All aboard

Sometimes the basic premise of a novel (let alone the title) seems irresistible, before you’ve even read a word of the story. That was my reaction this week when some publicity came in on Eric D. Goodman's debut novel in stories, Tracks, releasing June 30 from Atticus Books. Here’s a summary of what Goodman’s up to here:

  “Tracks is a novel in stories set on a train traveling from Baltimore to Chicago.  Each story in this linked collection is that of a passenger on the train. These stories and characters connect and intertwine in meaningful ways …

 “The stories … stand alone, but they become stronger when linked together. A secondary character in one story becomes the main character in the next. From the nefarious goings-on in a Fells Point row house to prestigious partying on Federal Hill, Goodman's Baltimore is immediately recognizable and real.”

 There’s more info at the Tracks website, including a blizzard of testimonials from other authors, including Madison Smartt Bell.

 Hey, I haven’t read a word of this novel yet, but count me in.

 -- Ron Kovach, senior editor, The Writer

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