Thursday, July 02, 2026
Monday, June 29, 2026
Publishing Portal--June 29, 2026
The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.
Available for pre-order now!
(Ships in July)
The 12 Steps and Tales of Fellowship
Far South Side Literary Bus Tour
=Eckhartz Press author Donald G. Evans (An Off-White Christmas) is also the founder of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. His organization often runs bus tours of some of Chicago's most iconic literary sites, and there is one coming up on July 11 on the Far South Side. More info about the tour is here. We've been on a few of these, and they are highly recommended. You can register here.
=One of our best selling books of the year continues to make it's mark. Jim Elsener has been making the book club rounds. For instance...
=What a night at the Chicago History Museum last Thursday night. The filmmakers (and authors) debuted the new Chicago episode of the My Father, Dick Allen docuseries. Another star studded event, including the authors (John Owens and David Fletcher), the director (Andy Billman), the Hall of Famer (Ferguson Jenkins), the organist (Nancy Faust), and the MC (Kenny McReynolds). Meanwhile, Eckhartz Press publishers Rick and Dave sold copies of the book in the lobby. Photos from the debut...
=Goose Gossage wrote the foreword to Chili-Dog MVP, and the Hall of Famer is celebrating a birthday this week (July 5).
=Author David Fletcher (photo above with Goose) explained how he managed to convince Goose to write that in this podcast interview. Gossage was on hand when Dick Allen was finally inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame. Since Chili Dog MVP is about the 1972 White Sox, we would be remiss if we didn't also mention another key player in the book. Chuck Tanner (July 4) was the manager of that team. Chuck passed away a few years ago, but his son was also there when Dick was inducted.
=The seventh edition of the book is out now!
=Bob Conlon was also at the Dick Allen film premiere, selling his book..
=The Hinsdalean wrote a nice piece about Eckhartz Press author Robert Conlon and his book Celtic Knot. You can read it here.
=Imagine you're a writer who occasionally offers writing advice on your blog, and then one day, you happen to be reading the prestigious Freshly Pressed site, and they quote your advice! That happened last week to Slivers author Vicki Atkinson. She tells the story here.
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The Write City Review, Volume 5
=The Chicago Writers Association had their annual writing conference last weekend (June 20) and it was a massive success (as it always is). This year they tried something a little different and held it at the Steppenwolf Theater. Not too shabby. Samantha Hoffman runs the show for the conference, and she filed this report.
=Available for sale at the conference, and the upcoming Printers Row Litfest (in September) is the latest volume of the CWA writers journal, The Write City Review. Naturally, it's also available here at Eckhartz Press.
Printer's Row Litfest
=We cherish our relationship with the CWA. Several of our authors will be signing and selling their books in the CWA tent at this year's Printer's Row Litfest (September 12/13). Among them: Gloria Golec (South Side Memories), Robert Conlon (Celtic Knot), Vicki Atkinson (Slivers and Surviving Sue), Russ Fahrner (Face Your Monster, Chicago the Great Retirement Resource, and Embrace Retirement), Jim Slusher (To Nudge the World), and Tony Fitzpatrick's family (The Sun at the End of the Road). When we get closer to the litfest, we'll give you exact times and dates.
=Happy birthday to Flip Side co-owner and co-author of the book, Carl Rosenbaum (July 1). Carl is Larry's big brother, and the one who usually took center stage during their incredible run as record store owners and concert promoters. Here are a few photos of Carl over the years (with Ozzy Osbourne, Paul Anka, and Robin Trower)...
=Will Wagner celebrated a birthday yesterday (June 28). Will wrote the wonderful novel imagining what happened to Pete Townsend's guitar after he tossed it into the crowd at Woodstock.
=The World Cup is the hottest thing in the world right now. Who is watching the games? (Hand held up high). Well, don't forget your friends here at Eckhartz Press. We have a soccer book for you. Paul Banks wrote a book about how our soccer players are becoming popular worldwide. That's especially true of our women. Birthday girl Alex Morgan (July 2) is at the top of that list. This photo is from Paul's book...
The Sun at the End of the Road
=On July 1, 1962, John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley was released. Tony Fitzpatrick wrote an essay about that book's influence on him in The Sun at the End of the Road. Here's a small taste of that...
I happened to read John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley on the first of these more recent road trips—heading to Ocean City, Maryland—and it struck me that the same demons bedeviling us as a body politic then, do so now. Steinbeck made his legendary journey during the run-up to the Nixon–Kennedy presidential election and, wisely, took the time to listen which, sadly, I must remind myself to do, instead of talking all the time.
=This is the piece of art that Tony used to illustrate this essay...
=Loop Hall of Famer Garry Meier has a new podcast he is co-hosting with his former WGN colleague John St. Augustine. It's called Saints and Sinners. First episode is here.
=One of the most beloved people who ever worked at the Loop (WLUP Radio) was promotions director Sandy Stahl. This week in 2008 (July 3) she died unexpectedly at the much too young age of 58. When Rick Kaempfer wrote The Loop Files about the history of that radio station, he dedicated the book to Sandy. Here is a photo of her from the book...
=The July 2024 issue of Illinois Entertainer included Rick's interview with Tom Hoyt. Tom was in charge of the radio station (The Loop) that created the most famous radio promotion of all time (Disco Demolition). His perspective is a little different than the many others Rick has spoken to about that day.
=One of the things that Dan McNeil does in his Chicago Bears book I Bear Witness is pay tribute to the Bears we have lost in the last few years. This week in 2023 (July 3), former Bears defensive co-ordinator Vince Tobin passed away. Dan eulogizes Vince in the book.
Everything I Know I learned from Rock Stars
=This week in 2017, Bill Paige was making the rounds because his book Everything I Know I Learned from Rock Stars was released (July 1). Needless to say, Bill was thrilled. Here's a photo of the day he got the first copy of the book...
=July 1 is also the birthday of Bill's cover-girl, Debbie Harry.
=Bill was in town for the book release, and took advantage, by returning an album he had taken out of the Arlington Heights library a measly 30 years earlier. It caught the attention of the Daily Herald.
=Another anniversary from Bill's book. This week in history (July 3, 1971), Jim Morrison died in Paris. Bill Paige visited his gravesite.
=This week in history (July 4, 1974), one of the main characters in Doug E. Jones' book Take Me Back to Chicago was born. No, it wasn't a person. It was the special Red, White & Blue Spirit of America Impala driven by the main character Rick in Take Me Back to Chicago. Trust us, you have to read the book. It'll make you wish you owned one of these monsters.
=This week in 2019 (July 1) was also the release of Deb Tokarz's book I Cu Copper. What is that book about? Here's a Q&A with Deb. You have to admit, it's one of our coolest covers ever.
=This week in 2013 (July 2), Eckhartz Press released our first children's book. It was written by Scott Redman, a sing-along story he created for his kid. The book includes a series of original photos by photographer Ray Nilsen.
=This week in 2017, Lee Kingsmill got the very first copy of his book Safe Inside. It would be a few more weeks before the book's official release, but Lee was very excited...
=This week in 2014 (July 1), Bruce Bohrer was making the rounds promoting his Diary of a Wrigley Field Usher. One of the stops was WGN Radio. He appeared on Bob Sirott & Marianne Murciano's show...
=Two years later (6/30/16), when the Cubs were actually good, Daily Herald columnist Burt Constable sought out Bruce again to see if he had any regrets about leaving the job before the team hit it big.
=Thanks to everyone who came out to Blue Island Brewing Company this week in 2024 to meet Last Comiskey author Ken Smoller. The owner of the joint, Alan Cromwell, is always a great host to our authors. Thanks Alan!
Behind the Glass and Beyond the Glass
=Three of the sports titans featured in Randy Merkin's book have birthdays this week. The late George Steinbrenner was born on July 4. The story of booking him as a radio guest is one of the best stories in Randy's book. Former slugger Jose Canseco is another birthday boy this week (July 2), and so is one of the greatest boxers of all-time, Mike Tyson (June 30).
Records Truly Is My Middle Name
=Two people featured in John Landecker's book are celebrating birthdays this week. Sly Stallone (July 6) turned John's interview with him into national publicity. Click here if you want to read it. July 1 is also Dan Ackroyd's birthday. Danny and John Belushi stopped by the WLS studios to visit Landecker while they were filming The Blues Brothers.
Close Encounters of a Chicago Kind
=On July 1, 1863, the First National Bank of Chicago opened. Seems like the perfect day to remind you about Vicki Quade's great book about her personal encounters with Chicagoans. She spends an entire chapter telling stories about her encounters in banks. Very funny stuff.
=Basketball is one of the main topics of Chuck Swirsky's book. The Bulls radio play-by-play man has seen it all. One of his fellow basketball announcers is Clark Kellogg. Chuck features this photograph of the two men in his book Always a Pleasure. Clark's birthday is July 1.
=The great Robbie Robertson was born this week (July 5) in 1943. Robbie passed away in 2023, but will live on forever in the pages of Bobby Skafish's rock and roll interview book We Have Company.
=Rich King's latest book is about the great working relationship he had with his cameraman Ike. The Black and White team made it work for more than 20 years. But when Rich got invited to the White House as part of the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup celebration, it was another distinguished Chicago journalist who was there with him. His colleague from Channel 7 in Chicago, Jim Rose. Rose is celebrating a birthday this week (July 5)
=The second book ever released by Eckhartz Press was Kim Strickland's Down at the Golden Coin. Windy City Live's Paige Wiser was one of the novel's biggest fans. Her birthday is next week too--July 6. Here is what she said about Kim's book...
“Down at the Golden Coin” couldn’t be more timely or original, with the most eccentric spiritual guide since Clarence the Angel. Prepare to set your set your brain to spin-cycle.
Friday, June 26, 2026
Minutia Men Celebrity Interview
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Monday, June 22, 2026
Publishing Portal--June 22, 2026
The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.
Tom Dreesen
=So sorry to hear about the passing of Tom Dreesen.
=He was always a great supporter of Eckhartz Press. Tom was
interviewed and rates his own chapter in Cubsessions. He is
featured prominently in Records Truly is My Middle Name. He offered a wonderful review for The Living Wills. He also championed Randy Richardson's Lost in the Ivy and
contributed this for the back cover...
- This
book is not just for Cub fans but for all who love a great story. It’s a
wonderful read. Enjoy! I know I did.
=He particularly loved our book Leaving Glory For Greatness about his old friend LaMarr Thomas, and provided this blurb…
- “Lou
Macaluso has captured the very soul and spirit of a man that I thought I
knew and loved. Now I know so much more and wish I could have my friend
back for one more conversation. Some men get to the mountaintop and shout
out all the great deeds they have done and shout their name as well.
LaMarr Thomas never mentioned his great deeds and would only whisper his
name. Thank you, Lou, for taking LaMarr to the mountaintop and shouting
out his name. This book is a must read for all who want to know about a
great man who only wanted us all to love one another.”
=Our deepest condolences to the Dreesen family. Rest in Peace, Tom. We will miss you.
=We promised it last week. We're delivering this week. Richard Reeder's new novel about baseball in the Jim Crow South is available for pre-order now! Reserve your copy here.
This Thursday night might as well be Eckhartz Press night. You've got a chance to meet seven different authors that night. Pick your poison...you can meet David Fletcher, John Owens, Robert Conlon, Rick Kaempfer and Dave Stern at the Chicago History Museum, or Jeff Reiter in Schaumburg, or Vicki Atkinson in Carol Stream. More details below...
=Exactly one year ago, we asked Eckhartz Press author David Fletcher to tell us a little more about the film they were making based on his book Chili Dog MVP, 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.
=Don't forget he's got a big appearance for the West Suburban Irish
Mission coming up in Naperville on July 21, 6:30pm at the VFW in Naperville
(908 Jackson Avenue).
=In addition, her Poetry in the Park event from last week was rescheduled due to severe weather conditions. She'll be at the Barrington White House (145 W. Main Street) in Barrington on Wednesday, June 24. Details are here.
=Slivers continues to get great reviews. Two more are here.
Behind the Glass & Beyond the Glass
=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 his first book, Behind the Glass.
=What's in his second book Beyond the Glass? This Q&A will give you a pretty good idea.
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Everything I Know I Learned from Rock Stars
=Great interview this week with Eckhartz Press author Bill Paige. He is now living in Thailand and explains why...
=Rocker Mick Fleetwood has a birthday this week (June 24). He is featured in a long interview in Bill Paige's book Everything I Know I Learned from Rock Stars.
=Great article this week about The Flip Side co-author Ken Churilla.
=Laverne and Shirley's David Lander (Squiggy) was born this week (June 22) in 1947. (He passed away in 2020). Lander and co-star Michael McKean (Lenny) made a memorable appearance at The Flip Side at the height of the show's popularity. This photo and story are in the book.
=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.
=This week in 2019, author Rick Kaempfer appeared on Garry Meier's show on WLS to promote the book (June 24). He also appeared 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...
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.
=June 22, 1944 is Peter Asher's birthday. Landecker didn't save many souvenirs from his radio days, but he did save a Peter & Gordon autographed 45 RPM record, which he received from the official Peter & Gordon fan club headquarters (look at the stamp below). He included that photo in the Hall of Fame version of his book...
=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.”
=This week in 2014, Bruce Bohrer held the launch party for his 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.”
=This is a big week for rock and roll star birthdays, which means it's a big week for Bobby Skafish's book of rock and roll interviews, We Have Company. Each of these June 22nd birthday boys (Steve Page/Bare Naked Ladies, Don Henley/Eagles, Todd Rundgren, and Mike Edwards/Jesus Jones) rate an entire chapter in Bobby's book. Mike Edwards also rates a photo. This was taken at Bill Wyman's Sticky Fingers restaurant in London.
=But that's not all: The Clash's Mick Jones (June 26) and indie-rocker Chris Isaak (June 26) both rate their own chapters in Bobby's great book too. Both were interviewed by Bobby during his days at WXRT.
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=Rich King has two books that were released by 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 (Mark is second from left. Rich is far right).
=He also provided this endorsement of Rich's second book Back in the Game.
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.”
=In recent 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.
=Hey World Cup fans, don't forget that we have a great soccer book called Transatlantic Passage. This week in 2021 (June 24), author Paul Banks appeared on WGN Radio to talk about his book, which chronicles the popularity of the English Premier League in America. You can still listen to that interview here.
=There are two big events that happened this week in history, and both play an important role in the novel Back in the DDR.
