Publishing Portal--September 21, 2026

The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.

We have two brand new hits on our hands...

40 Years, 40 Horror Films

=Nick was selling them at the Drive In in Dixon this past weekend (below), and has another event coming up in a few weeks (see a few items below).

Maria the Pappas

=This book is already flying off the shelves. Currently it's a #1 new release in its category on Amazon. This afternoon at 3:30pm Maria Pappas will be on the air on WCPT (820 AM) with host Joan Esposito. Be sure to tune in! Maria is always an unpredictable (and entertaining) interview.

=Co-author Mark Eleveld chatted with Rick Kogan about the book on his podcast.

=This Friday (September 25) at 7:30pm, Maria will be at Pella Restaurant in Burr Ridge (720 Village Center Drive) signing and selling her book.

Celtic Knot

=If we could clone Robert Conlon, we would. The man is a sales machine. Of course, it helps when his book is so good. He has another event this week at the Book Loft in Oak Park (Wednesday, September 23, 6pm, 1047 Lake Street). Come on out and meet Bob. He spins a good yarn. 

Inside Melania

If you happen to be in Brooklyn this week, you've got a chance to see our very own Lauren LoGuidice performing her stand up comedy routine at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective (167 Graham Ave.). Doors open at 6:30. The show starts at 7:00. Get your tickets here.  

Nose Over Toes

=Janet Sutherland's Eckhartz Press book is about her comeback from a Brain Aneurysm. Janet is a big supporter of the annual fundraiser for the Brain Aneurysm foundation, and naturally she will be there this Sunday, September 27, at McCormick Place. The registration is at 8am, and the walk is 9:15am. You can pre-register here: The 2026 Brain Aneurysm Run/Walk

The Unplanned Life

=Come out and see Eckhartz Press author Roger Badesch this weekend. He will part of the SAG-AFTRA Radio Players presentation of The Tell-Tale Heart (as the policeman) at Chief O'Neil's on September 27 at 4pm. Tickets are free, but registration is required. You can register here. 

40 Years, 40 Horror Films

=To say that Nick Digilio is a little excited about this upcoming event is an obvious understatement. Naturally he'll be selling his new book there. It couldn't possibly be more thematically appropriate. 

=And here's another big deal for Nick. On Saturday October 10 (at noon), he will doing a book signing/meet & greet/interview at the Museum of Broadcast Communications. Rich Koz (Svengoolie) will be interviewing Nick.

In case you missed it...

Chili Dog MVP

=Chili Dog MVP was a big hit in Boston this past weekend! 

=And thanks to Dr. Fletcher for these kind words...
David Fletcher

 ·

 ·

by author

Rick Kaempfer and David Stern, thanks for your tremendous support in believing in our book project, Chili Dog MVP, Dick Allen, The 1972 White Sox and A Transforming Chicago that John Owens and I wrote in 2021/2022. We were fortunate to have Sharon Pannozzo as our publicist to help launch the book. Thanks to Rick and David we were runner-up for Best Non-Fiction book for the Chicago Writers Association awards in 2022. The book evolved into My Father, Dick Allen , and my Emmy Award-winning director, Andy Billman, and I have gone all over the US previewing the film, including yesterday at the Boston Film Festival. We appreciate @Eckhartz Press for supporting us over the past four years.

The Sun at the End of the Road

=Great article by Rick Kogan in the Chicago Tribune last Wednesday about Tony Fitzpatrick's family--especially his kids Max and Gabby--and their new film. We just love the picture that accompanies the piece too, which also features Tony's wife Michelle and the spirit of Tony. 

‘Driven,’ a short film by Max and Gabby Fitzpatrick, features and honors their dad, Tony https://t.co/I0AUvuOXrO

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) September 16, 2026

Ken Korber

=The man behind our best-selling children's books has a piece in the latest issue of Newsweek Magazine. It's called Children Should Learn Lifesaving Skills Early.

Sarasota

=Richard Reeder has a new website for his book Sarasota. Check it out here.

The Best of Words on Birds

=Jeff Reiter appeared at the Elgin Garden Club last week and sent us this note...

My presentation was called "The Nature of Birding." When it was over one of the younger members presented me with the attached poster.  She was clearly paying close attention to my words on birds! Plus she is a good artist.  Her name is Rachel Balk.

Mob Adjacent

=This book has also been made into a film. Have you seen the trailer?

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Eckhartz Press birthdays!

South Side Memories

=Happy birthday to Eckhartz Press author Gloria Golec (September 22). This photo of Gloria and her grandchildren was taken just last weekend at the Printers Row Litfest...

An Off-White Christmas

=Eckhartz Press author, and founder of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, Donald G. Evans is also celebrating a birthday this week (September 25). Don wrote a great book of short stories for us called An Off-White Christmas. Stories about Christmas time, but not necessarily about the holiday itself. It's a perfect gift. Here's a podcast interview of Don talking about the book.

=Fellow author (also celebrating a birthday this week--September 24) Christine Sneed is a big fan of Don's book. Here's what she had to say about it...

• The stories in Don Evans’s excellent collection, An Off-White Christmas, are full of witty, humane moments, vivid characters and settings that range from Chicago to Syracuse to Las Vegas. The people you’ll meet here are your friends, your neighbors, your relatives—in all their flawed beauty and pathos. This book is not to be missed.

  —Christine Sneed, author of Little Known Facts and Portraits of a Few of the People I've Made Cry

Other Notable birthdays...

The Flip Side

=This week is Debbie Boone's birthday (September 22). Co-author Larry Rosenbaum still says that Debbie's appearance at a Flip Side records store was one of the biggest draws they ever had. He tells that story in the pages of The Flip Side.

Truffle Hunt

=This week is also Bruce Springsteen's birthday (September 23). Eckhartz Press author Brent Petersen, a bit of Boss-o-phile, met Mr. Springsteen a few years ago and had his picture taken with him. No big whoop. 

Grun Weiss Vor!

=This book is about the history of an esteemed local Chicago soccer club, Green White. Reading that history is like reading the history of soccer in Chicago. Among the biggest soccer stars to ever set foot in Chicago is former Chicago Sting star Arno Steffenhagen (right). His birthday is this week (September 24). Naturally Arno is also in Grun Weiss Vor! This is a photo of him with former Green White player Ralph Mansfield (left).

 

Records Truly Is My Middle Name

=Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, is celebrating a birthday this week (September 25). John Landecker tells a great story in Records Truly Is My Middle Name about Hamill's appearance on his show in 1977. It involved a bit John called "Radio Star Wars". We looked for the audio from that bit, and found it was recorded off-the-air by a radio listener that day. He explains the story quite well, but that's not the reason we're posting it. You can hear the bit itself here. It begins around the 2 minute mark of this video...

Scottie Pippen

=Scottie Pippen's birthday is this week too (September 25). The Bulls Hall of Famer appears in two Eckhartz Press books, Always a Pleasure by Chuck Swirsky, and Behind the Glass by Randy Merkin. (Photographic evidence below.) 

The Sun at the End of the Road

=Marc Hauser was a famous photographer, and a friend of author Tony Fitzpatrick. Marc was born this week in history (September 25, 1952). Tony wrote a piece about him in The Sun at the End of the Road. Here is a small excerpt...

People compare him to WeeGee or Ralph Eugene Meatyard—fine photographers, to be sure, and great artists, but I find Marc's vision more shot-through with kindness and compassion. Many photographers look through a lens like they’re viewing a line-up of suspects—detached, removed, as if offering any element of their own feeling somehow invalidates the work itself. WeeGee often shot crime scenes, inviting a leering, voyeuristic glimpse into the tragedy of one’s fellow man or woman. Diane Arbus' photographs evoke something similar, and I always get the feeling she was ’slumming.’ Not so with Hauser. These were the kids from his neighborhood; kids he saw every day. His neighborhood and mine—Bucktown, in the early ‘80s, was a much rougher place than it is now, and those kids were a feral bunch. Many of them came to a bad end; drugs, crime and addiction took a lot of them. But, for that one Halloween? Marc forever preserved them in the amber of childhood, a place of near-innocence and joy. I am careful not to copy the kids from Marc's amazing book. His documentation of Chicago childhood is a work of art unto itself and should not be pantomimed.

=This is the artwork by Tony that accompanied the piece...

Notable Anniversaries...

The Sun at the End of the Road

=This week last year (September 26, 2025), actor Richard Kind called out Tony Fitzpatrick while singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley Field. Tony was incredibly touched by the gesture. He was in the hospital at the time, and only had a few more days to live. Tony did something that he had never done before. He put on a Cubs hat. (Tony was a die-hard Sox fan). It was the last picture Tony ever posted on his Instagram page.

I Bear Witness

=One of the enduring elements of Dan McNeil's excellent Bears book I Bear Witness is the chapter about the Bears legends who have passed away in recent years. Dan does a wonderful job eulogizing them, including one of the all-time greats who passed away this week (September 23) in 2020, Gale Sayers.

The Scar Dance

=This week in 2018 (September 27) the Eckhartz Press book The Scar Dance was released. It was named a finalist for Book of the Year by the Chicago Writers Association. This is a Q&A with author William Mansfield around the time of the book's release.

Your Dime My Dance Floor

=This week in 2018, Chet Coppock made an appearance at Blue Island Beer Company to promote his book Your Dime My Dance Floor. Chet held court during a Bears game and offered his commentary. The crowd loved it.

A Man, A Mission, A Miracle

=This week in 2018 (September 28), Lewis University named their student center after Brother James Gaffney. Gaffney, of course, is the subject of Andrew Langert's Eckhartz Press book.

1001 Train Rides in Chicago

=This week in 2018 (September 24), Richard Reeder signed copies of his book at the legendary north suburban deli Max & Benny's. 

Everything I Know I Learned from Rock Stars

=This week in 2017 (September 25), Bill Paige received this wonderful review by Michael Doherty about his book Everything I Know I Learned from Rock Stars.

     As you might guess, as a result of reading this book, the list of albums I want to purchase has grown...This book is an enjoyable and fairly quick read, and it’s set up such that you can, if you so choose, pick certain sections to read and bounce around as your interests dictate. There are several pages of photos in the middle of the book, including one of a letter written by Kurt Vonnegut, one of my two favorite writers (the other being Shakespeare).

--Famed Music Blogger Michael Doherty

=Here's the letter from Kurt Vonnegut...(click to enlarge it)

Doin the Cruise

=This week in 2017 (September 26), the music writer for the NWI Times, Tom Lounges, reviewed Mitch Michael's book Doin the Cruise. Here's a little taste of what he said...

    Michaels is old-school and defines the term "radio personality" as he tells stories and becomes your surrogate friend on the other side of the dial, the voice you turn to when you need company and want to share a memory or two. Michaels does more than say — "That was ..." and "This is ..."

    "I live the music. I tell listeners about the bands, the ins and outs of the music, share a story about the song or something about a concert by that artist I attended years ago. I don’t just talk at my listeners, I talk to them," Michaels said. "I hang out with them and rock right along with everyone who’s listening, because what it all comes down to really is we're all the same. We’re all just fans."

=And that was before Mitch was inducted into the Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Now he has the hardware.

We Have Company

=This week in 2016 (September 26), Bobby Skafish released his book of rock and roll interviews, We Have Company. Among his first stops on the publicity tour, WGN-TV.

The Flip Side

=This week in 1979 (September 22), Kiss performed at the International Amphitheater in Chicago. Naturally, the Rosenbaum brothers were the promoters of this incredible concert, and their kids were all there too. Want some photographic proof? You'll find it in the pages of The Flip Side. It's also here...

Back in the DDR

=One of the events that takes place in the novel Back in the DDR happened this week, September 23, 1976. It was a Crosby & Nash concert in Eppelheim, Germany. A real concert attended by the lead character in the book, Rudi.

The Balding Handbook

=The Balding Handbook helped balding men through the five stages of grieving for their hair loss. Because this week is also the anniversary of The Brady Bunch debut (September 26, 1969), it seems like a good week to feature this photo of author David Stern from the Denial stage of the book. Sadly, the book is no longer in print. Blame Rogaine.

Publishing Portal--February 2, 2026

The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.

The Sun at the End of the Road

=Rick Kaempfer and David Stern will be moderating a virtual discussion about Tony Fitzpatrick's book (The Sun at the End of the Road) on February 6th (That's this Friday!) for the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. It's free, but you need to register here. This is the description of the event....

Tony Fitzpatrick published his essay collection, The Sun at the End of the Road, just weeks before his death. Tony was celebrated as a visual artist, radio personality, boxer, and actor, but too often his accomplishments as a writer were overlooked. He was a fantastic writer--this last book is proof of that. It's a kind of memoir told in a series of small reflective prose pieces. His publisher, Eckhartz Press, expedited the release date, and because of that Tony was able to experience a small bit of the book's success. The founders and owners of Eckhartz, Rick Kaempfer and Dave Stern, will moderate a discussion about The Sun at the End of the Road. Special guests include Thomas Dyja, Ann Filmer, Mark Eleveld and Dave Hoekstra.  

  

=Expect lots of entertaining stories about Tony, a fun discussion about his book, and a major announcement. That's just a tease for now. More info here next week.

=By the way, don't forget that Tony's final two posters are also available at Eckhartz Press. The poster for his final showing, and the poster for this book. Here they are...

Sirens in the Loop

=Jim Elsener got the first copy of his book in his hands last week (Photo). It's currently at the printer, and will ship the week of February 16. Thank you for the many pre-orders of the book.

=Who is Jim, you ask? Well, here's a little primer...

James Elsener is a veteran journalist and author.  During his four-decade career, he has been a newspaper publisher, editor, columnist, reporter, sales manager, and association executive.

Elsener began his career at the legendary City News Bureau of Chicago. He later became a reporter with the Chicago Tribune, managed a national newspaper trade association, and founded and owned a regional business publication.

Elsener served with the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.  He holds degrees from Western Michigan University and Columbia University (New York).  He is the author of two novels. He and his wife, Patricia, a former journalist, live in suburban Chicago.

=The podcast of Jim's interview with Steve & Johnnie on WGN was posted on WGN's website. Listen to it here.

=Jim's co-author is Paul Zimbrakos, who actually started writing the book and provided most of the material for it. Here's a little more about Paul...

Paul Zimbrakos was the legendary editor of the City News Bureau of Chicago who mentored generations of young journalists. Paul demonstrated a keen editorial vision, guiding the newsroom with integrity and a deep respect for factual reporting and timeliness. Paul was a lifelong Chicago resident, a graduate of Austin High School and Roosevelt University.  He was a U.S. Army veteran.  Paul passed away in 2022.

=Many famous writers/reporters worked at City News. One of them is celebrating a birthday this week. Happy birthday to Andy Shaw (February 3). Yes, he is also featured in the book.

=Another City News alum is fellow Eckhartz Press author Mark Wukas. His novel The Kiss of Night is about working at City News Bureau. Mark and Jim Elsener met at a recent City News reunion (photo). Mark Wukas (The Kiss of Night) will be appearing at Welcome to the Show at the Getaway (4530 N. Lincoln Avenue) on February 16.

Take Me Back to Chicago

=Happy birthday to Eckhartz Press author Doug E. Jones (February 4). We were proud to publish his latest novel Take Me Back to Chicago at the end of 2025.

=Doug's birthday in 1992 must have been a bittersweet one. That was the day that Bozo's Ringmaster Ned Locke passed away. The Bozo show is an important plot device in Doug's Take Me Back to Chicago.

I Bear Witness

=Sad news in the Chicago media world last week. Sportscaster Terry Boers passed away. Boers was a long-time on-air partner of Eckhartz Press author Dan McNeil (The Heavy Fuel Crew). When Terry passed away, Dan was interviewed about their time together, and their complicated relationship. In case you missed it, you can listen to it here.

=Just a few weeks after Dan McNeil's book about Bears history in the McCaskey era was released, the family matriarch Virginia McCaskey passed away (2/6/25). She was 102 years old when she died. Dan wrote about her extensively in I Bear Witness.

Belle & Leaving Glory for Greatness & Chili Dog MVP

=February is Black History Month and Eckhartz Press proudly has fiction and non-fiction reading choices to help celebrate it. 

=Judy Ann Jamerson's haunting novel Belle is the heartbreaking story of a mother struggling with the reality of the unimaginable death of her daughter. Judy is the mother of former Chicago Bears receiver Rashied Davis. Award-winning author Bayo Ojikutu has also signed with Eckhartz Press. Look for his exciting new novel later this year.

=Lou Macaluso's biography of football star-turned-civil rights hero LaMarr Thomas (Leaving Glory for Greatness) is a such an inspirational work, it is being taught as part of LaMarr's (and Lou's) high school alma mater's (Thornton) regular curriculum. Chili Dog MVP recalls the racial struggles faced by Dick Allen, and the city of Chicago's reaction to him in that memorable summer of 1972.

  

RADIO HALL OF FAME

=From Feb. 1 to April 1 you may submit suggestions for possible honorees for consideration by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. We have a few suggestions for you from our stable of authors. John Records Landecker is already in there, but what about...

Mitch Michaels (Doin the Cruise)

Bobby Skafish (We Have Company)

Chet Coppock (Your Dime My Dance Floor)

Chuck Swirsky (Always a Pleasure)

Dan McNeil (I Bear Witness)

=Steve & Garry are already in there, and so is Jonathon Brandmeier, but how about these all-time greats who contributed to our book The Loop Files...

Bob Stroud

Kevin Matthews

Patti Haze

=Or these all-time greats who contributed to Landecker's book Records Truly Is My Middle Name...

Fred Winston

Tommy Edwards

Bob Sirott

=Help us remind the world that Chicago is the epicenter of all-time great radio.

To Nudge the World

=Our latest award winner, Jim Slusher, has been making the rounds discussing his Book of the Year winner To Nudge the World. He recorded an interview and will soon be featured on the Minutia Men Celebrity Interview podcast. We'll have that link for you next week.

=He was featured in the CWA's Write City E-zine.

=He was also featured in this edition of Editor & Publisher.

40 Years, 40 Films

=Nick Digilio appeared on the CBS Chicago News at 11am on Friday with Vince Gerasole, talking about 40 Years, 40 Films. 

=Nick is hosting "Nick's Pix" at Lake Theater in Oak Park on February 11th at 7pm. This month's pick is the film Crash. Here's also a hint what the next pick will be.

=This week in 2005 (February 3), the film Sideways (starring Paul Giamatti) was released.  Nick chose that film as the best movie of the year.  Read why in 40 Years, 40 Films.

The Best of Words on Birds

=Birders have noticed that The Horned Lark is having a moment. It's on the cover of two birding magazines this month, and Jeff Reiter's Words on Birds column in last week's Daily Herald was all about it. 

=Don't forget that Jeff Reiter (The Best of Words on Birds) will be appearing at the great birder event, Gull Frolic in Lake County, on February 15. That'll be here before you know it.

=If you live in Glen Ellyn, check out your Stroll newsletter this month. You can learn more about the Birdman of Glen Ellyn (our very own Jeff Reiter)

 Celtic Knot 

=There will be two chances in the coming weeks to meet Robert Conlon and have him sign a copy of his five-star reviewed book Celtic Knot.

=On February 28th, he'll be part of the Boozy Book Fair at Printer's Row Brewing (4801 N. Austin Avenue in Chicago) from Noon-4pm. Beer and Books? Sounds like a perfect combination.

=Bob will also be appearing at the G-man (on Clark in Chicago) on March 15. Oh wait a minute. They serve beer there too, don't they?

Additional upcoming Eckhartz Press author events. Mark your calenders...

=David Stern will be appearing at KinoWerks (5645 N. Ravenswood in Chicago) on February 14th. He'll have a table selling an assortment of Eckhartz Press books at their Arts Event that day.

=Vicki Atkinson (Surviving Sue) will be appearing at Wauconda Library (11am-12:30pm) on February 20. Vicki's debut novel Slivers is in the pipeline, getting very close to publication on Eckhartz Press.

=Lauren LoGiudice (Inside Melania) brings her Misfit Variety show to the Annoyance March 13.  Show's at 9.

Behind The Glass

=If it seems like there is no end to the sports stars featured in Randy Merkin's book Behind the Glass, you aren't far off. For instance, Hank Aaron and Alonzo Mourning (photo), both born this week (Feb 5 & 8 respectively), each rate their own chapters. But sports stars aren't the only big names in the book. Tom Brokaw (Feb 6)  and Jack Lemmon (Feb 8) are in the book too.

=Just wait until you get your hands on the upcoming Volume 2. Other non-sports stars will be in there as well, including James Caan, Carmen Electra, Larry King, Geraldo Rivera, and Jason Bateman.

Happy Anniversary!

This week in 2014 (February 8), Joel Daly got his first copy of his Eckhartz Press book (The Daly News). On this day in 2022 (February 6), Eric Litt had the same experience, getting the first copy of Oscars Biggest Mistakes. By the way, it's almost that time of year again (Academy Awards--March 15, 2026). Look for Eric to appear on the Minutia Men Celebrity Interview in the coming weeks with his Oscar picks.

   

=Eric also recently met fellow Eckhartz Press author Nick Digilio and exchanged books with him.

South Side Memories

=Gloria Golec's memoir is set in Chicago's Archer Park neighborhood during the 1940s and 1950s. One of the centerpieces of that neighborhood is St. Bruno's church and school, which Gloria wrote about extensively. Sadly, this week the Archdiocese of Chicago announced that St. Bruno's school was closing down. Block Club Chicago has more.

  

The Flip Side

=One of the most unique podcasts out there is Car Con Carne, where host James VanOsdol interviews his guests in his car. This week last year he had two Eckhartz Press people on with him, Ken Churilla and Jeff "Mr. Cheap" Schwartz, talking about their great book, The Flip Side.

Staying Alive is a Lot of Work

=Pat Camalliere's book is the focus of this Chicago Writes podcast hosted by Bill Turck. Pat did a great job explaining the struggles she endured, and the incredible memoir it inspired. They also went into great depth about the Chicago suburb of Lemont and why it is so important to her. 

Monkey in the Middle

=In 2016, comedian Dobie Maxwell wrote one our best selling books, the incredibly memorable Monkey in the Middle. Dobie is currently co-hosting a podcast called Put Your Funny Where Your Mouth Is. Episode 62 came out at the end of last year, and that episode tells the tale of the bank robbery at the heart of Dobie's memoir, Monkey in the Middle.

Truffle Hunt

=The anniversary of Brent Petersen's foodie novel will be next Saturday (Feb 14), but the Truffle Hunt author also wrote excellent pieces at his DestinationEatDrink substack about the inspiration that led to the novel. Here's the ultimate piece about that: How Did This All Get Started?

The Loop Files

=Two big events in the book The Loop Files took place this week in history. On February 6, 1981, Steve & Garry were fired by the Loop for "violating community standards." It was a huge shock at the time that has never been satisfactorily explained. Also, this week in 2023, Johnny B re-emerged to appear on WGN-TV as a mystery guest.

   

=Celebrating a birthday this week (February 6), former Loop late-nighter Ed Tyll. You may not like what he says, but he'll say it anyway, Ed Tyll. Ed has a book out, by the way. You can find that here. 

Death of the Angels

 =On the 60th anniversary (2018) of one of Chicago's most tragic fires, at Our Lady of the Angels school, veteran television reporter and producer (ABC-7, WGN-TV) Alex Burkholder released his comprehensive study of that fire, which included his well researched theory of how that fire began. WGN-TV's Steve Sanders (celebrating a birthday this week February 3) brought Alex (middle) onto the midday news to discuss it, along with one of the grown kids who survived the fire. Alex passed away in 2024.

=By the way, that Our Lady of the Angels fire is also covered in the new Eckhartz Press book Sirens in the Loop. The City News Bureau broke that tragic story.

Ike & Me

=Rich King wrote a book in 2022 called Ike & Me, about his relationship with cameraman Richard "Ike" Isaacs. The Black & White team worked together for decades under the guidance of former WGN-TV sports director Dan Roan. Both Rich and Ike speak highly of this week's birthday boy (February 3) in the book.

Grammar Moses

=This week in 2022, The Daily Herald's Jim O'Donnell wrote about our Christmas of 2021's big hit Grammar Moses by Jim Baumann. 

Safe Inside

=This week in 2018, Lee Kingsmill appeared on Nick Digilio's show to talk about his Book of the Year finalist Safe Inside.

$everance

=May be even more relevant after a year of this administration...

We Have Company

=Bobby Skafish's tome about his 40 years of rock and roll encounters is like a history book of the genre, written by someone who personally met and interviewed the biggest stars imaginable. One of the greats featured in the book is celebrating a birthday this week, Graham Nash (below/February 2)

Your Dime My Dance Floor

=Chet Coppock was friends with George Halas, founder of the Bears and the NFL. Chet went to every opening game for the Bears for 68 straight years. When Papa Bear died in 1983, Chet broke the story on the local news (he was doing sports at Channel 5 at the time).  He also wrote about him in his Eckhartz Press book. Papa Bear was born this week (February 2) in 1895.

Coming next week, more information about another upcoming Eckhartz Press book, Bubble Boy.