Faraway Tables Has a New Web Page

If you’ve followed my writing in the past, you know that each of my books has a dedicated web page at my website, www.EricDGoodman.com. I'm thrilled to announce the launch of a brand new web page dedicated entirely to my collection, Faraway Tables.

Head over to www.EricDGoodman.com/Tables to learn all about the my debut poetry collection, including:

• A description of the book.
• Reviews and advance praise from readers, reviewers, and poets who have found their seats at the table.
• The latest news and update about Faraway Tables, including new reviews, book trailers, events, and developments as they happen.

Learn more about Faraway Tables at www.EricDGoodman.com/Tables.

Faraway Tables Featured at My Dead Aunt’s Books on October 13

 

On Sunday, October 13, My Dead Aunt’s Books in Hyattsville, Maryland, will host a reading event featuring my debut poetry collection, Faraway Tables. I’ll be reading selected poems from the collection, offering a glimpse into themes of memory, human connection, and reflection.

After the featured readings, there will be an open mic for audience members to share their own work. The event is free and open to the public, and signed copies of Faraway Tables will be available.

Learn more about My Dead Aunt’s Books and the event here.

Yorkshire Publishes Interview with Debut Poet

In coordination with the release of Faraway Tables, the debut collection of poetry by author Eric D. Goodman, Yorkshire Publishing has published an interview with the poet and author. 

Faraway Tables offers a captivating exploration of memory, human connection, and the ever-changing world we navigate.

The interview covers such topics as the inspiration behind the collection, what readers should expect to experience when reading the poems, and what other authors or books have inspired the book and the writing  journey.

"I'd like readers to find poems in Faraway Tables that they can relate to, that they can feel a connection with," Eric said. "Those "a-ha" moments when a reader nods or smiles or thinks, "I know that feeling" or "I've been there."

Read the full interview from Yorkshire Publishing here.

Order your copy now at here.

Hezekiah Scretch on Faraway Tables: “Playful, Erudite, Perceptive”

Poets and readers are taking their places at the table. Today's endorsement comes from Hezekiah Scretch, poetry editor for Fleas on the Dog Literary Journal. Scretch writes:

“Eric D. Goodman writes with such a light hand. He sees endearing details in everyday happenstances—playful, erudite, perceptive. Norman Rockwell in words.”

Learn more about the book, order information, and news about the collection by staying tuned to this blog and at www.EricDGoodman.com.

 

It’s Here! Celebrate Release Day with Faraway Tables!

Join us at the table for a grand celebratory feast! Today, October 1, marks the official release of Faraway Tables, my highly anticipated debut poetry collection.

This captivating exploration of memory, human connection, and the ever-changing world we navigate has garnered praise from fellow poets and reviewers alike.

Barbara DeCesare describes the collection as a “thoughtful exploration of a world nearly out of grasp,” touching on aging, the impact of the pandemic, and the search for meaning in a changing world.

Kim Gek Lin Short calls Faraway Tables “a postpandemic Lost and Found” and highlights the evocative language and the bittersweet beauty of nostalgia.

Dianna Nikaido described the poems as “condensed journeys reminding us of what shapes us.”

Hezekiah Scretch, poetry editor for Fleas on the Dog Literary Journal, described the poems as “playful, erudite, perceptive. Norman Rockwell in words.”

Prepare to be surprised, delighted, and perhaps a little homesick for places you've never been. The poems of Faraway Tables traverse continents and cultures, weaving a tapestry of experiences that resonate on a universal level.

Don't miss out! Reserve your place at the table! Order your copy of Faraway Tables today from your favorite bookstore or online retailer. You can also order directly from the publisher here or at Amazon.

Join the conversation online using #FarawayTables and share your thoughts on this collection.

Your table is ready.  Savor it.

#FarawayTables

 

Hungry for Poetry? Tomorrow is Release Day for Faraway Tables

Mark your calendars and make your reservations! Tomorrow is Publication Day for Faraway Tables!

Are you ready to take your seat at the table and embark on an enjoyable journey of introspection, nostalgia, and the enduring power of human connection?

If you haven't pre-ordered your copy yet, there's still time. Head over to your favorite bookstore or online retailer to secure yours today.

You can also order directly from the publisher at here or at Amazon.

Learn more about Faraway Tables by reading the press release from Yorkshire Publishing.

Take a minute and watch the book trailer here.

Don't forget to share the news with everyone you know who loves poetry. There is room for them all at the table.

 

Faraway Tables will be released tomorrow, on Tuesday, October 1, by Yorkshire Publishing. Learn more about the book at by staying tuned to Writeful by visiting www.EricDGoodman.com.

 

Catch Me This Weekend at the Baltimore Book Festival!

The Baltimore Book Festival is back for the first time since 2019, this year in Waverly, Maryland. It takes place on and around Waverly Main Street for the first time after several years in Baltimore's Inner Harbor and many years in Mount Vernon.

Join the Baltimore Book Festival team to kick off the 2024 Festival on Friday, September 27 at Peabody Heights from 7 to 9 p.m.! Featuring a performance by the Rhonda Robinson Trio/Quartet, and readings by Nancy Murray, Shirley J. Brewer, Edward Doyle-Gillespie, Dave Eberhardt, and Mel Edden. I’ll read a selection or two from my forthcoming Faraway Tables.

Then, stop by the Apprentice House Press booth on Saturday between 2 and 4 where I’ll be signing copies of my most recent novel, Wrecks and Ruins, along with other Apprentice House Authors (Shirley J. Brewer among them).

Learn more here.

 

Sherry Audette Morrow on Faraway Tables: “Carries its Readers Across Boundaries”

Today's advance praise for Faraway Tables comes from poet Sherry Audette Morrow, author of Välittää. Morrow writes:

“‘I had only to let go of myself.’ With the insight of a global citizen and his cheeky good humor, Eric D. Goodman challenges us to let go of self and traverse unfamiliar climes, from the streets and suburbs of Baltimore to post-Soviet St. Petersburg, a Scottish pub, a public bath in Budapest, and beyond. Goodman’s collection Faraway Tables carries its readers across boundaries — the personal, the political, and the geopolitical — and into those vital realms of memory and time that recall us to the comfort, the connections, and the love that see us home.”

Faraway Tables was released on Tuesday, October 1 by Yorkshire Publishing. Learn more about the book, pre-order information, and news about the collection by staying tuned to this blog and at www.EricDGoodman.com.  

Faraway Tables Full Cover Reveal

We previously shared the front cover of Faraway Tables. Now, we’re excited to reveal the full cover for the forthcoming debut poetry collection. 

The minimalist painting by Gene McCormick graces the front cover. True to his style and to the essence of my collection, the cover invites readers to join the table for a journey both introspective and global. 

The publisher decided to include folded cover flaps for Faraway Tables, giving the trade paperback a bit more of a deluxe feel.

Faraway Tables will be released on Tuesday, October 1 by Yorkshire Publishing. Learn more about the book, pre-order information, and news about the collection by staying tuned to this blog and at www.EricDGoodman.com. 

Second Book Trailer for Faraway Tables

A second book trailer for Faraway Tables has dropped! This video captures the essence of the collection, transporting you across continents and cultures, introspection and nostalgia. 

Alexander Goodman and Bare Bones Cinema Works directed and produced the first and second book trailers with scenes of me reading passages from my poems with other original film footage for the trailer.

Faraway Tables will be released on Tuesday, October 1 by Yorkshire Publishing. Learn more about the book, pre-order information, and news about the collection by staying tuned to this blog and at www.EricDGoodman.com.

Find your place at the table; watch the trailer now. And don’t forget that we’re taking reservations now: pre-order your copy today!

Watch the Faraway Tables Book Trailer 2 on YouTube.

Make Your Reservation: Pre-order Your Copy of Faraway Tables

The wait is over! Faraway Tables is available for pre-order now. Secure your copy and be among the first to reserve a seat at the table.

Pre-order your copy of Faraway Tables today from your favorite bookseller or online retailer. You can also order directly from the publisher at https://yorkshirepublishing.com/shop/ or at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0053H0CSU/about.

Don't forget to share the news with everyone you know who loves poetry. There is room for them all at the table.

Faraway Tables will be released on Tuesday, October 1 by Yorkshire Publishing. Learn more about the book, pre-order information, and news about the collection by staying tuned to this blog and at www.EricDGoodman.com.

 

New Book Trailer Drops for Faraway Tables

The official book trailer for Faraway Tables has arrived! This video captures the essence of the collection, transporting you across continents and cultures, introspection and nostalgia. 

Faraway Tables will be released on Tuesday, October 1 by Yorkshire Publishing. Learn more about the book, pre-order information, and news about the collection by staying tuned to this blog and at www.EricDGoodman.com.

Find your place at the table; watch the trailer now here. 

And don’t forget that we’re taking reservations now: pre-order your copy today! 

Lit & Art Reading Series Returns to Bromo-Seltzer Arts Tower!

We're thrilled to announce the return of the Lit & Art Reading Series for a vibrant afternoon of readings, music, and artistic exploration.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 21 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the iconic Bromo-Seltzer Arts Tower. This event is free and open to the public.

The Lit & Art Reading Series has been a Baltimore staple since 2007, showcasing the talents of local and regional authors, poets, and artists. We’re back with a stellar lineup for your literary and artistic delight.

Featured readers include Lauren Beth Eisenberg Davis, Judith Krummeck, Nathan Leslie, and Heather Rounds.

Live Music will be provided by Just Playin.

The event is being emceed and hosted by Nitin Jagdish and Eric D. Goodman.

Come early and sign up for the opportunity to share your work during the open mic session.

Mingle with fellow art, music, and literature enthusiasts. Explore the Bromo-Seltzer Arts Tower’s art exhibits and clock tower. Immerse yourself in a vibrant literary and artistic community.

Spread the word! Share this event with your friends and family.

Learn more about this event and the featured talent by visiting the Lit And Art Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitAndArt

We look forward to seeing you there!

Charles Rammelkamp on Faraway Tables: “Brooding on the Vastness of Experience”

 

The most recent poet to take a place at the table is Charles Rammelkamp, known for such works as Field of Happiness, Mortal Coil, Catastroika, and American Zeitgeist. Rammelkamp writes:

“Eric D. Goodman has always been known for taking the long view of life, as his novel Womb demonstrates, an unborn child looking into the abyss of a future all tangled up with the past. Now, in his debut poetry collection, he takes the same perspective, only this time it’s more pithy, more concise. Goodman’s poetry ranges around the world.

“While Goodman can lyrically capture the personal distress of the Russian invasion of Ukraine through reflections on friendships, he can also nostalgically evoke the joy of the faraway tables in a Munich beer hall or a Portuguese pub – or the feast-day table at his 1994 Russian wedding.

“Largely composed during the Covid pandemic, the poems in this collection reveal a mind brooding on the vastness of experience and the essential values that make life worth living, from family and culture to nature and friendships.”

Faraway Tables will be released on Tuesday, October 1 by Yorkshire Publishing. Learn more about the book, pre-order information, and news about the collection by staying tuned to this blog and at www.EricDGoodman.com.

"Avocado Toast," published in Border Beats

My poem, "Avocado Toast," has been featured in Border Beats, a thought-provoking collection that explores the concept of borders—both physical and metaphorical—in shaping our lives, identities, and cultures.

The anthology provides a rich tapestry of essays, stories, and poetry that delve into the complexities of human existence through the lens of borders. 

You can find Border Beats on Amazon, available in paperback for $15.00. The anthology features  a range of unique voices and perspectives that are well worth crossing the border for.

Enjoy some “Avacado Toast” at the link below.

 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CJ457764/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 

 

You May Have Already Sampled Faraway Tables

There’s a good chance you've already encountered a sample of Faraway Tables before the collection is even published.

That’s because more than 40 of the poems from the debut collection have been published in print and online literary journals. From the contemplative “Patience” in Main Street Rag to the playful defiance of “Social Media Boycott” in Mid-Atlantic Review; from the observational “Sissons” in North of Oxford to the longing “Water Fall Blues” in Gargoyle, these poems have cast a wide net.

Faraway Tables sets the table and brings them all together—along with even more not-yet-published poems—into a coherent collection.

Whether you've encountered these poems before or are preparing to discover them for the first time, make your reservation by pre-ordering your copy of Faraway Tables today.

Faraway Tables will be released on Tuesday, October 1 by Yorkshire Publishing. Learn more about the book, pre-order information, and news about the collection by staying tuned to this blog and at www.EricDGoodman.com.

Deanna Nikaido on Faraway Tables: “Condensed Journeys Reminding Us of What Shapes Us”

Deanna Nikaido knows how to write a poem—she wrote the book on it! She also knows how to read one.

Today's endorsement comes from Deanna Nikaido, whose works include How To Write a Poem, Voice Like Water, and Vibrating With Silence. Nikaido writes:

“If life is an invitation, poetry helps us to recall how we show up. These poems are condensed journeys reminding us of what shapes us and how each unique ingredient makes a poem of us.”

Faraway Tables will be released on Tuesday, October 1 by Yorkshire Publishing. Learn more about the book, pre-order information, and news about the collection by staying tuned to this blog and at www.EricDGoodman.com.

"Rug Pull" Published inThe Beatnik Cowboy

"Rug Pull," my recent poem,  has found its home in the digital pages of The Beatnik Cowboy, an online journal  that observes poetic injustice.

Anyone who has invested in questionable projects, whether in the stock market, crypto space, or in other marketplaces, will understand the bad flavor that can be left by blindly following emotiont and trusting a bad project. Unjust? Certainly for those swindled by scammers. 

Enjoy “Rug Pull” in The Beatnik Cowboy at the link below.

https://beatnikcowboy.com/2023/09/15/eric-d-goodman/

 

Faraway Tables Cover Reveal

 

It’s here! I'm pleased to reveal the cover for my debut collection, Faraway Tables.

The minimalist painting by Gene McCormick graces the front cover. True to his style and to the essence of my collection, the cover invites readers to join us at the table for a journey both introspective and global.

Published by Yorkshire Publishing and arriving on October 1, 2024, Faraway Tables is my first collection of poetry and my first collaboration with Gene McCormick, who has had his artwork grace the covers of other authors and poets, like Charles Rammeklamp.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates about Faraway Tables in the coming weeks, including pre-order information and launch celebration details. You can find it here at Writeful or at www.EricDGoodman.com.

Featured Reader at Manor Mill Fiction Series

This Monday I’m the featured reader at Manor Mill’s Writers Guild Prose Night. Join us on Monday, August 19 for an evening of poetry. After my reading and Q&A period, there is an opportunity for audience members to share their own work during open mic.

Past featured readers at Manor Mill's Writers Guild Prose Night have included Madison Smartt Bell, Jane Delury, Michelle Brafman, Katie Aiken Ritter, and Betsy Boyd.  

Manor Mill has become a creative hub, with classes and workshops from weaving to songwriting, leather bracelet making to mushroom cultivation. A fine arts gallery features three floors of art by juried, talented artists and the first floor has a small shop to buy extremely unique creations made onsite and locally. Yoga, meditation and wellness classes are available. Incredible musical performances fill many afternoons and nights in the loft, and woodworking, welding and turning keep the barn occupied. There’s something for everyone!

Hosted by local writer Susan Keatley, the Manor Mill Writers Guild Prose Night has featured such authors as Madison Smartt Bell, Betsy Boyd, and Jane Delury.Hope to see you there! Learn more at https://manor-mill.com/prose

 

Toby Devens on Faraway Tables: "A dazzling collection"

Poets and readers are starting to take their places at the table. Today’s advance praise of Faraway Tables comes from poet and author Toby Devens, known for My Best Mid-Life Crisis (Yet) and Barefoot Beach. Devens writes:

“Faraway Tables is a dazzling collection—a mixture of the mundane and the monumental that travels to marvelous times and places in the world and in the heart, with surprise detonated in many of the poem's last lines. Travel around the world with stops at enlightenment, enchantment, and memorable experience.”

Faraway Tables will be released on Tuesday, October 1 by Yorkshire Publishing. Learn more about the book, pre-order information, and news about the collection by staying tuned to this blog and at www.EricDGoodman.com.

Letting Characters Decide

 

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting regional author Alice McDermott several times over the years at various book festivals and literary events. During one of those events, she explained that although she writes fiction, she bases her fiction on experience. 

“Writers like to say that they write from their imagination because that sounds harder,” she said. She’s not literally writing about herself or her family, but she is writing from her experience, observations, and the world she knows. “Our thoughts come from our experience. The way we use words is part of our experience.”

McDermott said that she never writes from an outline or with a set destination in mind. She writes from the hearts and minds of her characters and allows them and their relationships to evolve and drive the story. “If I’m not surprised by what my characters are doing, I stop writing.”

An emotive writer approaches writing like a reader, wanting to be surprised. McDermott’s characters make choices based on who they are; the choices are not made by her as the author. She compares this method to the great clockmaker theory: the author creates the world and then leaves it up to the created to determine their destiny. But once it’s set in motion, the characters have to follow the established rules.

“When writing fiction, you’re constantly eliminating choices. As soon as you’ve written that first sentence, you’ve eliminated a million choices. Each sentence eliminates more.”

Alice McDermott has won the National Book Award and has been nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize. Her characters seem to be making good choices for her.

Learn more about Alice McDermott and her books at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7505.Alice_McDermott

Faraway Tables Cover Art Unveiled

 

As an art enthusiast, I’m excited to share the new painting by Gene McCormick which will grace the cover of my new poetry collection, Faraway Tables.

Gene McCormick’s original painting is titled "Faraway Tables," sharing the title of the book for which it was created. This 16" x 20" acrylic masterpiece sets the visual tone for the poems within the pages.

McCormick's signature style, known for uncovering hidden beauty in the ordinary, perfectly captures the essence of the collection. The artwork depicts a seemingly simple scene: two glasses, a little more than half empty, resting on a rustic beer-hall table. Yet, with each brushstroke, a deeper narrative unfolds.

McCormick reviewed the manuscript prior to painting and we discussed the concepts. The resulting minimalist piece beautifully complements the themes explored within Faraway Tables, creating a visual invitation for readers to take a seat at the table and dig in.

Stay tuned for more updates about Faraway Tables, including pre-order information and exciting launch celebration details. In the meantime, I invite you to contemplate the enigmatic scene on the cover and let your imagination wander towards the world that awaits within the poems.

Learn more about Gene McCormick and his artwork at http://donbob.com/GenePainting/GenePainting/PaintHome.htm.

"Relics," "Retirement Plans" and "Pests" in latest print issue of Blue Collar Review”

A recemt print issue of Blue Collar Review features three of my poems: "Relics," "Retirement Plans," and "Pests." 

Blue Collar Review  is known for its focus on works that resonate with the experiences and perspectives of working-class people. 

Explore the latest issue of Blue Collar Review here: 

https://www.partisanpress.org/ 

 

Coming October 1, 2024: Faraway Tables

 

The Table is set! My debut poetry collection, Faraway Tables, has a publication date. Yorkshire Publishing will release Faraway Tables on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

This collection, largely a product of those introspective, shelter-in-place days of the pandemic, has been described as a meditation on the human experience. Examining places of the mind and the world. These poems explore the personal and global shifts we've all navigated, recalling the strength it takes to find one’s place in a constantly changing world.

You have a place at the table. Savor the delicate flavors of memory, explore the poignant beauty of other places and other times, and celebrate the enduring connections that define our shared humanity.

Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks as we delve deeper into the world of Faraway Tables! Come back to this blog, and visit www.EricDGoodman.com.

“Toast to Friendship” in Syndic Literary Journal

 

My recent poem, “Toast to Friendship,” was published in a recent issue of Syndic Literary Journal. This piece reflects on my memories of visiting both Russia and Ukraine in the 1990s and 2010s, and toasting to international friendship betweenRussians, Ukrainians, and Americans. In light of current events, it carries a hopeful message for future generations to raise a toast to peace and friendship.

Listen to the poem, along with others, in Syndic Literary Journal: https://www.syndicjournal.us/syndic-narrations-cloudburst-8-poems-by-menke-katz-narrated-in-english-translation/

John Sanford Goes to Camp

 

Or Rather, John Camp went to Sanford.  The two Johns are one and the same.  One name is his given, the other he uses for marketing reasons.

John’s not alone. Other writers do it too. John writes two types of books, and instead of confusing or disappointing readers who have come to love one kind of book over the other, he simply sells them under different names. 

He uses his grandfather’s name for his adult fiction and his real name for children’s books.

What’s in a name?  A lot when you’re a bestselling novelist.

Do you use a pen name when you go to publish your work?

Learn more about the two Johns at his website.

http://www.johnsandford.org/author.html

Goodman Places as Finalist in the Willow Run Poetry Book Award for Faraway Tables

 

Goodman Places as Finalist in the Willow Run Poetry Book Award for Faraway Tables

Hidden River Arts recently announced the semi-finalists, finalists, and winner of the Willow Run Poetry Book Award. Judges advanced Eric's forthcoming manuscript, Faraway Tables, from the semi-finalist round to place as a finalist. 

Congratulations to all of the semi-finalists, finalists, and to winner Stephen Odiedo of Siaya, Kenya.

Faraway Tables is being published by Yorkshire Publishing later this year.

Learn more about the Willow Run Poetry Book Award at the link:

https://hiddenriverarts.wordpress.com/news-celebrations-and-publications/book-award-announcements/willow-run-poetry-book-award-semi-finalists-finalists-and-winner-2023-2024/ 

My Poem, “Moments,” Published in Syndic Literary Journal

My recent poem, "Moments," was published in Syndic Literary Journal. Have a listen to “Moments” along with four other recent poems at Syndic: https://www.syndicjournal.us/syndic-narrations-cloudburst-8-poems-by-menke-katz-narrated-in-english-translation/

Is Rewriting Writing?

 

We've all heard it: writing is rewriting. A first draft should never be considered complete. In order to be successful as a writer, it's important not to fall in love with your own first draft.

Alice McDermott knows a thing or two about the various stages of a successful novel. Here's her take.

"The first draft is spillage," she explains. A writer should just let the words and story flow from you without regard to rules, structure, plot, character development, what makes sense, what doesn't jive. Write the first draft from your heart, as it comes to you. Hey, it's only a first draft.

"Then," McDermott suggests, "write at least three drafts. In rewrites, spend the time, don't try to save time. Hone the prose, shape it, redo it. Don't just re-copy with minor edits—that's the easy way out."

With the soul of your first draft already on paper, the second, third, and any additional drafts should be where the true craftsmanship comes in. Sculpt your clay into something wonderful and unique, something others will want to read as well as yourself.

"A novel should evolve from its own predictable themes," McDermott said. 

Learn more about Alice McDermott: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_McDermott 

“Last Call” Published in Syndic Literary Journal

My poem "Last Call," has been published in the Syndic Literary Journal.

Listen to "Last Call" and other poems in Syndic Literary Journal at the link below.: https://www.syndicjournal.us/syndic-narrations-cloudburst-8-poems-by-menke-katz-narrated-in-english-translation/

Krakow’s Wawel Hill: Dragons and Sacred Stones

 

My latest travel story “Krakow’s Wawel Hill: Dragons and Sacred Stones'' has been published in Go World Travel Magazine. Read about the Royal Castle, Wawel Cathedral, and the legend of the Wawel Dragon, as the story offers a factual tour of the site's historical and cultural significance, including visits to notable landmarks and the cathedral's royal crypts. 

For a detailed guide and insights into this Polish heritage site, you can read the full story at the following link: https://www.goworldtravel.com/krakows-wawel-hill/

Featured Poet at the Wilde Reading Series

Wilde Readings, also known as the Howard County Literary Reading Series, is a free monthly event that provides local writers — poets, fiction, non-fiction — a chance to share their work with the community. The format showcases featured authors, as well as an open mic for interested audience members.

Sponsored by HoCoPoLitSo and coordinated by Laura Shovan, Ann Bracken, and Linda Joy Burke, Wilde Readings are held the second Tuesdays of each month from September through early summer at the Columbia Association Art Center in the village of Long Reach. Readings start at 7 p.m.

Featured during the May event are Eric D. Goodman and Charles Rammelkamp.

Join us on May 14 at 7 p.m. for an evening of poetry. Learn more at https://hocopolitso.org/programs/wilde-readings/.