The latest news from Eckhartz Press, and a chance to peek into some of the great previous offerings from our humble little publishing company.
New Book Release!
Storytelling is part of the fabric of our daily lives. Stories create opportunities to debate, question, inspire, wonder and relate. Meta-Stories I is a series of 18 allegories about life experiences, challenges and human resilience. The main characters include humans, animals and natural objects. Readers have the opportunity to immerse themselves in each story, reflect on inner meanings, and ponder how these stories resonate with them and their own life journey. The 18 stories are meant for all ages, and the author JJ Novak encourages the reader to share the stories with friends, family members, and those they connect with.
Happy Birthday!
=Eckhartz Press author Keith Conrad (Righteous Might) is celebrating a birthday this week (April 17). Keith had the misfortune of coming out with his inventive novel during the COVID crisis, so he wasn't able to do any events or in-person media interviews. He did do this Q&A, which will give you an idea of how interesting his novel is.
The Loop Files
=Rick appears on another podcast. This is a really fun conversation with Vicki & Wynne, talking mostly about The Loop Files, but also about some of Rick's other books.
=Coming soon, The Loop goes somewhere it's never been before! A public library. Rick Kaempfer will be appearing at the Ela Public Library in Lake Zurich on May 1 from 7-8pm. Find out more information about it here.
=Then one last one. May 11. Another one that is destined to bring out the fellow Loopers. Jeff Hoover from the WGN-TV morning news (a former Looper himself) is helping to host this party.
=Two people who contributed to the Loop Files are celebrating birthdays this week, Jack Landreth (April 14) and Seka (April 15). Jack told stories about his days working as Kevin Matthews' producer. Seka was one of the stars of the photo section (shown below with co-host Stan Lawrence).
*Inside Melania
=Eckhartz Press author Lauren LoGuidice was in town this week performing her variety show/stand-up special.. We were there and took a photo...
Rest in Peace
=Sad news this week in 2019 (April 17). We lost Eckhartz Press author Chet Coppock. He was only 71 years old when he perished as the result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Eckhartz Press publisher Rick Kaempfer was dispatched to radio and television stations to eulogize Chet. A few weeks later friends gathered for Chet's memorial service and paid tribute to one of the all-time greats.
*Leaving Glory For Greatness
=LaMarr Thomas passed away on the same day as Chet Coppock. He became the subject of one our best selling books of 2023, Leaving Glory for Greatness. Author Lou Macaluso highlighted the great achievements of Thomas in life in the pages of this book, and in death the proceeds of this book go to benefit something that meant a lot to LaMarr, his old school Thornton Township High School. Lou explained the significance in this interview.
*The Unplanned Life
=This week in 2020 Roger Badesch got the first copy of his memoir The Unplanned Life (photo). It came just one day after what would have been former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington's birthday (April 15). Part of Roger's unplanned life was working for Mayor Washington for a time. There's a memorable story in the book about the time Roger had to set up the stereo equipment at Harold's house.
=This week in 2021 Roger was interviewed by Steve Dale on WGN Radio.
*Surviving Sue
=An upcoming appearance by Surviving Sue author Vicki Atkinson. Don't miss it!
*Behind the Glass
=Hall of Famers abound in the pages of Randy Merkin's memoir Behind the Glass. Ironically, this week's birthday boy Pete Rose (April 14) isn't one of them because he's banned from the Hall of Fame. We wonder what goes through his mind these days when he sees the betting windows at the ballpark.
*The Living Wills
=This week in 2012, Windy City Reviews posted their review of the first ever Eckhartz Press release, The Living Wills. Here's a portion of what they said...
In the preface, the authors note the novel's structure is influenced by the Harold, an improvisational theater form created by Del Close. While the novel does not exactly follow the form, the interwoven stories lend themselves to the influence of improv. Sullivan and Kaempfer set themselves up for a challenge by telling the stories of five main characters each through a different point of view, but each of the story lines is unique, all the characters are clearly drawn, and there is no confusion for the reader. Short chapters advance the plot quickly and keep the reader engaged.
What struck me most about this novel was its sweetness.
What struck me most about this novel was its sweetness. Sullivan and Kaempfer navigate issues of love, loss, and family dynamics with a care that is crucial to the success of the novel. The straightforward, unadorned prose does no work to convey the depth of emotion in the novel; that job is reserved solely for the characters, and they carry the load well. Though each of the characters trend slightly towards the stereotypical, the reader is able to accept them as individuals thanks to Sullivan and Kaempfer's well-placed personal details. Delmar, the toilet salesman, is a salesman to his core, and his application of sales principles to his romantic relationship is at once comic and endearing. Similarly, the scenes in the parking garage with the executive and the attendant are injected with emotion when we learn that “Reed went through the usual charade of offering a smoke to Henry, who always pretended to consider it before declining.” These details elevate the novel from cliché to something much deeper and more satisfying for the reader.
As difficult as it is to wrap up intricately woven narratives, Sullivan and Kaempfer succeed there, as well. On the whole, The Living Wills was a pleasure to read for Sullivan and Kaempfer's deft characterization and effective structural choices. The rich details about Chicago only add to the novel's appeal, and I find myself thinking of Henry, Reed, and Delmar when I pass Waveland Bowl or a parking area on lower Wacker Drive.
Kareem!
=This week's birthday boy Kareem Abdul Jabbar (April 16) appears in three different Eckhartz Press books, Chet Coppock's Your Dime My Dance Floor, Chuck Swirsky's Always a Pleasure, and Ryan Trembath's Signature Shoes.
EveryCubEver
=One of the biggest stars in Cubs history, Cap Anson, was born this week in 1852 (April 17) during the Millard Filmore administration. Anson still holds many Cubs records, and was the only player in MLB to collect over 3000 hits in the 19th century. Unfortunately, he also contributed something dark to the game. It was at Anson's insistence that the color line was enforced, prohibiting Black players from playing. That story is told in EveryCubEver.
*Life Behind the Camera
=One of the many celebrity fans of Chuck Quinzio's book Life Behind the Camera is this fellow who spent many years in front of the camera, the great George Takei. George is celebrating a birthday this week (April 20).
*Grace's Rockin Roll Adventure
=This week in 2021, Eckhartz Press author Ken Korber got a shout out on Bruce Springsteen's website Backstreets. Ken's book is about a young girl getting to meet her hero, Springsteen sideman Little Stevie Van Zandt.
*420, man
=We got you covered.
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