces, sometimes they really have to be completely rewritten to make them publishable. Every time I go through a manuscript I've written, I always find something to change, which makes me think about all the things I must have missed along the way. Part of those are just simple mistakes, but a lot of them come from developing my style, voice, and knowledge of writing while working on other projects. If I went back and rewrote Samurai Awakening again, It would probably be a completely different book and I've only been writing for about 3 years (I thought up the basics of my first book in Jan 2010). A lot of authors I've heard from suggest that writers aspiring to get published keep writing, which you're doing, so that once you have a foot in the industry door, you will have a better chance to dust off the old manuscripts hidden in your closet... To me it sounds like your views of Japan have changed enough that perhaps with a heavy edit you could make it sell-able... or perhaps just market it differently, "The Native(crossout) Naive Guide to Japan"

Re: How I Got Published

Muzu Hashi — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:46:38 -0000

The blog is kind of for that purpose, although the trouble is, the more time I spend in Japan, the more naive the original travel book begins to feel. It's a bit of a shame to have it languishing 'on the shelf', as it were, but then again, if it was published now, I think it would clash rather too much with what I'm writing at the moment, and not properly reflect how I feel about the country, the culture etc etc (not without a complete re-write, anyway...).

When I'm rich, famous and world-renowned (!), hopefully my publishers will take an interest in it as a fascinating example of the development in my early writing style!

Re: How I Got Published

Benjamin Martin — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:29:40 -0000

That's definitely true. I'm published, but I can't just sit back and take in a bunch of money. Authors only get a small percentage of the final list price, mainly because there are so many other people involved between first draft and the consumer.

With any book, but especially non-fiction, everything I've heard is that you need a platform to sell a book. There are so many books out there that publishers need to know you can sell the book once they put it together.

If you really do want to move forward with your travel book, why not start a website to build credentials, hone your skill, and build an audience? You already have a great blog to start from!