The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.
INTRODUCING: Beyond the Glass by Randy Merkin
(Available for pre-order now!)
In his second book, Beyond the Glass: More Stories from a Sports Radio Producer, veteran sports radio producer Randy Merkin returns with a new collection of true, behind-the-scenes stories that go deep into the daily chaos of live sports radio. From last-minute guest cancellations and breaking news to tense moments with hosts, executives, and high-profile athletes, these stories reveal what really happens when the red light turns on and there’s no room for mistakes.
This second volume moves past the basics and into the moments that shape a career—the pressure-filled decisions, the hard lessons learned on the fly, and the relationships built through trust, timing, and resilience. With honesty, humor, and insight, Merkin shows how producing live radio is as much about problem-solving and instincts as it is about sports.
Drawing from nearly 30 years behind the glass, Beyond the Glass is for sports fans, media insiders, and anyone curious about the unseen work that keeps live broadcasts on the air—and why the stories behind the scenes are often better than the ones told on air.
Secrets are meant to be kept—but never without consequence. In Slivers, Vicki Atkinson masterfully weaves good intentions with a tangled past, crafting a rich story of family, gifts, and legacy.
This emotionally resonant novel explores how secrets can both protect and wound, ultimately celebrating those who survive—and thrive—despite them. A captivating read that lingers long after the final page.
Wynne Leon, author, entrepreneur and podcaster
=Nick Digilio is now on Substack! Check it out here.
=Look who loves Nick's book. That's Mary McCormack, the actress who played Howard Stern's wife in the film Private Parts.
=Mark your calendar. Next Wednesday, April 8--Nick Digilio (40 Years, 40 Films) will be at the Lake Theater in Oak Park showing the funniest film ever made, "The Producers".
=What a great night for Bob (Wilbur) Williams on Wednesday night last week. He hosted his book launch party at Peggy Kinane's in Arlington Heights. (Photos below). If you pre-ordered the book, it should have arrived by now. If not, let us know. The USPS has been a little flaky lately. If you haven't ordered the book yet, why not? It's available right here with a simple press of a button.
=Jim Slusher was part of the Chicago Writer's Association LiveLit event last Thursday night in Chicago. Thanks to everyone who came out in the pouring rain to see him. (Photo)
=This week last year, Jim Slusher held an event at the Mount Prospect Public Library.
=Mark your calendar: Two more Jim Slusher appearances coming this month. He will be at Monarch Landing in Naperville on April 21, and at Aurora Public Library on April 23.
=Gloria Golec was at that same LiveLit event (photo). It was quite an honor. So many authors tried to get into this event, and only 12 were chosen, including Gloria (and Jim Slusher above).
=Mark your calender: Another Gloria Golec appearance is coming later this month. April 25, Gloria Golec (South Side Memories) will be at Wheaton Public Library Local Authors Fest.
=It feels like we got a sneak preview of Jeff Reiter's latest Daily Herald column when he sent us a photo a few weeks ago. But here is the article. It's about his birding experience during a recent trip to Southern California. Among the birds he saw there, this beauty, an Allen's Hummingbird (photo by Dexter Patterson)
April 25--Jeff Reiter (The Best of Words on Birds) at Wheaton Public Library Local Authors Fest (signing only)
May 2--Jeff Reiter (The Best of Words on Birds) at Washington and Lee University (signing only)
=An incredible review of Robert Conlon's book came out this week. Thank you so much, Steven Peskind, who calls it "Dickens on the Midway". He wrote....
I highly recommend this book; it’s a gripping story, which also sheds light on the Irish immigrant experience in post-fire Chicago. As a fan of Charles Dickens, I found it especially compelling because the main character Tim, like David Copperfield in London, beat the odds in the rough-and-tumble “City of Big Shoulders.” Celtic Knot is a vital contribution to Chicago’s literary landscape, documenting the grit required to overcome adversity.
(Photo: Bob Conlon and EP Publisher Rick Kaempfer in matching St. Patrick's day outfits)
Baseball Sale
=Tis the season! The seventh (and possibly final) edition of EveryCubEver is still available! If the Cub fan in your family doesn't have a copy yet, you can become a hero! You know who loves EveryCubEver? EveryCubFanEver. That's a fact. And this week you can save $5? It's a no-brainer.
=This week in 2018, Eckhartz Press staged our biggest book launch party ever for the release of Cubsessions by Becky Sarwate and Randy Richardson. It was standing room only at Murphy's Pub and a who's who of Cubs-related folks attended. It's clearly the only book launch party we've held that attracted the Budweiser Clydesdales. Among the celebs in the pictures below, Rich Nye, Ferguson Jenkins, Steve Trout, the Bleacher Preacher, Bobby Skafish, the Shawon-o-Meter guy Dave Cilha, and Chet Coppock.
April 2nd is Children's Book Day, and though we aren't primarily a children's book publisher, we have published a few. Thank you to Ken Korber, Tom Latourette, Scott Redman, Butch Zeppo, Dena Mendes, Manton Clue and JJ Novak for your contributions!
=Speaking of JJ Novak and his book MetaStories (above), this is the anniversary of the book's release (April 3, 2024). Meta-Stories I is a series of 18 allegories about life experiences, challenges and human resilience. The main characters include humans, animals and natural objects. Readers have the opportunity to immerse themselves in each story, reflect on inner meanings, and ponder how these stories resonate with them and their own life journey. Novak (photo) is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Illinois, with 35 years of experience working in hospital systems, outpatient private practice, and as a consultant to industries
=Jonathon Brandmeier held a big party at the Chicago Theater for his 5th anniversary at the Loop (1988), and then at the same place for his tenth anniversary in 1993. The stories of those memorable broadcasts are told in The Loop Files. Here are a few photos too...(JB with Buzz, and JB with Jimmy de Castro)
=Loop sportscaster Jim Shorts is also celebrating a birthday this week (April 1). Loop Files author Rick Kaempfer interviewed him live on the air in 1993. The translated transcript of that interview is here. Kevin made Rick do it in German.
=This year for Record Store Day (April 18) Mitch Michaels is making a return appearance to Blue Village Vinyl in Westmont. He'll be signing and selling copies of his book Doin the Cruise, and has also agreed to bring along copies of The Loop Files as well. If you don't have either book yet, and you were a big fan of the radio station, you are missing out!
=This week in 2013, John Landecker appeared on WCIU-TV to discuss his book Records Truly is My Middle Name.
=It was also a bittersweet week for John. His good friend Roger Ebert passed away. John appeared on Roe & Roeper's show on WLS Radio to talk about Roger. John also discussed Ebert in the pages of his book. We offered up that section as a free excerpt.
=April 4, 1968 was the day that Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Landecker was doing a radio show with Martin's good friend Stevie Wonder when that news came across the wire. He tells the story in his book. You can read it here.
Jerry Krause
=The man Bulls fans booed even after his death, Jerry Krause, would have been celebrating a birthday this week. Would you believe that Krause appears in three different Eckhartz Press books? Chet Coppock devotes an entire chapter to Krause in Your Dime My Dance Floor. Rich King discusses the late Bulls GM in his book Ike and Me. He also tells that story in this podcast. And finally, Chuck Swirsky's Always a Pleasure also delves into the legacy of Jerry. He even has a picture.
=This week in 2014, Joel Daly appeared on the air at WGN Radio to discuss his memoir. It was an evening appearance on Pete McMurray's show.
=This week in 2009, his TV station (Channel 7/WLS-TV) aired this time capsule of Joel's career...
=This week in 2007, the American Army housing area in Heidelberg Germany known as Mark Twain Village was officially closed down. Several crucial chapters in the novel Back in the DDR take place there. RIP to a time and place gone by.
=This week in 2015, Kipper McGee's well respected analysis of the media in America, Brandwidth, was released.
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=Both of these Chicago icons (Chet Coppock & Norm Van Lier) are no longer with us, but they live on in the pages of Chet's book. Norm would have been 79 years old this week (April 1).
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Everything I Know I Learned from Rock Stars
=Happy birthday (March 30) to music star Lene Lovich. She turns 77 years old this week. The rocker is still going strong. She just appeared at Space in Evanston, and Everything I Know I Learned from Rock Stars author Bill Paige reconnected with her, and gave her a copy of his book. This photo is in the book. That's Lene in the middle and Bill on the right.
And finally...
The Sun at the End of the Road
=This week in 1981 (April 3), the film Atlantic City was released. The movie had a profound impact on Tony Fitzpatrick, who included his essay about it in his last book. Here's a little taste...
My favorite image of Atlantic City comes from the elegant, early eighties Louis Malle film starring Burt Lancaster—in the best role of his life—and a ripe, pert Susan Sarandon who, at one point, squeezes lemons over her flawlessly naked upper body to rid herself of the scent of shucking oysters in the casino, while Lancaster surreptitiously watches.
The look on his face is one of wistful regret, mixed with animal-longing. A few scenes later, Lancaster tries to explain the place to a young, idiotic, wannabe coke dealer. As they walk down the boardwalk, Lancaster—resplendent in a wintery-white overcoat and fedora—suddenly stops, looks the punk in the face and tells him, “See that ocean, kid? Now, thirty years ago, that was something. That was an ocean.”
The dope doesn’t understand, but, at this point, we sure do. Once upon a time, this was a place of dreams. Lancaster remembers; he is this dream’s last, faithful inhabitant.
