Publishing Portal--May 28, 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!

One of the key members of the team that brought you Chili Dog MVP is editor George Castle. George is ironically best known as the author of several excellent Cubs books, but he is also the man who introduced Chili Dog MVP authors David Fletcher and John Owens to Eckhartz Press. That book is an ode to White Sox great Dick Allen. It's George's birthday this week (May 27). Happy birthday George!

Righteous Might

=This week in 2020, Keith Conrad's novel Righteous Might was released. The science fiction thriller about time travel and the attack on Pearl Harbor is still available at Eckhartz Press. In fact, exactly one year later the audio book of Righteous Might was released as well.

Wicker Park Wishes

=This week in 2021, Wicker Park Wishes author Margaret Larkin sat down for this Q&A about her recently released book. (http://rickkaempfer.blogspot.com/2021/05/wicker-park-wishes_26.html)

Records Truly Is My Middle Name & Everything I Know I Learned from Rock Stars

=Steve Nicks celebrates a birthday this week (May 26), and she is featured in two Eckhartz Press books. John Landecker hung out with her one night at the Playboy Mansion on State Parkway in Chicago (photo below), and Bill Paige interviewed her for Illinois Entertainer, which is featured in his book of interviews, Everything I Know I Learned from Rock Stars.

The Daly News

=When Joel Daly passed away in 2020, WGN Radio posted a few of the interviews he did on their airwaves over the years. One of them was with Steve & Johnnie from this week in 2005 (May 26). You can still listen to it here. 

The Unplanned Life

=This week in 2020, Roger Badesch was making the rounds promoting his new memoir. Among his media stops, Matt Bubala's show on WGN Radio (May 26). 

Cubsessions

=A few key Cubsessions birthdays this week. Cubs announcer Pat Hughes (May 27) rates an entire chapter in the book with his account of what it was like to announce the World Series winning moment. In addition, two Cubs greats made appearances at Cubsessions book signings, Carlos Zambrano (June 1) and Randy Hundley (June 1). Both are shown in photos with Cubsessions co-author Randy Richardson below.

Life Behind the Camera

=Who wouldn't want this endorsement? It happened to Life Behind the Camera author Chuck Quinzio this week (May 27) in 2014. Yes, that is Sting.

We Have Company

=It's a big week for rock star birthdays for some reason, which means it's a big week for Bobby Skafish's book We Have Company. Three rock stars celebrating birthdays this week get the full chapter treatment in Bobby's book. Crowded House's Neil Finn (May 27), guitarist Gary Brooker (May 29), and Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood (June 1). That's Ronnie on the left, and Skafish in the middle of the photo. Bernard Fowler is on the right.

Your Dime My Dance Floor

=Chet Coppock attended every Chicago Bears opening day game for 68 years in a row. Naturally he became acquainted with the great Bears running back Gale Sayers. He writes a whole chapter about him in his book Your Dime My Dance Floor. Gale was born this week in 1943.

Always a Pleasure

=Sad news over the weekend. RIP Bill Walton.

RIP. I can’t believe I’m actually writing this on social media. I’ve known Bill for years and he was so kind and gracious to me. He invited me over to his house in the San Diego area , we talked for hours . He loved talking about John Wooden and his days at UCLA. I am so sad pic.twitter.com/2ACf8m5wkK

— chuck swirsky (@ctsbulls) May 27, 2024

=Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan obviously deals with Chicago Bulls radio play-by-play man Chuck Swirsky on a regular basis. It wasn't a big surprise that Billy also appeared in Chuck's book Always a Pleasure. It's Billy's birthday this week (May 30)

The Write City Review, Volume 1

=This week in 2018 (May 31), the Chicago Writers Association came to us and asked us to publish their literary journal. Little did we know this would just be the beginning. Since then they have asked us to publish three more! Volume 4 just came out recently.

Signature Shoes

=One of the pioneers in the world of Signature Shoes was New York Jets star quarterback Joe Namath, who is celebrating a birthday this week (May 31). He is featured prominently in Ryan Trembath's book about the celebrity shoe craze.

Monkey in the Middle

=Dobie Maxwell's incredible book about a real-life bank robbery has gotten praise from across the spectrum. One of the biggest fans is Toronto radio personality Jerry Agar (May 31 birthday boy). Here's what he said about the book...

• “It is a sad fact of the human condition that we are entertained by the misfortune of others. That is why Dobie Maxwell calls himself “Mr. Lucky.” He takes the body blows that life has dealt him and makes them into stories for your amusement. None is better than the story told here of two life-long friends – guys who counted on one another – gone wrong with bank robberies, the FBI, police lineups and all the intrigue of crime story fiction which became all too real for Maxwell. If your best friend’s actions had you in the crosshairs of the FBI, what would you do? Read the story, for Dobie’s answer.”

  Jerry Agar/Talk show host/News Talk 1010—CFRB Toronto

Truffle Hunt

=This week in 2015 (June 1), Brent Petersen made a recipe featured in his foodie novel Truffle Hunt at the farmer's market in Austin Texas...

EveryCubEver

=This week in 2021, Rick Kaempfer appeared on John Landecker's show on WGN Radio talking about the update of his book EveryCubEver. He even recites a poem he wrote for the book. Worth a listen. Of course, Rick and John go waaaay back. Here's a photo of the two them doing a live radio show together on WJMK more than thirty years ago.

From the Eckhartz Bookshelf: The Daly News

  With over 80 books in our library, this year we're taking some time every week to highlight one of the books on the Eckhartz bookshelf. This week's book is The Daly News by Joel Daly. Joel is a legend in Chicago, and this book garnered a lot of attention when we released it in 2014. It was one of the books that put our little press on the map.

Joel Daly is a Chicago icon.

*He was a television news reporter. In that role he interviewed the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., Governor George Wallace, accused murderer (and inspiration for “The Fugitive”) Sam Sheppard, and even the Beatles.

*He was a television news anchor. In that role he helped create the Eyewitness News brand, wrote and delivered daily commentaries during the incredible tumult of the late 60s and early 70s, and along with fellow legendary anchor Fahey Flynn, anchored Chicago’s top rated newscast.

*He was a actor and performer. As a young man he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, and as a not-quite-as-young-man recently appeared as Howard Beale in a stage version of “Network”.

*He was a pilot. He built his own airplane from scratch, later flew it, and even went wing-walking.

*He was a country music star. His band Joel Daly and the Sundowners appeared all over the Chicago area for years. Joel wowed the audience with his yodeling abilities.

*He was an attorney. He went back to law school in his 50s, and became a prominent lawyer in Chicago, recently retiring after more than twenty years practicing law.

Joel Daly is Chicago’s very own Renaissance Man. In this second edition of “The Daly News”, he tells all those stories and more.

Meet the Eckhartz Press Author: Joel Daly

  Now that we have such a big stable of talented authors, we're going to take some time this year to re-introduce them to you. This week it's the Chicago broadcasting legend Joel Daly. What a thrill it was to work with Joel in the last six years of his life. He could light up a room.

Joel Daly

Joel Daly is a Chicago icon. Joel has been a television reporter and anchor, an attorney, a pilot, an actor, and a country music star. His memoir is entitled “The Daly News”. Joel passed away in 2020 at the age of 86.

• You may have trusted him for years as he brought you the news. You may have been entertained when you heard him yodel. You may have thrilled to his Renaissance man exploits as world traveler, pilot, actor, and lawyer. Read this book to find out why he became all those things…and why Joel Daly is my Dad.

  --Linda Yu, ABC-Chicago News Anchor

• Joel Daly’s warmth, humor, and intelligence shine in this fascinating memoir. He was an eyewitness to over 50 years of news and history, covering it all with compassion, perspective and absolute dedication to his craft. What an honor to have worked with one of broadcasting’s true giants.

  --Emily Barr, former President and General Manager of WLS-TV

• A highlight of the text are numerous transcripts of Daly’s commentaries, a staple of the newscasts he co-anchored with Fahey Flynn starting in the late ’60s. In contrast to the “happy talk” image his station projected, Daly’s smart, literate essays were evidence that his magna cum laude Yale education and world travels had not gone to waste.

  --Media Critic Robert Feder, robertfeder.com

Eckhartz Everyday

 *Four celebrities featured in Eckhartz Press books were born on this day in history. They don't have anything else in common with each other...

Marianne Faithful is in Bobby Skafish's book We Have Company.

Mary Tyler Moore is in John Landecker's book Records Truly Is My Middle Name

Dr. Sam Sheppard (the original inspiration for The Fugitive) is in Joel Daly's book The Daly News

Theo Epstein is in Randy Merkin's book Behind the Glass, and of course, my book EveryCubEver.

Eckhartz Everyday

 This day in Eckhartz history there have been lots of big events. Here are a few...

*In 2014, we did a group signing at the Billy Goat on Lower Michigan Avenue. Bruce Bohrer (Best Seat in the House), David Stern (The Balding Handbook), me, Rich King (Ike and Me), John Landecker (Records Truly is My Middle Name), and Joel Daly (The Daly News)...

*In 2016 Mark Gelinas had the book launch party for his book GelStrong in Atlanta...

*On this day in 2021, Randy Merkin did a book signing in the Glen, promoting his book Behind the Glass...

 

 

Eckhartz Everyday

 

*On this day in 1964, Joel Daly met and hung out with the Beatles. Here is the excerpt from his book The Daly News...

It was September 15, 1964. I went to Public Square after the 11:00 News, to watch the screaming crowd, awaiting the group’s arrival at the Sheraton Cleveland Hotel. Somehow another reporter and I got swept up by the security detail guarding the rear entrance, and wound up in the Beatles’ suite. I spent most of the night in casual conversation with the Fab Four. I didn’t realize until years later what a big deal it was! The Beatles were on the last stop of a month-long tour and were bone-tired. Acknowledging the “groupies” who besieged them everywhere they went, Ringo complained: “My ‘peter’ hurts”.

While I was there an 11-year old girl arrived with a stolen key for a room; a young boy hid in a packing case being delivered; another tried to get into the Kon Tiki bar, pretending to have a reservation; and another pretended to faint outside, only to request that she be given first aid inside the hotel.

The police asked that the Beatles stay on the same floor where the press conference was held, rather than the Presidential suite, to throw fans off the scent. The press conference provided little news. The Beatles were fidgety, twisting the microphone cords and lighting cigarettes. Someone asked John Lennon: “How did you find America?” He replied “We turned left at Greenland.” It was downhill from there. “How many rings does Ringo wear?” “When was your last haircut?” “Don’t you trust American barbers?”

Later, the Beatles were spirited by the police to the Public Auditorium for their show. During the third song, “All My Loving”, about a hundred fans stormed the stage. Police stopped the show and forced the Beatles to take refuge in their trailer. When peace was restored, it became a “Long Day’s Night.”

 *On this day in 2013, WLS morning host Don Wade passed away. The following stories about Don made it into the final version of Records Truly Is My Middle Name. 

This first one is about their time together at WIBG in Philadelphia…

“When I worked with John in Philly at WIBG, I was doing mornings and John was doing evenings. Our schedules were opposite, but we saw each other at weekly meetings that were a complete waste of time. We’d eat pizza and try to be serious, but nobody was. Before or after the meetings a bunch of us would go to this par-three golf course and drink beer, and hit balls. We didn’t fit in at all at the golf course — we didn’t know how to golf, we all had long hair, and got dirty looks from the real golfers, the business executives. When we weren’t “golfing,” we were playing softball. Rick Buckley, the son of the owner, would get a keg, and would show up wearing sweats, and we would go out and bat the ball around. We all loved working for Rick. All he wanted to do was have drinks and have a good time. He was one of the guys.”

The second story is about the final days of the music format on WLS in the late 1980s…

“In those days we were only playing about four records an hour because John Gehron, who was running the place — and really is a radio genius, recognized that the future of music on AM radio was pretty grim. It was great working with John again. I’ve always considered him to be a great guy — always smiling and always positive. He was genuinely supportive of everyone else on the air. He would go out of his way to let you know when he heard things that he liked on the air. The other thing I’ve always admired about him is that he really works at his craft. He may come off like he’s goofing off, but trust me, he really works at it. He takes it very seriously.”

This is the way John recalled Don during the writing of the book…

Although there weren’t many highlights from that second WLS era, I did get to work with my old friend Don Wade, who I had worked with in Philadelphia at WIBG. He’s known as Mr. Conservative now, but when we worked together at WIBG he was a long haired hippie with bellbottoms. He did a scripted bit show there, the same kind of show he was doing at WLS in the 80s in the midday slot. When WLS changed formats to news/talk a few years later, Don was the one they asked to stay. 

 

 

Eckhartz Everyday

*Born on this day in 1919, future Alabama Governor George Wallace. Joel Daly interviewed him back in the day, and wrote about him in his Eckhartz Press book The Daly News.

*On this day in 2019, I appeared on Rick Kogan's show on WGN Radio, along with future Eckhartz Press author Roger Badesch. We talked about my book EveryCubEver and Roger's upcoming book The Unplanned Life.

Eckhartz Everyday

*On this day in 2014, Joel Daly was interviewed about his book The Daly News by the Bar Association.Why? In addition to being a news anchor, reporter, pilot, and singer, Joel was an attorney. More on that here, if you're interested.

*Today is Mark Knopfler's birthday. The Dire Straits guitarist and frontman is featured in Bill Paige's book Everything I Know I Learned From Rock Stars.

Eckhartz Everyday

 *On this day in 2013, John Landecker appeared at the Beverly Arts Center to talk about his book Records Truly Is My Middle Name. I was brought up on stage to talk about it as well. Today is also the birthday of Jonathon Brandmeier, who contributed a few great stories to the book.

*On this in 2014, Eckhartz Press unveiled this promotional video for Joel Daly's book The Daly News...

 

*On this day in 2018, Richard Reeder staged a launch party for his new book, 1001 Train Rides in Chicago. We were there...

Eckhartz Everyday

 

*On this day in 2015, Eckhartz Press authors Rick Kaempfer (Father Knows Nothing), Joel Daly (The Daly News) and John Records Landecker (Records Truly is My Middle Name) headlined the 2015 Printer’s Row Lit Fest.

Free Excerpt--Joel Daly Commentary

 

(Commentary March 29, 1977)

One of the gems contained in "The Daly News" by Joel Daly is his treasure trove of nightly commentaries. He delivered them every night on ABC-7 in Chicago. This is the one he delivered on March 29, 1977, about the DC-3 airplane. Joel was also a pilot...


Commentary - March 29, 1977

It wasn’t much of an incident, really: An old cargo plane veered off a runway at O’Hare and was destroyed. The two crewmen escaped with burns.

In the wake of the Canary Island tragedy, the story barely rated a mention, except in connection with the weather.

“A twin-engine plane,” said most experts, “propeller-driven.” Only parenthetically was it identified as a DC-3.

A DC-3. It’s not that I’m ancient. But, I suddenly realized an entire generation has grown up on big, silver airplanes that push their way through the air instead of grabbing for it with powerful propellers.

The airplane destroyed last night at O’Hare was more than a “twin-engine, propeller-driven relic.” It was one of the greatest airplanes ever built!

The DC-3 literally rescued our floundering airline industry, back in the ‘30’s. By the time production ended in 1945, the DC-3 probably represented nearly half the planes in the sky. It was still toting guns during Viet Nam.

Military pilots lovingly called it the gooney bird. One of them wrote: “It rattled, it protested, it leaked oil, it ran hot, it ran cold, and it ran rough. It staggered along on hot days, and scared you half to death. Its wings flexed and twisted in a horrifying manner. It sank back to earth with a great sigh of relief. But, it flew and flew and flew. Honest faithful and magnificent machine that it was.”

Forty years later, some 3,000 are still in the air. The DC-3 is half as old as aviation itself. And, more than any other airplane, responsible for its growth.

That’s why I felt the old gooney that burned last night deserved a better obituary. After all those years and all those hours, in all that weather, fate had to sneak up on her—on the ground—when she wasn’t looking.

Free Excerpt from The Daly News: Commentary March 8, 1972

 

Some of the treasures in Joel Daly's book "The Daly News" are the television commentaries he sprinkled throughout the book. Joel delivered nightly commentaries on Channel 7 News for a decade, and it just happened to be the most tumultuous decade of all-time. This is his commentary from March 8, 1972; a time when bombings were becoming commonplace worldwide--including Chicago. This particular commentary led to death threats that were so specific, Joel checked his car for bombs every night before driving home.


Commentary - March 8, 1972

Some powder, a fuse and a spark…such are the basics of a bomb. But of what is the bomber made?

Without courage or compassion, without feeling or concern, the bomber is foremost and first…the worst kind of coward!

With his pliers and wires and cheap little clocks, he’s a shadow of a man with “little boy” thoughts.

Playing hide-and-seek with people’s lives, he’s less likely to be feared than despised.

Some powder, a fuse and a spark…how simple to build a bomb…how difficult to understand the bomber.

He knows not his victims; how many or why. They may be innocent, unsuspecting, but still they may die.

Coward! Coward! Who would kill without cause: shoppers in Belfast; passengers in tourist-class.

Coward! And cursed, that person who would threaten, extort and indiscriminately destroy for money, vainglory, a red glow in the sky.

Sick minds, it’s true, feed on headlines, drool at the damage and laugh at the frightened. But, we cannot ignore nor defer the fact that madmen walk our streets; the worst of assassins, paranoid and plotting.

Some powder, a fuse and a spark. These are the basics of a bomb, but of what is the bomber made?

He is hollow, without soul, an empty shell. The bomber is humanity’s “dud”.

Eckhartz Everyday

*On this day in 1983, future Eckhartz Press author Joel Daly (The Daly News) was one of the most popular broadcasters in Chicago, and he posted this report about the end of the great show M*A*S*H... 

 

*Today is also Leslie Keiling's birthday. Leslie contributed several stories to John Landecker's book Records Truly Is My Middle Name., including the story about what it was like being on the air the morning of 9/11, and how the morning show reacted to that life-changing event. (We recently told that story together on Garry Meier's podcast)

*On this day in 2012, future Eckhartz Press author Margaret Larkin (Wicker Park Wishes) interviewed me about my two novels, $everance, and The Living Wills. It's a fun interview. 

You can read it here.

*On this day in 2014, Chuck Quinzio's Life Behind the Camera got a great write-up from the NABAT Union.. 

Read the piece here. 

*On this day in 2019, Litpop paid tribute to the late great Pat Colander, author of the award-winning Eckhartz Press book Hugh Hefner's First Funeral. 

Read the tribute here.

Eckhartz Everyday

*On this day in 2016, three Eckhartz Press authors appeared on stage at the Chicago Cultural Center in a SAG/AFTRA performance. They performed an old-time radio program...The Lone Ranger! John Landecker (as the narrator), WGN's Roger Badesch (as Tonto), and Joel Daly (as the yodeling cowboy).

Their books, Records Truly Is My Middle Name, The Unplanned Life, and The Daly News are all still available at Eckhartz Press.

*Today is CBS Sports icon James Brown's birthday. He is a big fan of the Eckhartz Press book Behind the Glass by Randy Merkin. Here's what he said about the 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.”

Eckhartz Everyday

 

*On this day in 2014, Chicago broadcasting icon Joel Daly got the first copy of his Eckhartz Press book The Daly News. This is the photo we took of him at his favorite breakfast joint, the day he got the book. Dave and I had breakfast with Joel at this place in Western Springs every other month from the day his book was published until just a few months before his death. Great guy. We loved him.

*Today is Alice Cooper's birthday. Alice is featured in Bobby Skafish's book We Have Company. He's also featured in my book The Radio Producer's Handbook, and in the pages of Father Knows Nothing, I rewrote the words to "Schools Out" to more appropriately convey the subject from the parent's point of view.

Eckhartz Everyday

 Both Joel and Chet are gone now, but their stories remain forever in print at Eckhartz Press. These broadcasting icons will not be forgotten.

*On this day in 1978, Eckhartz Press author Joel Daly delivered his final commentary on the Channel 7 News in Chicago. That commentary is preserved in the pages of his book The Daly News, and is excerpted here.

*On this day in 2019, Chet Coppock made his final appearance promoting his book Your Dime Your Dance Floor. He appeared at a Bowling for Veterans charity event.