“Rusted” in Scarlet Leaf Review

Scarlet. Rusted. Both red. And both read.

My short story, “Rusted,” was published in the April issue of Scarlet Leaf Review.

“Rusted” is set in the sweltering heat of Baltimore’s Artscape. Drawn in by an unusual sculpture, the narrator gets to know an even more unusual woman. The encounter draws up memories of the past—and reimagined conversations—that he’d rather forget.

Read “Rusted” and other fine stories in Scarlet Leaf Review.

http://www.scarletleafreview.com/short-stories7/eric-d-goodman-rusted

New Book is a Literary Adventure Thriller

I have a new novel coming out this fall!

The Color of Jadeite will be published by Loyola’s Apprentice House Books this fall.

The Color of Jadeite is a literary adventure thriller full of intrigue, romance, treacherous villains, alluring clues, narrow escapes, and surprises around every corner. 

Clive Allen, a suave private eye, ventures throughout China in search of an ancient jadeite tablet from the Ming dynasty. Along the way, he delves into the mysteries of China’s art, history, and culture.

Every bit as captivating as the treasure Clive seeks is the mysterious Wei Wei, an expert on Chinese artifacts who helps the droll detective navigate the most perilous pockets of Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and beyond.

With sidekicks Salvador and Mackenzie, Clive sets out to find the priceless artifact, outwitting their rivals at almost every turn. But between the fistfights and rickshaw chases, gunfights and betrayals, Clive’s deep connection with the treasure he seeks and his romance with Wei Wei force him to confront truths about his past and himself.

More details will be revealed as they’re uncovered at www.EricDGoodman.com/China.html.

Find Time for No Time in The Opiate Magazine

My story, “No Time” is published in The Opiate Magazine, Vol. 21.

The Opiate Magazine is an English-language literary magazine based in Paris, France and is available both in print and online.

“No Time” is described by the editor as an “epic slow burn of a friendship betrayal.”

I wrote the first draft years ago, around 2005, prompted by a workshop assignment to imagine something in my life that may have been seen in a negative light to others. I imagined what it must have looked like to friends and family when I returned from a semester in Russia to announce I’d fallen in love, and after I went back a few months later to get married. Nataliya and I were absolutely certain—and rightly so as our 25 years of marriage illustrate. But I imagine others, at the time, must have thought we were crazy, two people from different sides of the globe getting married after knowing one another less than a year.

For the seed to become a story—from the point of view of the friend—I had to take it several steps beyond. Thus the story of love became a story of questionable morals and betrayal.

Whether you order the print copy of the magazine or read it online for free, you’ll find “No Time” on pages 31-41 of the issue.

Enjoy it and the other fine stories and poetry in The Opiate Magazine.

https://issuu.com/theopiatemagazine/docs/the_opiate_vol._21_?fbclid=IwAR0Dg9Z-yHElJApfGRDbhyQPRN5PVaZAtPRzCGMwRoxFaa5bc4VCBNjPt8k

My Story "Ginger" Published in Modern Literature

My story, “Ginger” is published in the most recent issue of Modern Literature.

Modern Literature is an international English-language literary magazine based in Chennai, India that showcases the latest trends in literature.

“Ginger” is the story of a family dog and how each member of a family deals with loss.

I wrote the first draft of “Ginger” a few years ago, but the origin of the story goes way, way back.

When I was a child (already identifying as a writer), my family had a dog named “Ginger.” When we had to give her away prior to moving to Japan, I vowed to write a book about her. A year passed, then another. I began to realize the book couldn’t be about a regular mutt—it would be my life story told through the filter of the dog. I even have the first few pages of a draft on a yellow legal pad from childhood.

With age and some amount of maturity, I understood there would never be a book about Ginger. But, doggedly determined to fulfill the vow, as I glanced over the handwritten pages of that childhood beginning, I decided that perhaps a story about the dog could be managed.

The result of that seed is the story just published. 

Note that although motivated by our pet and situation, the story is complete fiction and does not reflect true perspectives, feelings, or viewpoints of real family members depicted in the story.

But, like most good fiction, it is true.

Enjoy “Ginger” and the other fine stories and poetry in Modern Literature.

https://www.modernliterature.org/2020/04/06/ginger-by-eric-d-goodman/

Get to It

As I enter my third month of Covid-19 quarantine, my daily work schedule and writing schedule have kept me as busy as ever. However, I’ve managed to take advantage of the saved commute and prep time and have been polishing and submitting some of my short fiction.

The result: 9 stories have been accepted for publication by literary journals and magazines, some in print and others online.

Some of the stories find their roots in rough drafts from as far back as 2007. Others are excerpts from my most recently published novel, Setting the Family Free. One of them I’ve already shared: “It was the Neighbor Who First Noticed Something Amiss” in the most recent issue of Loch Raven Review. Others have been accepted but won’t be published for a few months.

In the days, weeks, and months ahead I’ll share the stories as they’re published here.

I’m not sure why so many people are saying they’re bored during the pandemic. Sure, there are a lot of activities we miss. But there are so many things you can be doing, whether writing, reviewing, submitting, reading, catching up on the books you’ve been putting off, streaming the television series that’s just too long to commit to, dusting off the board games. 

Get to it!

And, if you miss people, we’ll always have Facebook.

www.Facebook.com/EricDGoodman