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!
=Two brand new Eckhartz Press books are available for pre-order now!
Tony describes it this way in the introduction:
What follows here is some of what I remember, some of what I have learned and damn near all of what I love—birds, stories, people and dogs. It is all part of a less-than-holy life. Are there any great parables to be gleaned from these dispatches, poems and pictures? I haven’t a clue. What’s most important is all that I learned along the way: that which is for remembering, for not forgetting.
=Tony already made an appearance on NPR talking about this book.
=South Side Memories is for readers who want to reflect on the influences of their childhood and specifically people who grew up in Chicago. It’s a memoir about the joys and struggles of growing up in an era when family, church and neighborhood were solid anchors. This book remembers the hope for a better life that a family had for themselves and especially their children. The stories recall the daily life from the 50s in a working class Chicago neighborhood, Archer Heights. The parents both work in factories and the little girl is shaped by her grandmother, who watches her every day. As the girl grows up, she recounts her childhood activities: her first day of school, her First Holy Communion, baking with her mother, and continues a slice of life narration until 8th grade. Her life centered around her family, her neighborhood Catholic school and her church.
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=Author Gloria Golec was an educator her entire life, teaching high school and college English and is an Emerita Professor of English at College of DuPage. Her Ph.D. is in Comparative Literature from Emory University. She enjoys power walking, gardening and traveling. She most enjoys being with her granddaughters.
=It's official now. Eckhartz Press author Mitch Michaels is a member of the Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We were there to cheer him on.
=A few of the contributors to the book are celebrating birthdays this week as well. Bobby Skafish (September 17) is not only an Eckhartz Press author in his own right (We Have Compnay), he's a key figure in WLUP history. There are several photos of Bobby and stories provided by Bobby in The Loop Files. This week in 2016, Bobby was on with Roe Conn & Anna Devlantas on WGN Radio
=Mark McEwen also has a birthday this week (September 16). McEwen went on to become a nationally recognized television personality as a weatherman at CBS, but in the early 1980s, he was spinning tunes and jamming on the air at the Loop. That's him on the left in the studio with Sky Daniels. (Photo by Mike Bucek)
=Jeff Reiter had another big week. First, he appeared on the Minutia Men Celebrity Interview.
=Then he appeared at this past weekend's Urban Birding Festival in Chicago. Jeff (and fellow Eckhartz Press author Tony Fitzpatrick) were well represented in the silent auction. They were raising money for a good cause, Bird Friendly Chicago, a coalition of local bird organizations working to support a safer bird environment. You can still donate here if you'd like to contribute. Thanks to everyone who came out and said hello. (Photo: Jeff with Wayne Klockner, executive director of American Birding Association)
=Another opportunity to meet and hang out with Eckhartz Press author Robert Conlon is coming this weekend (September 19-20). He'll be appearing in the culture tent at the Naperville Irish Fest. You'll find his entry in the culture tab. That about sums up our cultured Mr. Conlon.
=He should be there in time. He's slowly making his way back to the Chicago area as you read this.
=Another promotional video from the fellas...
=Happy birthday to Eckhartz Press author Chuck Quinzio (September 17). Chuck's book about life in the local TV news business is a must-read for anyone who has an interest in the subject. He has some incredible inside stories about some of the biggest names in Chicago TV history.
=One of our children's books is anti-bullying tale called Patty & the Stump. Co-author Tim Clue is also celebrating a birthday this week (September 20). Tim isn't just an author for us, he's an educator, and a gifted stand up comedian. Here's a good podcast example of that.
=And finally, a fourth Eckhartz Press author birthday, Behind the Glass author Randy Merkin (September 17). A little birdie told us Randy might be putting the finishing touches on his second book. Consider that a teaser for now.
=Another week, another excellent review of Surviving Sue from a fellow author. This week's review comes from author Pia Mailhot Leichter (Welcome to the Creative Club). Here's what she wrote...
“A story told to heal intergenerational trauma, honoring Vicki’s journey and giving her daughter the chance to write a new one. It was inspiring to witness Vicki’s rise from dysfunctional ashes and see how she turned pain into purpose – how it fueled her career and life choices to make an impact in the lives of others.”
The Scar Dance and The Most Beautiful Place in Hell
=William Mansfield has written two books for Eckhartz Press, The Scar Dance and The Most Beautiful Place in Hell. One is a novel and the other is a memoir. But writing isn't his day job. William is a gifted artist as well. He'll be doing an art show at Old Town Triangle Association Art Center 1763 North North Park Avenue in Chicago on Saturday October 11th. Find out more about that here.
Back in the Game
=This week in 2014 (September 15), Rich King staged a launch party for his second book, Back in the Game. It was a star-studded party at Volare in Chicago. The book is no longer in print (because Rich has a newer one out now--Ike & Me), but it had a good run. Do you recognize any of the attendees below? (Mark Suppelsa, Jackie Bange, Jerry Reinsdorf, Johnny Morris are a few of them)
=This week in 2019 (September 15), Eckhartz Press was out in force for the Brain Aneurysm 5K. It's a yearly event to support brain aneurysm research. Considering that a portion of the proceeds from Janet Sutherland's book went to the same cause, and that Janet was deeply involved in the organization, and that Janet's book was about her own recovery from a ruptured brain aneurysm, it seemed like a no-brainer.
=It was a big week for Green White Soccer Club. Our book about 60 years of Green White is approaching it's 10th annivesary, and the club is still going strong. In fact, another person mentioned in the book, Kurt Melcher, has been named to the Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be on November 1st. Congrats to Kurt who joins his father Horst in the Hall of Fame.
=Helmut Schoen was the coach of the West German men's national team that won the World Cup in 1974. The following year he visited a touring group of Green White Soccer Club players barnstorming through West Germany. The photo of that meeting is part of the great history of the club, and is obviously included in the book...and below. Helmut was born this week (September 15) in 1915.
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=As long as we're talking about soccer, America's best soccer player Christian Pulisic is featured in Paul Banks' book Transatlantic Passage. Paul even got close enough to snap this picture of this week's birthday boy (September 18)
Close Encounters of a Chicago Kind
=Vicki Quade was pretty excited when Chicago Bon Vivant Don Rose decided to blurb her Eckhartz Press book. Here's what he had to say...
“Call Vicki Quade the anti-quotidian. There is nothing ‘everyday’ about her experiences, her interactions and especially her keen, well reported observations. She is an oddity magnet. More odd things unfurl before her on almost every outing than happen to most of us in a season–funny things, sad things, sometimes even dangerous things, or just plain odd things. That’s in part because she is a hyper-curious buttinsky, often launching conversations with strangers our mothers warned us against, emerging with priceless stories and anecdotes. You will find yourself amazed, amused or just drop your jaw but it’s all true. I swear it is.”
=Two of the people who contributed to Chet Coppock's book Your Dime My Dance Floor have birthdays this week as well. Former Bears linebacker Otis Wilson (September 15) contributed this testimonial...
I have known Chet for nearly forty years going back to my rookie season with the Bears in 1980. He is truly a great guy, whose sports knowledge is just amazing. You will love this book! Chet Coppock is a great friend and one heck of a great person.
=Former Bears lineman and Hall of Famer Dan Hampton (September 19) contributed this photo...
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=And this week in 2018, Chet appeared on Steve Dahl's show on WLS to celebrate the release of his book. Steve & Chet worked together at the Loop in the late 80s/early 90s. (Photo below, L-R: Steve Dahl, Chet Coppock, Rick Kaempfer, Dag Juhlin, and Brendan Greeley)
Ryne Sandberg
=This week would have been the birthday of recently departed Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg (September 18). Ryno appears in three Eckhartz Press books, including Behind the Glass by Randy Merkin (photo of Ryne and Randy)
Records Truly Is My Middle Name
=This week in 2013, legendary WLS morning man Don Wade passed away. Don was a kind contributor to Records Truly Is My Middle Name. He told some stories about John Landecker, and Landecker in turn, told some stories about Don. Those are presented here as a free excerpt from the book. Below is a photo of Don (on the right) during his days at WIBG-Philadelphia.
=The book is primarily about White Sox great Dick Allen, but because the book chronicles the entire 1972 White Sox season, it also includes at least a passing mention of every single player who played for the Sox that year. Including Lee "Bebe" Richard (born September 18). Richard sadly passed away last year (August 6, 2024).
=Eckhartz Press author Alex Burkholder passed away a year ago this week at the age of 84. Alex wrote the incredibly well researched book Death of the Angels, which was about the famous Our Lady of the Angels fire in 1958. At our first meeting, Alex arrived with a box of cassettes filled with interviews of dozens of people who were there the day of the fire. It was really a life-long passion of his to get to the bottom of that tragedy. He finally did it with the publication of his book in 2018, on the 60th anniversary of the fire. The veteran TV producer was a founding member of the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago. He was also a heck of a guy. Alex is missed by us all.
