Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Monday, June 23, 2025
Publishing Portal--June 23, 2025
The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.
Coming Soon to Eckhartz Press
=This is just a teaser, but we are getting to the final stages. It's going to be a beautiful book. More details in the coming weeks.
=The Mob Adjacent crew is in full-fledged promotional mode. A new version of the book is out. The audio book is out now too. And they are making a film. They'll also be making a bunch of commercial announcements like this one...
=One of the biggest fans of the Eckhartz Press book Mob Adjacent is former Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass, who is celebrating a birthday this week (June 25). Here's what he had to say about the book...
“I love this book. A fascinating account. You’ve got to read this book before the movie.”
=Filming continues for the Dick Allen documentary. We asked Eckhartz Press author David Fletcher to tell us a little more about the film, and here is what he said...
I am currently working on the Dick Allen film that delves into Dick Allen's pivotal role in baseball history, from his offensive prowess to his resilience in the face of racial prejudice, and notably saving the Chicago White Sox franchise with his 1972 MVP season. The film examines key locations in Dick Allen’s life, including Little Rock, Arkansas, where he encountered significant racial hatred; Wampum, the racially tolerant Western Pennsylvania town where he grew up; and Cooperstown, where his Hall of Fame plaque is set to be unveiled on July 27th. By emphasizing themes of justice, forgiveness, and resilience, the film seeks to rewrite history by capturing the full extent of Allen's impact on both the sport and society. The star of the film is Dick's son, Richard Allen Jr. I assembled an esteemed production team, comprising executive producer Sharon Pannozzo, producer and writer John Owens, director Andy Billman, and photographer (fellow Eckhartz Press author) Ken Smoller.
=The seventh edition of EveryCubEver is out now. You're obviously following along on author Rick Kaempfer's Just One Bad Century facebook page, right? New entries every day including this one...
=This week in 2019, author Rick Kaempfer appeared on Garry Meier's show on WLS to promote the book (June 24) and on-stage at the play about the Cubs, Miracle (June 27). Rick was asked to lead the crowd in "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"
=This week in 1984 (June 23), one of the most famous games in Wrigley Field history occurred. The Ryne Sandberg game. Rick was there and told the story in this Just One Bad Century video...
=The July issue of LakeFront Living comes out on June 30th. Look for a profile of Robert Conlon's book The Celtic Knot.
=Bob is beginning to receive requests for Book Club appearances. This novel is perfect book club material. If you'd like to have Bob (or any other Eckhartz Press author for that matter) appear at your book club, simply drop us a line (rick@eckhartzpress.com) and we'll see if we can help you schedule it.
=Lenny & Squiggy's David Lander was born this week (June 22) in 1947. (He passed away in 2020). Lander and co-star Michael McKean made a memorable appearance at The Flip Side at the height of the show's popularity. This photo and story are in the book.
=Vicki Atkinson has a great writeup about her appearance this week in Wauconda. Sounds like it was an amazing event. She also posted some pictures.
=Happy birthday to Bob Shannon (June 23). He wrote Turn it Up! for us in 2017.
=Another happy birthday to Roger Badesch (June 24) who wrote The Unplanned Life for us in 2020.
=This week in 2022 (June 25), Dr. John Martucci's book was released by Eckhartz Press. It's an important work that we're still very proud of publishing.
As an anesthesiologist and department chair at a busy hospital in suburban Chicago, Dr. John Martucci never considered the possibility that he may someday have to endure a life-threatening disease like the ones afflicting many of his patients. When he is diagnosed with stage IV mantle cell lymphoma after ignoring his symptoms for months, it upends his world and forces him to accept the unfamiliar role of the patient. John chronicles his year-long battle with lymphoma and his gradual transition from controlling physician to grateful patient. He endures setbacks, emergency surgery, and the consequences of chemotherapy, radiation, and stem cell transplantation. Seeing illness through a patient’s eyes gives him a perspective that will change many of his hard-earned professional opinions on patient care. His tremendous support team buoys him as he experiences pain, suffering, doubt, and his own mortality. Sometimes humorous, always compelling, his journey to renewed health can teach families of cancer victims and health care professionals the tremendous value they bring to patient care and well-being. His story can also inform and guide cancer patients as they negotiate their own treatment experience.
Records Truly Is My Middle Name
=This week in 2017, Eckhartz Press author John Records Landecker was named to the National Radio Hall of Fame. That led to the release of an updated version of his book, Records Truly Is My Middle Name.
=This week in 2014, Bruce Bohrer held the book launch party for this book Best Seat in the House at Tavern 60 in Mundelein. Here are a few photos from that memorable day.
=Bob Vorwald is a WGN-TV legend for his many years as the producer of WGN Sports. Bob is celebrating a birthday this week (June 23). He's a big fan of Ryan Trembath's book Signature Shoes. Here's what he said about it...
“A loose mental inventory has me concluding I’ve owned around 200 pairs of shoes in my life. None will ever stand up to the 1979 white Adidas Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hi-tops I had for my last year of high school basketball. I played better (there was nowhere to go but up) knowing that I looked better. Those shoes were sweet and I thank Ryan for this fun project which sparked this memory.”
=Two big rock stars are celebrating birthdays this week, which means of course, that it's another good time to mention Bobby Skafish's great rock and roll interview book We Have Company. The Clash's Mick Jones (June 26) and indie-rocker Chris Isaak (June 26) both rate their own chapters in Bobby's great book. Both were interviewed by Bobby during his days at WXRT.
Everything I Know I Learned from Rock Stars
=Rocker Mick Fleetwood also has a birthday this week (June 24). Yes, he's in Bobby's book, but he's also featured in a long interview in Bill Paige's book Every I Know I Learned from Rock Stars
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Ike and Me and My Maggie
=Rich King has two books available through Eckhartz Press, and former WGN-TV main anchor Mark Suppelsa (June 25 birthday) plays a role in both of them. He is featured in this photo, the night the Cubs finally won the World Series in 2016, in the book Ike and Me (second from left. Rich is on the far right)
=He also provided this endorsement of Rich's first book My Maggie
I breezed through the pages not only engrossed in the phoenix of Rich’s ‘second life’ with his new bride, but thoroughly enjoyed traversing with him through his memorable career. A truly good man who thankfully for all us chose to tell another good story about his remarkable life.
=The book Cubsessions is a collection of celebrity Chicago Cubs fans telling their personal stories about loving the team, and what the World Series victory meant to them. One of the stars featured in the book is former Parks & Recreation star Nick Offerman. He's celebrating a birthday this week (June 26)
=Who would have thought that this book would have a resurgence after the 2020 election? Well, one big fan, Joe Conklin (WIP Radio/Philadelphia) had a pretty good idea. He's celebrating a birthday this week as well (June 26). Here's what he had to say about the book...
“Clever and hilarious.”
=For more than twenty years Randy Merkin was a sports radio producer. In that role he met a Who's Who of sports icons, including this week's birthday boy John Elway (June 28). Randy's John Elway story rates an entire chapter in the book.
=In recent months and years several of the greats mentioned by Chuck Swirsky in his book Always a Pleasure have passed away. One of the first was his broadcasting colleague Craig Sager. His story lives on in the pages of Chuck's book.
=This week in 2021 (June 24), Paul Banks appeared on WGN Radio to talk about his book Transatlantic Passage. The book is about the popularity of the English Premier League in America. You can still listen to that interview here
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Monday, June 16, 2025
Publishing Portal--June 16, 2025
The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.
=The filming continues. Hall of Fame ceremonies are coming at the end of July.
=Dr. Fletcher is also an integral part of the Buck Weaver Society, which was working at getting him exonerated from the Black Sox scandal. You can read more about that here. WGN-TV did a feature about how the family has mixed emotions about the recent ruling from the baseball commissioner.
=Another teaser trailer for the types of stories you can find in the book Mob Adjacent, and which may be finding it's way into the film (which is shooting now).
=Mark Wukas did a Q&A with the Literary Titan blog. You can read it here.
=Our movie expert author, Eric Litt, attended a brunch for retired WGN folks, and they wanted copies of his second movie book Worth A Second Look. Here are a few photos from that event.
=The seventh edition of EveryCubEver is available now. Do you have your copy yet? If you're a Cubs fan, you are certainly following Rick's Just One Bad Century facebook page, right? Every day he posts some of the great content from his book. Here's an example...
=Two prominent Cubs featured in the book were born this week. Lou Brock (June 18) and Wayland Dean (June 20). Both of their entries are memorable. Dean lived a very short and troubled life, and Brock later played for another team. Not sure which one, or what happened to him.
=The book has only been out officially for about a week and already the reviews are coming in to author Robert Conlon...
=Vicki Atkinson has an event this week in Wauconda. It's a free event. Well worth your time.
=Last week Surviving Sue celebrated it's two year anniversary. Here are a few photos from that incredible book launch party...
=Eckhartz Press author Tom Weinberg (Chasing the Lost City) is celebrating a birthday this week (June 17). Tom's book came out during the holiday season of 2017. It's the fascinating true story of his quest to find the ruins of a lost city in Honduras. Great story, great pictures. Happy birthday Tom!
To the Men I've Loved (God Help Them!)
=One year ago this week, we released To the Men I've Loved, by Patricia Motto. She wrote her love-life memoir with great humor and skill. This is the book synopsis...
The course of true love may never run smooth, but seldom has it hit quite as many bumps, potholes and land mines as it does in Patricia Motto’s journey to find the meaning of that all important four letter word. Love. Beginning with the beautiful eyes of a kindergarten boy at nap time and continuing to the man for whom she did not get off the plane, there are stops along the way for, among others, a first kiss boyfriend, the American League’s Most Valuable Player and a twice convicted armed robber. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, the trip is never dull.
=Are you all caught up on some of author Ken Smoller's media appearances? For instance, this interview on WGN Radio with Steve Dale and this interview on WCIU-TV with Kenny McReynolds.
Ken Korber
=Our children's author extraordinaire released two different books this week in history. June 20, 2020 was the release date for Grace's Musical Haiku Adventures, and June 21 was the day the second book of his four seasons of musical tales was released, Grace and the Musical Willow Tree, A Summer Adventure. That book is also still available at Eckhartz Press
Recalled to Life
=This week in 2013, Dan Burns held a book release party for his debut novel, Recalled to Life. The party was held at a fancy boutique in LaGrange, Illinois.
=One of the subjects of study in Paul Banks' book about American players playing in Europe, and European teams playing exhibition games in America, is the recently retired coach of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp. He's celebrating a birthday this week (June 16)
=This week in 1995, Frankfurt American Junior High School officially closed (June 16) in Germany. That school is featured in the pages of Rick Kaempfer's novel Back in the DDR.
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=Former ABC-7 news reporter Andy Shaw is celebrating a birthday this week (June 18). Andy is a big fan of the Eckhartz Press novel $everance. Here's what he said about it when it originally came out in 2007...
“Severance is a black comedy that would be funnier if its darkness weren’t so true. And it crackles with the insights and cynicism that made Network and Broadcast News the seminal cinematic treatments of today’s dumbed-down news business. Move over Christopher Buckley—-Rick Kaempfer is in town!”
The Balding Handbook
=Talk about an exciting day. Eleven years ago (June 18, 2014) that Balding Handbook author David Stern got the unofficial endorsement of his book from fellow famous Bald, Mr. Peanut.
Ann Wilson
=The lead singer of Heart (June 18 birthday) is featured in three different Eckhartz Press books. John Landecker has a great story about her in Records Truly Is My Middle Name. Bobby Skafish devotes an entire chapter to her in his interview book We Have Company, and can you guess which book about a radio station also features the lovely Ms. Wilson?
=One of the memorable stories in The Loop Files comes from legendary disc jockey Bob Stroud. He tells the story of the day he met his idol, Paul McCartney. There's even a photo from that day. Paul turns 83 years old this week (June 18).
Everything I Know I Learned From Rock Stars
You have to give credit to Rick Kaempfer and Brendan Sullivan, the two authors of “The Living Wills”. The authors have come up with a cast of realistic, non-sensationalized Vietnam veterans living out their lives in the early 21st century–no Nam vet stereotypes here. That in itself is worth the price of admission.
