Publishing Portal--February 23, 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.

Bubble Boy

=One of the reasons we do this. That moment the author gets the first ever copy of his or her book. That's Bob Williams getting his first copy of Bubble Boy. It's available for pre-order now.

Sirens in the Loop

=The books have all gone out, so if you pre-ordered Sirens in the Loop, you should either have it already or it will be there any day. 

=Jim Elsener has scheduled his book launch party. Mark it on your calendar. It will be on Thursday March 19th, from 6-8pm at Kappy's American Restuarant at 7200 W. Dempster in Morton Grove!

=We have it on good authority that Jim also recorded an episode of Minutia Men Celebrity Interview this week. It will be posted on Wednesday.

Chili Dog MVP

=The Chili Dog MVP crew have been going all over the country working on their film project. Last week they were in Colorado with Goose Goosage (photo: David Fletcher and Goose). Next week they'll be in Pennsylvania. They have two events there. One in Philly (March 5), and one in Dick Allen's hometown of Wampum (March 7). We met a huge group of Wampum folks at the HOF ceremony in Cooperstown last year and they spent hours working on our pronounciation of the town...which we apparently never quite conquered.

=Eckhartz Press publishers Rick Kaempfer and Dave Stern will be traveling down to Mesa, Arizona for a screening there on March 12. Wanna come? I understand there might some spring training games nearby.

=They've been working on this project for 4+ years now. This week in 2022, Eckhartz Press authors John Owens and Dr. David Fletcher appeared on Rick Kogan's radio show to talk about their book Chili Dog MVP. Kogan is a big White Sox fan and loved the tale about Dick Allen and the 1972 White Sox.

EveryCubEver

=Don't tell anyone this, but when Rick and Dave go to spring training on March 11, they won't be attending a White Sox spring training game. There's another team in the area they will see. Hint: Rick wrote EveryCubEver.

=Yes, it's true, Rick Kaempfer is not doing an update of EveryCubEver this season (He's done 7 already for cryin' out loud). On the other hand, he does plan on featuring every Hall of Fame Cub on or around their birthdays this year. And those entries will be from EveryCub Ever. This week there are three of them. One was mainly a Negro League star. One has his number flying on the foul pole at Wrigley. And the third one is the only player in history to have been named after a president, and portrayed in a movie by a president. Read all about them here.

Mob Adjacent

=Where were you on Saturday afternoon? We were at a secret location screening of the Mob Adjacent movie with a movie mogul. More details to come.

=One of the most compelling parts of the family memoir written by the Gentile brothers is the intersection of the mob and Hollywood. For instance, stories about two people who would have been celebrating birthdays this week, Jackie Gleason (Feb 26) and Elizabeth Taylor (Feb 27) appear in the pages of Mob Adjacent. 

Records Truly Is My Middle Name

=Here's some news for the John Landecker fans out there. John's daughter Amy Landecker has directed her first film and she will be here on March 5, along with her husband Bradley Whitford, to screen it at the Music Box theater. John Landecker will be there to moderate the discussion. We'll be there too...in the audience.

The Kiss of Night

=What a fun night last Monday night at The Getaway in Lincoln Square. Mark Wukas appeared on the talk show hosted by Derek Bish. Good turn out. Great stories. 

=If you missed it, don't worry there's another chance to meet him coming up. Mark Wukas will be doing a reading at CWA Live Lit readings at After Words Book Store on March 26.

=Wukas' writing hero, James T. Farrell was born on February 27, 1904. How big of a Farrell fan is Mark? This big...

=It's been a fun year for Mark. This week last year he was signing the first 250 copies of his book. He has finally fully recovered from that arm cramp. 

Celtic Knot

=Here's one to put on your calendar. March 15th at 3pm, Bob Conlon (Celtic Knot) will be appearing at the G-man tavern on Clark Street (near Wrigley Field) to talk about his book. It will be a conversation with fellow Eckhartz Press author (and Celtic Knot endorser) Brendan Sullivan (The Living Wills). Doors open at 2pm. It's a free event, but they'd like you to RSVP here.

=If you can't wait until March 15, you've got a chance to see him this coming weekend (February 28) at the Boozy Book Fair at Printers Row Brewing, 4801 N. Austin from Noon to 4pm. He won't be the only Eckhartz Press author there.

Oscars Biggest Mistakes & Worth a Second Look

=Eric Litt will also be appearing at the Boozy Book Fair (Printers Row Brewing, 4801 N. Austin, Noon-4pm) on February 28th (Saturday)

=This time of year is the busy season for movie expert/Eckhartz Press author Eric Litt. This week in 2022 Eric appeared on the Nick DiGilio podcast to talk about some examples from the past when the Oscars got it wrong. 

=Next week he'll make his sixth appearance on Minutia Men Celebrity Interview, picking this year's Oscar winners. 

40 Years, 40 Films

=Speaking of Nick Digilio, we hope you have this event marked on your calendar as well. Nick is going to be interviewed on-stage at the Museum of Broadcast Communications by Rick Kogan on March 15. More details below. Eckhartz Press publishers Rick Kaempfer and Dave Stern will be rushing from that event to the Bob Conlan event at G-man. It is possible to do both!

The Loop Files

=When you go to see Nick at the Museum of Broadcast Communications on March 15 (above), be sure to also stop by the "5 Decades of the Loop" exhibit there. It was curated by The Loop Files author Rick Kaempfer.

=This week last year 15 former Loopers gathered for drinks in Brookfield. See if you can spot any of them in the photo. Among them former Brandmeier show members (Artie Kennedy, Brendan Sullivan, Jimmy Mac), former Kevin Matthews show members (Cara Carriveau, Geli Corbett, Wendy Snyder), former Steve & Garry show members (Leslie Keiling, Stan Lawrence, Rick Kaempfer), former Danny Bonaduce show members (Neil Sant, Joy Masada, Joe Kraslen), former promotions gurus (Anne Marie Kennedy, Bridget Kaempfer) and former big cheese Larry Wert. All of them are in the book.

=The Loop Files has gone international, by the way. This photo was sent to us by Jim Danner with the message "A great read as we pull into Martinique!"

The Best of Words on Birds

=Jeff Reiter is still flying high (no pun intended) after last week's Gull Frolic event. We mentioned he was one of only three authors there, but we didn't have a picture. Now we do. Here they are...(L-R) Amar Ayyash (The Gull Guide, and the nation's leading expert on gull ID), Dexter Patterson (Birds of the Great Lakes and featured speaker), and Jeff Reiter (The Best of Words on Birds).

=Jeff also wrote another great piece in the Daily Herald this week. It's about ten birding podcasts in America. 

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

=Nick Digilio--Nick's Pix at the Lake Theater on March 11 in Oak Park. The film will be Zero Dark Thirty.

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

Behind the Glass

=CBS broadcaster James Brown is celebrating a birthday this week (February 25). James was kind enough to provide this endorsement for Randy Merkin's first Eckhartz Press book...

• “While we cherish champions in the world of sports, we cheer louder for champions in the game of life. Character, integrity and honesty matter. That sums up Randy Merkin.”

  James "JB" Brown, Host of NFL Today on CBS and Inside the NFL on Showtime

=Randy's second book (Beyond the Glass) will be ready for pre-order in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for more information.

Surviving Sue

=Vicki Atkinson recapped her successful talk to Wauconda Library this past weekend in her blog. Some inspirational quotes are part of the presentation. Check it out.

=Vicki's next book (a novel "Slivers") is next up in the queue for our Eckhartz Press book designer. You'll be hearing a lot more about it in the coming month.

The Flip Side

=February 24, 1975—Humble Pie played at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago. Naturally the Flip Side brothers were there. That's Carl & Larry Rosenbaum on either side of Steve Marriott from Humble Pie. 

Ken Korber

=Korber is the king of the Eckhartz Press childrens book. We have published quite a few of them. He recently chatted with Chicken Soup for the Soul's Jack Canfield (photo) about those books, and Jack told him that his work was "akin to Chicken Soup for young readers."

=One of the Korber books in the Eckhartz Press catalogue got a great review from Prarie Book Review. 

    Korber’s child-friendly prose leans into the absurd, turning Marvin’s hair into an unstoppable force of chaos. The rhyme and rhythm of the text add to the escalating absurdity, making Marvin’s suffering all the more comical. His woes are exaggerated but relatable. Korber plays up the humor in Marvin’s stubbornness, while Grace steps in as the friend who sees the obvious solution. Jaime Buckley’s vibrant illustrations crank up the humor. The art doesn’t just complement the text: it amplifies it, turning Marvin’s exaggerated misery into pure visual comedy. 

Cameo

=Beth Jacobellis launched her debut novel this week in 2018, Cameo. Here she is getting her very first copy of the book.

Talking Bout My Generation

=An incredible example of life imitating art. In 2023 Will Wagner released his novel Talking 'Bout My Generation, which was about what happened to Pete Townshend's guitar after he tossed it into the crowd at Woodstock. This week in 2024, Paul McCartney's bass was returned to him after being lost in 1961.

Leslie Keiling

 =The long-time Chicago radio star contributed to two Eckhartz Press books. She has some great stories in Records Truly is My Middle Name, particularly the story of being live on the air with John Landecker when the planes hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 (Morning crew photo L-R: Rick Kaempfer, John Landecker, Leslie Keiling, Richard Cantu, Vince Argento). She also contributed stories (and the picture below) to The Loop Files. Leslie was known as Lane Closure on the Steve & Garry show on the Loop. Her birthday is this week (Feb 28). She is currently a regular on Garry Meier's podcast.

Hugh Hefner's First Funeral

=This week in 2019, just a few weeks after Pat Colander's death, Lit Pop published a wonderful tribute to the author of Hugh Hefner's First Funeral.

Your Dime My Dance Floor

=How interesting was Eckhartz Press author Chet Coppock's life? This week in 2014 (Feb 27) he told the tale of the time he wrestled a bear (photo). He also knew how to promote. I'm sure Tony Randall (born Feb 26) and Jack Klugman were happy to have his help.

The Daly News

=This week in 2014, Joel Daly was making the publicity rounds promoting his Eckhartz Press memoir about his legendary television career. This is the audio of his interview with WGN radio, along with a photo below.

=Here's an example of Joel in action from 1983, reporting on the biggest television event from the 1980s, the final episode of M*A*S*H. How big was it? Joel was reporting for Channel 7 (ABC) about a show that was airing on Channel 2 (CBS). Still one of the most watched shows in history (2/28/83).

 The Unplanned Life

=Roger Badesch was like the Zelig of Chicago history. How many people do you know who actually worked at the original Playboy Club, for instance? He has some great stories from that time in The Unplanned Life. The Playboy Club opened on Leap Day in 1960.

=Roger Badesh has been playing around with AI lately. Here's something he created featuring himself and fellow Eckhartz Press author John Landecker on the radio together in "the style of Mad Magazine"

Always a Pleasure

=This week (Feb 28) is the anniversary of late WGN radio morning man Bob Collins' birth. Chuck Swirsky worked with Collins for many years and writes about him in the pages of his Eckhartz Press book Always a Pleasure. He also tells that story in this podcast. Another one of Swirsky's favorites is also celebrating a birthday this week (February 25), former Bull Joakim Noah.

Jerry Reinsdorf

=Would you believe that White Sox & Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf turns 90 years old this week (Feb 25)? He also appears in three different Eckhartz Press books. You'll find stories and photos of him in Rich King's book Ike & Me, Chet Coppock's book Your Dime My Dance Floor and Chuck Swirky's book Always a Pleasure.

Life Behind The Camera

=This week in 2014, Eckhartz Press author Chuck Quinzio was getting some love from the NABET Union.

An Off-White Christmas

=This week in 2017, New City debuted in Chicago. The Chicago publication gave this wonderful testimonial to Donald G. Evans' collection of short stories An Off-White Christmas

• With offhand grace and humor, Evans captures the characters’ burning desires to escape from in-between stages of their lives and their disappointment at the outcome. Illustrations by Hannah Jennings throughout the book resemble ornaments that could hang on a Christmas tree.
  Katie Burns, Newcity Lit

=Don is also the founder of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, who recently hosted our zoom book club about Tony Fitzpatrick's book The Sun at the End of the Road.

We're all one big Eckhartz Press family.

Publishing Portal--September 15, 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.

AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW! 

=Two brand new Eckhartz Press books are available for pre-order now! 

=The Sun at the End of the Road: Dispatches from an American Life by Tony Fitzpatrick. This book is a collection of Tony's dispatches, haiku, poetry, collages, etchings and drawings. Designed by Danny Torres and edited by Marika Mashburn.

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 Fitzpatrick’s works are included in collections at The Museum of Modern Art, New York City, Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, and The Art Institute of Chicago. Previous books of art and poetry include The Hard Angels, The Neighborhood, The Apostles of Humboldt Park, Bum Town, The Secret Birds, Dime Stories and The Wonder: Portraits of a Remembered City. As an actor, Tony’s career includes productions with Steppenwolf, Lookingglass, 16th Street, Collaboraction and other fine Chicago institutions. He has worked on thirty films and starred in two seasons of Amazon’s Patriot. Tony loves birds, dogs and the White Sox.

=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.

=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.

Doin the Cruise

=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.

=Congrats to Mitch. He was inducted alongside fellow rock radio folks like Bob Stroud, introduced by fellow broadcaster Pat Cassidy, and hosted by WGN Radio's Bob Sirott. Naturally there was also some music legends on hand. The Chi-Lites, Richard Marx, Billy Corgan, Disturbed, Head East, and the descendants of Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and Bo Diddley. Star-studded event. They even brought up a group of Cubs fan/broadcasters to induct Steve Goodman and sing "Go Cubs Go". Two of those guys were Eddie Volkman and Rick Kaempfer (photo)

 The Loop Files

=This isn't our first rodeo at the Hall of Fame. On September 17, 2023, author Rick Kaempfer was on stage at the Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Loop was inducted as a radio station, and Rick was one of the Loopers on hand to accept the award presented by fellow former Looper Mitch Michaels. Also pictured Jimmy Mac McInerney, Wendy Snyder, Bridget Kaempfer.

 

=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)

The Best of Words on Birds

=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)

Celtic Knot

=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.

Mob Adjacent

=Another promotional video from the fellas...

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Life Behind The Camera 

=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.

 

=This week in 2014, Chuck was on with Rick Kogan talking about his book.

Patty & the Stump

=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.

Behind the Glass

=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.

Surviving Sue

=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)

 

 

 The Daly News

=When Joel Daly turned in the first draft of his book The Daly News, he had a single line in there about hanging out with the Beatles for a day. We said..."Joel, you have to tell us more about that story!" So happy he did. You can read it here as a free excerpt. It happened 61 years ago this week (September 15, 1964). 

Nose Over Toes

=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.

Gruen Weiss Vor!

=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.

Transatlantic Passage

=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.”

  Don Rose, veteran political consultant, Chicago journalist, food writer, jazz aficionado.

 Your Dime My Dance Floor

=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.

• Otis Wilson, legendary Chicago Bears linebacker

 =Former Bears lineman and Hall of Famer Dan Hampton (September 19) contributed this photo...

=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)

=Chet passed away in 2019, and we still miss him. 

A few other tributes to those we have lost...

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) 

=Of course Ryno also appears in EveryCubEver, and makes an appearance in Chuck Swirsky's book Always A Pleasure

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.

Chili Dog MVP

=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).

 

Death of the Angels

=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.