Thursday, March 12, 2026
Monday, March 09, 2026
Publishing Portal--March 9, 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.
=Another big week for Jim Elsener. The Chicago Tribune printed a fabulous piece about his new book.
=Jim Elsener's book launch party will be on Thursday March 19th, from 6-8pm at Kappy's American Restuarant at 7200 W. Dempster in Morton Grove. Fellow Eckhartz Press author Mark Wukas (The Kiss of Night) will be there too. We're expecting a ton of CNB veterans coming to this one. If you're a CNB alum, you're guaranteed to run into some old friends. Be there for the group photo!
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=Jim will also be in Oak Park at the Book Loft on April 8th.
=This Wednesday, March 11, Nick Digilio will be back at the Lake Theater in Oak Park for this month's Nick's Pix. He'll be screening the film Zero Dark Thirty. Come on by, pick up a copy of Nick's book, and watch the film. Nick goes up on stage before and after the movie to talk about it with the audience.
=Here's another film anniversary relating to Nick's book. The film Lost in America was released on March 15, 1985. Nick picked the Albert Brooks classic as his Film of the Year for 1985. It still stands up today.
=Here's the next one to put on your calendar. March 15th at 3pm, Robert Conlon (Celtic Knot) will be appearing at the G-man tavern on Clark Street (near Wrigley Field) to talk about his book. It will be a conversation with fellow Eckhartz Press author (and Celtic Knot endorser) Brendan Sullivan (The Living Wills). Doors open at 2pm. It's a free event, but they'd like you to RSVP here.
=Speaking of Nancy Faust. Her birthday is this week (March 11). The co-author of Chili Dog MVP, David Fletcher, talked about Nancy's importance in this podcast interview. This photo of Nancy with Eckhartz Press publishers Rick and Dave was taken at a previous Chili Dog MVP book signing.
=Eckhartz Press author John Records Landecker isn't just a celebrity here in Chicago (and a Radio Hall of Famer), his daughter Amy is famous too. She returned to her hometown of Chicago to premiere her film last Thursday at the Music Box Theater. The film is a rom-com called "For Worse" and it's a heartwarming and hilarious film--written, directed, and starring Amy Landecker. Her husband Bradley Whitford also stars in the film. John is in it too! After the screening John interviewed Amy & Bradley on stage at the Music Box. It was a wonderful night that the packed house (people were standing in line for over an hour to get in) absolutely loved.
=This week in 2013, John Landecker started doing his media tour for his memoir Records Truly Is My Middle Name. It began with this incredible review of the book by Chicago media writer Robert Feder. Then John appeared on the television show Windy City Live. He was surprised live on the air with a phone call from his old friend, Larry Lujack. John's daughter Amy was also on the line to surprise him, but told the producers not to interupt Larry and John. She was enjoying listening to the old friends too much.
=The sports world lost a giant this week, former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz died at the age of 89. Chuck Swirsky featured Lou in his book Always A Pleasure.
=Chuck Swirsky has also known the great Stephen Curry since he was a young boy. Chuck was the Toronto Raptors announcer when Steph's dad Del Curry was a Raptor. That heartwarming story is in the pages of Always a Pleasure. Curry's birthday is this week (March 14)
=This week in 2024 a group of Loopers also gathered in NW Indiana. Here are a few photos from a memorable afternoon. Note the plethora of former Loopers, including Mitch Michaels, John Landecker, Roman Sawczak, Rick Kaempfer, and Dan McNeil.
=This is a special Loop-related week for author Rick Kaempfer. This week in 1987 he was hired to work at the legendary radio station. That is the opening story in the book The Loop Files.
=Ken Churilla was out and about this week last year in NW Indiana promoting The Flip Side. First, he and Flip Side co-owner Larry Rosenbaum appeared on Tom Lounges radio show (3/4). Listen here.
=Then, Tom did his column about the book in the NW Indiana Times.
=From the Flip Side archives, Robin Trower (March 9) is celebrating a birthday this week. Black Oak Arkansas released their first album this week in 1971 (March 10). Naturally we have pictures of both (with the Rosenbaum brothers) in the Flip Side book...
=It's been out for a few years now, but it's incredible how often new reviews still come in about Vicki Atkinson's wonderful memoir, Surviving Sue. Here's another great example.
=Vicki's new novel Slivers is being prepared for publication as you read this. It won't be too long now.
=This week in 2019, Janet Sutherland began her publicity tour for her book Nose Over Toes. One of the stops on that tour was a visit to WGN Radio.
=Janet is currently working on another book. It will be called "Great Dames: Women You Should Know"
=Randy also has another Eckhartz Press book in the works (his 4th for us). It will be coming out later this year. More details in the coming weeks.
=Eckhartz Press author Dobie Maxwell released his memoir Monkey in the Middle on his birthday in 2016 (March 14), and it remains one of our top selling books. He made the Chicago media rounds when it came out, including an interview on WGN radio, hosted one of the all time great book launch parties at Zanies comedy club on Wells in Chicago, and then did another media tour in Milwaukee, which is where the book takes place.
=Dan McNeil does a deep dive into the Bears with this book, including what happened to some of the Bears after their playing days were over. One of them, tight end Chris Gedney, came to a very unhappy ending this week (March 9) in 2019.
=One of the players featured in Ken Smoller's book Last Comiskey was outfielder Phil Bradley, who was part of that 1990 White Sox team. He is celebrating a birthday this week (March 11)
=This week in 2018 we signed these two guys to a publishing deal, Bruce Bohrer and Russ Fahrner. (Photo with EP Co-publisher David Stern). A few months later they delivered the manuscript of their book Embrace Retirement.
=One of Bobby Skafish's interview subjects from We Have Company: Four Decades of Rock and Roll Encounters is celebrating a birthday this week: Adam Clayton of U2 (March 13) rates his own chapter in Bobby's book.
=This week in 2017, Skafish appeared on WGN Radio with Dave Hoekstra.
The Balding Handbook
=David Stern's self help book for balding men is currently sold out, but not before it made its mark. This week in 2014, Dave appeared on Steve Cochran's show to talk about the book.
=This week is also the anniversary of the Ken doll (March 11, 1961). This photo from the Anger & Rage chapter of The Balding Handbook (The subtitle of the book is: The five stages of grieving for your hair loss), might give you an idea of one of Dave's suggestions.
=This week in 2014, Joel Daly appeared on Windy City Live to talk about his book The Daly News. It was a homecoming of sorts for Joel, because the show was filmed at Channel 7 in Chicago, where Joel had starred as an anchorman for nearly 40 years. After the interview we visited the news studio and chatted with his old friends and colleagues.
Close Encounters of a Chicago Kind
=Famous Chicago playwright Vicki Quade (Late Night Catechism) wrote a book for Eckhartz Press a few years ago about her entertaining encounters with everyday Chicagoans. She broke the book up into chapters based on topic. Considering that this week is the anniversary of O'Hare being named (March 13), it's a good week to pick up Close Encounters of a Chicago Kind and read the travel chapter.
=This week in 2015, the two Rick K's (Kogan and Kaempfer) chatted on the radio about Father Knows Nothing.
=It just so happens that it's also the birthday of Rick's middle son (photo) Johnny (March 12). Johnny is 28 years old now. On the day he was born, Rick called into John Landecker's radio show (WJMK) to announce the birth. The transcript of that birth is in the pages of Father Knows Nothing. It's also here, if you'd like to read it. The participants include John Landecker, Catherine Johns, and Richard Cantu.
=One of the great things about the Gentile brother's book about growing up near the mob, Mob Adjacent, is the intersection of the crime world and Hollywood. For instance, this week's birthday girl (March 12) Liza Minelli, makes an appearance in the pages of the book.
=When Eckhartz Press author Chet Coppock died unexpectedly in a car accident in 2018, his friends gathered to hold a tribute for him in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Among the people there that day was fellow broadcaster (and former Chicago Bear) Dan Jiggetts. Jiggetts celebrates a birthday today, March 10. (Photo L-R: Dan Jiggetts, Cheryl Raye Stout, Jim O'Donnell, Rick Kaempfer)
Saturday, March 07, 2026
Minutia Men
The most recent Minutia Men: Catholic Confession Hotline, the girl scouts team up with a natural ally, a question about Petsmart, Amy Landecker and Bradley Whitford, exorcism classes & tooth fairy hi/low are among the minutiae topics discussed this week https://t.co/YB29bfcg1c
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) March 8, 2026
Friday, March 06, 2026
Thursday, March 05, 2026
Monday, March 02, 2026
Publishing Portal--March 2, 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.
National Women's Month
=March is National Women's month, and we wouldn't be where we are today without the contributions of our female authors. We've published more than 20 books written by talented women, including three Pats (Pat Colander, Pat Camalliere, Pat Motto) and two Vickis (Vicki Atkinson, Vicki Quade), plus Jeanne Bellezzo, M.L Collins, Gloria Golec, Jessica Hagy, Beth Jacobellis, Judy Ann Jamerson, Margaret Larkin, Lauren LoGiudice, Deena Mendes, Kristin Oakley, Lori Oster, Becky Sarwate, Maggie Smith, Kim Strickland, Felitzitas Sudendorf, Janet Sutherland, Deb Tokarz, and Ann R. Wilson. We can't thank them enough.
=In addition, many of our editors have also been women. Two of them are still currently working with us, Lauren Schultz and Mary Leonard.
=And we can't forget our designers as well. The first few Eckhartz Press books (The Living Wills, Down at the Golden Coin, Records Truly is My Middle Name, Cheeseland, and Lost in the Ivy) had covers designed by Kelly Hyde.
Records Truly Is My Middle Name
=John Landecker's daughter Amy Landecker has directed and written her first film and she will be here this Thursday, March 5, along with her husband Bradley Whitford, to screen it at the Music Box theater. John Landecker will be there to moderate the discussion. We'll be there too...in the audience.
=Amy Landecker and Bradley Whitford were on The View last week talking about the film...
=Bradley Whitford was also on Stephen Colbert's Show last week talking about the film...
=A story Bradley tells on Colbert is also featured in Landecker's book Records Truly Is My Middle Name. This is a photo of the man he was talking about...Joseph Nye Welch, Amy's great-grandfather, and the man who famously derided Senator McCarthy with "At long last sir, have you no decency?"
Beyond the Glass
=We have a cover for Randy Merkin's second book! It will be available for pre-order soon. Here it is...
Surviving Sue and Slivers
=Vicki Atkinson has written a memoir for us (Surviving Sue) and now has a novel that will be coming out soon on Eckhartz Press. In the meantime, her blog gives a few clues about you might expect in the pages of her upcoming novel. It will be entitled Slivers.
=Robert Conlon was at the Boozy Book Fair on the Northwest Side of Chicago this past weekend. Thanks to everyone who came out.
=On March 1, 2024—Dune Part 2 was released. In Nick's book, he named it the Film of the Year.
=Nick Digilio's night at the Lake Theater is next Wednesday night March 11 in Oak Park. The film he has chosen to show this month will be Zero Dark Thirty.
=Did you catch Jim Elsener's guest shot on Minutia Men Celebrity Interview last week?
=Jim Elsener has scheduled his book launch party! Mark it on your calendar. It will be on Thursday March 19th, from 6-8pm at Kappy's American Restuarant at 7200 W. Dempster in Morton Grove. Fellow Eckhartz Press author Mark Wukas (The Kiss of Night) will be there too. Look for these two to make dual appearances in the future. Both of their books are about the same thing, the City News Bureau of Chicago. One is non-fiction (Sirens) and and one is fiction (Kiss). Both are fantastic!
=Here's another upcoming Elsener appearance. He will be in Oak Park at the Book Loft on April 8th. More details in the coming weeks.
Oscars Biggest Mistakes & Worth a Second Look
=Eric Litt was at the Boozy Book Fair (Printers Row Brewing, 4801 N. Austin) this past Saturday. Thanks to everyone who came out.
=Next week he'll make his sixth appearance on Minutia Men Celebrity Interview, picking this year's Oscar winners.
=The Chili Dog MVP calendar is jam packed. This week they find themselves in Pennsylvania promoting the film about the book, My Father Dick Allen. They have two events there. One in Philly (March 5), and one in Dick Allen's hometown of Wampum (March 7).
=Of course, there's a reason this week was chosen. Dick Allen, the star of the book Chili Dog MVP, was born March 8,1942. Chili Dog MVP was released on his birthday in 2022. Last summer Dick was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame.
=Some behind the scenes moments during the filming of the Mob Adjacent movie in New York...
The Sun at the End of the Road
=On March 3, 2000, the movie Ghost Dog was released. What does that have to do with the Tony Fitzpatrick book The Sun at the End of the Road? It inspired the name of the dog on the book's cover. Tony liked this piece so much he also made it into a poster. He gave us a stack of them to sell the week before he died. Book is here. Poster is here.
=Where is our intrepid birder now? He's in San Diego. Sold some books to the West Coast types.
=In honor of Jeff Reiter's wonderful bird book, we're going to feature a bird a month in this column. Here's the bird of the month for March...Roufus Hummingbird (photo by Matt Miscewicz)
=Book of the Year winner Jim Slusher writes a column every week for the Daily Herald called "Letter to Readers". Two years ago this week (March 7) he wrote one that is timely to go back and read. It's about the value of art criticism. Seems appropriate as we head into Oscar week. Pick up your Book of the Year copy of To Nudge the World and read it there.
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=Two Loopers are celebrating birthdays this week, Laura Witek (March 4) and Scott Dirks (March 5). Both tell great stories in the book, including the stories behind these photos.
=Author Randy Richardson is a die-hard Cubs fan, so naturally his murder mystery takes place in Wrigleyville. Fellow Cubs author Stuart Shea provided this blurb for the back cover of the book...
"Randy Richardson’s Lost in the Ivy expertly captures the weirdness and excitement of the streets that the Chicago Cubs—baseball’s weirdest and most exciting franchise—call home. And aside from being a terrific “I’ve been there” walk through Wrigleyville, it’s a cracking murder mystery to boot!"
Stuart Shea, author of "Wrigley Field: The Unauthorized Biography" and "Wrigley Field: THE LONG LIFE AND CONTENTIOUS TIMES OF THE FRIENDLY CONFINES"
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=Lauren LoGiudice brings her Misfit Variety show to the Annoyance March 13. Show's at 9. Get your tickets here.
The Radio Hall of Fame
=The latest Illinois Entertainer is out and features suggestions for the next class of the Radio Hall of Fame. Public voting goes until April 1. Several Eckhartz Press authors are suggested, including Mitch Michaels (Doin the Cruise) and Bobby Skafish (We Have Company), as well as contributors to The Loop Files (Patti Haze, Bob Stroud, Kevin Matthews).
=Last year's March issue featured an interview with Flip Side co-owner (and author) Larry Rosenbaum.
=The Flip Side is still getting great reviews. Click on this one below to read it.
=Dan McNeil was making the rounds in his native Northwest Indiana this week last year. He appeared on the Tom Lounges radio show, then made a few library appearances in Highland and Merrillville. Thanks so much to everyone who came out!
=This week (March 5) is also the birthday of former Bears quarterback Justin Fields. Dan McNeil wrote about Fields in I Bear Witness.
=Two of the people Ken Smoller features in Last Comiskey are celebrating birthdays this week as well. Former White Sox pitchers Scott Radinsky (March 3) and Wayne Edwards (March 7).
=Former NBC news anchor Lester Holt is celebrating a birthday this week (March 8) too and is featured in the pages of Rich King's book Ike & Me.
=Author Bobby Skafish was making the publicity rounds this week in 2017 talking about his Eckhartz Press book We Have Company: Four Decades of Rock and Roll Encounters. Among his appearances, a visit to WCIU-TV's morning show.
=Legendary Bears safety Doug Plank celebrates a birthday this week (March 4). This is what he had to say about Your Dime My Dance Floor author Chet Coppock...
"When I think of Chicago sports, I think of Chet Coppock. Chet is everywhere and he knows everyone. He has done everything there is to do in sports reporting and broadcasting."
=Janet Guthrie is a trailblazing female race car driver. Her birthday is March 7. Chet Coppock got to know Guthrie during his days in Indianapolis, and wrote about her in Your Dime My Dance Floor.
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=This week in 2020, Roger Badesch's book The Unplanned Life became available for the first time via pre-sale. It immediately garnered praise from the dean of Chicago media.
“You may think you know Roger Badesch if you have listened over the years to his exact and artful news reports on radio, but between the covers of this book you will find so much more–a man of great depth, many passions and skills. His is a wonderful life that you can now share.”
Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, WGN Radio
=Harry Caray was born this week (March 1) in 1914. Chuck Quinzio has a great story about Harry that goes back to the Cubs playoff year in 1984. It's in the book Life Behind the Camera.
=Chuck Quinzio's harrowing tale of his life as a TV News cameraman garnered fans from across the spectrum, including Rob Reiner. The late filmmaker was born this week (March 6) in 1947.
=Chicago media critic Robert Feder wrote that one of the highlights of Joel Daly's memoir The Daly News is the inclusion of a few examples of his nightly commentaries from the Channel 7 News in the 1970s. One of those was delivered on the air this week (March 8) in 1972. You can read that free excerpt from Joel's book here.
=On March 7, 2013, The Living Wills became the first Eckhartz Press book to be used in a high school's literature curriculum (it's not the last). Co-author Brendan Sullivan was on hand at Marist High School the day it was introduced at the school.
=Pat Colander's book would go on to become the CWA Book of the Year in 2016. One of the book's biggest fans was Saturday Night Live alumnus Tim Kazurinsky, who is celebrating a birthday this week (March 3). Here's what Tim had to say...
As Paul Simon bookended…”Time it was, and what a time it was….A time of innocence. A time of confidences.” Chicago in the ’70’s was surreal, scary and freaking hilarious. My Second City kith and kin may have found brighter lights in N.Y. and L.A. — but we were spawned and fermented at North and Wells. Good thing Pat Colander thought to take notes and chronicle everything.
And finally, Happy Birthday to another one of our award winning authors (March 2), Lee Kingsmill! Lee wrote the incredible Safe Inside.
