Book Reviews and Features in the Media
London Grip
“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.”
B. Morrison's Book Blog
“Part romantic comedy and part coming-of-age story—as long as you understand that we are coming of age throughout our lives—this is a story that is particuliarly apt for our time.”
Apprentice House Press
An interview with author Eric D. Goodman about Wrecks And Ruins, and the inspiration behind its creation.
TBR
“The book is an anti-love story that corrects itself when Stu connects his broken things to his collection of broken relationships.”
Loch Raven Review
Editor’s feature review of The Color of Jadeite: “Ingenuity of Plot; Artistry in surprising the reader; scenery is awe-inspiring …”
Late Last Night Books
“A noir novel that’s packed with fast action, riveting characters, and a sense of purpose.”
JMWW
“The Color of Jadeite is a “literary thriller,” an adventure that takes the main characters, their sidekicks, and their rivals across China in pursuit of a jadeite tablet from the Ming dynasty.”
Savvy Verse and Wit
“A thrilling ride.”
Book Q&A With Deborah Kalb
“This is primarily a thriller intended to entertain the reader.”
Apprentice House Author Q&A
An interview with author Eric D. Goodman about the creative process behind his literary adventure thriller, The Color of Jadeite.
Your First 10,000 Readers Blog
When Travel and Fiction Collide: Combine Your Passions to Create Something New How a “novel in settings” meshed travel writing with fiction
Baltimore Magazine
“Setting the Family Free unfolds through the innovative use of multiple narratives, news broadcasts, newspaper articles, press conferences, political tapes, and quotes from experts, eyewitnesses, and those closest to the unfolding events.”
WBJC’s Booknotes
“A novel that not only takes on a moral issue in a deeply suspenseful way, but does so from an intriguing and multi-faceted perspective.”
Late Last Night Books: The Energy Behind the Roar
“I was impressed with the themes that give the novel a memorable richness.”
JMWW
“A good balance of thrill and drama without being sentimental … quite a ride.”
Book Q&A with Deborah Kalb
“Part of what interested me about this story was the concept of how such stories exist differently for different people based on perception.”
Savvy Verse and Wit
“Setting the Family Free is an unusual and interesting premise.”
The Monthly WBJC Newsletter (October and November 2019 issues)
“A novel that not only takes on a moral issue in a deeply suspenseful way, but it does so from an intriguing and multi-faceted perspective.”
The Internet Review of Books
“Who is to blame for the disaster and whose side should the reader take?”
Town Lively
“The book examines what would happen if people were put on more even footing with animals.”
World Animal Day
“World Animal Day, October 4, all profits from Setting the Family Free will go to benefit animals in the wild.”
Baltimore Review
“A riveting page-turner. Goodman reveals a disturbing truth about human relationships: none of us is the same person to two or more others. Just as each of us is unique, so each relationship between individuals is unique.”
Loch Raven Review
“This is a book that satisfies on many levels. A kaleidoscopic … that adds up to one seamless, gripping story that’s both fast-paced disaster thriller and philosophical meditation on the intrinsic value of all living things.”
Late Last Night Books
"A compelling story told by a skillful, adventurous writer."
Monday Morning Book Blog
“As we learn more about animal intelligence, we begin to question the idea that we should have dominion over them. This book is a valuable step in opening that conversation.”
SSU Alumni News
“Author of four books, Goodman’s upcoming novel Setting the Family Free will be released in October 2019 and will feature scenes of his alma mater’s campus.”
Ragazine
“Womb is an entertaining, provocative read that stays with the reader after he puts the book down. Thought provoking, more a novel of ideas than characters. A clever and seasoned storyteller.”
Loch Raven Review
"Here is where Mr. Goodman’s talent lies; he knows how to pace a story. Both Mom and Dad are Beautiful People who are in the process of learning what every fetus supposedly already knows. Yet Mom succumbs to the advances of a cad. How can a Beautiful Person ever sink so low? We find out why much later. This is but one example of the author’s ability to resolve situations gradually, and to provide the reader with just enough information to keep her turning pages with unchilled anticipation. The author certainly knows how to tell a story."
Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb
“Some books start with a plot, others with character. For Womb, the idea came first and everything else grew from that. So when I began, I was really just exploring the concept without knowing where I would end up.”
JMWW
In Conversation: Eric D. Goodman and Sally Whitney
“I’d like to think that a novel can change the world. I think some novels have. But maybe the more realistic hope is that novels can change the world by changing one person at a time. I know that novels can change people.”
Library Journal
“Starred Review. McEwan joins Eric D. Goodman (Womb: A Novel in Utero) and Emma Donoghue (Room) in penning an expansive meditation on stability and identity from a confined perspective.” (In a review of Ian McEwan's Nutshell, comparing it to Womb and Room.”
The Potomac
“Eric D. Goodman's thought–provoking new novel, Womb, is more a novel of ideas than characters. A clever and seasoned storyteller, Goodman is careful not to plead a case, to make an argument, and by and large we simply accept the premise …”
Litro
“Goodman rises to the challenge posed by the foetus’ limited perspective, relating a story of betrayal and domestic turmoil through the filter of the uterine wall.”
Christina Francine Book Reviews
“A provocative and thoughtful read that will cause reflection. Readers who like contemplating life and who also look beyond the surface of hot topics and the human condition will enjoy Womb.”
Womb reviews on GoodReads
Womb reviews on Amazon
Ingram Advance
Womb featured on page 93 of the July 2017 issue of Ingram Advance
Rockin’ Book Reviews
One lucky reader won a free copy of Womb in the Rockin’ Book Reviews giveaway!
Syracuse.com
“Womb: a novel in utero by Eric D. Goodman offers a unique narrative voice.”
Late Last Night Books
“I love traveling by train, ensconced with strangers boarding and debarking according to some mysterious and personal trajectory. So right from the start I was intrigued by Eric D. Goodman’s Tracks, a novel in short stories about travelers on a train headed from Baltimore for Chicago. I talked to Eric about Tracks and his travel writing.”
New York Journal of Books:
“… Goodman is a born storyteller who weaves his tales of each individual character, and then ties them together to create a finely patterned cloth … you have the more transcendent experience of seeing each of the characters from many perspectives, at times understanding not only their “now” but something of their past and future.
“Many of the reviews written of this book point out that it’s a great summer read. This is true. It’s the kind of book that you can read best at a leisurely pace, enjoying the slower rhythms of this literary ‘people watching.’”
“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.”
B. Morrison's Book Blog
“Part romantic comedy and part coming-of-age story—as long as you understand that we are coming of age throughout our lives—this is a story that is particuliarly apt for our time.”
Apprentice House Press
An interview with author Eric D. Goodman about Wrecks And Ruins, and the inspiration behind its creation.
TBR
“The book is an anti-love story that corrects itself when Stu connects his broken things to his collection of broken relationships.”
Loch Raven Review
Editor’s feature review of The Color of Jadeite: “Ingenuity of Plot; Artistry in surprising the reader; scenery is awe-inspiring …”
Late Last Night Books
“A noir novel that’s packed with fast action, riveting characters, and a sense of purpose.”
JMWW
“The Color of Jadeite is a “literary thriller,” an adventure that takes the main characters, their sidekicks, and their rivals across China in pursuit of a jadeite tablet from the Ming dynasty.”
Savvy Verse and Wit
“A thrilling ride.”
Book Q&A With Deborah Kalb
“This is primarily a thriller intended to entertain the reader.”
Apprentice House Author Q&A
An interview with author Eric D. Goodman about the creative process behind his literary adventure thriller, The Color of Jadeite.
Your First 10,000 Readers Blog
When Travel and Fiction Collide: Combine Your Passions to Create Something New How a “novel in settings” meshed travel writing with fiction
Baltimore Magazine
“Setting the Family Free unfolds through the innovative use of multiple narratives, news broadcasts, newspaper articles, press conferences, political tapes, and quotes from experts, eyewitnesses, and those closest to the unfolding events.”
WBJC’s Booknotes
“A novel that not only takes on a moral issue in a deeply suspenseful way, but does so from an intriguing and multi-faceted perspective.”
Late Last Night Books: The Energy Behind the Roar
“I was impressed with the themes that give the novel a memorable richness.”
JMWW
“A good balance of thrill and drama without being sentimental … quite a ride.”
Book Q&A with Deborah Kalb
“Part of what interested me about this story was the concept of how such stories exist differently for different people based on perception.”
Savvy Verse and Wit
“Setting the Family Free is an unusual and interesting premise.”
The Monthly WBJC Newsletter (October and November 2019 issues)
“A novel that not only takes on a moral issue in a deeply suspenseful way, but it does so from an intriguing and multi-faceted perspective.”
The Internet Review of Books
“Who is to blame for the disaster and whose side should the reader take?”
Town Lively
“The book examines what would happen if people were put on more even footing with animals.”
World Animal Day
“World Animal Day, October 4, all profits from Setting the Family Free will go to benefit animals in the wild.”
Baltimore Review
“A riveting page-turner. Goodman reveals a disturbing truth about human relationships: none of us is the same person to two or more others. Just as each of us is unique, so each relationship between individuals is unique.”
Loch Raven Review
“This is a book that satisfies on many levels. A kaleidoscopic … that adds up to one seamless, gripping story that’s both fast-paced disaster thriller and philosophical meditation on the intrinsic value of all living things.”
Late Last Night Books
"A compelling story told by a skillful, adventurous writer."
Monday Morning Book Blog
“As we learn more about animal intelligence, we begin to question the idea that we should have dominion over them. This book is a valuable step in opening that conversation.”
SSU Alumni News
“Author of four books, Goodman’s upcoming novel Setting the Family Free will be released in October 2019 and will feature scenes of his alma mater’s campus.”
Ragazine
“Womb is an entertaining, provocative read that stays with the reader after he puts the book down. Thought provoking, more a novel of ideas than characters. A clever and seasoned storyteller.”
Loch Raven Review
"Here is where Mr. Goodman’s talent lies; he knows how to pace a story. Both Mom and Dad are Beautiful People who are in the process of learning what every fetus supposedly already knows. Yet Mom succumbs to the advances of a cad. How can a Beautiful Person ever sink so low? We find out why much later. This is but one example of the author’s ability to resolve situations gradually, and to provide the reader with just enough information to keep her turning pages with unchilled anticipation. The author certainly knows how to tell a story."
Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb
“Some books start with a plot, others with character. For Womb, the idea came first and everything else grew from that. So when I began, I was really just exploring the concept without knowing where I would end up.”
JMWW
In Conversation: Eric D. Goodman and Sally Whitney
“I’d like to think that a novel can change the world. I think some novels have. But maybe the more realistic hope is that novels can change the world by changing one person at a time. I know that novels can change people.”
Library Journal
“Starred Review. McEwan joins Eric D. Goodman (Womb: A Novel in Utero) and Emma Donoghue (Room) in penning an expansive meditation on stability and identity from a confined perspective.” (In a review of Ian McEwan's Nutshell, comparing it to Womb and Room.”
The Potomac
“Eric D. Goodman's thought–provoking new novel, Womb, is more a novel of ideas than characters. A clever and seasoned storyteller, Goodman is careful not to plead a case, to make an argument, and by and large we simply accept the premise …”
Litro
“Goodman rises to the challenge posed by the foetus’ limited perspective, relating a story of betrayal and domestic turmoil through the filter of the uterine wall.”
Christina Francine Book Reviews
“A provocative and thoughtful read that will cause reflection. Readers who like contemplating life and who also look beyond the surface of hot topics and the human condition will enjoy Womb.”
Womb reviews on GoodReads
Womb reviews on Amazon
Ingram Advance
Womb featured on page 93 of the July 2017 issue of Ingram Advance
Rockin’ Book Reviews
One lucky reader won a free copy of Womb in the Rockin’ Book Reviews giveaway!
Syracuse.com
“Womb: a novel in utero by Eric D. Goodman offers a unique narrative voice.”
Late Last Night Books
“I love traveling by train, ensconced with strangers boarding and debarking according to some mysterious and personal trajectory. So right from the start I was intrigued by Eric D. Goodman’s Tracks, a novel in short stories about travelers on a train headed from Baltimore for Chicago. I talked to Eric about Tracks and his travel writing.”
New York Journal of Books:
“… Goodman is a born storyteller who weaves his tales of each individual character, and then ties them together to create a finely patterned cloth … you have the more transcendent experience of seeing each of the characters from many perspectives, at times understanding not only their “now” but something of their past and future.
“Many of the reviews written of this book point out that it’s a great summer read. This is true. It’s the kind of book that you can read best at a leisurely pace, enjoying the slower rhythms of this literary ‘people watching.’”
ForeWord Magazine:
“Like a collection of one-act plays, each scene is a tightly scripted vignette highlighting the life of a single character. And while each chapter of the novel is a standalone story, characters have roles to play in several.
“The author has a knack for easily and quickly evoking a sense of place, here deftly describing the seasonal life in Baltimore's Inner Harbor: "In the humid days of summer, descending from the hill into the harbor was like sinking into a familiar hot tub."
“The literary device of having the principal characters launched on a journey is well established, calling to mind examples as divergent as Chaucer and Zane Gray. If not done well it can be a cliche. Goodman handles the device deftly and the result is a compelling novel.”
“Like a collection of one-act plays, each scene is a tightly scripted vignette highlighting the life of a single character. And while each chapter of the novel is a standalone story, characters have roles to play in several.
“The author has a knack for easily and quickly evoking a sense of place, here deftly describing the seasonal life in Baltimore's Inner Harbor: "In the humid days of summer, descending from the hill into the harbor was like sinking into a familiar hot tub."
“The literary device of having the principal characters launched on a journey is well established, calling to mind examples as divergent as Chaucer and Zane Gray. If not done well it can be a cliche. Goodman handles the device deftly and the result is a compelling novel.”
Broken Pencil:
“Each brief chapter explores the perspective of a different passenger, while a major character in one story might reappear as a bit player in the next. One woman's back tattoo is gawked at by the male passengers on board and, seen through their lustful eyes, she acquires an unflattering reputation for most of the book until her own tale is told. Another character deals with the sudden death of a nearby rider, who moments earlier (as only the reader knows) experienced a major change of heart.
"Once everyone's introduced, the real fun begins. Two characters drunkenly end up in a cabin together, while on the other end of the train a cat-and-mouse game breaks out between a runaway mob member and his pursuing hit man. At times, Tracks feels like an episode of The Sopranos on VIA Rail, particularly since the mafia story arc - the one Goodman spends most of the novel crafting - is by far the highlight.
"... the writing makes for a great ride."
_
JMWW:
“… a fascinating cast of characters … Goodman’s voice is gentle as he explores motivations and interactions. The scenes in these stories expand to include all kinds of human fears and sorrows, regrets and grateful joys.
“Managing a large cast of characters is not an easy task, but one that Goodman accomplishes with ease. The characters interact throughout, creating a seamless narrative out of their different tales.
“Tensions mount as inner and outer conflicts come into play. Incidents from each story increasingly affect the outcome of the others, as the connections between the characters, however transitory, become stronger."
“… a fascinating cast of characters … Goodman’s voice is gentle as he explores motivations and interactions. The scenes in these stories expand to include all kinds of human fears and sorrows, regrets and grateful joys.
“Managing a large cast of characters is not an easy task, but one that Goodman accomplishes with ease. The characters interact throughout, creating a seamless narrative out of their different tales.
“Tensions mount as inner and outer conflicts come into play. Incidents from each story increasingly affect the outcome of the others, as the connections between the characters, however transitory, become stronger."
Midwest Book Review
"The overarching story of life is forged by many stories. "Tracks" is a series of short stories crafted by Eric D. Goodman as he brings together a novel forged from these smaller tales. With a unique concept and entertaining writing about a passenger train going to Chicago from Baltimore, "Tracks" is quite a fascinating and recommended read."
"The overarching story of life is forged by many stories. "Tracks" is a series of short stories crafted by Eric D. Goodman as he brings together a novel forged from these smaller tales. With a unique concept and entertaining writing about a passenger train going to Chicago from Baltimore, "Tracks" is quite a fascinating and recommended read."
The Examiner:
“A prolific and talented writer, Eric D. Goodman is one of Baltimore’s rising stars. In addition to writing fiction, he has written travel articles and maintains a writing blog. He also organizes and leads his own event, Lit and Art, which promotes local Baltimore writers and artists. When it comes to his fiction, Goodman’s signature trait is the way he explores perspective throughout his work. His prime example is his award-winning novel, Tracks: A Novel in Stories. It’s this use of perspective that allows him to craft very character-driven plotlines that draw the reader into the struggles of the individual characters and how they add to the narrative, both uniquely and as a whole..”
“A prolific and talented writer, Eric D. Goodman is one of Baltimore’s rising stars. In addition to writing fiction, he has written travel articles and maintains a writing blog. He also organizes and leads his own event, Lit and Art, which promotes local Baltimore writers and artists. When it comes to his fiction, Goodman’s signature trait is the way he explores perspective throughout his work. His prime example is his award-winning novel, Tracks: A Novel in Stories. It’s this use of perspective that allows him to craft very character-driven plotlines that draw the reader into the struggles of the individual characters and how they add to the narrative, both uniquely and as a whole..”
The Writer Magazine:
“... irresistible … Count me in.”
Library Thing Review
"Within the confines of the train tragedies unfold, lessons are learned, and some conflicts both internal and external are explored. However, as in life there is no tidy resolution. I found Tracks to be an interesting collection of stories."
Baltimore Jewish Times:
Must Read Section
"Goodman’s break-out novel, follows a group of eclectic characters on a long train ride from Baltimore to Chicago. Goodman expertly weaves the characters in and out of each story.
"In addition to its structural genius, “Tracks” boasts a creative cast of characters, including a young American soldier, a woman mourning her parents, a computer-geek-turned-activist and his would-be assassin, an elderly Holocaust survivor, a sleazy traveling salesman, a young woman distracted by a recent breakup, and an adulterous woman with a prominent tattoo.
"... Goodman manages to work plenty of action into the slow-moving train ...
"Throughout, Goodman’s voice is observant and authoritative. He draws the reader’s attention to rich details, providing a glimpse into the lives of each character. Baltimore natives will especially love Goodman’s descriptions of local scenery and architecture, but the story can captivate any interested reader."
The Nervous Breakdown:
“Goodman’s prose feels inspired by this same romance of trains that tinges the book. He is a natural storyteller, one who takes time in unfurling these lives, showing us things we wouldn’t see from the highway of grocery-store fiction. In an age of high-speed internet, Facebook lives and thoughts that only last 140 characters, it’s refreshing to see a book with such unhurried attention to character. In the same way that train rides make time seem liquid, maybe non-existent, the narrative-time of Tracks bends and contorts to encompass large swatches of the characters’ lives.
"... another nice touch by Goodman, this constant reevaluation of characters after being observed in later stories. In the same way trains cars rock and sway, our perception of earlier characters—the old and rigid Prewitt, the immature Malcolm and Tina, the woman (Demi) whose tattoo snares the lascivious attention of most men on the train—sways with each successive story. Who we thought the characters were from observation isn’t exactly who they are once we’re inside their head.
"Like a train-ride itself, it’s not the arrival at the other station that’s the important part. It’s all of the things you see, people like the characters in Tracks who you meet along the way. They stay in your head, long after the final page is turned."
_
“Goodman’s prose feels inspired by this same romance of trains that tinges the book. He is a natural storyteller, one who takes time in unfurling these lives, showing us things we wouldn’t see from the highway of grocery-store fiction. In an age of high-speed internet, Facebook lives and thoughts that only last 140 characters, it’s refreshing to see a book with such unhurried attention to character. In the same way that train rides make time seem liquid, maybe non-existent, the narrative-time of Tracks bends and contorts to encompass large swatches of the characters’ lives.
"... another nice touch by Goodman, this constant reevaluation of characters after being observed in later stories. In the same way trains cars rock and sway, our perception of earlier characters—the old and rigid Prewitt, the immature Malcolm and Tina, the woman (Demi) whose tattoo snares the lascivious attention of most men on the train—sways with each successive story. Who we thought the characters were from observation isn’t exactly who they are once we’re inside their head.
"Like a train-ride itself, it’s not the arrival at the other station that’s the important part. It’s all of the things you see, people like the characters in Tracks who you meet along the way. They stay in your head, long after the final page is turned."
_
Washington Independent Review of Books:
“… Goodman writes with an appealing directness and attention to detail. The strongest vignettes drew me into the characters’ experiences even when they happened long in the past.
"The best vignette ... is that of a young soldier on leave from fighting in Afghanistan. He has just lost his girlfriend because he refused her pleas to leave the Army and repudiate the war. Now he is filled with sadness and confusion about the country and the cause for which he is fighting. Goodman’s war scenes, including the deaths of the soldier’s two closest friends, are gripping ..."
“… Goodman writes with an appealing directness and attention to detail. The strongest vignettes drew me into the characters’ experiences even when they happened long in the past.
"The best vignette ... is that of a young soldier on leave from fighting in Afghanistan. He has just lost his girlfriend because he refused her pleas to leave the Army and repudiate the war. Now he is filled with sadness and confusion about the country and the cause for which he is fighting. Goodman’s war scenes, including the deaths of the soldier’s two closest friends, are gripping ..."
The Potomac: A Journal of Poetry and Politics:
“… Tracks, a “novel in stories,” seventeen of them that take place on an overnight train ride from Baltimore to Chicago, is a real tour de force.
“Goodman writes in a witty, confidential style, letting the reader in on “the straight skinny” behind the lives of his characters in a sort of behind–the–hand conspiratorial voice that’s cozy and entertaining.
“Goodman brings Baltimore to life in story after story … Make no mistake, this is a book whose entertainment value makes it worth reading for anyone, particularly if you’re from Baltimore.”
DC Examiner:
“…the stories exude local culture and nuances that only a local writer could bring to life. Whether the characters are running away from their lives in Baltimore or eager to get back to them, the protagonists in each story are seeking change and the rails is the best way to examine their lives and find solutions to their problems.
“Goodman has created a novel in stories about the everyman that will reach into the reader's core and transport them inward to examine his/her own life more closely. Tracks is a novel and short stories, but much more than that, it is a journey.”
Erin Reads:
"I've never read anything quite like Tracks.
"The way Goodman subtly shifts back a few hours or jumps ahead a little in time has the neat effect of creating that sort of discombobulated feeling you get while traveling on long-distance public transportation, that sense that you’re somehow apart from the outside world, in transition, as you make your way from one place to another. Very effective.
"Goodman also lets his characters observe one another. With each new story the reader experiences, another piece of the puzzle falls into place. The next time a character visits the lounge car or passes someone in the aisle, there is an ever greater chance of it being someone we’ve already met, one of the stories we’ve already read. This casual layering of perspectives is extremely well done and rather delightful to experience.
"... my favorite part of Tracks was how it makes you realize everyone has a story. Each story would have worked on its own, but together, linked by the thin thread of the train, they amount to something bigger than the sum of the parts. Goodman accomplished this masterfully in Tracks."
_
"I've never read anything quite like Tracks.
"The way Goodman subtly shifts back a few hours or jumps ahead a little in time has the neat effect of creating that sort of discombobulated feeling you get while traveling on long-distance public transportation, that sense that you’re somehow apart from the outside world, in transition, as you make your way from one place to another. Very effective.
"Goodman also lets his characters observe one another. With each new story the reader experiences, another piece of the puzzle falls into place. The next time a character visits the lounge car or passes someone in the aisle, there is an ever greater chance of it being someone we’ve already met, one of the stories we’ve already read. This casual layering of perspectives is extremely well done and rather delightful to experience.
"... my favorite part of Tracks was how it makes you realize everyone has a story. Each story would have worked on its own, but together, linked by the thin thread of the train, they amount to something bigger than the sum of the parts. Goodman accomplished this masterfully in Tracks."
_
Savvy Verse & Wit:
"Goodman is adept at ensuring readers care about his characters in just a few pages … It does not matter where these characters come from; what matters is that the rails provide them with hope and a time out from their hustle of their daily lives. The train and the rails are an escape, a quiet place to contemplate their lives as the undulating sway of the cars lulls them into deep meditation. Paralleling their actual lives, the trip on the train has each member making contact with strangers, and like the conscience that guides their decision making, the conductor on the train whispers advice and nuggets of observation/wisdom to those with whom he speaks. Beyond the characters, the city of Baltimore and the rail line itself loom large in the story, almost becoming characters themselves …
"Tracks by Eric D. Goodman demonstrates how we are all traveling the same line and how we have similar fears and failings, but also similar hopes and dreams. In spite of that, we all end up in different places. Even with the characters who seem unsavory or hard to like, they offer a lesson to readers — seize the moment because in the next, it could be gone. Opportunity arises and disappears just as quickly, and life on the train ride of life is quick and unrelenting. There’s not much time for reflection and a deeper examination of pros and cons when living life at full tilt, but stepping back for a few hours on a train ride can be enough to reassess and rejoin life’s journey with a new purpose. Excellent novel in stories."
"Goodman is adept at ensuring readers care about his characters in just a few pages … It does not matter where these characters come from; what matters is that the rails provide them with hope and a time out from their hustle of their daily lives. The train and the rails are an escape, a quiet place to contemplate their lives as the undulating sway of the cars lulls them into deep meditation. Paralleling their actual lives, the trip on the train has each member making contact with strangers, and like the conscience that guides their decision making, the conductor on the train whispers advice and nuggets of observation/wisdom to those with whom he speaks. Beyond the characters, the city of Baltimore and the rail line itself loom large in the story, almost becoming characters themselves …
"Tracks by Eric D. Goodman demonstrates how we are all traveling the same line and how we have similar fears and failings, but also similar hopes and dreams. In spite of that, we all end up in different places. Even with the characters who seem unsavory or hard to like, they offer a lesson to readers — seize the moment because in the next, it could be gone. Opportunity arises and disappears just as quickly, and life on the train ride of life is quick and unrelenting. There’s not much time for reflection and a deeper examination of pros and cons when living life at full tilt, but stepping back for a few hours on a train ride can be enough to reassess and rejoin life’s journey with a new purpose. Excellent novel in stories."
_Booked Up:
“I was so drawn to some of the characters and could entirely identify with the situations they were dealing with. Others who fall way outside anything I know were well depicted ...
"It was interesting to see how different travelers were dealing with similar situations in very different ways, and to see how brief encounters could impact on their lives.
"I loved this book, the subject matter and the style, unfussy yet beautiful. Well worth a read!"
“I was so drawn to some of the characters and could entirely identify with the situations they were dealing with. Others who fall way outside anything I know were well depicted ...
"It was interesting to see how different travelers were dealing with similar situations in very different ways, and to see how brief encounters could impact on their lives.
"I loved this book, the subject matter and the style, unfussy yet beautiful. Well worth a read!"
_San Francisco Book Review:
The author shares his experience of working with an agent and publisher on changes to Tracks.
The author shares his experience of working with an agent and publisher on changes to Tracks.
Book Q & A with Deborah Kalb
Book author and frequent partner with father Marvin Kalb interviews the author about Tracks and the differences between a novel, story collection, and a novel in stories.
Book author and frequent partner with father Marvin Kalb interviews the author about Tracks and the differences between a novel, story collection, and a novel in stories.
Three Guys One Book
“The novel follows the stories of the passengers on a train from Baltimore to Chicago, breaking into their lives, both real and as imagined by the other passengers, skillfully and subtly intertwining their tales. It’s good stuff and you can read two of the chapters here."
“The novel follows the stories of the passengers on a train from Baltimore to Chicago, breaking into their lives, both real and as imagined by the other passengers, skillfully and subtly intertwining their tales. It’s good stuff and you can read two of the chapters here."
The Baltimore Sun:
Tracks made the front page of the Arts & Entertainment section of The Baltimore Sun's Sunday Edition (in print). Altered versions of this article appeared in print and online in The Baltimore Sun, The Baltimore Messenger, and The Towson Times.
"Someone once described the ambition of getting a novel published as 'a slender keyhole through which few have passed.' Eric Goodman has passed through that keyhole, and has found rewards on the other side — on Monday, June 4, he was in New York picking up the 2012 Gold Medal for Best Fiction in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the Independent Publishers Book Awards for his book, Tracks: A Novel in Stories."
Dayton Daily News
Funny Business: New Owners Have Big Plans (For Ohio’s Oldest Comedy Club)
Dayton Business Journal
New Owners Take Over Wiley’s Comedy Joint (Eric D. Goodman, Gary Wood, Matthew Vollrath)
Dayton.com
No Joke: Eric D. Goodman, Gary Wood, and Matthew Vollrath have Big Plans for Ohio’s First Comedy Club
Tracks made the front page of the Arts & Entertainment section of The Baltimore Sun's Sunday Edition (in print). Altered versions of this article appeared in print and online in The Baltimore Sun, The Baltimore Messenger, and The Towson Times.
"Someone once described the ambition of getting a novel published as 'a slender keyhole through which few have passed.' Eric Goodman has passed through that keyhole, and has found rewards on the other side — on Monday, June 4, he was in New York picking up the 2012 Gold Medal for Best Fiction in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the Independent Publishers Book Awards for his book, Tracks: A Novel in Stories."
Dayton Daily News
Funny Business: New Owners Have Big Plans (For Ohio’s Oldest Comedy Club)
Dayton Business Journal
New Owners Take Over Wiley’s Comedy Joint (Eric D. Goodman, Gary Wood, Matthew Vollrath)
Dayton.com
No Joke: Eric D. Goodman, Gary Wood, and Matthew Vollrath have Big Plans for Ohio’s First Comedy Club
Portsmouth Daily Times:
“Goodman’s novel-in-stories has been described as a “Tarantino-style ‘Love Actually’ meets literary fiction.” The book follows a group of characters on a train from Baltimore to Chicago, interweaving their experiences as each story spotlights the viewpoint of a character. The major character in one story becoming a minor character in another, almost like living in a small town. Goodman said that, in a way, his experiences here in Portsmouth helped to influence his latest book."
Read more: Portsmouth Daily Times - Author gets his start at Shawnee State
“Goodman’s novel-in-stories has been described as a “Tarantino-style ‘Love Actually’ meets literary fiction.” The book follows a group of characters on a train from Baltimore to Chicago, interweaving their experiences as each story spotlights the viewpoint of a character. The major character in one story becoming a minor character in another, almost like living in a small town. Goodman said that, in a way, his experiences here in Portsmouth helped to influence his latest book."
Read more: Portsmouth Daily Times - Author gets his start at Shawnee State
York Daily Record / Sunday News:
“When Goodman watches a movie or reads a book, he always wants to know more about the side characters. Writing a novel in intertwined stories seemed like the ideal way to learn more about different characters. Gathering an eclectic group of passengers -- which includes a salesman, a soldier, a former mobster and a Holocaust survivor -- also meant Goodman could have darker and lighter stories mixed together in one book."
Read more: York Daily Record / Sunday News - Train passengers' stories become a novel
“When Goodman watches a movie or reads a book, he always wants to know more about the side characters. Writing a novel in intertwined stories seemed like the ideal way to learn more about different characters. Gathering an eclectic group of passengers -- which includes a salesman, a soldier, a former mobster and a Holocaust survivor -- also meant Goodman could have darker and lighter stories mixed together in one book."
Read more: York Daily Record / Sunday News - Train passengers' stories become a novel
Portland Book Review:
The author shares his "addiction" to writing advice and comments as he writes about how much advice one book can handle in the Writers on Writing section.
The author shares his "addiction" to writing advice and comments as he writes about how much advice one book can handle in the Writers on Writing section.
Sacramento Book Review:
The author shares his experience of editing and rewriting with an agent and publisher based on his experience with Tracks.
The author shares his experience of editing and rewriting with an agent and publisher based on his experience with Tracks.
Maryland Life:
Summer Reading List
"Climb aboard this compilation of stories set on a train from Baltimore to Chicago."
Summer Reading List
"Climb aboard this compilation of stories set on a train from Baltimore to Chicago."
Every Day I Write the Book:
"Unexpected and unique ... an homage to train travel. The stregnth of the book was the cast of characers who were quite memorable ..."
"Unexpected and unique ... an homage to train travel. The stregnth of the book was the cast of characers who were quite memorable ..."
Baltimore Jewish Times:
(Interview in the "Exclusively in Print" section)
"BJT: Why did you choose to include a Holocaust survivor as one of your characters?
"Goodman: Five or six years ago, I went to the National Holocaust Memorial Museum in D.C., and I just remember it was such an emotional experience. I had read a lot of books and seen a lot of movies about the Holocaust, but this had such an effect on me. Riding home on the MARC train, I was already writing notes and thinking about how I could include this in a story. I visited the museum several more times to really submerge myself in it as I was writing. I think "Live Cargo," the story that came out of it, is probably one of the more powerful stories in the book."
(Interview in the "Exclusively in Print" section)
"BJT: Why did you choose to include a Holocaust survivor as one of your characters?
"Goodman: Five or six years ago, I went to the National Holocaust Memorial Museum in D.C., and I just remember it was such an emotional experience. I had read a lot of books and seen a lot of movies about the Holocaust, but this had such an effect on me. Riding home on the MARC train, I was already writing notes and thinking about how I could include this in a story. I visited the museum several more times to really submerge myself in it as I was writing. I think "Live Cargo," the story that came out of it, is probably one of the more powerful stories in the book."
Independent Publisher Magazine:
"The authors we sign have a knack for writing visual, compelling narratives whose characters and story lines are quirky and timeless. There is no commercial crassness to what we do. We live to tell another story with unconventional plots and heroic misdeeds. It's this strain of inventively fresh, honest and offbeat entertainment that is often missing from today's bestseller lists."
"The authors we sign have a knack for writing visual, compelling narratives whose characters and story lines are quirky and timeless. There is no commercial crassness to what we do. We live to tell another story with unconventional plots and heroic misdeeds. It's this strain of inventively fresh, honest and offbeat entertainment that is often missing from today's bestseller lists."
Potomac Review:
"Potomac Review: The characters in Tracks don’t take predictable paths through their lives. Which story in Tracks surprised you the most when you finished writing it?
"Eric D. Goodman: As many writers will tell you, a character often takes on a life of his or her own and sometimes leads you in directions you don’t expect. When I began writing each story, I knew what they were about and who the characters were, but not always where they’d end up."
"Potomac Review: The characters in Tracks don’t take predictable paths through their lives. Which story in Tracks surprised you the most when you finished writing it?
"Eric D. Goodman: As many writers will tell you, a character often takes on a life of his or her own and sometimes leads you in directions you don’t expect. When I began writing each story, I knew what they were about and who the characters were, but not always where they’d end up."
Write Place Write Time:
Eric D. Goodman shares pictures and thoughts about his favorite place to write, and the simple pine desk that has seen a portion of every book he's worked on for nearly 30 years.
Eric D. Goodman shares pictures and thoughts about his favorite place to write, and the simple pine desk that has seen a portion of every book he's worked on for nearly 30 years.
Farley's Bookshop Newsletter:
"Monthly Spotlight: Goodman interweaves the stories and lives of a group of passengers on a train headed from Baltimore to Chicago. The book is full of tension, insight and tight, great writing. It is a wonderful look into the human soul and an absolute pleasure to read. Fine work."
"Monthly Spotlight: Goodman interweaves the stories and lives of a group of passengers on a train headed from Baltimore to Chicago. The book is full of tension, insight and tight, great writing. It is a wonderful look into the human soul and an absolute pleasure to read. Fine work."
Towson Times:
“Many of us know this Rodgers Forge resident's wonderful first book, "Flightless Goose," a children's story … now adults can thrill to Eric's work.”
(This photo took up nearly a full page of the print edition.)
“Many of us know this Rodgers Forge resident's wonderful first book, "Flightless Goose," a children's story … now adults can thrill to Eric's work.”
(This photo took up nearly a full page of the print edition.)
_Talent in Motion Magazine:
"The tales are as diverse as the characters on the train ... The one thing they have in common
is a train, a conductor and time. Each of their chance encounters shed a closer understanding to ...why we are stronger by the stories we share ..."
"The tales are as diverse as the characters on the train ... The one thing they have in common
is a train, a conductor and time. Each of their chance encounters shed a closer understanding to ...why we are stronger by the stories we share ..."
Baltimore Post-Examiner:
The popular lit series, “The 5:10 Readings,” was held at Minas Gallery, on the Avenue, in Hampden Jan. 25. It featured writers Rafael Alvarez (above), Clarinda Harris, David Belz and Eric D. Goodman.
The popular lit series, “The 5:10 Readings,” was held at Minas Gallery, on the Avenue, in Hampden Jan. 25. It featured writers Rafael Alvarez (above), Clarinda Harris, David Belz and Eric D. Goodman.
_Independent Publisher Magazine:
"The authors we sign have a knack for writing visual, compelling narratives whose characters and story lines are quirky and timeless. There is no commercial crassness to what we do. We live to tell another story with unconventional plots and heroic misdeeds. It's this strain of inventively fresh, honest and offbeat entertainment that is often missing from today's bestseller lists."
Pen in Hand:
"Praise for Goodman's book includes accolades from The New York Journal of Books, which calls Goodman 'a born storyteller who weaves his tales of each individual character, and then ties them together to create a finely patterend cloth.' Madison Smartt Bell described Tracks as 'a perfect read' and Thomas Steinbeck dubbed Goodman 'an exciting talent' who takes the craft of short story writing 'to the level of art.'"
"The authors we sign have a knack for writing visual, compelling narratives whose characters and story lines are quirky and timeless. There is no commercial crassness to what we do. We live to tell another story with unconventional plots and heroic misdeeds. It's this strain of inventively fresh, honest and offbeat entertainment that is often missing from today's bestseller lists."
Pen in Hand:
"Praise for Goodman's book includes accolades from The New York Journal of Books, which calls Goodman 'a born storyteller who weaves his tales of each individual character, and then ties them together to create a finely patterend cloth.' Madison Smartt Bell described Tracks as 'a perfect read' and Thomas Steinbeck dubbed Goodman 'an exciting talent' who takes the craft of short story writing 'to the level of art.'"
Madam Mayo:
In this guest blog, Eric D. Goodman shares five train stories worth riding. C.M. Mayo writes of Tracks:
"It has been garnering effusive praise, including from Madison Smartt Bell who calls it "a most cunningly crafted tale -- a perfect read for trains, planes, and automobiles... or even your armchair." Hop aboard at www.TracksNovel.com."
In this guest blog, Eric D. Goodman shares five train stories worth riding. C.M. Mayo writes of Tracks:
"It has been garnering effusive praise, including from Madison Smartt Bell who calls it "a most cunningly crafted tale -- a perfect read for trains, planes, and automobiles... or even your armchair." Hop aboard at www.TracksNovel.com."
Gaithersburg Book Festival:
“Q&A with 2012 Featured Author Eric D. Goodman
“Where do you find inspiration?
“I never know when inspiration is going to hit, but I can say that I find it in life’s simple moments. My writing tends to be based on ideas or feelings. Perhaps a bit of overheard conversation, a unique thought, something that has happened to me or someone I know. That inspiration can come from watching people at the harbor or reading a news story or overhearing a conversation on a train. The idea comes first, then the characters, then the plot. I like to capture everyday moments that seem simple on the surface, but that contain the essence of life.”
“If you could sit down at diner with three other authors, living or dead, which three authors would you choose, and why?”
York Daily Record/Sunday News Book Buzz:
“… Goodman has won a 2012 Independent Publisher Book Award. Announced last week, “Tracks” took home the gold for best fiction in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Awards Ceremony will be held June 4 in New York.
PLUMB
A review of the panel discussion on Debut Authors and How they Got There at the Conversations and Connections Conference in DC.
Baltimore Post-Examiner
The final 510 reading at Minas Gallery featured some great local authors, such as Rafael Alvarez, D.R. Belz, Clarinda Harris, and Eric D. Goodman.
Atticus Short Story Month Blog:
“Short stories force a writer to do more with fewer words … short stories take skill and work.”
Great Book Reviews:
“All of the characters are well told, especially Charlie (a hitman), Gene (ex-criminal) Prewitt (stressed) and Franklin (awesome character)! Each story is great. The author writes the stories while the characters are on a train, but the stories themselves are about new beginnings, remembrance and life.
“I love the writing style, and all in all, I think Eric D is an author to look out for!”
GoodReads:
“Each has their own reasons for being on the train, and their own stories but for a time their paths cross and in some cases affect the course of their fellow passengers' lives.”
“There are so many great things about this book.”
“Q&A with 2012 Featured Author Eric D. Goodman
“Where do you find inspiration?
“I never know when inspiration is going to hit, but I can say that I find it in life’s simple moments. My writing tends to be based on ideas or feelings. Perhaps a bit of overheard conversation, a unique thought, something that has happened to me or someone I know. That inspiration can come from watching people at the harbor or reading a news story or overhearing a conversation on a train. The idea comes first, then the characters, then the plot. I like to capture everyday moments that seem simple on the surface, but that contain the essence of life.”
“If you could sit down at diner with three other authors, living or dead, which three authors would you choose, and why?”
York Daily Record/Sunday News Book Buzz:
“… Goodman has won a 2012 Independent Publisher Book Award. Announced last week, “Tracks” took home the gold for best fiction in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Awards Ceremony will be held June 4 in New York.
PLUMB
A review of the panel discussion on Debut Authors and How they Got There at the Conversations and Connections Conference in DC.
Baltimore Post-Examiner
The final 510 reading at Minas Gallery featured some great local authors, such as Rafael Alvarez, D.R. Belz, Clarinda Harris, and Eric D. Goodman.
Atticus Short Story Month Blog:
“Short stories force a writer to do more with fewer words … short stories take skill and work.”
Great Book Reviews:
“All of the characters are well told, especially Charlie (a hitman), Gene (ex-criminal) Prewitt (stressed) and Franklin (awesome character)! Each story is great. The author writes the stories while the characters are on a train, but the stories themselves are about new beginnings, remembrance and life.
“I love the writing style, and all in all, I think Eric D is an author to look out for!”
GoodReads:
“Each has their own reasons for being on the train, and their own stories but for a time their paths cross and in some cases affect the course of their fellow passengers' lives.”
“There are so many great things about this book.”
Savvy Verse & Wit:
"Tracks by Eric D. Goodman is one of the best novel in stories I've read in a long time, and it will likely end up on my best of the year list."
"Tracks by Eric D. Goodman is one of the best novel in stories I've read in a long time, and it will likely end up on my best of the year list."
Potomac Review:
Author Eric D. Goodman shares the thrill of release day.
"A good number of people have asked me: what was it like? To finally have my first novel released after years—decades—of pitching to agents and publishers? To have a traditional publisher release my baby to the world. The short answer: somewhat surreal. What follows is the long answer."
__
Author Eric D. Goodman shares the thrill of release day.
"A good number of people have asked me: what was it like? To finally have my first novel released after years—decades—of pitching to agents and publishers? To have a traditional publisher release my baby to the world. The short answer: somewhat surreal. What follows is the long answer."
__
DC Examiner:
Award announcement and Interview
“The Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 19 has some best-selling talent, like Sarah Pekkanen. But even more enticing is the swath of local talent that will be on hand at the festival, including Eric D. Goodman, author of Tracks. His novel recently earned the 2012 Gold Medal for Best Fiction in the Mid-Atlantic Region from the Independent Publisher Book Awards.
“The interconnected stories provide an overarching story as told by a variety of perspectives, including a workaholic and a languishing poet. What many of these protagonists have in common is that they are in transition, either between stages in their life or in their relationships. Through observations and conversations, these characters come to realizations about their own lives, and the journey on the train becomes a vision of the human journey.”
Award announcement and Interview
“The Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 19 has some best-selling talent, like Sarah Pekkanen. But even more enticing is the swath of local talent that will be on hand at the festival, including Eric D. Goodman, author of Tracks. His novel recently earned the 2012 Gold Medal for Best Fiction in the Mid-Atlantic Region from the Independent Publisher Book Awards.
“The interconnected stories provide an overarching story as told by a variety of perspectives, including a workaholic and a languishing poet. What many of these protagonists have in common is that they are in transition, either between stages in their life or in their relationships. Through observations and conversations, these characters come to realizations about their own lives, and the journey on the train becomes a vision of the human journey.”
Potomac Review:
Author Eric D. Goodman blogs about what happens after release day and how exhaustion is a good thing.
"My debut novel in stories, Tracks, was published by Atticus Books on June 30 of this year. The release date was a whirlwind, so much going on that it left my head spinning. But that doesn’t mean I’m standing still now, a season later ... it doesn’t end with release day."
_
Writers Weekly:
The author writes about his experience taking Tracks abroad, reading and signing at a book event in Madrid, Spain.
The author writes about his experience taking Tracks abroad, reading and signing at a book event in Madrid, Spain.
Montecito Journal:
"Author Eric D. Goodman is clearly on the right lines with his debut book, Tracks ... with each chapter about different characters, including a hitman, Holocaust survivor, a former mobster, and a poet. Goodman is now finishing off his second work, he told me at a bijou launch at Tecolote, the lively literary lair in the Upper Villiage, hosted by his friends Thom and Gail Steinbeck."
"Author Eric D. Goodman is clearly on the right lines with his debut book, Tracks ... with each chapter about different characters, including a hitman, Holocaust survivor, a former mobster, and a poet. Goodman is now finishing off his second work, he told me at a bijou launch at Tecolote, the lively literary lair in the Upper Villiage, hosted by his friends Thom and Gail Steinbeck."
Ally E. Peltier Newsletter:
Success Story about going from rough draft to published novel.
"Be sure to check out the book, Tracks: A Novel in Stories, by Eric D. Goodman, published by Atticus Books."
CityLit Project
A photo essay about George Saunder's keynote at the CityLit Festival with a mention of author Eric D. Goodman.
St. Bride's Literary Group
Tracks was featured as a book of the month for the St. Bride's Literary Group.
Erin Reads
Book reviewer covers another book, Sidewalk Dancing, but compares it in style and structure to "another great Atticus title," Tracks: A Novel in Stories.
_
Loch Raven Review
A review of the poetry anthology, Life in Me Like Grass on Fire, which specifically compliments Eric D. Goodman's included poem, "Steamy Web."
Success Story about going from rough draft to published novel.
"Be sure to check out the book, Tracks: A Novel in Stories, by Eric D. Goodman, published by Atticus Books."
CityLit Project
A photo essay about George Saunder's keynote at the CityLit Festival with a mention of author Eric D. Goodman.
St. Bride's Literary Group
Tracks was featured as a book of the month for the St. Bride's Literary Group.
Erin Reads
Book reviewer covers another book, Sidewalk Dancing, but compares it in style and structure to "another great Atticus title," Tracks: A Novel in Stories.
_
Loch Raven Review
A review of the poetry anthology, Life in Me Like Grass on Fire, which specifically compliments Eric D. Goodman's included poem, "Steamy Web."
Interview with Atticus Books:
"... our tete-a-tete with the author himself, who shares everything from his original inspiration to John Waters’ plans for the movie ..."
Tracks reviews on GoodReads
Tracks reviews on Amazon
The Potomac reviews Flightless Goose:
"The story is told in a way that is likely to be appealing and exciting to younger children without being condescending to older ones. Whether having it read to them or reading it themselves, kids will enjoy studying the richly detailed drawings and reading along with the bold and clear text."
Baltimore Sun
Nataliya Goodman represents Flightless Goose at CityLit and is interviewed by the Baltimore Sun.
Flightless Goose reviews on Goodreads
Flightless Goose reviews on Amazon
Writing Through Clouds
Pictures and coverage of the first Write Here Write Now reading at Patterson Theater's Creative Alliance, 2006.
Baltimore Sun
Interview with Eric D. Goodman, who served as a juror in a six-week civil trial.
Dayton Daily News
Funny Business: New Owners Have Big Plans (For Ohio’s Oldest Comedy Club)
Dayton Business Journal
New Owners Take Over Wiley’s Comedy Joint (Eric D. Goodman, Gary Wood, Matthew Vollrath)
Dayton.com
No Joke: Eric D. Goodman, Gary Wood, and Matthew Vollrath have Big Plans for Ohio’s First Comedy Club
Book Q&A With Deborah Kalb
“None of the characters exist as one true thing—they’re all composites of how others seem them in different ways.”