Eric D. Goodman's Blog

My Dublin story was published in the print edition of Baltimore's Child Magazine (pages 14-16). Our recent family adventure brought us to the charming city of Dublin, Ireland—a place where history and modernity coexist beautifully.

We started our journey at Trinity College, marveling at its rich history and stunning architecture. The Irish Rock 'N' Roll Museum offered interactive exhibits that delighted the kids, while Kilmainham Gaol's intriguing past captivated us all. Dublin's family-friendly activities ensured there was something for everyone, making our trip unforgettable.

For more on our adventure, check out the print edition of Baltimore's Child Magazine: https://dmag.baltimoreschild.com/June...

My Faraway Tables poems "Taste" and "Thanks for the Socks" were featured in Fleas on the Dog, an online literary journal. Praised for their light touch and detailed observation, the editor likened my work to Norman Rockwell in words, noting the playfulness and perceptiveness in my writing.

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

To read the poems and the editor's full comments, visit the online publication: https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/9a09...

There's never been a better time to virtually journey to the depths of Poland's historic Wieliczka Salt Mine. My travel story in Go World Travel Magazine provides an enlightening exploration of this 700-year-old marvel, just a short trip from Krakow. Accompany me as I detail the fascinating underground world, from its carved statues and grand chapels to the enduring tradition of salt mining. A read that promises both education and intrigue.

For an in-depth look, visit Go World Travel Magazine: https://www.goworldtravel.com/wielicz...

My poem "Submission to a Student Magazine (from a writer who’s burning out)" was published in Grub Street back in 2007. It is one of the few poems featured in my collection, Faraway Tables, that was written before the pandemic. This print literary journal, published by Towson University, features a variety of creative works from talented writers and artists.

For more on Grub Street and their rich history of literary contributions, visit: https://wp.towson.edu/grubstreetlitma...

My travel story, "Dublin By the Book: Libraries and Libations," has been published in Go World Travel. This piece takes you through Dublin's rich literary scene, visiting historic libraries like Marsh’s Library and Trinity College’s Old Library, and enjoying iconic Irish pubs frequented by literary giants like James Joyce and Samuel Beckett.

Read the full story for an in-depth look at Dublin's literary and cultural heritage at the link below: https://www.goworldtravel.com/dublin-...

As the old Rolling Stones wisdom says, you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need. The Stones are one of a number of musical acts referenced in my new novel, Wrecks and Ruins.

In the short novel, men and women of a certain age rummage through the ruins of their wrecked relationships to create something beautiful … and a main character finds beauty in the byproducts of automobile wrecks and the ruins of dilapidated homes and buildings. What’s this book all about, besides just telling a story?

People today tend to idealize what a relationship is supposed to be. Our instant-gratification, post-and-like mentality, coupled with images of what we “deserve” in a mate perpetuated in movies, shows, magazines, and on social media, give people the impression that if things aren’t perfect, then end it and search for that perfection. But relationships aren’t about getting everything you want. They’re joy and sadness, pleasure and pain, compromise, and work along with the play. Working at a relationship—whether a marriage, friendship, or professional one—is not “settling.” It’s being an adult and a realist and being part of the effort. We should all do our part to make meaningful relationships work.

Readers of Wrecks and Ruins will get to know characters who are not perfect and who do not have perfect relationships. But like a phoenix from the ash, they flourish.

Learn more about Wrecks and Ruins at www.EricDGoodman.com.

My Faraway Tables poem, “Pests,” was published in the anthology, Which Side Are You On?. The anthology features about 80 poets and their workplace-themed poems. The anthology was published by Moonstone Press, part of Moonstone Arts Center in Philadelphia.

“Pests” is a workplace poem only in that it takes place in the workplace. It’s also a pandemic poem, and it focuses on those who take over the space while people were sheltered at home.
Learn more about the anthology and how to get your copy at Moonstone’s website.

https://moonstoneartscenter.org/categ...

My travel story, "Dublin: A Literary Pub Crawl," has been published in GoNOMAD. This piece takes readers and revelers through Dublin's rich literary history as we visit iconic pubs frequented by famous writers like James Joyce and Oscar Wilde. From the Duke Pub to Trinity College, follow in the footsteps of literary giants while enjoying the lively atmosphere of Dublin’s pub scene.

Read the full story for a detailed tour of Dublin's literary and cultural treasures here: https://www.gonomad.com/232943-dublin...

As novelist E.L. Doctorow will tell you, sometimes the best kind of research is the kind that comes to you without effort. I experienced that sort of research recently.

I was out for a walk with my son in our neighborhood, full of large, old trees. One of them had a sign posted on it. “Scheduled for elimination by Division of Forestry.” The reasons checked off were “Dying” and “Diseased.”

Just days earlier, I happened to pull out a story I wrote a couple years prior and was putting some polish on it. The story, “Leaving,” is about a woman infatuated with her yard. In the end, the government tends to her dying tree when she refuses to.

Some readers asked me whether this was realistic. Could this really happen? I told them that I knew of a person whose tree had been felled by the government. But their questions planted a seed of doubt.

Seeing the sign nailed to a tree was more than just validation — it was the perfect detail to add to my story. I copied the sign verbatim and added it to "Leaving."

It reminds me of the method of research Doctorow shared when he spoke at the National Book Festival. He explained that he once bumped a library shelf, a book fell out, and the open page led him to write Ragtime.

Not to say that “Leaving” is my , but at least I seem to have the “stumble upon research” bit down. In fact, it’s my favorite kind of research.

Listen to an abridged version of “Leaving” on Baltimore’s NPR station, WYPR: https://www.wypr.org/show/the-signal/...

Or read it here in Syndic Literary Journal: https://www.syndicjournal.us/cover-sy...

My Faraway Tables poem "Countryman" found its home in the pages of The Three Acts of Wayne Countryman.

Published by Eight Stone Press, known for their captivating Smile, Hon, You're in Baltimore zine series.

You can read "Countryman" in The Three Acts of Wayne Countryman on the official website of Eight Stone Press:

https://eightstonepress.com/publicati...