Tales from the Crib

This book is a collection of poetic tales which are influenced by my own experiences and those of others I have known. These tales are meant to identify the source of problematic adult issues and how they continue to affect relationships throughout life. In the end, the tales express a spiritual quest and longing to be redeemed from these horrid relational experiences.

The pictures and text contain expressions of violence, abuse, and trauma so this book is intended for mature readers only.

Eric Manning was born in Poughkeepsie, New York and lived in the Hudson Valley for twenty-three years. He moved to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado to pursue his interests in mountain sports and later to finish college; receiving a degree in Applied Human Science from Colorado State University.During his study, he began to appreciate the art he observed being created around him by his fellow students. This inspired him to sketch and paint the different concepts he learned in anatomy class and then in other classes. During this time, he noticed how profoundly he would remember and enjoy the material and ideas he was taught and this moved Eric to pursue his interests in applied psychology, art, and spirituality.Later, he landed in Kansas City and got a studio at the Arts Incubator (in the Crossroads Arts District), which, unfortunately, no longer exists. But he still expressed his concepts and experiences through oil painting. After creating a large body of work, he realized there were stories behind most of his pieces and so he started writing them.Finally, he published his first book, "The Secret That Kills / Spirit That Saves," in February of 2023. A year later, he published a second book, "2021 A.D," a short story based on a painting of the same name. Months later, he published a third book, "Tales from the Crib," his first foray into poetic expression.