The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.
=Huge event coming up soon for Nick Digilio at the Museum of Broadcast Communications...
Celebrate Oscar Sunday with legendary Chicago film critic and broadcaster Nick Digilio, hosted live by WGN Radio’s Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune columnist and cultural icon. For more than four decades, Nick has entertained audiences through his 35-year career at WGN Radio, where his movie reviews and commentary made him one of Chicago’s most trusted voices in film. Today, he continues that legacy through his two hit podcasts, The Nick D Podcast and That Show Hasn’t Been Funny in Years: An SNL Podcast.
This special live event will feature Nick’s Oscar predictions, insights from his four decades reviewing films, and reflections from his new book, 40 Years, 40 Films. This deeply personal collection features essays on his favorite film from each year, along with his Top 10 lists and stories from his lifelong journey as a passionate moviegoer and respected critic. The program includes a live on-stage conversation, audience Q&A, and book signing.
Museum admission applies. For tickets, visit museum.tv
=Nick Digilio's pick at the Lake Theater in Oak Park this month was the film Crash. Thanks to everyone who came out last Wednesday night to see the film and pick up a copy of Nick's book.
=Have we mentioned that Nick is also writing his follow up book for us about horror movies? That will be out later this year. More info to come.
=Chili Dog MVP co-author John Owens checked in about the progress of his film/TV project based on their book. Eckhartz Press publishers Rick Kaempfer and Dave Stern will be traveling down to Arizona for the debut showing there on March 12. Wanna come? I understand there might some spring training games nearby.
=The poster they came up with for this upcoming series of events is amazing. We'll let John Owens explain...
=An entertaing Q&A with Bob Williams
=Jeff Reiter was hanging out with some superstars from the birding world over the weekend at the Gull Frolic in Winthrop Harbor. Only three authors were invited to participate; Jeff Reiter (The Best of Words on Birds), Dexter Patterson (Birds of the Great Lakes and featured speaker), and Amar Ayyash (The Gull Guide, and the nation's leading expert on gull ID).
=Today's the day the book ships to those of you who pre-ordered it.
=Jim Elsener did a great job on WBEZ on Tuesday talking about it. Listen to it here.
Jim: Thanks to Sasha-Ann Simons (holding “Sirens in the Loop A History of the City News Bureau of Chicago) who moderated our panel discussion about CNB this morning on WBEZ 91.5 FM. Joining me were alumni Rummana Hussain and Abdon Pallasch. I think we made Good Radio.
=Jim will be a guest this week on Minutia Men Celebrity Interview.
=Your chance to meet Mark Wukas is tonight, February 16th at 7:30pm. A musical guest is appearing, too—and it’s free admission. No cover! Come out for a fun evening. Welcome to the Show at the Getaway (4530 N. Lincoln Avenue).
=Vicki Atkinson (Surviving Sue) will be appearing at Wauconda Library (11am-12:30pm) on February 20. Unfortunately, it's sold out.
=On the other hand, her debut novel "Slivers" is now also in the pipeline at Eckhartz Press, and is coming out very soon. If you are a fan of Vicki, you'll love it. What's it all about? See if this intrigues you...
In a single week in the
summer of 1973, a quiet suburban neighborhood implodes when generations of
mystical deceit become too much to bear. Drawn to the web of secrets and lies,
the other worldly slivers refuse to be ignored, pushing one family to
the brink.
]=The Loop Files author Rick Kaempfer is appearing at a book club in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago on February 23.
=Chili Dog MVP--Two upcoming appearances promoting their new film in Pennsylvania. March 5 in Philadelphia, March 7 in Wampum Pennsylvania
=Nick Digilio--Nick's Pix at the Lake Theater on March 11 in Oak Park. The film will be Zero Dark Thirty.
=Lauren LoGiudice (Inside Melania) brings her Misfit Variety show to the Annoyance March 13. Show's at 9.
=Robert Conlon will also be appearing at the G-man (on Clark in Chicago) on March 15.
=Mark Wukas will be doing a reading at CWA Live Lit readings at After Words Book Store on March 26.
=Would you believe that one of the stars of The Loop Files, former Loop personality Kevin Matthews, met Pope Leo this week? It's true. This is not an AI picture. Kevin is a devout Catholic who created a film called "Broken Mary" about a broken statue of the Virgin Mary that he found. He makes appearances at churches around the country with the statue, and talks about how much it affected him. This week, he talked to the Pope about it. The Pope blessed the statue. Not too shabby.
=Saturday's birthday girl (Feb 14) Eckhartz Press author Janet Sutherland was honored last week. She was named Spring VIP for 2026 by POWER, an organization of professional women, for her outstanding contributions and achievements in the media industry. Congrats to Janet. (More info here)
=Janet has another book coming out via Eckhartz Press later this year.
The Sun at the End of the Road
=A very important person in Tony Fitzpatrick's life, director Jonathan Demme, was born this week (February 22, 1944). Demme was an early champion of Tony's art, and later cast him in a few of his films (Married to the Mob, Philadelphia). Tony also designed the soundtrack cover for Demme's film Something Wild. Hard to believe that both Tony and Jonathan are gone now.
Worth a Second Look & Oscars Biggest Mistakes
=Eckhartz Press author Eric Litt has a day job working at WGN-TV. Naturally when you work there you'll run into the biggest star at the station (photo). He may be retired now, but Tom Skilling is celebrating a birthday this week (February
20).
=We dig the video...
=Here's one from the archives. This week in 1977 (February 16), Genesis performed at the Auditorium in Chicago. That show was presented by The Flip Side's concert arm. The Rosenbaum brothers Carl and Larry pose backstage with the band.
=Daily Herald writer Jim Slusher's book To Nudge the World is a collection of his excellent essays from the newspaper over the past 25 years. The one he wrote this week in 2000 (February 17) seems to really have resonance today. It's about something that has slowly eroded in the years since it was written, objective reporting. That piece alone is worth the price of admission. It's an award winner, folks. Book of the Year.
Happy birthday Michael Jordan!
=The greatest player in basketball history appears in several Eckhartz Press books. As he turns 63 (February 17), we imagine him perusing the pages of Your Dime, My Dance Floor by Chet Coppock or Life Behind the Camera by Chuck Quinzio.
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=This was the week in 2014 when Joel Daly began making the rounds to promote his book The Daly News. The book got a great review from Robert Feder (Feb 19). And then Joel appeared on the WGN-TV Morning News. (Feb 20)
Records Truly is My Middle Name
=Two of the most memorable stories in John Landecker's memoir Records Truly Is My Middle Name involve two men who are both celebrating a birthday this week (Feb 18), Dennis DeYoung (Styx) and John Travolta. Dennis tells the tale about the first time he heard his song "Lady" on the radio. It was played by John Landecker on WLS. Dennis really paints a picture of the excitement of the moment. But probably the best story in the book revolves around a John Landecker/John Travolta appearance at Woodfield Mall. It's captured here on tape. It's captured below in a photograph.
=This week in 2016 (February 19), Rich King joined the Chicago Blackhawks at the White House as they visited President Obama. This photo from that day (with fellow sportscaster Jim Rose) appears in the pages of Rich's 2022 memoir Ike & Me.
=This week in 2022, with the pandemic still not fully contained, Bob Boone made an appearance at The Book Stall in Winnetka. Masks were still required.
=This week in 2022 (Feb 19), Randy Merkin also made an appearance in Homewood, Illinois to promote his book. A few photos are here. Former Bears receiver Tom Waddle, who is celebrating a birthday this week (Feb 20), had this to say about Randy...“Randy is an incredible radio talent. His vast knowledge of the business and bottomless pool of contacts are unmatched. I’ve learned a lot about the business from Randy. His talent is only exceeded by his loyalty and integrity. Randy is the best!!!”
=You know who else loves Randy? Another person celebrating a birthday this week (February 20). A man who rates his own chapter in Behind the Glass, Charles Barkley (shown below with Randy).
=This week in 2022 was a busy one, because Ryan Trembath also released the audiobook version of his book Signature Shoes (February 20). You can find it here.
=Randy Richardson and Becky Sarwate interviewed comedian/actor Ike Barinholtz for their Eckhartz Press book Cubsessions. Ike tells the story of his love for his hometown Cubs. Happy birthday Ike! (Feb 18)
=Does Randy Richardson have another book coming soon on Eckhartz Press? Why yes he does. Stay tuned for more information.
=This week in 2012, Rick and Brendan did a presentation about using improv techniques to write. You can see a little bit of that here. One big fan of the book, CSI star William Petersen is celebrating a birthday this week (Feb 21). This is what he had to say about Eckhartz Press's debut release...…a hell of an old-fashioned read. It brings to life ‘the city of broad shoulders’ and makes me homesick. I want a Billy Goat cheesborger and a shot of whiskey.
Valentine's Day special
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