Romantic Track from NPR

A couple weeks back, I was featured on Baltimore’s National Public Radio station with a reading from my novel in stories, TRACKS. I read “The Silences” on WYPR’s The Signal.

The Signal is broadcast on 88.1 FM to about 20,000 listeners in the Baltimore-DC area. It airs at 12 noon and again at 7 p.m. and offers a tour of Baltimore's cultural landscape.

"The Silences" is a story from TRACKS, my novel in stories which takes place on a train traveling from Baltimore to Chicago. In the story, a young woman traveling with the love of her life imagines a grim future together, and she longs for him to prove her wrong.

Miss the broadcast or want to hear it again? Here’s the official podcast of the reading, music, train sound effects and all.

Enjoy “The Silences!”


www.publicbroadcasting.net/wypr/arts.artsmain?action=viewArticle&id=1469301

Goose Goes To School

It looks like the Towson Times was right when they wrote that Flightless Goose “has lessons to teach.” Flightless Goose proved it last week with a day full of lessons for elementary school kids.

That’s because Gilbert the Flightless Goose was invited for a full-day of readings, lessons, and discussions about the book, Flightless Goose, at Meadow Hall Elementary School in Montgomery County.

We arrived to find our names in lights on the marquee in front of the school, a prime parking spot reserved for us, and a warm welcome from the principal, secretary, reading specialist, and teachers. Then, we got to work – having fun and sharing our book and message.

Flightless Goose was presented to each grade (K-5) followed by age-appropriate discussions, lessons, and activities. We talked about such lessons from the book as treating others with respect and dignity, not making fun of others, everyone having potential regardless of differences, and not playing near roads. With older kids, we also discussed what it was like to be an author and artist.

The children were enthusiastic, attentive, and really latched onto the book and the messages. They were mesmerized by the pictures and fervently talked about the book and what they liked about it and learned from it.

The adults seemed excited about the event too. Here’s what the principal had to say to his “shout out” on the Principal’s Page newsletter after the event: “We are very pleased and excited about the opportunity MHES had to meet and work with Mr. Eric D. Goodman and Mrs. Nataliya A. Goodman, author and illustrator of the Flightless Goose. Throughout the day, all students attended workshops that gave them the chance to read, write, illustrate, and reflect on what it means to be a good writer. Thank you to Mrs. Moser for arranging this wonderful day for our students.”

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/meadowhalles/Ppage%2012.pdf

In their newsletter, the Meadow Hall PTA described the event as “extremely exciting” They went on to say, “There is no better way to get the kids excited about reading and writing than to hear from the author directly.”

www.mhespta.org/pdf%20files/MHES_Fridge_012309.pdf

Although we’ve done readings and events before, such as the Festival of Trees, this was our first day-long, in-school event. After an exhilarating day, we can’t wait for the next one.

Learn more about the school event by visiting the brochure Meadow Hall’s reading specialist, Marlene Moser, put together.

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/meadowhalles/Author%20Visit.pdf

Poetry Wins on Super Bowl Sunday

Springsteen rocked the arena. But did you catch the hottest pre-bowl party?

Billy Collins, one of the nation’s best-selling poets and a former U.S. Poet Laureate, read from his poetry at the Weinberg Center in Frederick, Maryland. Collins has been described as an American phenomenon who rivals Robert Frost in popularity and critical acclaim.

But … poetry before football?

Yes, it was Super Bowl Sunday. And yes, this was a poetry reading. But, believe it or not, the venue was packed! They were sending people to the bleachers (or rather the balcony) because there weren’t enough seats in the theater to hold all of the audience members who had come to latch onto Billy’s poetic lines.

When I contacted The Weinberg Center after the event, they confirmed that there were approximately 700 people in attendance.

“The crowd came from near and far,” said Elizabeth Cromwell, Chairwoman of the Frederick Reads Committee. “In a few moments in the lobby, I heard attendees saying they had driven in from Washington, DC, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, the Eastern Shore, and more. I even met a lady who came to Maryland from Maine when she heard about the reading."

Frederick Reads brought Billy Collins to Frederick for the reading, in partnership with the Weinberg Center and the C. Burr Artz Trust.

Elizabeth had expected good turnouts for other authors who visited in the past year, such as Alexander McCall Smith and David Sedaris. In fact, David Sedaris is slated to return on Saturday, April 4.

But poetry? On Super Bowl Sunday?

“We didn't know how a poet would be received here, even one as highly regarded as Billy Collins,” said Elizabeth. “You can imagine my delight at seeing so many people in attendance.”

Indeed, it was worth putting down the chicken wings and beer … if only for an hour or two. And getting to meet and talk with Billy Collins after the reading was a pleasure.

Learn more about the Weinberg Center for the Arts at their website.
www.weinbergcenter.org

Find out about Frederick Reads at their page.
www.frederickreads.org

Share a cigarette with Billy Collins at the link below.
www.archive.org/details/BillyCollinsTheBestCigarette

Goose Dons New Pajamas

“Have you ever seen a goose in pajamas?” asks Writer’s Lair Books, the publisher of Flightless Goose. Well, you just might when you join Gilbert the Flightless Goose in his fundraising effort for The Pajama Program, a non-profit organization that provides nurturing books and warm sleepwear to children in need.

The Pajama Program has appeared on Oprah and has been praised by NYC Mayor Bloomberg, Parenting Magazine and many other trusted sources.

For every copy of Flightless Goose purchased, one dollar will be donated to The Pajama Project.

Learn more about the Pajama Program partnership with Flightless Goose at the publisher’s website.

www.writerslairbooks.com/pajamaprogram.html

Or jump right into the online pond below.

www.RunGoose.com

Romantic "Silence" for Valentine's Day

This Friday may be the 13th, but it also happens to be the day before Valentine’s Day. So the producers of The Signal on National Public Radio’s WYPR in Baltimore have a treat in store for listeners with an ear for quiet romance.

I’ll be returning to The Signal to read from my fiction. And with Valentine’s Day in mind (more so than Friday the 13th), I picked out what is probably the closest my fiction has come to a romance story.

“The Silences” is a story from TRACKS, my novel in stories which takes place on a train traveling from Baltimore to Chicago. In the story, a young woman traveling with the love of her life imagines a grim future together, and she longs for him to prove her wrong.

The Signal is broadcast to about 20,000 listeners in the Baltimore-DC area. It airs at 12 noon and again at 7 p.m. and offers a tour of Baltimore’s cultural landscape. Tune into 88.1 FM.

Can’t pick it up, or doesn’t fit your schedule. No worries — you can also listen to it live or in podcast form at the WYPR’s website (www.wypr.org) or The Signal’s site (www.SignalRadio.org).

Once you’ve listened to the abridged version, read the entire story as it was originally published in Slow Trains. You can visit the online literary journal at the link below.

www.slowtrains.com/vol7issue3/goodmanvol7issue3.html

Real Writer on the Radio

Christine Stewart, aka The Real Writer, is reading her fiction on WYPR’s The Signal today. Chris reads her novel Inventory, a story about her experiences sorting through the remnants of her late grandparents' home.

The Signal is broadcast at noon and 7 p.m. and offers a tour of the Baltimore area’s cultural landscape.

Can’t tune in for the broadcast? Then check out the podcast! The link is below.

www.publicbroadcasting.net/wypr/arts.artsmain?action=viewArticle&id=1466510

Literary Journal Reccommends Flightless Goose

One of Baltimore’s most popular literary journals, JMWW, recommended Flightless Goose in their most recent issue.

Under the News heading in the right column of the front page, JMWW features my photo and a link to www.RunGoose.com.

“Eric D. Goodman’s The Flightless Goose is now available from Writers Lair Books,” the message informs.

Enjoy the latest issue of JMWW now at the link below. While you’re there, peruse the selection of poetry, fiction, art and photography. You’ll even find some reviews — including a favorable review of New Lines from the Old Line State: An Anthology of Maryland Writers, which opens with a story from yours truly.

http://jmww.150m.com