Wolfe: Fact or Fiction?

Tom Wolfe knew all about reporting, and all about writing fiction. He did both quite successfully in his career. And he was even able to marry the two by producing the novel as social commentary as well as non-fiction as creative narrative.

That's why Wolfe suggested young fiction writers try to get a bite of news reporting before tackling a novel.

"News is stranger than imagination and it triggers ideas," he said. "Find detail to help your imagination."

As an example, Wolfe mentioned socialite Paris Hilton. "The unaided imagination of a novelist needs to know what he's going to read in tomorrow's newspaper. Who would've thought Paris Hilton's scandalous video would be the very thing to launch her career?"

He strongly encouraged writers to do their homework before writing. "Blend in and live with people you want to write about. Learn about them before you write about them. Write about something real, something that relates to the world around you. Many great American novelists began as reporters."

No doubt, he included himself in that lot.

Learn more about Tom Wolfe and his books here.

“Steamy Web” in Life in Me Like Grass on Fire

 

This is one of the poems from Faraway Tables that was originally written and published back in 2011, in the poetry anthology Life in Me Like Grass on Fire.

The anthology is still available if you're interested!

Get it in print here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Me-Like-Grass-Fire/dp/0982003218

“Hospitality” in Cajun Mutt Review

My poem, "Hospitality," has been published in the Cajun Mutt Press. Delighted to be featured among diverse voices of modern verse.

Read "Hospitality" in the Cajun Mutt Review here. 

“A Weekend in Nashville” - in the print edition of Baltimore Style Magazine

 

My Nashville story was published in the print edition of Baltimore Style Magazine (on pages 12, 13, 14). 

Our recent journey brought us to the vibrant heart of Tennessee—Nashville, a city that resonates with the vibrant chords of music history and the warm hum of Southern hospitality. During our visit, we experienced the multifaceted layers of this iconic city: 

The historic paths and the lively cultural scene of Downtown Nashville.

The storied origins of the city, once known as Fort Nashborough.

A taste of Nashville's culinary pride through places like Prince’s Hot Chicken and Arnold’s Country Kitchen.

The Parthenon at Centennial Park, a full-scale replica that stands as a testament to Nashville's nickname, “Athens of the South.”

Iconic music venues like the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium, each with its own rich narrative and contribution to the country music tapestry.

The tranquility and natural beauty within the bustling city, from the trendy Gulch neighborhood to the serene Cheekwood Estates and Gardens.

Read more about our visit in Baltimore Style Magazine.

Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour: Final Review from The True Book Addict

The Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour concludes with a reflective and heartfelt review from Michelle at The True Book Addict. This final review captures the emotional essence of the collection and its ability to connect deeply with readers.

Michelle praises Faraway Tables for “touching on many subjects … life during and after the pandemic, world affairs, climate change, and the ever-changing and inevitable winding down of life.” She highlights the relatable and poignant nature of the poems, saying, “Poetry always seems to understand life and the world. These poems are no different.”

Review highlights:

• “Toast to Friendship”: “The war in Ukraine weighs heavily on our minds as it continues on and on. This poem captured the sorrow of what was, what is, and perhaps what could be again (we can only hope).”
  “These people in Kiev—people just like us—
  no longer worried about
  when to go to the store for toothpaste,
  but whether their sons and daughters
  would live in an independent nation,
  or live at all.”

• “Embracing Hermithood”: “If the pandemic could be looked at in a more positive light, these stanzas demonstrate this… it helped me to slow down and to be more centered.”
  “The pandemic drives us into
  our isolated caves. Gives us an excuse
  to be what we want to be.”

• “Sassy”: “The loss of a beloved pet. This one brought tears to my eyes.”
  “How I always wanted to sleep in
  an extra ten minutes
  when it was my turn to walk you.
  How I long to walk with you—
  at any hour—now.”

• “Water Fall Blues”: “A sad reality, and a harsh reality for people losing access to fresh water.”
  “Our off-the-beaten-path
  waterfall is nowhere to be found. Has it
  evaporated, or can we simply not find it?”

Michelle concludes by calling Faraway Tables “an excellent debut collection” and expressing excitement for future collections. She writes, “I think you will relate to this collection. An excellent debut collection.”

I’m so grateful to Michelle and all the reviewers who participated in the Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour. Your thoughtful reviews have made this journey unforgettable.

Read the full review here: The True Book Addict.

The tour may have ended, but the journey of Faraway Tables continues! Join us at the table by getting your copy today!

Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour: Review from Author Anthony Avina’s Blog

The Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour continues with a glowing review from the Author Anthony Avina’s Blog. Anthony Avina describes the collection as a powerful exploration of the monumental and the mundane, blending personal and global themes in a way that resonates deeply with readers.

Anthony highlights the collection’s ability to connect with readers on an emotional level, calling it “memorable, honest, and passionately written.” Here are a few key takeaways from the review:

• “Each poem stands alone while contributing to the collective theme of life’s journey and the essence of being human.”

• “The collection’s imagery and tone leave a lasting impact, drawing readers into the poet’s intent and experiences.”

• “Themes range from personal, everyday moments of love and connection to broader social commentaries on topics like the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine.”

Anthony emphasizes the accessibility of Faraway Tables, noting how its relatability allows readers from all backgrounds to connect with the collection. He concludes by calling it “a must-read poetry collection” that evokes a strong emotional response and speaks to the universal experiences of recent years.

Rated 10/10, Faraway Tables is celebrated for its ability to blend profound themes with relatable moments, making it a collection that leaves a lasting impression.

Read the full review here: Author Anthony Avina Blog.

Stay tuned as the Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour continues!

 

Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour: Review from Review Tales

The Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour continues with a thoughtful review by Jeyran Main on Review Tales. This review beautifully captures the essence of the collection, highlighting its exploration of personal and global shifts shaped by the COVID pandemic.

Jeyran describes Faraway Tables as “a captivating poetry collection that beautifully bridges the grand and the everyday.” The review emphasizes the collection’s reflection on life’s transitions and the courage required to navigate an ever-evolving reality. Themes of loss, resilience, and hope are woven throughout, making the collection both timely and timeless.

Highlights from the review include:

• Faraway Tables celebrates the beauty in small, quiet moments, described as “a faraway table offering a meal to be enjoyed slowly.” Goodman’s vivid imagery transports readers across times and places, encouraging reflection on life’s delicate beauty.

• The tension between stillness and motion during the pandemic resonates deeply in the poems, reflecting the complexities of adapting to change and finding connection in a distanced world.

• Jeyran praises the collection for its thoughtful meditation on the human condition, noting how it invites readers to find meaning in the ordinary while grappling with monumental changes.

Ultimately, Jeyran concludes that Faraway Tables is “a powerful and moving read,” offering a resonant meditation on life’s ever-shifting landscape.

Read the full review here: Review Tales.

Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour: Review from Lavender Orchids

The Poetic Book Tour for Faraway Tables continues with a detailed and insightful review by Enakshi J at Lavender Orchids. Enakshi J highlights the collection's themes of nostalgia, resilience, connection, and the paradoxes of modern life, praising its ability to transform ordinary moments into profound reflections.

Key takeaways from the review include:

• Faraway Tables captures “profound insights through mundane observations,” transforming everyday activities like brewing coffee (“Patience”) and walking a dog into meditations on patience, loss, and gratitude.

• The collection’s accessibility stands out, as Goodman uses comprehensible language and evocative imagery to connect the personal with the universal. Enakshi notes the balance between personal narratives and broader societal insights.

• Poems like “Patience” and “Toast to Friendship” are praised for their reflections on time and connection, while “Avocado Toast” ventures into socio-political commentary, blending the personal with the global.

Enakshi describes the collection as a whole as “engaging and evocative,” inviting readers to find beauty in the mundane and wisdom in stillness. Enakshi concludes that Faraway Tables is a powerful testament to poetry’s ability to capture both fleeting and eternal moments.

Read the full review here: Lavender Orchids.

Stay tuned for more reviews as the Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour continues!

Treat Writing Like a Job

Alice McDermott said that she treats fiction writing like a full-time job — because it is one.

Alice writes four days a week and treats writing like a real job on those four days. She’s never been exclusively a full-time fiction writer. She teaches, does workshops, and fills her time with other activities as well. Few fiction writers actually write full time … or rather, few of them make it an exclusive job.

“As literary fiction writers, we’re trying to get to something true of us all. So write about common humanity, communal experience, not about a place, plot. Show universal truth to the reader in an interesting way.”

That sounds like a full-time job to me.

Learn more about Alice McDermott and her writing at https://www.alice-mcdermott.com/

Reston Reading Series – February 23

 

On Sunday, February 23, I’ll be one of the featured readers reading from Faraway Tables at the Reston Reading Series hosted by Nathan Leslie at Reston’s Used Book Shop in Reston, Virginia. This event will bring together writers and readers for an intimate literary evening. I’m excited to share some of my favorite poems from the collection.

Learn more here. 

Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour: Review from Impressions in Ink

The third stop on the Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour brings a heartfelt review from Annette at Impressions in Ink. In her thoughtful analysis, Annette praises the collection’s ability to balance vivid sensory detail with emotional depth, highlighting the courage it takes to embrace life’s ongoing transitions.

Annette notes the collection is divided into four sections: Savor, Ache, Enough, and More (or Less), with an Epilogue featuring the final poem, “Taste.” She highlights several standout poems, each evoking a unique blend of reflection and emotion:

• “Patience,” the collection’s opening poem, creates a sensory experience with its vivid imagery:
  “Milky mist rolls along marshy grounds.”
  Annette describes it as a poem that immerses readers in the sights, smells, and feelings of an early morning ritual.

• “Renovate,” the first poem in the Ache section, stands out for its rhythm and emotional resonance, blending frustration with hope for the future.

• “Moments,” from the Enough section, reflects on the weight and significance of memories:
  “How can I pin down moments,
  select them, give them weight,
  anchor those greatest hits, I wonder.”

• “Taste,” the final poem, captures the ritual of making tea, resonating with Annette as a tea lover. She describes it as a fitting conclusion to the collection.

Annette’s review highlights the balance of sensory imagery and emotional reflection that makes Faraway Tables a rewarding read. Her thoughtful insights make this another meaningful stop on the Poetic Book Tour.

Read the full review here: Impressions in Ink.

Stay tuned for more reviews as the Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour continues!

Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour: Five-Star Review from The Reading Bud

 

The second stop on the Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour brings a glowing five-star review from The Reading Bud. This thoughtful review dives into the heart of the collection, celebrating its ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

The review describes Faraway Tables as “an exquisite collection of poems that takes the reader on a heartfelt journey through life’s quiet moments, grand explorations, and poignant reflections.” It highlights the balance between introspection and storytelling, showing how each poem resonates deeply.

Some standout moments from the review include:

• The everyday beauty of “Patience,” which celebrates the ritual of brewing coffee:
  “These beans have traveled across four years,
  across the globe from Indonesia to our home…”

• The intimate musings of “Embracing Hermithood,” reflecting on pandemic-induced isolation.

• “Moments,” which juxtaposes daily life with the joy of cherished memories:
  “How can I pin down moments,
  select them, give them weight,
  anchor those greatest hits…”

The reviewer notes the vivid imagery and emotional depth throughout the collection, calling it “accessible and profound” and likening the experience to “a conversation with a wise and witty friend.”

I’m grateful for this generous review and thrilled to see Faraway Tables resonate with readers. Read the full review here: The Reading Bud.

Stay tuned as the Faraway Tables Poetic Book Tour continues!

Featured at The Hot L Poets Series on February 9

I’m honored to be a featured reader at The Hot L Poets Series on Sunday, February 9! This monthly series brings together poets and poetry lovers for an evening of readings, discussion, and literary camaraderie.

I’ll be reading from Faraway Tables and sharing the stage with another featured poet. The event is free to attend and includes an open mic session for those who want to share their own work.

Join us for a great night of poetry!

📍 Event details: Hot L Poets Series

Beyond Vilnius

 

Some scenes in my novel Wrecks and Ruins, take place in Vilnius, Lithuania. It’s a rich city, which I explored in person, in some travel stories, and in my new novel. But there’s more to explore in Lithuania beyond the city limits of Vilnius.

 

Whether you have read the Vilnius scenes in my Baltimore-based novel, Wrecks and Ruins,  yet, take a side trip with me in “Beyond Vilnius,” published in Go World Travel Magazine.

https://www.goworldtravel.com/beyond-vilnius-travel-in-lithuania/