Big News: Goose Contract Signed!

There's big news at the publishing pond! Author Eric D. Goodman and artist Nataliya A. Goodman have singed a publishing contract for their illustrated childrens’ book, The Flightless Goose!

The book will be published by Writers’ Lair Books and is due out this fall.

The picture book, which tells the story of a goose who must cope with a disability and learn to focus on other strengths, has been a long time swimming. Based on the true story of a Canadian goose living on a pond in a neighborhood they once lived in, Eric wrote the story nearly ten years ago. Over the next few years, his wife Nataliya illustrated the book with her beautiful watercolors, bringing the characters to life.

Then came the grueling part—finding a publisher. Over the years, Eric and Nataliya submitted their book to dozens of publishers and agents. Some responses were form rejection letters, others were complimentary, but ultimately passed on the project.

When the CEO of Writers’ Lair Books took a look at the book, she knew she wanted to publish it. She issued a contract, which Eric and Nataliya signed.

So, after years of wading in the water, The Flightless Goose is about to take flight. Look for it online and in bookstores summer 2008!

And be sure to stay tuned for news about the publication date, special pre-publication offers, the release party, and events in the area and around the country!

Visit the online pond at http://www.flightlessgoose.blogspot.com/ and subscribe to the RSS feed!

Welcome to Gilbert's Online Pond

Have you ever felt different from everyone else, or out of place? Like something was wrong with you? Everyone feels that way sometimes. But especially Gilbert.

Gilbert was once like all of the other geese in the pond. Then one day, something happened that made him unable to fly. That’s when he had to work hard to fit in—and he ended up saving his friends in the process.

The Flightless Goose is an illustrated children’s book. Nataliya Goodman illustrated the book with beautiful watercolors. Eric D. Goodman wrote the story.

Learn more about The Flightless Goose by reading the articles at this online pond.

And come back to the pond soon for more news about Gilbert, the flightless goose.

Flightless Goose to Soar Into Print Soon

The Flightless Goose is a children’s story written by Eric D. Goodman and illustrated by Nataliya A. Goodman.

The vivid writing in The Flightless Goose is sure to captivate the young and the young-at-heart, and it is beautifully illustrated by full-color watercolor paintings.

Stop back by this website -- our online pond -- to check the status of The Flightless Goose.

In the meantime, read the posts below for more details about The Flightless Goose, its author, its illustrator, and even the real goose who inspired the tale.

Goose Author Gives Thanks (With Deborah Norville)

Johnny, a friend of the flightless goose, shows Gilbert that it is important to think about the things you are thankful for than the things that you wish you could change.


Gilbert could not fly. But rather than focus on that, he decided to look at the things in his life that he was grateful for.


A new book says that when you write down the things you are thankful for, it can help you.


Eric D. Goodman, the author of The Flightless Goose, recently talked with Deborah Norville, who is a famous television anchor for the show Inside Edition, and the author of a new book called Thank You Power.


Eric interviewed Deborah about her book, and about the power of being grateful. You can read about it in last week’s issue of Writers Weekly — the most widely read electronic magazine for freelance writers in the world.


The article is called “Give Thanks for Your Writing.” Read it at the link below and learn how being thankful can help you.


http://www.writersweekly.com/this_weeks_article/004378_11202007.html

Teaching an Important Lesson

The Goose Who Could Not Fly uses an original story to teach an important lesson. The author and artist have both worked with people who have disabilities in the past, so they understand how to tastefully teach tolerance.

Without calling attention to the fact that some of the characters have disabilities — never even mentioning it in the text — the book teaches without preaching; shows without telling.

The Goose Who Could Not Fly shows that people (and geese) with disabilities are just like everyone else.

About the Goose

Gilbert, the flightless goose, is based on a real goose who lived on a lake in Columbus, Ohio. The goose was like all the other geese in the pond, until it was in a terrible accident. After being hit by a car, the goose had to adapt to life on the ground. He was unable to fly, but he was able to adjust to his situation and live a good life.

Eric and Nataliya Goodman lived on that pond and watched from their window as the goose struggled and prevailed. When the goose was left behind by the other geese during the winter, they fed it. Other neighbors took care of it as well.

For all we know, the flightless goose may still be alive today.

About the Goodman Family

Eric and Nataliya Goodman have been married for twelve years and have two children — a son and a daughter. They have lived all over the world — from California to Virginia Beach in America, and from Nizhniy Novgorod to Siberia in Russia. Now, they live in Baltimore, Maryland, which is very close to Washington D.C., the nation’s capitol.