The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.
=What a great event at is/was Brewery this past weekend, the book launch party for The Kiss of Night. We sold out of books! Thanks to everyone who came out to help Mark Wukas celebrate the release of his book.
=Reading The Flip Side is like a taking a journey through the Rock and Roll adventures of Chicagoland. This week in 1978 (April 6), REO Speedwagon released their multi-platinum album You Can Tune a Piana, But You Can't Tuna Fish. Naturally their promotional tour included a visit to Flip Side records.
=This weekend Flip Side author Larry Rosenbaum's promotional tour continues. Larry has two appearances scheduled to coincide with Record Store Day (Saturday, April 12), which is like a national holiday for the former co-owner of The Flip Side.
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=Author Vicki Atkinson will be making a bunch of upcoming appearances, including one this week at a book club. More information coming on the library appearances in the coming weeks. She is also part of the Chicago Writers Association Speakers Bureau, if you are interested in booking her for your group. Here are the topics she covers...
“Writing for Wellness” by Dr. Vicki Atkinson
Join author and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Dr. Vicki Atkinson to learn how to unlock your storyteller’s heart and enhance your self-care game at the same time. Learn about Dr. Atkinson’s techniques for improving life satisfaction and relationships and reducing stress – all through developing your voice as a writer. Includes handouts, resources and Q&A.“Navigating Elder Care with Grace and Humor” by Dr. Vicki Atkinson
Join the author of “Surviving Sue” to learn how to navigate the challenges of elder care. Dr. Atkinson’s experience in caring for her mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s, alcoholism, and anxiety taught her lessons about forging ahead with humor. Dr. Atkinson shares tips for caregiver wellness. Includes handouts, resources, and Q&A.“How To Create a Writing Platform” by Dr. Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon
Establish your on-line writing presence with actionable steps to build your writing identity. Authors Atkinson and Leon have interviewed dozens of writers/authors/bloggers and know the terrain. They’ll help participants unlock the keys to build a writer’s life while juggling other roles. With clear how-to’s about getting started, promotion ideas on social media, and encouragement, this session will help you begin your writing journey with confidence. Includes handouts, resources and Q&A. (Virtual only)“AI and for Caregivers: Taking Advantage of a Virtual Assistant” by Dr. Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon
Learn how generative AI can ease the heavy load for caregivers. Authors Atkinson and Leon will inspire you to think creatively about the use of virtual assistants. From building a budget, creating notifications, managing schedules and more, AI can relieve caregivers of burdensome tasks. Even better? We’ll show you how AI can open doors to creative pursuits – like capturing family history and precious stories. Includes handouts, resources and Q&A. (Virtual only)
=This week in 2024, we released one of our best selling books of the year, Last Comiskey. The goal of Last Comiskey is to serve as a permanent companion to the documentary that will provide a physical and tangible reminder of the final surprising season at “Sox Park.” The book blends both Ken Smoller’s photographs along with the content from the “Last Comiskey” documentary film, supplemented by new material to provide greater context. The book is intended to capture the spirit of the documentary and the reflections of the many participants in the interviews Matt conducted for the film.
=One of the players featured in Last Comiskey is Dave Gallagher. He is celebrating a birthday this week (April 12)
=On April 10, 1966, the song "Sweet Talkin’ Guy" was released by the Chiffons. One of the fun things about Pat Motto's book To the Men I Loved is that she suggests musical accompanient to each of her chapters. Chapter 7 suggests "Sweet Talking Guy".
=Two contributors to The Loop Files are celebrating birthdays this week. Happy birthday to Bob Stroud (April 13) and Dorothy Humphrey (April 7). Both played a significant role in the success of Chicago's all-time favorite radio station. (Top Photo: L-R, Looper Tricia Mladic, author Rick Kaempfer, Bob Stroud)
=This week in 2018, the second edition of Kipper McGee's broadcasting book Brandwidth was released. Kipper appeared on the Sound Off podcast to discuss it.
=Yet another Cubs book in the Eckhartz Press library. One of the contributors to that book, best-selling author Scott Turow, is celebrating a birthday this week (April 12).
=This week in 2014, the Beverly Arts Center hosted An Afternoon with Joel Daly. Penny Golden interviewed Joel in front of a large BAC audience.
Records Truly Is My Middle Name
=Just weeks after Landecker's book came out in 2013, his childhood crush Annette Funicello passed away. You can listen to John's interview with Annette here, or you can read the free excerpt from his book (about Annette).
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Here, in an honest sensitive voice, Ann Wilson recalls being yanked out of her 1970’s teenage life in Western Springs, Illinois, when her dynamic architect father is assigned to a two-year project in Hong Kong, transplanting the family. ‘You’re afraid,’ he tells her on their first night in the new vertical city with its teetering apartment buildings and rickety bamboo scaffolding. ‘Of what?’ she asks, and he mumbles, ‘Of the unknown.’ Little does this American teenager know how much her father will become that ‘unknown.’ Wilson looks back and chronicles it all in brave, vivid prose—not just the strange flavors and sounds, but the unanticipated changes in herself and the impact Hong Kong ultimately has on her family.
=It's not often an Eckhartz Press book gets a recommendation from the likes of Chicago author Stuart Dybek (celebrating a birthday this week/April 10), but Don Evans' collection of short stories managed to do just that when it came out in 2018...
Don Evans can get the streets to talk as if they’re telling their own stories. One hears in his work an immediately recognizable offhand tone that rings true, empathetic, street smart, and very funny.
=This week in 2023, Chuck Swirsky appeared on the podcast of old colleague Garry Meier to discuss his book Always a Pleasure. This is what Chuck looked like when he and Garry worked together at the Loop in 1980 (photo by Paul Natkin/from The Loop Files)
=This week in 2018, Beth Jacobellis appeared on WGN Radio to talk about her novel Cameo.
