Showing posts with label Paul McCartney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paul McCartney. Show all posts

Monday, June 16, 2025

Publishing Portal--June 16, 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.


Chili Dog MVP

=The filming continues. Hall of Fame ceremonies are coming at the end of July.

=Sharon Pannozzo is one of the people (along with Chili Dog MVP authors David Fletcher and John Owens) who is leading this project...

=Dr. Fletcher is also an integral part of the Buck Weaver Society, which was working at getting him exonerated from the Black Sox scandal. You can read more about that here. WGN-TV did a feature about how the family has mixed emotions about the recent ruling from the baseball commissioner.


Mob Adjacent

=Another teaser trailer for the types of stories you can find in the book Mob Adjacent, and which may be finding it's way into the film (which is shooting now).


The Kiss of Night

=Mark Wukas did a Q&A with the Literary Titan blog. You can read it here.

=Mark has another upcoming appearance. Put it on your calendars. He'll be doing a podcast taping at  Max & Benny's in Northbrook (461 Waukegan Road) on August 11th. Details to come.


Worth a Second Look

=Our movie expert author, Eric Litt, attended a brunch for retired WGN folks, and they wanted copies of his second movie book Worth A Second Look. Here are a few photos from that event. 





Every Cub Ever

=The seventh edition of EveryCubEver is available now. Do you have your copy yet? If you're a Cubs fan, you are certainly following Rick's Just One Bad Century facebook page, right? Every day he posts some of the great content from his book. Here's an example...

 =This week in 2019, Rick Kaempfer appeared at a Book Club in Naperville to promote the book EveryCubEver.

=Two prominent Cubs featured in the book were born this week. Lou Brock (June 18) and Wayland Dean (June 20). Both of their entries are memorable. Dean lived a very short and troubled life, and Brock later played for another team. Not sure which one, or what happened to him.



Celtic Knot

=The book has only been out officially for about a week and already the reviews are coming in to author Robert Conlon...

    *“Just finished Celtic Knot. What a fascinating story and book. Congratulations. Can’t wait to have a few Irish Whiskeys and discuss further.”
    *“Bob, I just read CK. Boy, what a read…You must write another, you’re a gifted story- teller.”
    *“I had a really busy weekend, but wanted to start your book. I couldn’t put it down.  Great message about resilience and overcoming adversity - want my kids to read.”
    *“Loved the book Bob - cried and smiled, smiled and cried.


Surviving Sue

=Vicki Atkinson has an event this week in Wauconda. It's a free event. Well worth your time. 

=Last week Surviving Sue celebrated it's two year anniversary. Here are a few photos from that incredible book launch party...





Chasing the Lost City

=Eckhartz Press author Tom Weinberg (Chasing the Lost City) is celebrating a birthday this week (June 17). Tom's book came out during the holiday season of 2017. It's the fascinating true story of his quest to find the ruins of a lost city in Honduras. Great story, great pictures. Happy birthday Tom!



=Great reviews and memories are still pouring in regarding The Flip Side by Carl & Larry Rosenbaum and Ken Churilla. Here's one...(click on image to enlarge)


To the Men I've Loved (God Help Them!)

=One year ago this week, we released To the Men I've Loved, by Patricia Motto. She wrote her love-life memoir with great humor and skill. This is the book synopsis...

    The course of true love may never run smooth, but seldom has it hit quite as many bumps, potholes and land mines as it does in Patricia Motto’s journey to find the meaning of that all important four letter word. Love. Beginning with the beautiful eyes of a kindergarten boy at nap time and continuing to the man for whom she did not get off the plane, there are stops along the way for, among others, a first kiss boyfriend, the American League’s Most Valuable Player and a twice convicted armed robber. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, the trip is never dull.



Last Comiskey

=Are you all caught up on some of author Ken Smoller's media appearances? For instance, this interview on WGN Radio with Steve Dale and this interview on WCIU-TV with Kenny McReynolds. 


Ken Korber 

=Our children's author extraordinaire released two different books this week in history. June 20, 2020 was the release date for Grace's Musical Haiku Adventures, and June 21 was the day the second book of his four seasons of musical tales was released, Grace and the Musical Willow Tree, A Summer Adventure. That book is also still available at Eckhartz Press




We Have Company

 =This is a big week for rock and roll star birthdays, which means it's a big week for Bobby Skafish's book of rock and roll interviews, We Have Company. Each of these June 22nd birthday boys (Steve Page/Bare Naked Ladies, Don Henley/Eagles, Todd Rundgren, and Mike Edwards/Jesus Jones) rate an entire chapter in Bobby's book. Mike Edwards also rates a photo. This was taken at Bill Wyman's Sticky Fingers restaurant in London.



Recalled to Life

=This week in 2013, Dan Burns held a book release party for his debut novel, Recalled to Life. The party was held at a fancy boutique in LaGrange, Illinois.






Transatlantic Passage

=One of the subjects of study in Paul Banks' book about American players playing in Europe, and European teams playing exhibition games in America, is the recently retired coach of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp. He's celebrating a birthday this week (June 16)



Back in the DDR

=This week in 1995, Frankfurt American Junior High School officially closed (June 16) in Germany. That school is featured in the pages of Rick Kaempfer's novel Back in the DDR.




Wicker Park Wishes

 =This week in 2021 (June 16), Margaret Larkin appeared on the John Landecker show on WGN to discuss her debut novel Wicker Park Wishes.  You can still hear that interview here.



=Former ABC-7 news reporter Andy Shaw is celebrating a birthday this week (June 18). Andy is a big fan of the Eckhartz Press novel $everance. Here's what he said about it when it originally came out in 2007...

  • “Severance is a black comedy that would be funnier if its darkness weren’t so true. And it crackles with the insights and cynicism that made Network and Broadcast News the seminal cinematic treatments of today’s dumbed-down news business. Move over Christopher Buckley—-Rick Kaempfer is in town!”

    Andy Shaw, ABC-TV


The Balding Handbook

=Talk about an exciting day. Eleven years ago (June 18, 2014) that Balding Handbook author David Stern got the unofficial endorsement of his book from fellow famous Bald, Mr. Peanut.



Ann Wilson

=The lead singer of Heart (June 18 birthday)  is featured in three different Eckhartz Press books. John Landecker has a great story about her in Records Truly Is My Middle Name. Bobby Skafish devotes an entire chapter to her in his interview book We Have Company, and can you guess which book about a radio station also features the lovely Ms. Wilson?


The Loop Files

=One of the memorable stories in The Loop Files comes from legendary disc jockey Bob Stroud. He tells the story of the day he met his idol, Paul McCartney. There's even a photo from that day. Paul turns 83 years old this week (June 18).


Everything I Know I Learned From Rock Stars

 =Bill Paige interviewed hundreds of rock stars during his Illinois Entertainer days, and one of them now plays lead guitar in Bruce Springsteen's band. This week's birthday boy (June 21) Nils Lofgren is featured in Paige's excellent book.



The Living Wills

=Author Mark Leepson is celebrating a birthday this week as well (June 20). Leepson is a Vietnam veteran, so Eckhartz Press authors Brendan Sullivan and Rick Kaempfer sent their novel The Living Wills to him to see what he thought of it. The Living Wills features a main character who is a Vietnam Vet. Here's what he said...

  • You have to give credit to Rick Kaempfer and Brendan Sullivan, the two authors of “The Living Wills”. The authors have come up with a cast of realistic, non-sensationalized Vietnam veterans living out their lives in the early 21st century–no Nam vet stereotypes here. That in itself is worth the price of admission.

    Marc Leepsen, Vietnam Veterans of America Magazine

 

Signature Shoes

 =Most people don't even realize that Chuck Taylor, the man they named the shoes after, was a real life basketball star. His shoe remains perhaps the most famous Signature Shoe, and gets the appropriate attention from author Ryan Trembath in his book about the celebrity shoe craze. Taylor was born this week in 1901 (June 21).



The Eckhartz Wives

=The wives of our publishers, Bridget Kaempfer and Michelle Halle Stern, are celebrating birthdays this week (June 17, June 20). We would be remiss if we didn't pay tribute to the actual brains of the operation. (Photo: Singing along to a 1970s pop hit)


Monday, February 24, 2025

Publishing Portal--February 24, 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.


The Kiss of Night

=The books are coming in this week, and author Mark Wukas has agreed to sign the first 250 copies. Wish him luck. His arm should be cramping around book number 50. The Kiss of Night ships out to everyone who ordered it next week. Details coming soon about his launch party.


I Bear Witness

=Dan McNeil made it to his third state last week, promoting his book I Bear Witness in Wisconsin. 

=This week he'll be in Indiana. Tomorrow night (February 25) he'll be on Tom Lounge's NPR radio show. The interview/music program airs live from 7-8pm Central and can be streamed live in real time on the station website at: www.lakeshorepublicmedia.org.
=This Saturday (March 1), you'll have two chances to meet Dan in person. He'll be at the Merrillville branch of the Lake County Public library (1919 81st Ave) from 10-12pm, and then shuffle over to the Highland branch (2841 Jewett St) from 2-4pm. 


The Flip Side

=Next week it's Flip Side's turn. Author Ken Churilla is making the same appearances  in Indiana. Next Tuesday night (March 4) he'll be on Tom Lounge's NPR radio show. The interview/music program airs live from 7-8pm Central and can be streamed live in real time on the station website at: www.lakeshorepublicmedia.org.

=The following Saturday (March 8), you'll have two chances to meet Ken in person. He'll be at the Highland branch of the Lake County Public library (2841 Jewett Stfrom 10-12pm, and then shuffle over to the Merrillville branch (1919 81st Avefrom 2-4pm. 

=It would only be appropriate if you lined up outside each of the branches of the library the night before the signings to recreate the magic of The Flip Side.


The Loop Files

=Thursday night 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 goes international. This photo was sent to us by Jim Danner with the message "A great read as we pull into Martinique!"



Ken Korber

=Korber is the king of the Eckhartz Press childrens book. We have published quite a few of them. This week he 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 this week 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. 


Safe Inside

=Eckhartz Press author Lee Kingsmill made another appearance over the weekend on WGN Radio (Steve & Johnnie show)... 


Cameo

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



EveryCubEver

=Rick Kaempfer is hard at work on the 7th edition of EveryCubEver, which should be coming out around opening day in Chicago. In the meantime, he has been posting daily EveryCubEver profiles on the Just One Bad Century facebook page and his personal Blue Sky page. Here's an example from last week...


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).




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 once wrestled a bear. He also knew how to promote. I'm sure Tony Randall (born Feb 26) and Jack Klugman were happy to have his help.



Oscars Biggest Mistakes

=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. 

=This week he'll make his fifth appearance on Minutia Men Celebrity Interview, picking this year's Oscar winners. (Pod drops on Wednesday)


Mob Adjacent

=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. 


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.


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 89 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.




Chili Dog MVP

=Speaking of the White Sox, 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.


Life Behind The Camera

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


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 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



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