Publishing Portal--September 21, 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.

We have two brand new hits on our hands...

40 Years, 40 Horror Films

=Nick was selling them at the Drive In in Dixon this past weekend (below), and has another event coming up in a few weeks (see a few items below).

Maria the Pappas

=This book is already flying off the shelves. Currently it's a #1 new release in its category on Amazon. This afternoon at 3:30pm Maria Pappas will be on the air on WCPT (820 AM) with host Joan Esposito. Be sure to tune in! Maria is always an unpredictable (and entertaining) interview.

=Co-author Mark Eleveld chatted with Rick Kogan about the book on his podcast.

=This Friday (September 25) at 7:30pm, Maria will be at Pella Restaurant in Burr Ridge (720 Village Center Drive) signing and selling her book.

Celtic Knot

=If we could clone Robert Conlon, we would. The man is a sales machine. Of course, it helps when his book is so good. He has another event this week at the Book Loft in Oak Park (Wednesday, September 23, 6pm, 1047 Lake Street). Come on out and meet Bob. He spins a good yarn. 

Inside Melania

If you happen to be in Brooklyn this week, you've got a chance to see our very own Lauren LoGuidice performing her stand up comedy routine at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective (167 Graham Ave.). Doors open at 6:30. The show starts at 7:00. Get your tickets here.  

Nose Over Toes

=Janet Sutherland's Eckhartz Press book is about her comeback from a Brain Aneurysm. Janet is a big supporter of the annual fundraiser for the Brain Aneurysm foundation, and naturally she will be there this Sunday, September 27, at McCormick Place. The registration is at 8am, and the walk is 9:15am. You can pre-register here: The 2026 Brain Aneurysm Run/Walk

The Unplanned Life

=Come out and see Eckhartz Press author Roger Badesch this weekend. He will part of the SAG-AFTRA Radio Players presentation of The Tell-Tale Heart (as the policeman) at Chief O'Neil's on September 27 at 4pm. Tickets are free, but registration is required. You can register here. 

40 Years, 40 Horror Films

=To say that Nick Digilio is a little excited about this upcoming event is an obvious understatement. Naturally he'll be selling his new book there. It couldn't possibly be more thematically appropriate. 

=And here's another big deal for Nick. On Saturday October 10 (at noon), he will doing a book signing/meet & greet/interview at the Museum of Broadcast Communications. Rich Koz (Svengoolie) will be interviewing Nick.

In case you missed it...

Chili Dog MVP

=Chili Dog MVP was a big hit in Boston this past weekend! 

=And thanks to Dr. Fletcher for these kind words...
David Fletcher

 ·

 ·

by author

Rick Kaempfer and David Stern, thanks for your tremendous support in believing in our book project, Chili Dog MVP, Dick Allen, The 1972 White Sox and A Transforming Chicago that John Owens and I wrote in 2021/2022. We were fortunate to have Sharon Pannozzo as our publicist to help launch the book. Thanks to Rick and David we were runner-up for Best Non-Fiction book for the Chicago Writers Association awards in 2022. The book evolved into My Father, Dick Allen , and my Emmy Award-winning director, Andy Billman, and I have gone all over the US previewing the film, including yesterday at the Boston Film Festival. We appreciate @Eckhartz Press for supporting us over the past four years.

The Sun at the End of the Road

=Great article by Rick Kogan in the Chicago Tribune last Wednesday about Tony Fitzpatrick's family--especially his kids Max and Gabby--and their new film. We just love the picture that accompanies the piece too, which also features Tony's wife Michelle and the spirit of Tony. 

‘Driven,’ a short film by Max and Gabby Fitzpatrick, features and honors their dad, Tony https://t.co/I0AUvuOXrO

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) September 16, 2026

Ken Korber

=The man behind our best-selling children's books has a piece in the latest issue of Newsweek Magazine. It's called Children Should Learn Lifesaving Skills Early.

Sarasota

=Richard Reeder has a new website for his book Sarasota. Check it out here.

The Best of Words on Birds

=Jeff Reiter appeared at the Elgin Garden Club last week and sent us this note...

My presentation was called "The Nature of Birding." When it was over one of the younger members presented me with the attached poster.  She was clearly paying close attention to my words on birds! Plus she is a good artist.  Her name is Rachel Balk.

Mob Adjacent

=This book has also been made into a film. Have you seen the trailer?

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Eckhartz Press birthdays!

South Side Memories

=Happy birthday to Eckhartz Press author Gloria Golec (September 22). This photo of Gloria and her grandchildren was taken just last weekend at the Printers Row Litfest...

An Off-White Christmas

=Eckhartz Press author, and founder of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, Donald G. Evans is also celebrating a birthday this week (September 25). Don wrote a great book of short stories for us called An Off-White Christmas. Stories about Christmas time, but not necessarily about the holiday itself. It's a perfect gift. Here's a podcast interview of Don talking about the book.

=Fellow author (also celebrating a birthday this week--September 24) Christine Sneed is a big fan of Don's book. Here's what she had to say about it...

• The stories in Don Evans’s excellent collection, An Off-White Christmas, are full of witty, humane moments, vivid characters and settings that range from Chicago to Syracuse to Las Vegas. The people you’ll meet here are your friends, your neighbors, your relatives—in all their flawed beauty and pathos. This book is not to be missed.

  —Christine Sneed, author of Little Known Facts and Portraits of a Few of the People I've Made Cry

Other Notable birthdays...

The Flip Side

=This week is Debbie Boone's birthday (September 22). Co-author Larry Rosenbaum still says that Debbie's appearance at a Flip Side records store was one of the biggest draws they ever had. He tells that story in the pages of The Flip Side.

Truffle Hunt

=This week is also Bruce Springsteen's birthday (September 23). Eckhartz Press author Brent Petersen, a bit of Boss-o-phile, met Mr. Springsteen a few years ago and had his picture taken with him. No big whoop. 

Grun Weiss Vor!

=This book is about the history of an esteemed local Chicago soccer club, Green White. Reading that history is like reading the history of soccer in Chicago. Among the biggest soccer stars to ever set foot in Chicago is former Chicago Sting star Arno Steffenhagen (right). His birthday is this week (September 24). Naturally Arno is also in Grun Weiss Vor! This is a photo of him with former Green White player Ralph Mansfield (left).

 

Records Truly Is My Middle Name

=Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, is celebrating a birthday this week (September 25). John Landecker tells a great story in Records Truly Is My Middle Name about Hamill's appearance on his show in 1977. It involved a bit John called "Radio Star Wars". We looked for the audio from that bit, and found it was recorded off-the-air by a radio listener that day. He explains the story quite well, but that's not the reason we're posting it. You can hear the bit itself here. It begins around the 2 minute mark of this video...

Scottie Pippen

=Scottie Pippen's birthday is this week too (September 25). The Bulls Hall of Famer appears in two Eckhartz Press books, Always a Pleasure by Chuck Swirsky, and Behind the Glass by Randy Merkin. (Photographic evidence below.) 

The Sun at the End of the Road

=Marc Hauser was a famous photographer, and a friend of author Tony Fitzpatrick. Marc was born this week in history (September 25, 1952). Tony wrote a piece about him in The Sun at the End of the Road. Here is a small excerpt...

People compare him to WeeGee or Ralph Eugene Meatyard—fine photographers, to be sure, and great artists, but I find Marc's vision more shot-through with kindness and compassion. Many photographers look through a lens like they’re viewing a line-up of suspects—detached, removed, as if offering any element of their own feeling somehow invalidates the work itself. WeeGee often shot crime scenes, inviting a leering, voyeuristic glimpse into the tragedy of one’s fellow man or woman. Diane Arbus' photographs evoke something similar, and I always get the feeling she was ’slumming.’ Not so with Hauser. These were the kids from his neighborhood; kids he saw every day. His neighborhood and mine—Bucktown, in the early ‘80s, was a much rougher place than it is now, and those kids were a feral bunch. Many of them came to a bad end; drugs, crime and addiction took a lot of them. But, for that one Halloween? Marc forever preserved them in the amber of childhood, a place of near-innocence and joy. I am careful not to copy the kids from Marc's amazing book. His documentation of Chicago childhood is a work of art unto itself and should not be pantomimed.

=This is the artwork by Tony that accompanied the piece...

Notable Anniversaries...

The Sun at the End of the Road

=This week last year (September 26, 2025), actor Richard Kind called out Tony Fitzpatrick while singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley Field. Tony was incredibly touched by the gesture. He was in the hospital at the time, and only had a few more days to live. Tony did something that he had never done before. He put on a Cubs hat. (Tony was a die-hard Sox fan). It was the last picture Tony ever posted on his Instagram page.

I Bear Witness

=One of the enduring elements of Dan McNeil's excellent Bears book I Bear Witness is the chapter about the Bears legends who have passed away in recent years. Dan does a wonderful job eulogizing them, including one of the all-time greats who passed away this week (September 23) in 2020, Gale Sayers.

The Scar Dance

=This week in 2018 (September 27) the Eckhartz Press book The Scar Dance was released. It was named a finalist for Book of the Year by the Chicago Writers Association. This is a Q&A with author William Mansfield around the time of the book's release.

Your Dime My Dance Floor

=This week in 2018, Chet Coppock made an appearance at Blue Island Beer Company to promote his book Your Dime My Dance Floor. Chet held court during a Bears game and offered his commentary. The crowd loved it.

A Man, A Mission, A Miracle

=This week in 2018 (September 28), Lewis University named their student center after Brother James Gaffney. Gaffney, of course, is the subject of Andrew Langert's Eckhartz Press book.

1001 Train Rides in Chicago

=This week in 2018 (September 24), Richard Reeder signed copies of his book at the legendary north suburban deli Max & Benny's. 

Everything I Know I Learned from Rock Stars

=This week in 2017 (September 25), Bill Paige received this wonderful review by Michael Doherty about his book Everything I Know I Learned from Rock Stars.

     As you might guess, as a result of reading this book, the list of albums I want to purchase has grown...This book is an enjoyable and fairly quick read, and it’s set up such that you can, if you so choose, pick certain sections to read and bounce around as your interests dictate. There are several pages of photos in the middle of the book, including one of a letter written by Kurt Vonnegut, one of my two favorite writers (the other being Shakespeare).

--Famed Music Blogger Michael Doherty

=Here's the letter from Kurt Vonnegut...(click to enlarge it)

Doin the Cruise

=This week in 2017 (September 26), the music writer for the NWI Times, Tom Lounges, reviewed Mitch Michael's book Doin the Cruise. Here's a little taste of what he said...

    Michaels is old-school and defines the term "radio personality" as he tells stories and becomes your surrogate friend on the other side of the dial, the voice you turn to when you need company and want to share a memory or two. Michaels does more than say — "That was ..." and "This is ..."

    "I live the music. I tell listeners about the bands, the ins and outs of the music, share a story about the song or something about a concert by that artist I attended years ago. I don’t just talk at my listeners, I talk to them," Michaels said. "I hang out with them and rock right along with everyone who’s listening, because what it all comes down to really is we're all the same. We’re all just fans."

=And that was before Mitch was inducted into the Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Now he has the hardware.

We Have Company

=This week in 2016 (September 26), Bobby Skafish released his book of rock and roll interviews, We Have Company. Among his first stops on the publicity tour, WGN-TV.

The Flip Side

=This week in 1979 (September 22), Kiss performed at the International Amphitheater in Chicago. Naturally, the Rosenbaum brothers were the promoters of this incredible concert, and their kids were all there too. Want some photographic proof? You'll find it in the pages of The Flip Side. It's also here...

Back in the DDR

=One of the events that takes place in the novel Back in the DDR happened this week, September 23, 1976. It was a Crosby & Nash concert in Eppelheim, Germany. A real concert attended by the lead character in the book, Rudi.

The Balding Handbook

=The Balding Handbook helped balding men through the five stages of grieving for their hair loss. Because this week is also the anniversary of The Brady Bunch debut (September 26, 1969), it seems like a good week to feature this photo of author David Stern from the Denial stage of the book. Sadly, the book is no longer in print. Blame Rogaine.

Publishing Portal--October 20, 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 Loop Files

=Here's the announcement we've been promising. The Museum of Broadcast Communications is reopening later this week (October 23) for the media, and shortly thereafter to the public. It has a new "pop up" location on Randolph Street, near the Oglivie train station (440 W. Randolph). There will be some great things to see there, including a Johnny Carson exhibit, a Bozo the Clown exhibit, a Svengoolie exhibit, the Radio Hall of Fame, and...something that we've been working on now for several weeks. There will be an exhibit honoring 50 Years of The Loop radio station. It includes a timeline of big events over the years, a tribute to the big 3 stars of the station (Johnny B, Steve & Garry, Kevin Matthews), a feature highlighting some of the other important radio personalities from the station's historic run, some new and classic video, and some truly unique memorabilia. Also, eight different Eckhartz Press authors, all former Loopers, contributed copies of their books for the exhibit, including Rick Kaempfer (The Loop Files), Bobby Skafish (We Have Company), Mitch Michaels (Doin' The Cruise), Chet Coppock (Your Dime, My Dance Floor), John Records Landecker (Records Truly is My Middle Name), Chuck Swirsky (Always a Pleasure), Dan McNeil (I Bear Witness), and Tony Fitzpatrick (The Sun at the End of the Road). The exhibit was curated by The Loop Files author Rick Kaempfer.

=Just wait until you see what they've done with this poster...

=This week in 2023 Rick got the first copy of The Loop Files. 

=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 in 2014. Hard to believe it's been more than ten years already. That's Cindy in the middle of the photo below with Bridget Kaempfer and Jim Wiser.

=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?

The Sun at the End of the Road

=The tributes have continued to pour in for Tony Fitzpatrick. We particularly liked the eloquent words of Dave Hoekstra, Monica Eng, and Neil Steinberg.  All knew Tony well. So did artist John Soss.  Tony wrote for New City for years, and they also paid tribute.

=If you go by Tony's art studio in Chicago, you'll see that his kids (Max & Gaby) have turned it into a shrine with the help of well-wishers and fans. It's really quite inspiring. 

=Eckhartz Press publisher Rick Kaempfer also made the media rounds talking about Tony. WGN Radio's Wendy Snyder called last Wednesday. Garry Meier had him on his podcast on Friday. Yes, those are also former Loopers. The Loop community is properly devastated by the loss of Tony.

The Best of Words on Birds

=Great article in the Daily Herald Sunday about Jeff Reiter and his book The Best of Words on Birds. It was on the front page! Thanks to Daily Herald writer Katlyn Smith.

Take Me Back to Chicago

=Last week we announced the new book by Doug E. Jones, Take Me Back to Chicago, which is available now via pre-order. This week we did a Q&A with Doug, so you could get to know him better, and so you could read about what inspired him to write this novel.

South Side Memories

=Author Gloria Golec is having a book launch party to celebrate the release of her memoir, South Side Memories. It will be on October 30, from 5-7pm, at Santa Fe Restaurant and Bar on 426 S. Main Street in downtown Glen Ellyn. Parking is tough in Glen Ellyn, but the restaurant is located right next to a public parking lot that most people don't know about. See you there!

=To find out more about Gloria's book, read the Q&A here.

Mob Adjacent

=Another promotional video for the book and upcoming film was dropped this week by the fellas...

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Celtic Knot and The Kiss of Night

=Thanks to everyone who came out to meet Eckhartz Press authors Bob Conlon (Celtic Knot) and Mark Wukas (The Kiss of Night). Bob was in Western Springs at the library there, and Mark was at the Dovetail Brewery. Don't worry, this won't be your last time to see either of them. In fact, Bob is doing another event next month, signing books and making a presentation at this year's IBAM (Irish Books and Music), November 22 and 23 at the Irish American Heritage center (4626 N Knox Ave). Get your tickets for that fun event here. And keep checking back here for the next Wukas event, as well.  In the meantime, both of their books are now also in the Chicago Public Library.

  

Chicago Public Library

=A whole slew of Eckhartz Press books can now be found there, in addition to The Kiss of Night and Celtic Knot. The Sun at the End of the Road, EveryCubEver, The Flip Side, I Bear Witness, Last Comiskey, and South Side Memories are there too.

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...

 

Surviving Sue

=We are assuming this is already on your schedule, but in case it isn't, here's a friendly reminder. Vicki Atkinson has an upcoming event at Harper College. She'll be reading from her book Surviving Sue on November 6, from 11:00am--12:15pm, as part of their cultural arts lecture series.

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.

Worth a Second Look

=This week last year, Eric Litt had a launch party for his book Worth a Second Look. If his name sounds familiar, 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 32 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. 

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 at the time, Jon Hansen. 

=Both books are currently on sale at Eckhartz Press. For EveryCubEver, use the promo code "PLAYOFFS" at checkout. For Best Seat in the House, click here.  Both of them make great presents for the Cub fan in your family.

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 Dogg, celebrating a birthday this week (October 20).

 

 

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 he 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. 21 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. 

Programming note: Next week's Publishing Portal won't be released until later in the week (probably on October 30)