Lit Bit: Goose Contract Signed!

There's big news at the publishing pond!  We have a publisher for our illustrated childrens' book, The Flightless Goose!   My wife, Nataliya, and I have signed a publishing contract!

The book will be published by Writers' Lair Books and is due out this summer.

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 we once lived in, I wrote the story nearly ten years ago.  Over the next few years, Nataliya illustrated the book with her beautiful watercolors, bringing the characters to life.

Then came the grueling part -- finding a publisher. Over the years, we submitted The Flightless Goose to dozens of publishers and agents. Some responses were form rejection letters, others were complimentary, but ultimately most of them 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 we eagerly 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 around the country!

You can read about it here at www.gather.com/litbit.  Or go directly to the online pond at  www.flightlessgoose.blogspot.com.

---------------

Eric D. Goodman, Books Correspondent

Eric's column, Lit Bit, is published every Wednesday to Gather Essentials: Books.  Featuring bits on writing, writers, books, and literature, Lit Bit will fulfill your literary longings.

Eric is a full-time writer and editor.  His work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Washington Post, The Baltimore Review, Writers Weekly, The Arabesques Review, The Potomac, JMWW, Scribble, Slow Trains,  Coloquio, To Be Read Aloud, Neck of My Guitar, and Travel Insights.

Listen to Eric read an excerpt from his fiction on National Public Radio on the WYPR website.

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-587318.mp3

You can find all of Eric's Lit Bit articles at www.gather.com/litbit. Keep up with Eric's other postings and Gather activity by joining his Gather network -- just visit http://www.edgewriter.gather.com/ and select the orange "Connect" button on the left-hand side of the page.

You'll find Eric and other Book Correspondents, plus celebrity author content and plenty of other bibliophiles at Books.gather.com.