Flightless Goose, Virtual Book Tour Stop! Author Q&A and Giveaway!

Flip Flop Reviews is part of the Flightless Goose Virtual Book Tour!  I'm so excited to be sharing this book with you today. 

 Flightless Goose is a short story written by Eric D. Goodman and illustrated by Nataliya A. Goodman.  The story is a sweet tale with many lessons that are told in a way that is easy for young children to grasp and understand.  Gilbert is a goose, who is injured one day and can no longer fly.  As time passes the other geese begin to tease and play tricks on Gilbert simply because he is different.  When colder weather comes along, Gilbert is unable to fly south with the rest of the geese, so he stays behind and works on building up his strength and speed on his feet, and becomes friends with a child who visits the pond.  When the geese return, Gilbert is able to use his fast speed on his feet to save the day when the other geese are in trouble. 

This book teaches tolerance, self worth, and friendship and can set the tone for discussions between children and caregivers to touch on these important topics that every child should understand.  My daughters loved this book and I loved that it sparked such great conversations and has such positive messages.

 The watercolor illustrations are beautiful.  They capture the emotion of the story perfectly and really set the scene for each page.

You can find out more about this wonderful book at http://www.flightlessgoose.com/.  You can also visit the Flightless Goose Facebook page.

Q&A with Eric D. Goodman

What made you want to start writing children's books?


I've been in love with writing since early elementary school.  I've always loved to write.  I actually write adult fiction and non-fiction too.  I think I was inspired to write Flightless Goose as a childrens' book because the story of a goose who can't fly seemed like an appropriate subject for a story book ... and I was inspired by the childrens' books I was reading to my own children at the time.


Gilbert is a real goose, but are his experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?


They're actually based on the goose.  I used to live on a pond, and there really was a goose who was hit by a car and rendered unable to fly.  The other geese played tricks on him, flying from place to place and making the flightless goose swim after.  Then he was left behind when the flock flew south for the winter.  I thought it would make a great story, and offered an opportunity to teach some important lessons.


Flightless Goose has many great messages.  What topics would you like to address in the future with your children's books?


In future childrens' books?  I'm working on a book now that deals with the environment.  And another about compromise and working with people who are different or have a different point of view.  We're also considering a sequel for Flightless Goose.


Is there anything you find challenging with writing?


I think the most challenging part of writing is rewriting.  It's important to always know when you write a book that you're really only writing the first draft.  It's when you go back and rewrite what you have that it begins to take form.  But that's also the hardest part.


Do you have a routine with your writing? 


I've found that I work best in long spurts.  Some people say a writer should sit down every day and write a certain number of pages.  For me, that seems forced.  I prefer to write when I'm inspired to write.  Then it comes easily.  But when I'm writing, I tend to live what I'm writing.  I write for 14 hour days and then read books, watch movies or documentaries, or engage in activities that are related to the subject I'm writing about.  But I think I'm more prolific this way, than if I sat for two hours every day and just wrote for two hours.


I see you have many published works, do you have a personal favorite? 


You know how when a musician or writer you like comes out with something new, you tend to like it best because it's fresh and new?  I feel that way now about my upcoming novel in stories, Tracks.  Tracks is an adult novel that takes place on a train.  Each chapter is a story of a passenger on the train, but they link together to form a full novel.  The strangers on the train get to know one another and touch each other in meaningful ways.  Tracks comes out later this month, on June 30. You can learn more about it at http://www.tracksnovel.com/, where you can listen to radio readings, read excerpts, see a schedule of events, and even get a copy of the book!


What was your favorite book as a child?  Your favorite children's book now?


As a younger child, I loved Dr. Seuss best.  (Okay, I did as an older child, too.)  When I was old enough to read chapter books, I really liked The Hobbit, and Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. 


If you could travel to any storybook world, what book would it be from?


Wow, there are so may interesting places to consider!  I think it would be fun to travel with Alice through Wonderland, or with Charlie through Wonka's chocolate factory. 

 Win a copy of Flightless Goose!

US only.

Mandatory Entry:

Have you read Flightless Goose?  If you haven't, just tell me: What was your favorite book as a child?

Extra Entries:

-Ask the author a question!  Just leave a comment here with whatever you would like to know.  Eric D. Goodman will be stopping by, he might just answer your question!

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-Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in a comment.

-Enter one of our other current giveaways and let me know which one you entered. (Feel free to leave one comment for each giveaway entered)

This giveaway will end on 7/04/2011 at 8pm EST. Any entries after that will not count.  Please make sure that you leave an email address or some way to contact you in your comments.  If we can't figure out how to get in touch with you, you can't win!  :o)  Good luck! 

*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for the purposes of this review through the above mentioned company or representing PR agency. In the event of a giveaway, the prize is shipped by the sponsor and I hold no responsibility. Thank you for reading!