The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.
Happy Birthday!
=Two Eckhartz Press authors are celebrating birthdays this week. Happy birthday to Chili Dog MVP co-author John Owens (October 7) and one of our new authors, To Nudge the World writer Jim Slusher (October 10). Both of them work in the media. Owens was the senior producer at the Chicago Tribune for years, and is now a producer for ABC-7 in Chicago, and Slusher is the Managing Editor for Opinion at the Daily Herald.
=Mark your calendar for the upcoming book launch party for Eric Litt's second book for Eckhartz Press, Worth a Second Look. He'll be at Sketchbook in Skokie on Tuesday night November 12th. See you there!
Awards Season
=This week in 2019 (October 11), two of our book were named finalists for the Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year. The Scar Dance (in the fiction category), and EveryCubEver by Rick Kaempfer (in the non-fiction category).
=This week in 2022 (October 11), two Eckhartz Press books were named finalists for the Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year--and in the same category (non-fiction). Ike & Me by Rich King, and Chili Dog MVP by Dr. David Fletcher and John Owens. Chili Dog MVP brought home some hardware that year.
=Last year at this time the publicity machine was just getting rolling for The Loop Files by Rick Kaempfer. It wasn't even officially released yet. Rick was on the Matt Kissane podcast talking about the book on October 9th, and the RAMP Newsletter featured the book in their popular radio publication on October 11.
=This week in 2015 (October 6), the reviews came in for Pat Colander's award-winning book Hugh Hefner's First Funeral. Here are a few of them...
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.
Pat Colander toiled with me in the belly of the Chicago journalism beast in the 1970s and 1980s. When major stories were reported, she asked questions. When the questions were poorly answered or evaded, she asked even more questions of even more people. Then in a clear, true voice, she wrote it all down. She found the real stories behind the stories and this collection of her work is just great. She ought to be long-listed for the Man Booker prize, If I can figure out how to do it I will.
=Reader reviews keep coming in for Surviving Sue by Vicki Atkinson. Here are a few of them from just this past week...
“I connected with Vicki’s story because of my alcoholic mother and the fact that I had to tiptoe around her for years to keep the peace and stay safe. Vicki’s story is remarkable and encouraging, especially how she kept her wits around her to also protect her sister.“
J.P. 10/5/24
“I began Surviving Sue last night and finished it this afternoon. The writing is very good and the story, though dark, is engaging. What a nightmare to have lived with. How admirable that Vicki remained involved. I recommend the book.“
H. 10/4/24
=One of the interviewees for Becky Sarwate and Randy Richardson's book about celebrity Cub fans is celebrating a birthday this week. Happy birthday to journalist and author Jonathan Alter (October 6). He rates his own chapter in the book Cubsessions.
=This week in 2016 (October 7), Bobby Skafish visited the WLS studios to talk about his book with his old colleague at the Loop, Steve Dahl. It just happened to be the same day that Trump's Access Hollywood tape came out. (Also in the photo--Brendan Greeley and Dag Juhlin)
Grace and Friends Fire Activity Book
=This week in 2020 (October 7), co-author of Grace and Friends Fire Activity Safety book Paul Possenti was called a COVID hero. Read this to find out more.
=Two football legends are celebrating birthdays this week, and both of them are featured in Randy Merkin's Behind the Glass book. Former Bears great (and Hall of Famer) Mike Singletary (October 9), and Tony Dungy (October 6). Each get a chapter in Behind the Glass. That's Tony with Randy below.
=This week in 2018 (October 9), Christine Sneed interviewed author Donald G. Evans about his excellent collection of short stories.
