Wednesday, July 02, 2025
Monday, June 30, 2025
Publishing Portal--June 30, 2025
The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.
Words on Birds
=Meet the newest Eckhartz Press author Jeff Reiter. More info to come about his beautiful book. It will be available for pre-order in a few weeks.
Jeff Reiter became a serious birder in 1994, the same day he encountered a striking little bird while on vacation in South Carolina. Within hours he learned the name of it, Hooded Warbler. The experience rekindled a boyhood passion for birds and nature. Reiter has been watching birds closely ever since—at home, in the field, at birding festivals, and on family trips. In 2004, he began writing “Words on Birds,” a newspaper column in suburban Chicago devoted to birds, birding, and birders. His enthusiasm for the hobby shines through, appealing to serious and casual birders alike. He encourages new birdwatchers, especially kids, who might find their spark just outside the kitchen window. Newly retired and excited for more birding-related travel, Reiter lives in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, with his wife, Catherine. Their backyard feeders are rarely empty. (Photo by Glenn Kaupert)
=The Hinsdalean wrote a nice piece this week about Eckhartz Press author Robert Conlon and his new book Celtic Knot. You can read it here.
=The boys are out there hustling...
=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)...
=The NBA draft was in the news this past week, and Eckhartz Press author Chuck Swirsky hosted a three-hour special on the Score (WSCR) analayzing the Bulls pick, 18-year-old 6'10" Frenchman Noa Essengue.
=Basketballl, of course, is one of the main topics of 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.
=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.
Chili Dog MVP and EveryCubEver
=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 explained how he managed to convince Goose to write that in this podcast interview. Gossage will be on hand when Dick Allen is finally inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame on July 27. 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.
=Will Wagner celebrated a birthday this past weekend (June 28). Will wrote the wonderful novel imagining what happened to Pete Townsend's guitar after he tossed it into the crowd at Woodstock.
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
=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.
=Victoria Atkinson has a wonderful piece in her blog this week about one of the main characters in her memoir, her sister Lisa. Recommended reading.
=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!
=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.
=Paul Banks wrote a book about soccer in America and how our 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 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 this 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.
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Monday, June 23, 2025
Publishing Portal--June 23, 2025
The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.
Coming Soon to Eckhartz Press
=This is just a teaser, but we are getting to the final stages. It's going to be a beautiful book. More details in the coming weeks.
=The Mob Adjacent crew is in full-fledged promotional mode. A new version of the book is out. The audio book is out now too. And they are making a film. They'll also be making a bunch of commercial announcements like this one...
=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.”
=Filming continues for the Dick Allen documentary. We asked Eckhartz Press author David Fletcher to tell us a little more about the film, 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.
=The seventh edition of EveryCubEver is out now. You're obviously following along on author Rick Kaempfer's Just One Bad Century facebook page, right? New entries every day including this one...
=This week in 2019, author Rick Kaempfer appeared on Garry Meier's show on WLS to promote the book (June 24) and 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...
=The July issue of LakeFront Living comes out on June 30th. Look for a profile of Robert Conlon's book The Celtic Knot.
=Bob is beginning to receive requests for Book Club appearances. This novel is perfect book club material. If you'd like to have Bob (or any other Eckhartz Press author for that matter) appear at your book club, simply drop us a line (rick@eckhartzpress.com) and we'll see if we can help you schedule it.
=Lenny & Squiggy's David Lander was born this week (June 22) in 1947. (He passed away in 2020). Lander and co-star Michael McKean made a memorable appearance at The Flip Side at the height of the show's popularity. This photo and story are in the book.
=Vicki Atkinson has a great writeup about her appearance this week in Wauconda. Sounds like it was an amazing event. She also posted some pictures.
=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.
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.
=This week in 2014, Bruce Bohrer held the book launch party for this 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.”
=Two big rock stars are celebrating birthdays this week, which means of course, that it's another good time to mention Bobby Skafish's great rock and roll interview book We Have Company. The Clash's Mick Jones (June 26) and indie-rocker Chris Isaak (June 26) both rate their own chapters in Bobby's great book. Both were interviewed by Bobby during his days at WXRT.
Everything I Know I Learned from Rock Stars
=Rocker Mick Fleetwood also has a birthday this week (June 24). Yes, he's in Bobby's book, but he's also featured in a long interview in Bill Paige's book Every I Know I Learned from Rock Stars
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Ike and Me and My Maggie
=Rich King has two books available through 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 (second from left. Rich is on the far right)
=He also provided this endorsement of Rich's first book My Maggie
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.”
=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 the book.
=In recent months and 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.
=This week in 2021 (June 24), Paul Banks appeared on WGN Radio to talk about his book Transatlantic Passage. The book is about the popularity of the English Premier League in America. You can still listen to that interview here
