Warsaw: Old and New – in Go World Travel Magazine

Poland, once considered one of the wealthiest and mightiest countries in the world, appealed to my teenage son and I as we thought about where we’d like to travel for a father-son adventure. Join us as we uncover the thrilling destinations we explored on our recent trip to Warsaw by reading my travel story: “Warsaw: Old and New” in Go World Travel Magazine.

Exploring the Royal Route, Old Town, and the Royal Castle; marveling at the architecture, sculptures, and street life in Old Town's Market Square; enjoying the view of the city from our rented flat – find it all in Go World Travel Magazine.

https://www.goworldtravel.com/warsaw-old-and-new/

My short story, "Infected" (an excerpt from Wrecks and Ruins) was published in Loch Raven Review. Here’s an excerpt of the excerpt.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic began, it had been all fun and games, at least for Stu and Tiffany. They relished the opportunity to spend all their time together in their spacious home on Pinehurst. Coronavirus was all anyone talked about on the news or in phone conversations—it dominated talk the way it dominated the economy, the health system, politics, and everything else.

On the plus side, Stu and Tiffany and most of their friends and family were healthy, so even if they contracted the virus they knew they would likely be fine, not much worse off than if they were to get the flu. But as the quarantine dragged on from March to April, April to May, all the way into June and July and autumn, and winter, the novelty of being stuck in the house together had worn thin.”


Read the full story at the link below:

https://thelochravenreview.net/eric-d-goodman-5/

"Victimless" in The Five-Two

 

I'm thrilled to announce that my poem "Victimless" has been published in The Five-Two, an online journal that publishes one crime-related poem each week. "Victimless" explores the lingering guilt and fear of a past crime through the lens of an adult reflecting on naive teenage years.

You can find "Victimless" and other crime-related poems on The Five-Two website.

https://poemsoncrime.blogspot.com/2023/02/eric-d-goodman.html

The Doctorow Method of Research

 

Do you ever find yourself questioning just how much research you need before starting out on the adventure of beginning a new novel or story? E.L. Doctorow never worried about how much research to do. He already knew.

"Just enough research," he explained when I met him one year at the National Book Festival. He expressed that many writers research and research and research until they know too much and can't write a decent fiction. Many writers, in an effort to get things right, get caught up and research and never get deep enough into the writing.

Case and point: his research for perhaps one of his best-known novel, Ragtime. 

"My knee fell into a shelf at the library, a book fell out." That book led him to write Ragtime. "That’s my idea of research."

The New York Times makes it easy to do all the research you'd like on Doctorow.

http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/03/05/specials/doctorow.html

Exploring Alfama in Go World Travel

Alfama, as ancient as Lisbon itself, is the oldest neighborhood of the city, founded in 1200 BCE. The rustic neighborhood looks like something out of a sketch from centuries ago.

Historic apartment buildings with red-clay roofs are everywhere. Cobblestone side streets twist through the hillsides connecting little squares. Decorative tiles mark doorways where locals sell liquor from their homes—or hang laundry from them.

There’s just something about the authenticity of Alfama. Join me for a walk along the cobblestoned streets at the link below.

https://www.goworldtravel.com/alfama-lisbon/

Two Poems Published in Gargoyle Magazine

 

Two of my recent poems, “Water Fall Blues” and “Embracing Hermithood,” have been published in Gargoyle Magazine.

The first poem, "Water Fall Blues," is a tribute to the effects of drought and falling water levels in various parts of the world, with a personal reflection on the disappearance of a beloved waterfall in Croatia.

The second poem, “Embracing Hermithood,” is about the experience of embracing a hermit-like lifestyle during the pandemic—physically and mentally.

Gargoyle Magazine has a reputation for publishing unique and thought-provoking poetry, and I am honored to have my work featured alongside other talented writers like Shirley Brewer, Sid Gold, and Charles Rammelkamp. Thanks goes to Richard Peabody, who has been Gargoyling since 1976.

I invite you to read “Water Fall Blues” and “Embracing Hermithood,” along with other brilliant poems, in the latest issue of Gargoyle Magazine.

https://gargoylemagazine.com/eric-d-goodman/

Vilnius, Lithuania: Fact and Fiction

 

Although the majority of my most recent novel, Wrecks and Ruins, takes place in the city and suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, some sections take place in Vilnius, Lithuania. 

Before setting scenes from the novel in the Eastern European city, I explored the city myself and wrote some travel stories about those experiences.

Check out my travel stories and photographs in “A Family Pilgrimage in Lithuania: Vilnius, Siauliai and Hill of Crosses,” published in Go World Travel Magazine.

https://www.goworldtravel.com/visit-vilnius-lithuania/

"Dry Splash" and "Immersion" published in Bourgeon Literary Journal

I am excited to share that two of my recent poems "Dry Splash" and "Immersion" have been published in Bourgeon Literary Journal!

“Dry Splash” takes a look at some of the world’s recent water shortages, and “Immersion” considers the comforts of that diminishing water.

Read both poems in Bourgeon at the link.

https://bourgeononline.com/2022/12/two-poems-by-eric-d-goodman/

Portugal’s National Museums in Lisbon Featured in Go World Travel

My travel story focused on Portugal’s National Museums in Lisbon was recently published in Go World Travel Magazine, the online travel magazine.

The city of Lisbon is sort of like a museum of museums and sights itself. It is a city with a diverse variety of structures, including churches, castles, and museums.

The National Museum of Ancient Art, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, and the National Tile Museum are not among the many centrally located attractions. But just because they're a half-hour walk or ten-minute taxi trip away from the city center doesn't mean you should skip them. Explore these museums with me at the link below:

https://www.goworldtravel.com/national-museums-in-lisbon/

Writers to Ride With

Road trips can be an exhilarating experience for writers.  When alone, the open road provides a time to ponder story ideas, explore plot turns and character developments.  Or, a time to relax with an audio book and enjoy the written word read aloud.

When with another person, a road trip can be a bonding experience, conversation cruising along as the scenery passes by.

The traveling companion can make or break a road trip.  If you had the opportunity to hit the road with any writer, who would it be?  Any author at all: a rising star, a contemporary great, or a past classic.  Who would you want to share the road with?

For me, the choice would be easy: John Steinbeck.  Steinbeck has long been my favorite writer.  He doesn’t just have skill as a writer – his writing has heart, feeling, soul, and usually a strong message.  He knows how to convey things without having to say them.  A reader gets to know his characters by their actions, not just their thoughts.  And Steinbeck is able to teach without sounding like he wants to preach.  That is, his lessons in life often sneak in; he knows not to hit readers over the head with his point.

I could get lost in a long conversation with John Steinbeck, discussing some of my favorite novels – Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden – and talking about the art of writing.  I’d even be willing to take a back seat to Charlie, the poodle, for the opportunity for travels with Steinbeck.

That’s my choice.  What’s yours?  Which writer would you ride with?

My poem, "gulp" published in The Five-Two

 

My poem "gulp" was published in The Five-Two, an online journal that publishes one crime-related poem each week.

'Gulp' is more about the anticipation of crime than its occurrence, inspired by that recurring city situation of being approached for money.

 

Find the poem here: https://poemsoncrime.blogspot.com/2022/12/eric-d-goodman.html

The Wine and Wonders of Porto, in Go World Travel

When people think of Porto, Portugal, they often think of that city's most known export: port wine. And there is plenty of it there. But Porto is so much more than wine.

Find out some of the exciting places we discovered during our recent visit to Porto by reading my travel story: "A Taste of Things to Do in Porto: Port Wine is Just the Beginning." It was recently published in Go World Travel Magazine.

Miles of tiles, churches covered in gold, delicious dining, and even the world's most beautiful McDonald's await. Let's go!

https://www.goworldtravel.com/things-to-do-in-porto-portugal/

Author Interview on Wrecks and Ruins published by Apprentice House Press

 

Apprentice House Press published a Q&A interview about Wrecks and Ruins, where we discuss the book and my motive for writing such a story.

During this short interview, we address a number of significant subjects, including what inspired the book, what I discovered about myself while writing it, and other important topics.

Find out more here: https://www.apprenticehouse.com/?p=2265

Sintra, Portugal, Story Published in Go World Travel

 

It's a fine time to take an armchair vacation to the palace-clad mountain town of Sintra, Portugal. So join me!

Go World Travel Magazine has published my travel story, "The Picturesque Palaces and Sites of Sintra: Portugal's Fairytale Town in the Mountains." 

Join me and my family as we explore Pena Palace, the National Palace of Sintra, Moorish castle ruins, Old Town Sintra, and Quinta da Regaleria. 

You can find the story and pictures in Go World Travel Magazine. 

https://www.goworldtravel.com/sights-of-sintra-portugals-fairytale-town/

North of Oxford's Most Read Poets

 

North of Oxford, the literary journal, has announced the most read poets and poems of 2022. 

My poem, "Sisson's," was one of the top ten poems read by North of Oxford readers in 2022.

Read "Sisson's," along with a selection of poems by nine other excellent poets, in North of Oxford.

https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2022/11/18/ten-most-read-poets-north-of-oxford-2022/ 

My travel story in Baltimore Style Magazine

                                              

My travel story about The Mohicans Treehouse Resort was published in the print version of Baltimore Style Magazine's October/November issue (on pages 12 and 13).

I wrote this story when we were invited to spend a weekend at a treehouse resort in Ohio.

The six-hour drive from Baltimore to central Ohio's Amish country was a scenic one as we went from an urban landscape to country roads.

National Geographic named the area around the treehouse resort one of the most beautiful places in the world for foliage.
It lived up to that reputation during our autumn drive.

Find the magazine and read about our fascinating destination: The Mohicans, at the link below.
http://digital.baltimorestyle.com/issues/October-2022/index.html

WBJC included Wrecks and Ruins in its monthly Book Notes feature.

 

WBJC, Baltimore’s classical music station at 91.5 FM, included Wrecks and Ruins in its monthly Book Notes feature. In the interview, we talk about the motivation behind the book, and how we can find beauty in the most unlikely of places.

 

You can tune in to Judith Krummeck’s interview with me at the link!

https://www.wbjc.com/2022/host-blogs/booknotes-finds-itself-amongst-the-wrecks-and-ruins/ 

Palaces of Sintra in Go World Travel

                           

Go World Travel Magazine is consistently on lists of the top travel magazines and websites. The online magazine recently published my travel story, “The Picturesque Palaces and Sights of Sintra: Portugal’s Fairytale Town in the Mountains.”

Complete with illustrative pictures, we explore Pena Palace, National Palace of Sintra, an old Moorish Castle, and the darker Quinta da Regaleira.

Explore the story for yourself at Go World Travel Magazine:

https://www.goworldtravel.com/sights-of-sintra-portugals-fairytale-town/

Writing History

 

David McCollough passed away in August 2022 and left behind a literary legacy.  He wrote some excellent books about history, steeped in research.  He, for one, likely cringed at E.L. Doctorow’s method of researching a book  —  the idea that you should allow the research to find you, to fall onto the floor before you. For fiction, perhaps this approach works better. For histories and anthologies, the research is a little more important.

But along with the research and the writing, David McCollough loved meeting his readers. And oftentimes he was amused at the things they would say.

“I love to meet people who love books,” he shared with us at the National Book Festival some years ago.  “I like talking to readers and listening to what they have to say — and what they think about my books.”

He remembered one gentleman who kept opening the book he wanted autographed.  “[He] went over the pictures, pointing them out and encouraging me to look at them as though I’d never seen them before.”  Another man sighed and said, “I bet you did a lot of research for that book.”

His books depended on a lot of research.

To learn more about McCollough’s own history, read his biography at his website.

http://www.electriceggplant.com/davidmccullough/

“Sisson’s” Published in North of Oxford

 

I’m more of a prose writer than a poet. I write a lot more fiction than poetry. I even write more travel stories than poetry. Over the years of the pandemic, however, I’ve been dabbling in more poetry—reading it and writing it.

So I’m pleased to share that my first submission of poetry in many years has resulted in an acceptance. The online journal, North of Oxford, has published my poem, “Sisson’s.”

Ever want to go where everybody knows your name?

This poem’s for you.
https://northofoxford.wordpress.com/2022/01/11/sissons-by-eric-d-goodman/

Wrecks and Ruins Review Published in the UK literary magazine, London Grip

 

London Grip, the UK literary magazine, published a review of Wrecks and Ruins, where Charles Rammelkamp unravels one of the most important topics of the novel—bonding.

“Wrecks and Ruins is best summed up in one of its epigraphs, from Oscar Wilde, both snarky and wise: “Some things are more precious because they don’t last long.” Goodman is a talented storyteller.”

Read the full review: https://londongrip.co.uk/2022/02/wrecks-and-ruins/?fbclid=IwAR2aWdVf5Rjb4F2bk21OkqpPeXR1dIfsWKC9HVxd5LFwxNc0fADDlJPNhRI

A Poet, Fiction Writer, and Memoirist Walk into a Bookstore

 

On Sunday, September 11, at 5 p.m., My Dead Aunt's Books, a bookstore in Hyattsville, Maryland, will host the Second Sunda Reading Series.

The featured readers on 9/11 are poet, essayist & memoirist Brandel France de Bravo, and poet Christophe Casamassima, and myself. I'll be reading fiction. Specifically, I plan to read an excerpt from my most recent novel, Wrecks and Ruins.

After the featured readers, there will be an Open Reading, allowing members of the audience to share their own work.

The event is free and open to the public, and books will be available, which the featured readers will be happy to sign.

Learn more about My Dead Aunt's Books and the Second Sunday Reading Series at the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1494745434323199

Thoughtful Review of Wrecks and Ruins

 

Barbara Morrison published a wonderful review of Wrecks and Ruins on her popular blog, B. Morrison's Book Blog, where she mentions the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which values the beauty of things that are imperfect, unfinished, or ephemeral. 

“Drawing on Buddhist concepts of the fleeting nature of this world and life’s inescapable suffering, the wabi-sabi aesthetic differs from Western ideals of beauty and perfection, based on those of ancient Greece.”

In Barbara’s opinion, in Wrecks and Ruins, Stuart goes beyond wabi-sabi. “Having decided that “some items held more weight—more meaning—when distressed or damaged, he collects shards of brick from torn-down buildings and twisted scraps of metal from car crashes. As a young man, Stu has experienced enough loss to recognise the impermanence and sadness that come with living. Through his work, he begins taking photographs of the broken or ruined things he encounters. With the camera he explores how isolating something we might consider trash from its context forces the viewer to appreciate the purity of its shape.”

If you’re fascinated by the concept of wabi-sabi, you’ll enjoy reading the full review on B. Morrison's Book Blog : 

http://www.bmorrison.com/wrecks-and-ruins-by-eric-goodman/?fbclid=IwAR1SH2zZsVaFfWN1Jmd5H9zTbBWR6xBl8R2cNqt2Z6rLddTzJMZ83oL_p2A 

The Trailer You've Been Waiting For

 

Summertime, for many, is a time to go to the movies. If you're at the edge of your seat waiting for the latest movie trailer, we have a video for you!

Wrecks and Ruins has a new book trailer! Check out the short video to get a feel for what the new novel is all about and to find out why other writers and readers are buzzing about it.

https://youtu.be/VLnLPGs8HJs

Stories of the Rhine

We had an incredible journey along the Rhine, visiting some fascinating towns and cities.

In Basel, Switzerland, we explored Old Town and drank glacier water from the decorative fountains.

In Germany's Black Forest, we took a hike through the beautiful landscape, visited a medieval village, and sampled Black Forest cake.

Breisach, Germany, was topped by St. Stephan Cathedral, surrounded by an interesting upper town complete with a water well tower.

Strasbourg, France, shared with us its European Quarter, Imperial District, and most enjoyable, Petit France with it's flower-covered, have-timber canal houses.

Speyer, Germany, was filled with spires, given the Memorial Church, Trinity Church, and Romanesque Speyer Cathedral.

Rudesheim charmed us with its medieval cobblestone allies and walkways and vast hillside vineyards.

The Middle Rhine was decorated with more than 20 castles, which, coupled with the hillside vineyards and bank villages, made for scenic cruising.

Koblenz's striking German Corner, where the Rhine and Moselle converge, symbolizes the unification of Germany. towering above the German Corner is Ehrenbreitstein Fortress--Europe's largest. Also here is a serene Jewish Cemetery with a walkway lined with ther reclaimed headstones used by the Nazis to pave train station stairs.

Cologne, Germany, features Germany's most visited landmark: Cologne Cathedral, which took nearly 700 years to build and was the world's tallest building until 1884 with the building of the Washington Monument. The Cathedral was built to house the bones of the three magi.

The nearby Augustusburg Palace in Bruhl, Germany, was a magnificent palace with gardens, orangeries, and fountains to match. Much like a mini Versailles.

In Kinderkijk, Holland, we got a flavor for windmill life and learned a thing or two about living with rising water in a below-sea-level land.

A couple months ago, I mentioned after my tour of Portugal to look for some travel stories in the near future. A few of those travel stories have already been accepted for publication and will be coming soon. As you can imagine, they will be followed by some stories about our experiences in these fascinating places in Germany, Switzerland, France, and The Netherlands.

Sidewalk Signing Event This Saturday

The Book Escape is a charming book store in Federal Hill, so stocked full of books that they're bursting out onto the sidewalk.

Their next Sidewalk Signing will feature my latest novel, Wrecks and Ruins.
I'll be there signing books and talking with readers.

They'll also have my other books, like Setting the Family Free and "the critically acclaimed and award winning" Tracks.

The owner of The Book Escape said, "Haven't read "Wrecks and Ruins" yet, but have read "Tracks" and it's a fine read about a Baltimore to Chicago train ride and the lives of its passengers. It might be worth reading his new book just to see what the story is with the rather mysterious cover, and the title "Wrecks and Ruins". I mean, don't we all feel like that sometimes?"

The event takes place this Saturday, July 22 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Federal Hill at The Book Escape, 925 S. Charles St., Baltimore.

Hope to see you there! Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/events/1181512772693597?ref=newsfeed.

Cruising the Rhine River

I've just finished writing a series of travel stories about our adventures in Portugal back in April, and the first submissions have been made with one of them already accepted (coming soon).

Now it's time to collect some new experiences. So we're off for a cruise along the Rhine River! Our voyage begins in Basal, Switzerland. We'll be stopping in about 9 places along the way in Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

Consider this week's travel pictures teasers for more travel stories to come!

Where would you go if you could cruise along any river in the world?

 

The Emotion in an Eye

My short story, “The Tiger’s Eye,” was recently published in the online literary journal, Brief Wilderness.

“The Tiger’s Eye” is an excerpt from my novel, Setting the Family Free.

“There were memories lodged in the corners of Ketchum’s mind that he’d rather not bring to light. He’d served as a marine in two wars. Did time in Iraq, then in Afghanistan. He’d killed men. People he’d known as friends had fallen at his side. Ketchum had seen terrible things. But he’d never experienced anything quite like this.”

So begins the story of a man on the hunt for an escaped tiger in the suburban woods.

Read the story in Brief Wilderness.

https://briefwilderness.com/2021/10/08/the-tigers-eye-by-eric-d-goodman/

 

Wrecks and Ruins was featured in the TBR [to be read] series!

A new interview about Wrecks and Ruins was published in the TBR [to be read] series!

Wrecks and Ruins is a novel about how relationships are built and how they evolve or dissolve over time. The main character, Stu, believes that romantic love is like the cycle of a cicada: a few months of excited buzz followed by monotonous silence. The book is an anti-love story that corrects itself when Stu connects his broken things to his collection of broken relationships.

Learn more about the book, its characters, and what served as an inspiration by reading the full interview at the link below:

http://www.workinprogressinprogress.com/2022/04/tbr-wrecks-and-ruins-by-eric-d-goodman.html?fbclid=IwAR1eSPBepHF-saCcUWFbl-c4g7tseObOy30TAU7Cxqww7MYSfVozFH93NPc  

Cicadas are Buzzing

Wrecks and Ruins, my latest novel, was published by Loyola University’s Apprentice House Press on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. The endorsements have been great, but the cicadas are still looking for a few good reviewers.

Wrecks and Ruins is a short novel, a sort of anti-love story that corrects itself. Stuart believes that romantic love is like the cycle of a cicada: a few months of excited buzz—romance, lust, excitement—followed by a monotonous silence that can’t live up to the promise at the start. He strings together more than broken relationships. Part romantic comedy, part buddy novel, filled with musical references, and set in real places throughout Baltimore and Lithuania, Wrecks and Ruins finds beauty in the most unusual of places.

If you are a reviewer or are interested in publishing a review or providing other coverage, let me know and we’ll be glad to send you an copy of the novel! Send me a message at edgewriter@gmail.com, or send me an instant message on Facebook, Linkedin, or Twitter.

“Want to learn more about the book before deciding? Check out the book trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLnLPGs8HJs

Travel is Back in Port

One of the most difficult parts of the pandemic has been not being able to travel. It’s not difficult for a writer like myself to warm up to the idea of being a hermit, staying in my cave and writing. But we missed our regular travels. Aside from a visit to family in Arizona, we’ve been home for the better part of three years.

That changed for us in April. For spring break, we ventured into the world again with our first trip abroad—to Portugal!

We thought Portugal would be a relatively stress-free reentry since we have been there before. We spent most of our time in Lisbon, where we stayed last time. We also explored Porto, Coimbra, Cascais, and Sintra.

Climbing the hilly cobblestone streets of Alfama, Porto, and Coimbra; exploring castles, palaces, and cathedrals; enjoying port wine and ginjinha, seafood and egg custards; talking to locals in cafes and family restaurants and fado bars: there was so much to see, do, and experience in Portugal. It was delicious.

In other words: expect some travel stories on the horizon.

While you’re waiting, here are a few other places we’ve been.

http://www.tracksnovel.com/travel.html

Toby Devens on Wrecks and Ruins: “Thought-provoking … captivating read”

“The buzz about Eric D. Goodman’s latest novel is loud and laudatory. Synchronizing the cycles of the cicadas with evolving stages of romantic love, its premise is original, characters are entertaining, and theme is thought-provoking. Wrecks and Ruins is a captivating read!”

—Toby Devens, author of Barefoot Beach and Happy Any Day Now

Tom Glenn on Wrecks and Ruins: “A good novel always confronts the reader with a moral question.”

“A good novel always confronts the reader with a moral question. That’s what Wrecks and Ruins Does. This is a buddy novel that offers four different models of how a man should decide about mating. Should he marry young or wait until middle age? Or should he just play the field? Goodman doesn’t answer the question for you. He gives all the evidence and lets you decide.”

         —Tom Glenn, author of Last of the Annamese and Coming to Terms

B. Morrison on Wrecks and Ruins: “Probes the way identity is formed and its fluidity”

“As a young man, seeing that everything breaks eventually, Stuart decides to live life every day, hanging out with his friends, playing the field.  Yet whenever the cicadas sing again, he must reevaluate his decision.  In this engaging story of a man navigating the currents of his life, Goodman probes the way identity is formed and its fluidity.” 

—B. Morrison, author of Innocent: Confessions of a Welfare Mother and Terrarium: Poems

Timmy Reed on Wrecks and Ruins: “Cleverly pieced together”

“Wrecks and Ruins captures the mirrored life-cycle of a romance and a plague of insects the way they deserve to be depicted, as humans and bugs. Goodman's writing on relationships is cleverly pieced together and connects to our recent brood. Dig it up.”

—Timmy Reed, author of Kill Me Now and Tell God I Don’t Exist 

New Book Trailer for Wrecks and Ruins

Wrecks and Ruins has a new book trailer! Check out the short video to get a feel for what the new novel is all about, and to find out why other writers and readers are buzzing about the new novel.

Complete with sound effects, music, and video images representing the novel, this short video may be just what you need to put you in the reader’s seat.

https://youtu.be/VLnLPGs8HJs

Sally Whitney on Wrecks and Ruins: “Entertaining and enlightening”

“Great novels inspire readers to see things in a different way. After reading Wrecks and Ruins, I will never see shards of glass, twisted bumpers, raw relationships, or tattered souls in the same way again. Stu’s quest to make sense of the pieces of life is entertaining and enlightening. With a cast of sympathetically human characters, it spins its way to a wholly satisfying conclusion.”

—Sally Whitney, author of 

When Enemies Offend Thee and Surface and Shadow