The story of the Hollywood stars coming to Adam's childhood pitch is part of this week's episode. @fkadamandrick https://t.co/H3p502OMZ8
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) November 5, 2021
Friday, November 05, 2021
Free Kicks
Thursday, November 04, 2021
Jim Baumann on Minitua Men Celebrity Interview
This week's guest is now the Executive Editor of the Daily Herald. See what the Eckhartz Press bump can do for an author? Fun conversation with Jim Baumann, author of Grammar Moses. https://t.co/YNFtGjtSqT
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) November 4, 2021
Jim Baumann with Steve Cochran
Eckhartz Press author Jim Baumann on Steve Cochran's highly-rated podcast: https://t.co/BshsDtEc1b
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) November 4, 2021
Women in Radio
Behind the Tribune paywall so I can't read it, but having seen the business first hand, I probably don't need to...
Life as a woman in Chicago radio, according to a new @chicagotribune report:
— Ariel Cheung (@arielfab) November 4, 2021
Bosses ask you to pose for a “strategically covered topless photo.”
Harassment after ending a relationship you felt coerced into.
Being the only woman in the room.https://t.co/CbosT90GEa
Wednesday, November 03, 2021
Eckhartz Press Author Bob Boone
VIRTUAL Author Event with Bob Boone
Tuesday, November 09, 2021
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Glencoe Public Library
Hammond Room
Event Details
Journalist Donald Liebenson will interview Glencoe’s own Bob Boone about City U, his most recent book of short stories. Mr. Boone will also read selections from City U and answer questions about his other books of school stories, which, according to Eric Lutz of New City, “sparkle with the feeling of lived experience.”
REGISTER HERE for this Zoom-based virtual event.
About Bob Boone: Mr. Boone and his wife have lived in Glencoe since 1969. In addition to his short story collections, he has written a memoir, a sports biography, a literature anthology, and three creative writing books. Bob has taught English in New York City, Germany, and Highland Park. He has also taught in Chicago, where he founded Young Chicago Authors. For his work with city youth, he was presented with an award at the White House by Michelle Obama.
Jim Baumann
Thanks to Robert Feder for posting this in his column today...
Jim Baumann, managing editor of the Daily Herald, kicks off the media tour for his new book, Grammar Moses: A humorous look at grammar and usage, with two interviews Wednesday. Published by Chicago-based Eckhartz Press, the book is a collection of Baumann’s Sunday columns from the Daily Herald. (Here is the link.) He’ll join Steve Cochran on his “Live From My Office” podcast and Eckhartz Press publishers Rick Kaempfer and Dave Stern on their “Minutia Men Celebrity Interview” podcast. Baumann’s first book signing will be Saturday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin. A 36-year veteran of the Daily Herald, Baumann was promoted Tuesday to executive editor, effective with the retirement of top editor John Lampinen in December.
Tuesday, November 02, 2021
Harry Teinowitz
The new Illinois Entertainer is out and includes my interview with Harry Teinowitz. https://t.co/QNbUwGT090 #radio #macjurkoharry #whenharrymetrehab
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) November 2, 2021
Monday, November 01, 2021
Chicago Radio Ratings
From Robert Feder's column...
1. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM all news, 6.7 (6.6)
2. WVAZ 102.7-FM R&B, 5.8 (6.3)
3. WBEZ 91.5-FM public radio news talk, 4.9 (4.3)
4. WLIT 93.9-FM adult contemporary, 4.6 (4.8)
5. WOJO 105.1-FM Mexican regional, 4.5 (4.2)
6. WDRV 97.1-FM classic rock, 4.3 (4.1)
7. WXRT 93.1-FM adult album alternative, 4.0 (3.6)
8. WLS 94.7-FM classic hits, 3.8 (3.8)
9. (tie) WGN 720-AM news talk, 3.5 (3.6); WTMX 101.9-FM hot adult contemporary, 3.5 (4.1)
11. WPPN 106.7-FM Spanish adult contemporary, 2.9 (2.8)
12. WKSC 103.5-FM Top 40, 2.8 (2.7)
13. WRME 87.7-FM soft rock oldies, 2.7 (3.3)
14. (tie) WSCR 670-AM sports talk, 2.5 (2.5); WBMX 104.3-FM classic hip-hop, 2.5 (2.7); WGCI 107.5-FM hip-hop, 2.5 (2.4)
17. (tie) WUSN 99.5-FM country, 2.4 (2.3); WLEY 107.9-FM Mexican regional, 2.4 (2.6)
19. (tie) WBBM 96.3-FM Top 40, 2.3 (2.5); WFMT 98.7-FM classical, 2.3 (2.1)
21. (tie) WKQX 101.1-FM alternative rock, 2.0 (1.9); WMVP 1000-AM sports talk, 2.0 (1.9)
23. WSHE 100.3-FM adult contemporary, 1.8 (2.2)
24. WCHI 95.5-FM rock, 1.7 (1.7)
25. WPWX 92.3-FM hip-hop, 1.3 (1.2)
26. (tie) WLS 890-AM news talk, 1.1 (1.7); WVIV 93.5-FM Spanish contemporary, 1.1 (1.2); WZSR 105.5-FM hot adult contemporary, 1.1 (0.7)
29. WCKL 97.9-FM contemporary Christian music, 1.0 (1.2)
Eckhartz Press
Founded on this day in 2011 (11/1/11).
Hard to believe it has been 10 years. What a fun ride. Thanks to all the great authors (80+) who have graced our little label, and the many thousands of you who have purchased and read those books. Dave and I are incredibly grateful. I don’t think either of us thought it would go this well. More book announcements to come, including one this week. Stay tuned!
Snapper and French
Born OTD in 1878, Snapper Kennedy. He had one of the all-time great names, but Snapper only played in 1 big league game. That came with the #Cubs on 5/1/1902. He played CF and batted 5 times in a 0-0 12-inning game at West Side Grounds, called because of darkness. #everyCubever pic.twitter.com/5GaVqM3gSV
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) November 1, 2021
Born OTD in 1907, Larry French. He pitched in two WS for Cubs ('35, '38), and memorably owned his own bear cub for a while (which tore his apartment apart), but more memorably served with distinction in WW2 as part of D-Day invasion. Remained in military until 1969. #everyCubever pic.twitter.com/iKZr3sW4X2
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) November 1, 2021
Saturday, October 30, 2021
Minutia Men
I like the title of this week's show. https://t.co/wsEzHnmQqZ
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) October 30, 2021
Eric is out
The only possible resolution to this story… https://t.co/bLyGxQ5oHw
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) October 29, 2021
Free Kicks
This week's episode of Free Kicks discusses the future of Manchester United's manager. https://t.co/QHvkhJcnmB
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) October 30, 2021
Thursday, October 28, 2021
Yet another soccer podcast
I stretched out my soccer legs this week, appearing on this Australian-based Premier League podcast. Thanks so much to Stu and Paul for having me on. https://t.co/21S0evtWuY @fkadamandrick
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) October 28, 2021
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Minutia Men Celebrity Interview
Harry has a new play opening up in a few weeks called "When Harry Met Rehab". We talk to him about that and his path to recovery. @MinutiaMen https://t.co/eFnGLNwF8v
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) October 27, 2021
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Meet the Eckhartz Press authors
As we celebrate our 10th annniversary next week, we’d like to take some time to acknowledge the great authors who are part of the Eckhartz Press family. We’ve now published over 70 books. About five years ago, whenever a new author joined our ranks, we began to publish a quick Q&A to introduce them to our audience.
Here are a few dozen of them since 2016, all in one handy easy to access list. They all have great stories to tell…
Exactly
Every country in the world that offers ZERO weeks of paid family leave:
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) October 25, 2021
1. Marshall Islands
2. Federated States of Micronesia
3. Nauru
4. Palau
5. Papua New Guinea
6. Suriname
7. Tonga
8. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Monday, October 25, 2021
Mob Adjacent
Super proud that our book Mob Adjacent has been named as a finalist for Book of the Year by the Chicago Writers Association (in the Indy non-fiction category.) Winners will be announced in December.
This month marks our 10th anniversary as a press, and Mob Adjacent is our 10th finalist for Book of the Year.
If you'd like to check out our other BOY finalists, here they are by title. Click on the links to see more.
The Unplanned Life by Roger Badesch
EveryCubEvery by Rick Kaempfer
The Scar Dance by William Mansfield
Records Truly Is My Middle Name by John Records Landecker
Doin the Cruise by Mitch Michaels
Minutia Men
Come for the bathroom emergency stories, stay for the 2-year old singing star. https://t.co/DAu97TU6Vc
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) October 25, 2021
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Jim Baumann
The following is an excerpt of Robert Feder's interview with Daily Herald managing editor (and now Eckhartz Press author) Jim Baumann. To read the entire article, click here.
Q. How did an occasional memo to the staff morph into a weekly column in the Daily Herald?
A. I was talking to Eileen Brown, our head of marketing and promotion at the time, and she came up with the idea. I wasn’t sure anyone outside our walls would be interested, let alone that such a column could be sustainable. So you have her to blame for what it’s become.
Q. Where do your ideas come from?
A. A journalist is always observant, always listening. When I hear or see something that is either funny or irritating, I know I have something to work with. And, yes, I realize I just ended that last sentence with a preposition. So sue me. When you’re passionate about something – and when you are under pressure to produce – it just comes to you.
Q. English teachers must love you. Do ever hear from any of them?
A. Often. I think former English teachers are my sweet spot. Why? Because they spent their careers trying to teach kids good communication skills and they see a lot of that work undone today. I also try to counsel them that language evolves so their work is not for naught. Wait, can I say “not for naught”?
Q. Why should the average person care about proper grammar?
A. When you write to someone or talk to someone, you want them to understand you. Right? That’s why we invented languages. That’s why we invented frameworks for employing those languages. You can torture them only so much before they don’t work for you anymore. For me, it starts with clear communication.
Q. Have you always been a grammar nerd?
A. That’s a hard no. I was a math and science nerd. My worst test scores were in English. I was a deer in headlights in speech class. I couldn’t parse a sentence to save my life. So, naturally, I pursued a career in journalism and ended up writing about grammar.
Q. When it comes to grammar and usage, what’s your personal pet peeve?
A. A couple things really get under my skin. To have any facility with grammar you need to be a critical thinker. Does “Me and her went shopping” make any sense? Take out the “her.” I think the least skilled of us knows “Me went to the store” sounds like something an unfrozen caveman might say. What’s more bothersome to me is how people who understand grammar and mathematics twist their messages to make you think you’re buying something better than it really is.
Q. What made you come up with the name “Grammar Moses”?
A. I love art. I could spend days in the Louvre, the D’Orsay, the Rijksmuseum, the Art Institute of Chicago. Just ask my long-suffering wife. So Grandma Moses is on my radar. What an inspiring painter. It seemed natural that I’d steal her shtick.
Q. Have social media and texting contributed to the decline of good grammar?
A. We all have back space buttons on our computers and phones, so why don’t we use them? I understand that social media is casual and that texting is even more so. But I’d think choosing from their/there/they’re wouldn’t be too difficult. The whole world can see on Facebook that you can’t put together a sentence. I just don’t think too many people worry about that.
Q. How did you choose the columns for the book?
A. I can count on two hands the number of columns I’ve skipped over six years. Clearly, I don’t have a 1.000 batting average. There have been some clunkers along the way. So I spared you having to read them again. I chose the funniest ones and the ones that addressed the biggest problem areas. I also chose the ones that had the best contributions from my pen pals.
The column is really a conversation with readers, and without that interplay there would be no column and certainly no book. I write a lot about music, and I’ve pointed out that the best greatest hits albums always have a new song or two. That’s the reward for the constant fans who’ve bought all the other albums. So I lead off the book with a smattering of the internal staff memos that were the precursor to the column.
Q. Will reading your book make people smarter?
A. I can’t guarantee it, but I sure hope so. I’m confident it’ll make you smile. What I can guarantee is it won’t make you any less smart.
Q. Are you as funny in person as you are in the book?
A. I’m a laugh riot, Rob.
Naturally, Grammar Moses is available right here at Eckhartz Press. Here's a picture of Jim holding the first copy of his book...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)