(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – Cultural journalist and author Jeremy Goodwin will read new work at yBar on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at 8 pm (291 North St.) in Pittsfield as part of the Tuesday Night Writers Room series, a project of the WordXWord Festival and hosted by Emily Pulfer-Terino and Gabriel Squailia. Goodwin plans to read original poetry, journalism and fiction, probably with some song lyrics by a favorite artist thrown in – in the past Goodwin has been known to perform song lyrics by the likes of Steely Dan and Bob Dylan as dramatic monologues. Admission is free and food and drink will be available for purchase.

“My medium of choice is the written word, but I relish the chance to perform words for an audience,” says Goodwin. “I’ve prepared a lively set that will include some poetry –  particularly a few that betray my obsession with New England history – as well as a choice bit of journalism, and most excitingly for me, an excerpt from my novel-in-progress that has never been performed live before. Most likely there’ll be some humor, perhaps some provoked thoughts, and most importantly, an entertaining experience.”

Goodwin’s writings on culture and the arts have appeared in numerous publications, from the Boston Globe to ARTnews. As a poet, he is particularly interested in exploring the cut-up form, synthesizing text from various sources and examining the importance of context.  He is writing a re-imagined version of his not-yet-published novel Sunburn and Frostbite, a satirical look at the overlap between language and politics. Across writerly pursuits, Goodwin displays a wry sense of humor and acute eye for detail.

Goodwin is an independent journalist, covering arts and culture, business, and whatever else catches his eye. He is popular music critic for the Berkshire Eagle and contributes regularly to Metroland, the Advocate Weekly and many other publications. During an exploration of non-profit public relations, Goodwin was director of communications at Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, and associate director of communications for Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Mass. Previously, Goodwin spent four years covering hard news as a reporter for the Community Newspaper Company/Herald Media chain (Danvers, Mass.) and as news editor for the Berkshire Record (Great Barrington, Mass.). Goodwin has one novel to his credit and was co-editor of and major contributor to The Phish Companion: A Guide to the Band and Their Music (Backbeat Books).

Goodwin has a B.A. in Political Communication from George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. His favorite novel is The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne. His favorite album is Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde. If he had to pick just one song, it would probably be Smashing Pumpkins’s “Rhinoceros.”

Tuesday nights are Writers Room nights at yBar. Open to the public with no cover and hosted by Emily Pulfer-Terino and Gabriel Squailia, the evenings, which are a project of the WordXWord Festival, include regular readings of original and other material by in-house and guest writers.

On the first Tuesday of each month, host Gabriel Squailia reads from his novel, Dead Boys. On the second Tuesday of each month, yBar hosts an open mic for poetry, prose or creative non-fiction. The third Tuesday of each month is OPP – other people’s prose or poetry night. On the fourth Tuesday of each month, yBar features guest readers, curated by the Writers Room hosts.

Upcoming writers to be featured in yBar’s Tuesday Night Writers Room series include Leigh Strimbeck (March 27), Marie-Elizabeth Mali (April 24), and Seth Rogovoy (May 22).