20 Years: The Birth of Eckhartz Press

 

This year marks my 20th year as a professional writer. Over the course of 2024, I'll be sharing a few of those offerings you may have missed along the way.

I've done a ton of interviews about my writing, but only once was a feature about me as the publisher of Eckhartz Press. This was published in 2018 by Voyage Chicago.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick Kaempfer.

Rick, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.

I founded Eckhartz Press in Chicago in 2011 with my longtime collaborator and friend David Stern. The name “Eckhartz” is a tribute to the men that gave us our creative genes; My father Eckhard, and Stern’s father Fritz. Eckhartz Press is a boutique Chicago publishing company dedicated to serving the brave new 21st-century publishing world; the laughing “E” logo a constant reminder that life is too short – don’t ever lose your sense of humor.

In addition to being the co-author of four Eckhartz Press releases, “Father Knows Nothing”, “Records Truly Is My Middle Name” (with John Records Landecker), “Gruen Weiss Vor” (with Todd Schneider) and “The Living Wills” (with Brendan Sullivan). I have been published several times before (including a novel “$everance” and a how-to-book about radio called “The Radio Producer’s Handbook”), Before that, I was also a member of the media for more than twenty years as the producer of two highly acclaimed radio shows (Steve Dahl & Garry Meier and John Records Landecker), and I still cover the industry as the media critic for the Illinois Entertainer.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?

We admittedly learned how to be publishers through trial and error. I knew how to write and handle media publicity, and Dave knew the paper and printing business, but we had never interested the two before. There were some missteps along the way, but most of those came from not having a deep understanding of potential landmines in the legal and financial world. We can see them now! Full steam ahead!

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Eckhartz Press – what should we know?

We are considered a hybrid publisher, meaning that the authors share in the cost and profits with us as total partners. We offer our expertise in the various different elements of the process. Not every author needs us for everything. For instance, some have their own book designers or editors, and some are very internet/social media savvy. We’ve discovered that being flexible is important because every author is different. That’s what makes us different from traditional publishers (who do everything and keep 90% of the profits), and self-publishing (who have to learn every aspect of the process), We also like to concentrate on Chicago authors, stories, and audiences. There are 8-million plus people in this town–and we want to super-serve that audience.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?

David Stern is my co-publisher, and he is just as important to the success of Eckhartz Press as I am. We complement each other perfectly. He is more adept at handling the business end, and I’m more adept at handling the talent. We also get along tremendously well because we’ve been best friends for nearly 40 years.

The other person who really helped this company was John Records Landecker. When the Radio Hall of Famer agreed to be published by this little unknown publishing company, he put us on the map. All good things that have happened to us in the past five years have flowed from that gutsy decision on his part. We’ll always be grateful.

And finally, we’ve had some great people working with us and the authors to make each book special. We couldn’t do it without our, book designers, editors, proofreaders. and printers. There have been at least a dozen of them without whom we couldn’t do this.

Contact Info:

• Address: Eckhartz Press
  3903 N. Keeler
  Chicago, IL 60641
• Website: www.eckhartzpress.com
• Phone: 847-508-8867
• Email: rick@eckhartzpress.com
• Facebook: Eckhartz Press
• Twitter: @rickkaempfer

 

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Once again, here are a few Cubs goodies from this week in history...

July 14--Bastille Day. Let's talk French Cubs.

July 18, 1881--Birthday of Larry McLean. A Cub who was murdered.

The Eckhartz Bookshelf: Always a Pleasure

Our top selling book of last year's holiday season is still going strong. Chuck will be appearing at the Windy City Bulls game this weekend. Details in the flier below...

So, when you pull Always a Pleasure off the book shelf, what will you find inside it?

Always A Pleasure is a compilation of Chuck Swirsky’s life in and out of the landscape of sports broadcasting along with stories featuring personalities and life-changing experiences that have shaped who he is. Always A Pleasure will detail a journey from Virginia to Seattle, Ohio, Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto, that has enabled Chuck to benefit from the virtues of perseverance, passion, and positivity through the leadership and mentoring of others.

Here's what other people say about it...

• Having known Chuck since my days as a still-developing youth player in Toronto, where my dad was a member of the Raptors, I can attest to the fact that his passion for people and basketball is deep and sincere. Chuck’s unique desire to mentor young people, especially minorities and those of different cultures and backgrounds, will help inspire those who share the same dreams, dreams that enabled him to persevere to the top of his profession. I’m proud of Chuck, and excited that others can become enlightened by his exciting broadcasting journey, which includes nearly 25 years in the NBA and, of course, a trio of Curry family members shooting from the stars, just like him.

  --Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors, 2-time NBA MVP, 4-time NBA champion

• Basketball is about more than the players on the court or the fans in the stands. It’s also about the voices who add color to the game—play-by-play, night after night. And Chuck Swirsky is one of the legends responsible for the soundtrack of basketball. With passion that is always palpable, Chuck brings excitement every time he picks up a mic. Over the years, millions of fans have hung onto his every word, but what’s even more special about him is who he is when the mic is off. In my years in Toronto with Chuck, I never received a greeting from him that didn’t include an ear-to-ear grin. I feel lucky to have seen him continue to grow as a broadcaster when he and his family moved to Chicago. Chuck showed me that a team is only as strong as the environment surrounding it — a community that extends beyond the clubhouse. So thank you, Chuck—for your enthusiasm on great days and positivity on the rough ones. You made Toronto a great place to be in a great place to play. Oh, and thanks to your kids for always keeping those cookies around. Those were no joke.

  --Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat. 2021 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 2 time NBA Champion.

• Upbeat, energetic and optimistic, Chuck Swirsky has enjoyed a court-side seat to the NBA’s — not to mention Chicago sports’ — greatest decades. First as a sports reporter/personality and later as the well-respected play-by-play voice of the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls, Chuck entertains and informs through his deep sports knowledge and unsurpassed preparation and work ethic. His distinctive voice and passion for people and the games they love has entertained millions.

  --Jerry Reinsdorf, Chairman of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox. 6 NBA Championships. 2005 World Series Champion. 2016 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

• Night in and night out there was no one who brought more heart and passion to the game of basketball than Chuck Swirsky. For ten years Chuck was the very soul of building fans who loved his unique style and upbeat personality. Nothing tasted better than his call to “bring out the salami and cheese Mamma”.. his special winning call. Chuck will always be a hero in Toronto.

  --Larry Tanenbaum, Chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors

• I have now worked with Chuck “The Swirsk” for 14 years. First and foremost, he is a good man, great partner and loyal friend. I have not met a person who is more knowledgeable of the game of basketball, past and present. His recall is nothing short of amazing! He always has an impressive fact or stat that is relevant to our broadcast. He brings his ‘A GAME’ every time.

  --Bill Wennington, Chicago Bulls : 3 time NBA Champion. Basketball analyst on Chicago Bulls Radio Network.
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Happy Birthday Eckhartz Press

 Founded exactly 11 years ago today...

Eckhartz Everyday

*On this day in 1992, Eckhartz Press founder David Stern gets married. Fellow Eckhartz Press founder Rick Kaempfer serves as Best Man. (Dave: “He was an OK man, at best.”) 

*On this day in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. John Records Landecker was on the air with Stevie Wonder when that news came across the wire, and told that story in his book Records Truly Is My Middle Name. You can that excerpt here.

*On this day in 2009, future Eckhartz Press author Joel Daly retired from Channel 7. The station aired this great time capsule to honor him. 

Sunday Listening

 Don't miss this interview. Rick Kogan is doing his entire show about it on Sunday night.

Our Newest Book! Oscars Biggest Mistakes

Every year, The Academy Awards are telecast on ABC, fans watch the show and wonder what were they thinking? How could they have chosen that movie or that actor? Why wasn’t this movie nominated? The morning after, the program is dissected by viewers, critics and reviewed on all the morning talk shows. As a super fan of movies, the Oscars itself and as a person who has edited films for television, Litt took the recent pandemic to write a book about the Oscars and what some of their biggest mistakes have been the past 50 years.

Oscars Biggest Mistakes: A Super Fan’s Guide to the Academy Awards 1969-2021 is a hybrid book of sorts. He looks at the Oscars seven main categories, reviews the films, talks about the nominees, and the actual show and explains why he thinks the Academy might have made a BIG mistake.

You are invited to revisit the last 50 plus years at the Academy Awards and while reading this book, feel free to think about your own choices and discover some other mistakes.

The book is available for pre-order here.

The Q&A with author Eric Litt is here.

Pat Colander

 *On this day in 2019, we got the shocking news that award-winning Eckhartz Press author Pat Colander passed away. Pat was more than just one of our authors to me. She was my writing mentor, and someone I treasured dearly. This is what I wrote about her the day I got the news...

Just got some very shocking news–my good friend Pat Colander passed away.

I knew she had cancer, and I knew she had been undergoing treatment for a while, but I had no idea this day was near. I’m in shock.

I met Pat almost twenty years ago when I was working with John Landecker. She was the editor of Lake Magazine at the time, and they were doing a story about John. In our first conversation I mentioned that I was a writer too, and she asked me to write an article for her magazine on the spot. I did. She liked it, and I wrote many more.

When Landecker’s show ended, she encouraged me to write full-time. And I did.

My first two books “The Radio Producer’s Handbook” and “$everance” were both championed by Pat in the pages of her magazine. She sent her friend Andy Shaw to write about the first one. Our mutual friend John Landecker to write about the second.

When she moved over to Shore Magazine to be the editor there, I moved with her. I wrote even more for her there, including the column that came to be my pride and joy–Father Knows Nothing.

When it came out in book form, Pat gave me an enthusiastic endorsement on the back cover.

Pat was always encouraging, always supportive. She was a great cheerleader for me and all the writers she employed. It was thanks to Pat that I was nominated several times for Lisagor Awards. I had no idea what that even was until I was nominated for Father Knows Nothing.

When Dave & I started up Eckhartz Press, Pat came to us with a book idea. She wanted to print some of the great articles from her writing days (from The Reader, The Tribune, etc). She was an absolutely gifted writer, and those articles make Hugh Hefner’s First Funeral and Other Tales of Love & Death in Chicago a must read. We weren’t surprised at all when it won the Book of the Year award in 2016. It’s that good.

As long as we are in business at Eckhartz Press, it will remain in print. It deserves to be.

I’m a little taken aback by this news. You only encounter so many truly special people in your life, and when one of them is suddenly gone, it’s a bit overwhelming.

I’m happy I got to know her. I’m happy to have seen the tremendous example she set for how to treat people, how to be generous in spirit, and how to be giving to others.

Rest in peace, Pat. We miss you already.

–Rick Kaempfer

Randy Merkin on TV

Eckhartz Press author Randy Merkin (Behind the Glass) was on Channel 7 this morning.

Eckhartz Everyday

 *Happy birthday to Eckhartz Press author Bob Boone. Bob's collection of short stories, City U, came out last year during the pandemic, and has gotten great reviews. 

• “Bob Boone has the unique knack of finding the uncommon in so-called common people. The dialogue of his characters always rings true, never mincing words. Boone is a master of twists and turns in his stories, always keeping his readers thoroughly engaged.”

  --Richard Reeder, author of Chicago Sketches and 1001 Train Rides in Chicago

Here he is at Printer's Row Litfest last September.

From the Writing Archives

In 2014, Eckhartz Press published my fifth book Father Knows Nothing. The book features about a hundred of the four hundred plus columns I wrote during the nine years it ran (in various publications owned by the Northwest Indiana Times). That means a lot of the columns did not make the final book, including this one I'm featureing today. I teased it yesterday in a post. This one goes back to 2011, right after my novel The Living Wills came out.

My kids never tire of hearing stories about my childhood, but there is one thing they will never ask me about under any circumstances.

My career.

They just don't care. I can understand that on a certain level. My own father was an engineer, and I remember that after I discovered he wasn't a train engineer...he was just a civil engineer...his job didn't interest me in the slightest. Even when I attended a school he had personally designed (Heidelberg American Middle School), I wasn't impressed. I remember telling him: "The hallways are a little confusing."

So, I suppose it's only fair that my own kids are similarly unimpressed with my career. When they were little, I worked in radio. My two oldest sons Tommy and Johnny were even featured on the show quite a bit. But I remember their reaction one time when a stranger was impressed by meeting them because he had heard them talking on the radio.

They thought the guy was nuts.

When this fan asked Tommy what it was like hanging out with a famous disc jockey like John Records Landecker, he just shrugged his shoulders. So did Johnny. To them, John was just one of Dad's friends. No big deal. And being on the radio was also no big deal. It's just a bunch of people sitting in a room with microphones.

When my first book came out, I gave an autographed copy to my oldest son. He put it in the closet. When my first novel came out two years later, I gave copies to all three boys. Two of them have no idea where their copies are now. When my most recent novel came out, none of the boys wanted a copy. None of them even asked me what it's about.

But when that book came out, I did something I thought might actually interest them: I was interviewed by WGN Television.

I mentioned it to the boys at breakfast that morning as I put on my suit.

"Is it going to be on the Internet?" Sean asked.

"I'm not sure," I said. "I hope so. If not, I can probably post it on YouTube."

"Do you know how to do that?" Tommy asked.

"No. Do you?"

He just shook his head and continued eating his waffles. No follow up questions. Not the slightest bit of interest. After they came home from school I asked them if they wanted to watch the interview. All three of them said no. Bridget, to her credit, actually did want to see it when she came home from work. I even heard her guilting the boys into watching it too. Only two of them were moved by her techniques; Tommy and Sean. Johnny still didn't care. He stayed in his room reading Captain Underpants.

The rest of us watched the segment together. After it was over, Tommy said: "That's it?"

"Yup," I replied.

Sean didn't say a word, he just walked away. Bridget said: "That was pretty good, but..."

"What?"

"You were a little slouchy."

Gotcha.

I must say, there's very little chance of getting a big head in this household. I suppose that's probably for the best. But I also have a pretty good idea now how my Dad felt when I told him the hallways in his school were a little confusing.

Father Knows Nothing is here at Eckhartz Press for only $10, and the e-book here at amazon.com

Eckhartz Everyday

*On this day in 2018, the Eckhartz Press book Out the Door was named the Book of the Year by the Chicago Writers Association. See a photo gallery here of the proud author M.L Collins and her publishers at the event. Out the Door is still available at Eckhartz Press.

Eckhartz Everyday

 *On this day in 2012, Brendan Sullivan and I sat down and discussed our book The Living Wills. This is the video of that interview...

Eckhartz Everyday

 

*On this day in 2017, the Eckhartz Press book Monkey in the Middle was reviewed by Nate Weatherup. His review gives you a good idea of how special this book is...

So two months ago Dobie Maxwell gave me a copy of his book Monkey in the Middle to bring back to LA for a mutual friend and I told him I would, on the condition that I got to read it first (once an English teacher...).

Dobie is a Milwaukee native and longtime Chicago comic. He's one of the first professional comedians I ever met - he hosted my first audition showcase at Zanies in September 2009 - and was definitely the first to ever compliment me on my act and encourage me to keep at it. I've always respected him as a comic and as a mentor, so I just thought it would be fun to read his story, and find out just where Mr. Lucky got his roots.

I got about 70 pages in before life became life and I ran out of free time. I picked it back up two days ago and burned through the last 300 pages about as fast as I've ever read anything.

This book is phenomenal!

It is an incredible, almost unbelievable (unless you know Dobie), story told by a master storyteller: it's compelling, it's unpredictable, and it's laugh out loud funny and emotionally devastating simultaneously. It is straight-shooting honesty and unapologetically flawed. It's Dobie in paperback.

It's the most I've enjoyed reading a book in a very long time (and again, English teacher, I read an awful lot of books).

Go get this book. Do it. Do it now. (Click here)

I have one recommendation before reading it, however - go see his show first. And I say that for three reasons:
1) after seeing the show you'll say "ah, that makes sense," about every three pages.
2) reading the book with Dobie's distinct, Wisconsin, doesn't-give-a-rats-ass voice in your head just makes it that much more enjoyable.
3) it's just a damn good show.

Thanks, Dobie, for the years of kind words and advice, and for one hell of and amazing read.

*Ten years ago today, WGN-TV Morning show producer Jeff Hoover reviewed my book "The Living Wills" (written with Brendan Sullivan). This is what he wrote about it...

I just finished reading "The Living Wills". It is a wonderful book. Truth be told, I am not a big reader. Well, I weigh 175 pounds so maybe that makes me about average. Seriously, I really was surprised at how magical the characters came together as the story unfolded. There were some very touching moments, too. And, a good laugh sprinkled in, of course. Don't take this the wrong way, but reading your book reminded me of one of my favorite movies "Love Actually." Multiple characters and plot lines come together and entertained me from start to finish. Thanks and congratulations! I hope you will continue to explore this unique and rewarding collaboration for all of your new and old fans. Cheers!

Eckhartz Everyday

 *On this day in 2013, Dave Stern appeared on Mancow's television show in Chicago to promote his Eckhartz Press book The Balding Handbook: The Five Stages of Grieving for your Hair Loss. Among the other guests on the show that day, sportscaster Mike North. Relive more of the photo memories here.

*Today is Rod Stewart's birthday. Two Eckhartz Press books have great stories about the rocker. In Mitch Michael's Doin the Cruise, you can read about the inadvertant way Mitch helped propel the song "Maggie Mae" to the top of the charts. In Bobby Skafish's book We Have Company, Bobby spends an entire chapter writing about his encounter with the gravely-voice singer. Both of these great books are still available at Eckhartz Press.

Eckhartz Everyday

 *Today is Jim Bohannan's birthday. Jim is now an overnight host at WGN Radio (a national show) in Chicago, but back in 2017, he was also the host of the Radio Hall of Fame ceremony that inducted John Records Landecker into the Hall (photo L-R, John Gehron, Bob Sirott, John Landecker, Jim Bohannan). He also contributed a story about Landecker for John's book Records Truly Is My Middle Name, which is still available at Eckhartz Press.

Eckhartz Everyday

 On this day in 2012, esteemed magazine publisher and writer Pat Colander reviewed my book (written with Brendan Sullivan) The Living Wills. Here is what she wrote...

“If the data that suggests people are reading more now that e-readers and tablets have come along, I am living proof. Read any good books lately? I sure have. Rick Kaempfer and Brendan Sullivan’s The Living Wills, a saga of life, death, fractured relationships,lies and families. If you don’t think people can keep big secrets for many years, you are about to meet some pretty complex characters. I loved this book despite how sentimental I am. It doesn’t end happily for everyone; but it does for some of the characters — just like in real life.”

Eckhartz Everyday

*Ten years ago today, Brendan Sullivan and I were interviewed about our book The Living Wills (Still available here at Eckhartz Press) by the Catalyst Ranch. Read the entire interview here.

*Today is former Chicago White Sox slugger Ron Kittle's birthday. He is featured in a chapter of Chet Coppock's book Your Dime, My Dance Floor. The book is still available here, and the free excerpt about Kittle can be read here.

Eckhartz Everyday

 *14 years ago today, we founded our corporation which remains the parent company for Eckhartz Press. We called it Just One Bad Century. The website still exists as a Chicago Cubs site, providing daily Cubs information here.

*The newest edition of EveryCubEver is now available, and features a poem about today's birthday boy Kris Bryant. It is the only baseball poem in history to use the word Numnutz. That's a guarantee.

*Sportscaster Dave Kerner is celebrating a birthday today. He is an enthusiastic endorser of the Eckhartz Press book Transatlantic Passage by Paul M. Banks. Here's what he says about the book...

“You’ll love reading about what it’s like to be a soccer (always going to be football to me!) fan from multiple perspectives. Thanks to Paul and this in depth look at the evolution of international soccer in the United States, in some ways negative for the men’s game, and in some ways positive for the women’s game.”

Eckhartz Everyday

On this day in 2017, Eckhartz Press released the e-book Sepsis by Jack Hafferkamp. It's still available today. What's it about?

They say that before you die, your life flashes before your eyes. When this happens to Jeffrey Keister, it turns out to be the worst kind of cringe-inducing torture. He has many regrets and doesn’t want to be reminded of the injuries, cruelties, and abuses he has struggled so hard to bury.

But who said life (or death) was merciful? Keister can’t hide from his past forever, especially when his “forever” is ending so soon. As his body lies dying, his mind takes an incredible journey through his past.

Keister revisits all the women who shaped his life—from his abusive mother to his kindly grandmother to a bored Chinese intelligence officer to the ex-wife who broke his heart. With each new scene from his past, Keister learns something new about the many twists and turns his life took.

This dark satire uses one man’s life to show how small decisions can have huge ramifications. Keister remains defiant about his death, but as his dream grows more and more abstract, things start to get weird. Suddenly he’s dodging a dominatrix, chatting with God, and on trial for his life!

Bravest Man Alive

Bruce Bohrer, author of Diary of a Wrigley Field Usher, is entering the belly of the beast for an author event. He will be appearing at the Beverly Arts Center on the south side of Chicago on April 26th. Details below...