Holiday Book Bazaar and Lighting of York’s Tree

The Smyser-Bair House / Historic York Inn and the Lit and Art Reading Series invite you to join us for an old fashioned Holiday Bazaar (in conjunction with the lighting of the City of York’s tree. The evening of books, music, food, drinks, palatial tours, original art, and regional literature takes place at 30 South Beaver Street as a part of Downtown York’s First Friday festivities from 5 to 9 p.m. on December 4!

This month’s theme is York City Light Up Night. The lighting of the Christmas Tree at Continental Square takes place at 6:15. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from our Holiday Bazaar — a perfect pairing.

During our Holiday Bazaar, you can enjoy a free hot or frosty drink and some food as you listen to live music and browse books, art, and items that would make great gifts for those on your list — or for yourself.

Berkshire-Hathaway will offer complete tours of the 1830s mansion, The Smyser-Bair House / Historic York Inn. Step back in time for a tour through history, with hand-carved, gilded Pier mirrors, stained glass, etched glass, hand plasterwork, woodwork, and chandeliers that rival those found in museums. Anchored in the historic district since the 1830s, and belonging to the Smyser-Bair family until 1979 (when it was left to the York Historical Trust before becoming a private inn) this home is a rich part of York's history, recently featured in front page news and on national television for its historic charm. (And it could be yours.)

Limestone Connection, a Baltimore band featuring Holly Morse-Ellington (on ukulele and vocals) and Jason Tinney (on harmonica), will play live music—originals, covers, and holiday tunes. Jason and Holly will also read from their work.

Participating regional authors and artists who will be on hand to sign and sell their works include:

Shirley Brewer—Poet-Bartender. Goddess of Swizzle. Author of poetry chaptbooks A Little Breast Music and After Words. M.A. from University of Baltimore. This writer mixes well!

Eric D. Goodman and Nataliya Goodman, author and illustrator of Flightless Goose, a storybook for children, and Tracks: A Novel in Stories. Flightless Goose was endorsed by a founding writer of Sesame Street. Tracks won the Gold Medal for best fiction in the Mid-Atlantic Region from the Independent Publishers Book Awards.

Anthony C. Hayes is an actor, author, rapscallion and bon vivant. A writer of poetry, humor and prose, Tony may be stalked at the Baltimore Post-Examiner.

Nitin Jagdish puts words into sentences and paragraphs that form stories, essays, and (very rarely) poems. Sometimes, publishers use those words.

Danuta E. Kosk-Kosicka is the author and translator of four books of poetry and short prose. She is co-editor of Loch Raven Review and a photographer. www.danutakk.wordpress.com.

Manzar’s artwork will be on display. Manzar was born in Tehran, Iran. Her work has been exhibited throughout the country and around the world. Her permanent collection is housed at the Watermark Gallery in Baltimore’s inner harbor. www.manzar.net.

Barbara Morrison, who writes under the name B. Morrison, is an award-winning poet and writer, a publisher, teacher, and dancer.  For more information visit www.bmorrison.com.

Sonia Linebaugh grew up in York and, after living in five states and one US territory, lives on the edge of Pennsylvania’s Michaux State Forest.

Jason Tinney will sign copies of his novel, Ripple Meets the Deep. Ripple Meets the Deep was named best book of Baltimore by Baltimore Magazine.

Readings will include poetry, short stories, and children’s books.

A beer tasting will be offered by Brewery Products.

Free snacks, food, hot drinks and cold drinks will be available to visitors, whether coming to look at the bazaar items or to tour the house.

Join us at the Historic York Inn / Smyser-Bair House, from 5 to 9 p.m. at 30 South Beaver Street, York, PA 17401 for York First Friday on December 4!

Find out about others participating in York City Light Up Night, all a hop, skip, and jump away from the holiday bazaar: http://yorkcity.org/lightupnight

Learn more about the history of the Smyser-Bair House / Historic York Inn at www.YorkInn.info.

Making Out in San Francisco

Join me as I sip tea with an old friend from Russia in Zen Valley, Explore the wonders of Golden Gate Park, and experience the hills and valleys of San Francisco. Chinatown, Grace Cathedral, and City Light Books are also on the agenda. Not to mention the Make Out Room, where I take to the stage in front of a beer-lit crowd.


It’s all a part of my continuing California book tour travel story being published in serial form by Atticus Books.


Join us at the Atticus Books Blog.


http://atticusbooksonline.com/blog/2015/08/19/booking-it-along-the-california-coast-a-book-tour-road-trip-across-the-pacific-coast-6/

Bad Commutes, Good Sourdough, and High Art

It’s all a part of my continuing California travel story being published in serial form by Atticus Books.


In this fifth installment, I experience the worst commute ever before making it to San Francisco. It gets even worse when I’m not even permitted in prison. But things look up as I sample sea soup and sourdough in Fisherman’s Warf, take in some high and manufactured art, and venture across the Golden Gate Bridge.


Join us at the Atticus Books Blog.


http://atticusbooksonline.com/blog/2015/08/12/booking-it-along-the-california-coast-a-book-tour-road-trip-across-the-pacific-coast-5/

Festival for Those Who Can’t Live Without Books

Two hundred years ago, the Library of Congress acquired Thomas Jefferson’s personal library. “I cannot live without books,” he said.

Which happens to be the theme of this year’s National Book Festival, featuring almost as many authors as there were books in that collection.

The 15^th annual National Book Festival takes place this Saturday, September 5.

Featured authors include Kwame Alexander, David Baldacci, Tom Brokaw, Stephen L. Carter, Louise Erdrich, Walter Isaacson, Nicholas Kristof, Azar Nafisi, Marilynne Robinson, Al Roker, and Jane Smiley.

See you on the National Mall!  

Learn more at https://event.crowdcompass.com/natbookfest15#/

So Long San Diego (Part 3 of My West Coast Story)

Join me for a tour of San Diego in the third installment of my California travel story.

The Atticus Books Blog is serializing the series, which I wrote based on the west leg of my book tour—taking me to old homes and favorite places.

Read the third installment of “Booking it Along the California Coast: A Book Tour / Road Trip Across the Pacific Coast” at the Atticus Books Blog.

http://atticusbooksonline.com/blog/2015/07/14/booking-it-along-the-california-coast-a-book-tour-road-trip-across-the-pacific-coast-3/

This Thanksgiving, Save the Goose for Reading

As you prepare you holiday goose*, allow me to put you on track regarding some Black Friday specials that will be good from now through the end of the weekend.

Buy a copy of Tracks: A Novel in Stories for $10 + $3 shipping and get a free audio CD with radio readings from the book—set to music and sound effects.
 

Buy a copy of Flightless Goose for $10 + $3 shipping and get a free DVD Storybook of the book.

Buy a set of both Tracks and Flightless Goose for $20 + $3 combined shipping and get both books, the free CD and DVD AND an unpublished, deleted story from Tracks.

Just visit www.EricDGoodman.com/tracks.html to place your order.

Learn more or place your order at www.TracksNovel.com

Happy Thanksgiving from the Goodmans and the goose!

*Gilbert, the flightless goose, recommends eating turkey and reading about goose.

National Book Award Winner Headlines 11th Annual CityLit Festival

This Saturday, April 12, get ready to celebrate the Baltimore literary arts in a big way! The 11th annual CityLit Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Enoch Pratt Free Library Central Library, 400 Cathedral Street in downtown Baltimore.

This year, the headliner is the 2013 National Book Award winner James McBride. Past participant in the festival have been Edward P. Jones, Junot Diaz, Stanley Plumly, and George Saunders.

The event will include a multitude of programs from readings to lectures, and the literary market place will be in the main hall all day.

I’ll be there with copies of Tracks: A Novel in stories, Flightless Goose, and information about the next Lit & Art at the Watermark.

Learn more at the CityLit Festival Facebook Page!
www.facebook.com/pages/CityLit-Project/216742435019875

The Michael Phelps of Books

Here in Rodgers Forge, we’re celebrating one of the most gold-medal heavy communities in the world. Michael Phelps grew up here and is an old neighbor.


If there is an Michael Phelps of books, the closest thing to it would be Atticus Books.

That’s because Atticus swept up the gold at this year’s Independent Publisher Book Awards in New York City. Not only did my own Tracks: A Novel in Stories win the Gold Medal for Best Fiction in the Mid-Atlantic region, but three other Atticus authors took gold for three other regions.

See the press release issued by Atticus Books to learn more about the Olympics of indie publishing.

http://atticusbooksonline.com/atticus-books-wins-four-ippy-awards

Multiple Bed Partners

For many, bedtime is the best time of the day. Not for the sleeping, but for all that happens before sleep comes. Exciting things can take place at the end of a long day in a comfortable bed.

Sometimes, it all depends on how many bed partners you keep. I’ve always been one for multiple bed partners. They, after all, can make or break the final hours before sleep arrives, can be the difference between excitement and boredom, infatuation and indifference. And when one begins to shed its allure, you can always put your hands on another.

These partners I’m talking about, of course, are books.

Books are always stacked on my bedside nightstand, although none of them remain permanent residents. Some readers prefer to focus on one story at a time, but I tend to keep multiple books beside me. With three or four novels in progress at any given time, I know there will always be something to interest me, regardless of my mood.

At the moment, I’m sharing my bed with The Civilized World by Susi Wyss, The Color of Night by Madison Smartt Bell, The Summer of Naked Swim Parties by Jessica Anya Blau, Kiss Me, Stranger by Ron Tanner, and Us by Michael Kimball. Bathsheba Monks’ Nude Walker has just left the room and is looking for a new partner.

Who have you been sharing your bed with lately?