Publishing Portal--October 22, 2024

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

Worth a Second Look

=Mark your calendar for the upcoming book launch party for Eric Litt's Worth a Second Look. He'll be at Sketchbook in Skokie (4901 Main Street, Skokie) on Tuesday night November 12th at 7:30pm. Sketchbook is a great local brewery and tap room with a biergarten, live music, and visiting food trucks.

=That name, Eric Litt, sounds familiar, doesn't it? It should, this is his second book about movies for Eckhartz Press. His first book, Oscars Biggest Mistakes, is a big seller for us during every Oscar season. Eric Litt has been employed by WGN-TV/Ch. 9 for over 31 years and currently is the Programming Specialist for Nexstar Media’s Digital Multicast Networks Antenna TV and Rewind TV. In addition to enjoying movies, he loves music, television, and baseball and is an avid runner and triathlete. Eric lives with his wife in Skokie, Illinois and has three grown kids. 

The Loop Files

=This week last year Rick Kaempfer got the first copy of his book The Loop Files. He had no idea it would go on to become our best selling book ever.

=The book is dedicated to two important Loopers who are no longer with us, promotion directors Sandy Stahl and Cindy Gatziolis. Cindy passed away this week (2025) in 2014. Hard to believe it's been ten years already.

=Several of the big stars mentioned in the book are celebrating birthdays this week. Patti Haze (October 25) was a major contributor to the radio station (the Loop), but she also contributed to the book. Bob Odenkirk (October 22) is a name that will surprise more casual fans of the station. It's true, the movie and television star got his start at the Loop as part of a comedy troupe called Duck Logic. This is a picture of them below. Can you spot Bob?

Always a Pleasure

=This week in 2022 (October 26), Chuck Swirsky's book Always a Pleasure was released by Eckhartz Press. Chuck was a promotional machine the next two months pitching the book. This week he was on WGN Radio with Bob Sirott (October 20), and was featured in the Chicago Sun Times (October 20)

=The subjects of two of the most surprising photos (and stories) in the book, Drake (October 24) and Tom Petty (October 20) were both born this week...

 

Vintage Confidential and Selling Dead People's Things

=What do these two titles have in common? They are both written by Duane Scott Cerny. Duane is now making his thoughts, mirth, mayhem and misery in the vintage realm regularly available via his Substack called It's All My Fault. You can subscribe here.

Last Comiskey

=Are you following (Book of the Year finalist) author Ken Smoller's Stadium Vagabond twitter feed yet? If not, why not? Here's a typical example from this week...

From the “Last Comiskey” book, Teammates, Ken Griffey Jr & Sr, playing catch at the last game at Comiskey Park on 9/30/90. The book (Eckhartz Press: https://t.co/Iy3fUkPhYb) has 400+ pics from the last days of Sox Park. #lebron #bronny #kengriffeyjr #junior #WhiteSox #Mariners pic.twitter.com/vjPif1xqxF

— Stadium Vagabond (@StadiumVagabond) October 22, 2024

Pat Colander

=One of our favorite departed authors Pat Colander would have been celebrating a birthday this week (October 25). Pat was our first author to win the Book of the Year award from the Chicago Writers Association. Her book Hugh Hefner's First Funeral: And other True Tales of Love and Death in Chicago is a journalistic masterpiece. Unbeknownst to us, Pat was already sick at the time of its publication. She passed away in January of 2019. We still miss her.

=This week in 2016, she did a well-attended reading from her book in Munster, Indiana. 

Joel Daly

=This week in 2020 (October 22) we lost another Eckhartz Press author. The universally beloved Joel Daly. Joel was a Renaissance man, Anchorman/Reporter/Attorney/Singer/Actor/Pilot. His book The Daly News was a 2014 release at Eckhartz Press. When Joel passed away he was lionized all over the media. Of course Channel 7 did an on-air tribute to Joel. The Sun-Times published this wonderful obit. Media writer Robert Feder also paid tribute. Great guy. We miss him. 

Best Seat in the House and EveryCubEver

=This week in 2016 (October 20), as the Cubs were beginning their World Series run, WCIU-TV invited two of our authors Rick Kaempfer (EveryCubEver) and Bruce Bohrer (Best Seat in the House) to be part of their morning show, live from Wrigleyville. This is Bruce with WCIU Morning host Jon Hansen. 

Doin the Cruise

=This week in 2018 (October 20), Mitch Michaels drove all the way to Northwest Indiana for a book signing at Tom Lounges' record store. Two of the members of M&R Rush showed up to say hello.

Grammar Moses

=This week in 2021 (October 2), Daily Herald editor/columnist Jim Baumann was featured in Robert Feder's column. Jim had just published his highly acclaimed book Grammar Moses. The book was a collection of Jim's famous grammar columns from the Daily Herald. 

Behind the Glass

=Randy Merkin's stories in Behind the Glass are mostly about athletes, but there are a few that cross over into the world of entertainment. For instance, this guy, Snoop Dog, celebrating a birthday this week (October 20).

 

 

Grace's Rockin Roll Adventure

=This week in 2020 (October 20), we met with author Ken Korber, to celebrate his collaboration with E-street guitarist Steven Van Zandt. It was in the midst of the pandemic, but these three brave souls still managed to gather for a photo...

 

Cheeseland and Lost In the Ivy

=This week in 2015 (October 21), Eckhartz Press author Randy Richardson was asked to attend the Carl Sandberg Literary Awards to benefit the Chicago Public Library Foundation. Steven Sondheim, Rick Bayless, Scott Simon, Bill Kurtis, Marv Levy, Sara Paretsky, Jim Peterik and Scott Turow were among the other attendees. You know, no big whoop.

   

The Unplanned Life and Wicker Park Wishes

=This week in 2020 (October 21), Roger Badesch was interviewed by Margaret Larkin for her Metrolingua blog about his memoir The Unplanned Life. You can still read that interview here.

=At the time, we had no way of knowing that Margaret Larkin would become an Eckhartz Press author herself. Just two years later (October 22), she appeared in Wicker Park to promote her novel Wicker Park Wishes...

Brandwidth

=This week in 2020 (October 22), author Kipper McGee appeared on the RadioInfo podcast to talk about his media book Brandwidth. You can still listen to that here. 

Chili Dog MVP and To The Men I've Loved

=This week (October 22) is former Chicago White Sox pitcher Wilbur Wood's 83rd birthday. Wilbur was a 20-game winner for the White Sox in the 1970s, but he also managed to do something even more impressive. He found his way into two Eckhartz Press books. This first photo of Wilbur with Nancy Faust and Bill Melton appears in Chili Dog MVP. The second photo of Wilbur and Jay Johnstone with Soxette (and future Eckhartz Press author Pat Motto) appears in To the Men I've Loved.

  

Records Truly Is My Middle Name

=This week in 2017 (October 23) we released the Hall of Fame edition of Records Truly Is My Middle Name after it was announced that John Landecker had been inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame. He was later also inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. John wrote a few new chapters and added a few dozen more photos for the new addition.

=Two days later we made an appearance at Purdue University (October 25). Both John and co-author Rick Kaempfer appeared for a lecture in the media department. 

Grun Weiss Vor! and Signature Shoes

=The greatest soccer player of all-time, Pele, was born this week (October 23) in 1940. Pele also appears in two Eckhartz Press books. The top photo is Pele with Green White Soccer Club legend Tom Czop from the book Grun Weiss Vor! The second photo is Pele's signature shoes, which are discussed and highlighted in Ryan Trembath's entertaining book about the Signature Shoe craze.

  

Transatlantic Passage

=Speaking of soccer, this week is also soccer legend Wayne Rooney's birthday (October 24). He appears in Paul Banks' book about the success of the Premier League in America, Transatlantic Passage. Paul even managed to snap this shot of the former Manchester United man.

 

We Have Company

=This week in 2016 (October 26), Bobby Skafish appeared on Kipper McGee's podcast to discuss his book We Have Company. 

=This week is also the birthday of one of the rock stars who appears in Bobby's book. Happy birthday to former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman (October 24).

The Radio Producer's Handbook

=Though this book is not technically an Eckhartz Press book, it did begin co-publisher Rick Kaempfer's official literary career. Twenty years ago this month (October 21), Channel 7 reporter Andy Shaw interviewed Rick and his co-author John Swany Swanson for Lake Magazine. You can read the entire interview here, if you're interested. 

Publishing Portal--October 15, 2024

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

Happy Birthday!

=Two Eckhartz Press authors are celebrating birthdays this week. Happy birthday to Media consultant Kipper McGee (October 15), author of Brandwidth, and retired Judge Michael Bender (October 18), author of Protecting Children.

    

Award Season!

=Congrats to two Eckhartz Press books, Hospital Heal Thyself and Last Comiskey for being named finalists for the CWA Book of the Year (in the non fiction category)! That makes 14 EP books that have been finalists in our 13 years of publishing. Hospital Heal Thyself has since gone on to be purchased by an international publisher, and Last Comiskey is still available now at Eckhartz Press. Great work by authors Mark Taylor and Ken Smoller.

=This week in 2013 (October 17), Records Truly Is My Middle Name (by John Landecker) became our first book ever named as a finalist for Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year. It was only the fourth book we ever published. John and his daughter (movie/TV star) Amy made the media rounds promoting the book.

=This week in 2021 (October 15), Mob Adjacent became our tenth book to be named a finalist for CWA Book of the Year.

  

Little Steven

=This week in 2020 (October 15), Steve Van Zandt announced his partnership with Eckhartz Press to publish a rock and roll book for kids. Written by Eckhartz Press author Ken Korber, and endorsed by the E-Street Band member himself. It's a story about a girl who goes to see Steve in concert, called Grace's Rockin' Roll Adventure.

Righteous Might

=This week in 1775 (October 13), the US Navy was formed. Only one book in the Eckhartz Press catalog is about the Navy, and that's a great novel by Keith Conrad. It's entitled Righteous Might. Pick up your copy this week. It's on sale.

Talking Bout My Generation

=Will Wagner's novel is about what happened to Pete Townshend's guitar after he tossed it into the audience at Woodstock. So, it's only natural that when the Who came town this week in 2022 (October 13), Will held a book signing down the street from the United Center before the show.

 

An Off-White Christmas

=This week in 2018 (October 18), Don Evans had his book launch party at the very swanky Cliff Dwellers on South Michigan Avenue. It was a star-studded event.

Signature Shoes

=John Wooden was born this week in 1910 (October 14). The legendary coach lived to a ripe old age of 99. Not only does he have the record for most NCAA Championships, he also had his own signature shoe. Ryan Trembath tells the story of the Wooden Shoes in his book Signature Shoes.

 

The Balding Handbook

=This week is Be Bald and Be Free Day (October 14). It's a day that Balding Handbook author David Stern celebrates every year. Even though his book is no longer in print, his head is adorned with the exact same amount of hair.

Father Knows Nothing

=This week in 2015 (October 14), Rick Kaempfer appeared on Rabbi Doug's television show to talk about his latest book, Father Knows Nothing.

We Have Company

=This week in 2016, Bobby Skafish was making the rounds promoting his book We Have Company. He appeared on WBEZ (photo) and also on the Kevin Matthews podcast.

=The reviews also started coming in for Bobby's book, and they were incredible. Here's a small sampling...

• “Make sure your schedule is clear when you begin to read this book because you won’t be able to put it down. You’re there as Skafish speaks face to face with the architects of the music that made radio hip, here and happening.”

  --Bob Stroud/WDRV Radio

• “Close encounters of the rock radio kind from the coolest cat to ever drop a needle on vinyl”

  --John Records Landecker/Radio Legend

• “With over four decades as a silver-tongued D.J., Bobby Skafish turns his numerous interview moments into a can’t-stop reading adventure. Partly his thoughts on the interview process but mainly a memoir about his lifelong passion for music and those that make it. Highly recommended!”

  --Johnny Mars/WXRT Radio

• “Bobby Skafish delves into an interview with knowledge, finesse and the ability to get a conversation started. He once told me that listening is just as important as asking the questions. This book is proof that his approach is right on!”

  --Wendy Snyder/WGN Radio

=Also this week, two of the interview subjects in Bobby's book are celebrating birthdays, Sammy Hagar (October 13), and John Mayer (October 16)

Chasing the Lost City

=This week in 2017, Tom Weinberg was riding high while promoting his book Chasing the Lost City. Rick Kogan wrote about it in the Chicago Tribune (October 15), and Tom's book launch party (October 17) at the Billy Goat was a big success.

 Doin the Cruise

=This week in 2017 (October 17), Doin 'The Cruise was tearing it up on GoodReads. Here's an example of the reviews from readers...

Bob rated it AMAZING!
A must-read for fans of radio and rock & roll music. Radio legend Mitch Michaels takes you behind the scenes of some of Chicago's most popular radio stations that were part of his remarkable career. An honest, in-depth, revealing look at the radio stations, DJ's, management, and rock stars that created the soundtrack to our lives. The memoir is very enlightening, and at times extremely funny, but also with moments that are heartbreaking. Mitch Michaels along with Ken Churilla have perhaps written the best book to date that captures the life of one of Chicago's most beloved radio personalities. A great read from start to finish.

Cubsessions

=This week in 2018 (October 16) the original version of Cubsessions was also garnering some serious buzz at GoodReads. Here's an example...

Evan rated it "AMAZING"
While reading Cubsessions: Famous Fans of Chicago’s North Side Baseball Team & Their Stories of Pain, Loyalty, Hope, and (Finally) Joy by Becky Sarwate and Randy Richardson, I realized that my experience at the conclusion of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series closely mirrored the experiences of those interviewed for the book. While we all wanted to be with the Cubs in Cleveland, many were nowhere near Progressive Field that night (I was watching on TV on the West Coast). Many watched the game with their families (I watched with my parents). Many shed tears of joy (I did, and I still get choked up every time I watch a video of the final out). Many were inundated with congratulatory phone calls immediately following the game (Call after call. I heard from friends I hadn’t spoken with in years). It was interesting to read the 31 interviews in Cubsessions. They feature a diverse group of people, from various walks of life, experiencing a similar feeling at the same moment. Famous Cub fans: Bob Newhart (who is a national treasure), Tom Dreesen, Joe Mantegna, and Nick Offerman. Cub fans whom other Cub fans will recognize, but might not know by name: the guy who invented the Shawon-O-Meter, the Bleacher Preacher, the owner of Murphy’s Bleachers, and Ronnie Woo Woo. Cub fans famous enough to be interviewed, who I honestly never heard of, but Cub fans nonetheless. All remained loyal while suffering as our beloved team wandered for 108 years through the bottom half of the National League standings until finally reaching The Promised Land in 2016! Hallelujah! Holy Cow! Where’s the Tylenol? This book is a must read for any Cub fan. Reliving the night of Game 7, the greatest game ever played, will put a smile on your face. Also, 100 percent of the proceeds from book sales go to cancer and baseball charities. Go buy this book, and GO CUBS GO!

Chili Dog MVP

=Chili Dog MVP isn't just a book about 1972 Chicago, it's not just a book about the great Dick Allen, it's also about the entire White Sox team from that year. Two of the lesser known members of that team, Hugh Yancy (October 16) and Rudy Hernandez (October 18) are celebrating birthdays this week. Yancy only played in three games for the team (at second base). Hernandez was a 20-year-old rookie shortstop and appeared in only 8 games. 

The Loop Files

=Two of the people featured in the book The Loop Files are celebrating birthdays this week. Happy birthday to Mitch Rosen (October 17) and Catherine Beckman (October 18). That's Catherine in the photo below on the far right (with Carol Harmon and Jimmy "Bud" Wiser).

The Unplanned Life

=This week in 1974 (October 17), the show Austin City Limits debuted. The creator of that show is Roger Badesch's long-time friend. He provided this blurb for The Unplanned Life...

• “Roger and I go back over 50 years to when he was a high school student and I was the TV Director for Evanston Township High School. Then again when I was TV Producer-Director for Southern Illinois University and Roger was an enthusiastic RTV Major. He worked on several of my shows including one with Billy Joel and one with the rock band Brownsville Station. I went on to co-create and direct PBS’ Austin City Limits, and Roger went on to become an anchor for WGN Radio News. His story is bound to be a good one!”

  Bruce Scafe, co-creator, Austin City Limits

Behind the Glass

=Evander Holyfield is celebrating a birthday this week (October 19). Evander rates his own chapter in Randy Merkin's book Behind the Glass...

 

Your Dime My Dance Floor

=Former Bears coach Mike Ditka has a birthday this week as well (October 18). He's featured in Chet Coppock's book Your Dime My Dance Floor. (He will also be featured prominently in Dan McNeil's upcoming Bears book I Bear Witness)

=This week in 2018 (October 18), Chet had a book signing at his favorite local joint, Stormy's in Northbrook...

Cameo

=One of the endorsers of Beth Jacobellis' novel Cameo was WGN Radio's John Williams (born October 19). Here's what he said...

• Mythical but modern, Cameo shows us how to listen to the past to find love in the present.

  John Williams, WGN Radio host