Friday, March 04, 2022

The Mysterious World of Hybrid Publishing

 REMOTE: Rick Kaempfer and David Stern-The Mysterious World of Hybrid Publishing

  • April 07, 2022
  • 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
  • remote

Registration


Remote Only. Please do not register for this session if you want to attend onsite

Eckhartz Press co-publishers Rick Kaempfer and Dave Stern will take potential authors through the maze of the publishing world. They are hybrid-publishers, something that didn’t exist just fifteen years ago. Rick and Dave will…

*Define the three different types of publishing (Self-publishing, hybrid publishing, traditional publishing)

*Explore the pros and cons of each

*Tell the story of Rick’s background and Dave’s background, and how that led them to forge this professional partnership.

*Discuss the evolution of Eckhartz Press and what they have learned along the way.

*Fully explain the hybrid press model they have adopted.

Rick Kaempfer is the co-founder and publisher of Eckhartz Press in addition to being the author or co-author of Eckhartz Press releases, “Everycubever”, “Father Knows Nothing”, “Records Truly Is My Middle Name” (with John Records Landecker) and “The Living Wills” (with Brendan Sullivan). Rick had been published several times before founding the company (including a novel “$everance” and a how-to-book about radio called “The Radio Producer’s Handbook”). In addition, he was also a member of the media for more than twenty years as the producer of two Hall of Fame radio shows (Steve Dahl & Garry Meier and John Records Landecker), and still covers the industry as the media critic for the Illinois Entertainer. He has watched the media landscape change over the past thirty years from a front row seat, and is excited to use that experience as the publisher of Eckhartz Press.

David Stern is the co-founder and publisher of Eckhartz Press, and the author of “The Balding Handbook”. After a 20+ year sales and marketing career, and a ten year stint as a principal in a Chicago advertising agency, Stern comes to Eckhartz Press uniquely qualified to tackle the realities of an ever-changing publishing landscape. He and Kaempfer have been collaborating in one form or another since they met at the University of Illinois in the early 1980s (when both must have been mere children). Stern is also one of the officers of Eckhartz Press’ parent company Just One Bad Century, Inc, and proud to call himself a life long (“City Boy”) Chicagoan.

Rick and David will accept 1 page single spaced query letters for critique for $15 and the first ten pages of a book at $3 per page,  fiction or nonfiction. Please see manuscript section on our website, ocww.info for details

We offer free student memberships at a discounted rate of $5.00 per session. You must send verification of your student status. Please contact Claudia Katz at ckatz17755@aol.com for details.

9-9:30 Socializing 

9:30-12 Program 

Eckhartz Everyday


 *Today is World Grammar Day, so it's obviously a day to celebrate Jim Baumann's incredible book, Grammar Moses, which is still available at Eckhartz Press.



*Today is the birthday of former Chicago Bears safety Doug Plank. Doug was kind enough to provide a quote for Chet Coppock's book Your Dime My Dance Floor. This is what he said...

When I think of Chicago sports, I think of Chet Coppock. Chet is everywhere and he knows everyone. He has done everything there is to do in sports reporting and broadcasting.

Thursday, March 03, 2022

Cubs Tweet of the Week

Eckhartz Everyday


 *Today is Eckhartz Press author Beth Jacobellis' birthday. Happy birthday Beth! 

Her novel Cameo is still available at Eckhartz Press.



*Tim Kasurinsky is also celebrating a birthday. Tim was famous for his stint on SNL, but he also co-wrote the great Chicago-based film "About Last Night." He was a fan of Eckhartz Press author Pat Colander, and provided this quote for the back cover of her book Hugh Hefner's First Funeral and other True Tales of Love and Death in Chicago...As Paul Simon bookended…”Time it was, and what a time it was….A time of innocence. A time of confidences.” Chicago in the ’70’s was surreal, scary and freaking hilarious. My Second City kith and kin may have found brighter lights in N.Y. and L.A. — but we were spawned and fermented at North and Wells. Good thing Pat Colander thought to take notes and chronicle everything.

Wednesday, March 02, 2022

Some News

Love This

Agreed

Minutia Men Celebrity Interview--Fizaa Dosani

 The new episode it out now. You can listen to it here.

The stand-up comedian, actor, writer, producer, and mental health advocate talks to Rick and Dave about some of her unusual comedy gigs. [Ep93]



Chicago Writes

 If you're a writer (or a reader) and you haven't checked out the new podcast from the CWA...Chicago Writes...it's time to give a listen.

Click here.

Studio Walls

  Every week I send my Minutia Men Co-Host Dave Stern a list from our audio archives for this week's Studio Walls feature. These are the possibilities for this week. Which one will he choose?

*February 27 would have been Howard Hesseman's birthday. He sadly passed away a few weeks ago. We had Tommy Chong on the show a few years ago, and he told us the story of his feud with Howard. (Listen to the entire interview here)

*February 28, 2008, I was on the radio with John Landecker and Turi Ryder discussing my brand new venture, Just One Bad Century. (AUDIO)

*March 1 was Harry Caray's birthday. I wrote a tribute to Harry when he passed away, called Hats Off To Harry, which appeared on Landecker and the Legends, Volume 5.

*March 1, 1996, Buckinghams lead singer Carl Giammarese appears on the John Landecker show, and I hand him a parody song I've written to one of his songs. This one is about the Girl Scouts (we were selling girl scout cookies at the time). Carl told us about that day when we interviewed him for Minutia Men. (Listen to that entire interview/song here)

*March 1 is Roger Daltrey's birthday. We interviewed the keyboardist from the Who, Loren Gold, and he told us some great Roger Daltrey stories. (That interview is here)

*March 2 was Lou Reed's birthday. One of his running buddies in the early 70s was the late great photographer Mick Rock. He told us an unbelievably great Lou Reed story. (The entire interview is here)

*March 3, 1978, Bill Kurtis broke the biggest story of his journalism career. It was about Agent Orange in Vietnam. When we interviewed him, he told us all about it. (The whole interview is here.)

*March 4 is World Grammar Day. We had the great grammar author, Jim Baumann, on the show to discuss his book Grammar Moses. (Listen to the entire interview here)

*March 4, 1992, Jim Peterik debuted his song "Spirit of Chicago". He told us about it, and played it for us on the podcast (Listen to entire interview here)

*March 4, 1837 is Chicago's birthday. We had famed Chicago historian Robert Loerzel on the show, and he told us some great stories about this city's history. (Listen to entire interview here)

*March 4 was also Tim Weigel's birthday. Tim was a friend of ours and cut a promo for our advertising agency, AMISH Chicago Advertising. (AUDIO)



Eckhartz Everyday


 *Today is the birthday of Eckhartz Press author Lee Kingsmill (Safe Inside). Happy birthday Lee! To read our Q&A with him, click here.




*On this day in 2005, I appeared on Taped with Rabbi Doug, a local Chicago cable television show. Yikes was I young. 

*

Tuesday, March 01, 2022

Chili Dog MVP

Mark Caro

 The new issue of Illinois Entertainer is out and includes my interview with Caropop host Mark Caro. Thanks again Mark Caro for your time.

You can read it here.



From the Writing Archives

Premature Jubilation by RICK KAEMPFER This story ran in Shore Magazine in March 2007. At the time I was eagerly anticipating the publication of my first novel "$everance". Now that I'm working on my third novel, which will be released later this year, I'm once again going through the ups and downs of this song and dance. Maybe it will resonate for those of you who may be going through the same thing.

 My first novel, $everance, is going to press soon. At the age of 43, I'm finally achieving my lifelong dream of becoming a published novelist. How does it feel? Well, I've discovered that the process of becoming a published novelist is really a series of premature celebrations. 

By my most recent count, I've celebrated the end of the process eleven times already-and my book isn't even out yet. All of the following celebrations turned out to be a tad premature: 

 1. I celebrated when I figured out a way to weave my complicated plot together. I just knew it was all downhill from there. This book was going to write itself. 

 2. I celebrated when I finished my first draft. Six solid months of working on the manuscript every day-it was certainly all but over. 

 3. I celebrated when I finished my second draft-which I considered to be perfect. I just knew that I wouldn't have to change another thing. 

 4. I celebrated when I found a publisher. Granted, the publisher required a few minor plot changes-but that wouldn't be a big problem. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

 5. I celebrated when I figured out how to implement her changes. All I had to do was rewrite the second half of the book. Surely that wasn't going to take too long. I knew these characters like the back of my hand. It was all but over. 

 6. I celebrated three months later when I finally finished writing the third draft. I clinked glasses with my wife right after I hit the send button on the email. 

 7. I celebrated again when my publisher emailed me a few weeks later, saying she was proud of me for pulling it off-and she was sending me a contract. That was it. It was all over. 

 8. I celebrated again after I signed the contract. Finally! 

 9. I celebrated again after she sent me the artwork for the cover. Now it seemed real. There, on a stylishly designed cover, was my name (with the more author-sounding first name "Richard," instead of "Rick") in big block letters. Clink! 

 10. I celebrated again after the editor sent me the final line-edits. This wasn't going to take long to whip into shape, and then we were ready to go. 

 11. I celebrated again when I finished those final edits, and got them approved. Okay, now it's time to break out that bottle of champagne we've been saving. 

 Of course, I still don't have a hard copy of the book. That will be premature celebration #12. I still haven't put together my marketing plan or scheduled my book tour (#13). I still haven't seen my book on a bookshelf in a bookstore (#14). I still haven't sold a single copy of my book (#15). And I still haven't had a single thing written about my book . . . unless you count this article. Let's call this article premature celebration #16. 

 I must admit that I feel a little more sheepish with each successive celebration, but I just can't help myself. I'm not just the boy who cried wolf-I'm the boy who cried wolf sixteen times . . . and counting. When the true moment of celebration comes, my friends and family will think it's another false alarm, and I'll probably have to celebrate alone. 

 If you really think about it, though, wouldn't that be the most appropriate celebration of all? Writing is, after all, a totally solitary experience. Shouldn't someone who works by himself, celebrate by himself? If you look at it that way, my first solitary celebration will be my first truly appropriate celebration. Which, of course, calls for a celebration. 

 Don't worry. I plan on checking into rehab as soon as the book tour ends.

Eckhartz Everyday

 March is National Women's Month, and we salute the many female authors who have written Eckhartz Press books. We still miss the late Pat Colander, Felizitas Sudendorf and Dena Mendes, and we'll always appreciate Vicki Quade, Janet Sutherland-Madden, Lauren LoGiudice, Margaret Larkin, Becky Sarwate-Maxwell, Beth Jacobellis, ML Collins, Ann Wilson, Jeanne Bellezzo, Deb Tokarz, Lori Oster, and Kim Strickland. Also, Kristin Oakley who edited "The Write City Review", and Jessica Hagy who provided illustrations for Kipper McGee's "Brandwidth." 

Thank you to all the contributions from our gifted female writers. (Click on their names to read their Eckhartz Press author bios)








Monday, February 28, 2022

Dee Snider

Nicely said.

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. 



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



*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. 

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Minutia Men--Strategic Incompetence

 The latest Minutia Men episode is out now. You can listen to it here.

Dad Goes Overboard, Frosty the Finnish Firehose, Jim Peterik sings “Rebel Girl”, The Bells Won’t Stop Ringing, and C’mon 22 are discussed by Rick and Dave. [Ep261]



Friday, February 25, 2022

Cubs Birthday Tweet of the Week

Sunday Listening

 Don't miss this interview. Rick Kogan is doing his entire show about it on Sunday night.

Free Kicks--The Champions League Heats Up

The new episode of Free Kicks has been posted.

The first leg of the knockout stage games is discussed and analyzed by Adam and Rick. [Ep146]




Eric Litt

 


Eckhartz Press author Eric Litt (Oscars Biggest Mistakes) joins the Nick D podcast for a free-wheeling discussion about the movies.

Check it out

Schlachtfest Week

 We made the sausage last night, and tomorrow we'll be handing out the orders for the virtual Schlachtfest. Thanks to everyone who participated!



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.”

Thursday, February 24, 2022

RIP Sally Kellerman

Sad to hear about her passing today. She was 84. When I think of her, I think of this...

Sonic45

Len Kasper's band, featuring Matt Spiegel and Dag Juhlin. Not bad.

From the Writing Archives


Today is the birthday of Wilhelm Grimm (1786). He was the younger Grimm brother who produced the immortal "Grimm's Fairy Tales". Anyone who has read "Father Knows Nothing" knows that my parents used to love to tell me these sick, twisted children's stories. This is my favorite excerpt and one of my favorite stories about my dad...

My father loved the story of Hansel and Gretel. He had a boy and a girl at the time (another boy would follow a few years later), so he thought it was a perfect story to tell us. In case you haven’t heard it in a while, it goes like this…

An evil stepmother convinces her husband to leave his children in the woods to die. The father decides to give them a fighting chance at survival, by handing them each a piece of bread. He tells them to leave a trail so they can find their way home. Of course, animals eat the bread, and end all hope for the little boy and girl. Hansel & Gretel become hopelessly lost, and get captured by a cannibal witch, who tries to eat them after fattening them up. They escape by killing her, and somehow find their way home. The happy ending is that the stepmother is dead when they get there.

Beautiful story, no? My father told it to us all the time.

One night my sister and I were fighting, and so he gave us each a piece of rye bread, led us out to the car, and told us he was driving us out in the forest.

“No Dad! No!” we cried. “Please don’t do this. We promise to behave. We promise.”

“You’ve got nothing to worry about. Just leave a rye bread trail.”

“But Dad! The animals will eat the bread!”

We couldn’t believe he was really doing it to us, but we were in a car, and we were clearly going somewhere.

“You’ll never find your way home if you don’t start tossing the rye bread,” he said to us, while looking in the rearview mirror.

I pleaded some more while Cindy rolled down the window and started tossing.

He pulled into a convenience store parking lot, walked inside and bought some cigarettes, got back into the car and drove us home. He had a huge grin on his face when he saw how relieved we were to come back home.

“Will you be fighting any more tonight?” he asked.

“No Dad,” we both promised.

German lesson learned.

Eckhartz Everyday

 


*On this day in 2017, Award-Winning Eckhartz Press author Pat Colander appeared on WGN Radio to discuss her great book Hugh Hefner's First Funeral with host Dave Hoestra. 

Sadly, Pat passed away just a year later, but her book is still available at Eckhartz Press. It won the Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year award. 


Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Signature Shoes

Chicago Radio Ratings

 Strong performances for WGN, WBEZ, and WBBM. Numbers courtesy of Robert Feder's column this morning...


1. (tie) WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM all news, 5.7 (5.6); WVAZ 102.7-FM R&B, 5.7 (5.9)
3. WBEZ 91.5-FM public radio news talk, 5.4 (4.8)
4. WGN 720-AM news talk, 5.2 (3.5)
5. WLIT 93.9-FM adult contemporary, 5.1 (14.4)
6. WDRV 97.1-FM classic rock, 4.8 (4.8)
7. WOJO 105.1-FM Mexican regional, 3.5 (3.7)
8. WTMX 101.9-FM hot adult contemporary, 3.4 (2.9)
9. WXRT 93.1-FM adult album alternative, 3.2 (2.8)
10. WUSN 99.5-FM country, 3.1 (2.0)
11. (tie) WKSC 103.5-FM Top 40, 2.9 (2.5); WLS 94.7-FM classic hits, 2.9 (3.1)
13. WPPN 106.7-FM Spanish adult contemporary, 2.8 (2.9)
14. WRME 87.7-FM soft rock oldies, 2.6 (2.5)
15. WCHI 95.5-FM rock, 2.5 (2.3)
16. (tie) WBBM 96.3-FM Top 40, 2.4 (2.3); WBMX 104.3-FM classic hip-hop, 2.4 (2.3)
18. WSHE 100.3-FM adult contemporary, 2.2 (1.8)
19. WGCI 107.5-FM hip-hop, 2.1 (2.5)
20. WSCR 670-AM sports talk, 2.0 (1.5)
21. (tie) WFMT 98.7-FM classical, 1.8 (1.7); WLEY 107.9-FM Mexican regional, 1.8 (1.8)
23. WKQX 101.1-FM alternative rock, 1.6 (1.7)
24. (tie) WCKL 97.9-FM contemporary Christian music, 1.3 (0.8); WMVP 1000-AM sports talk, 1.3 (1.1)
26. WPWX 92.3-FM hip-hop, 1.1 (1.1)
27. WLS 890-AM news talk, 1.0 (0.9)
28. (tie) WVIV 93.5-FM Spanish contemporary, 0.9 (0.9); WXLC 102.3-FM hot adult contemporary, 0.9 (0.6)
30. (tie) WDCB 90.9-FM public radio jazz, 0.8 (0.5); WERV 95.9-FM classic hits, 0.8 (0.5)

Studio Walls

 Every week I send my Minutia Men Co-Host Dave Stern a list from our audio archives for this week's Studio Walls feature. These are the possibilities for this week. Which one will he choose?

*February 20, 1980, Survivor releases the song "Rebel Girl". Jim Peterik (who wrote the song) appeared on our show and played "Rebel Girl" for us live in the studio. (Listen to the entire interview here)

*February 20, 1996, Bridget and Rick had their first weekend away from their brand new baby Tommy. John Landecker did a recap of the weekend, with a little game called "How many times did Rick and Bridget Call Home Hi-Low" (Landecker Audio)

*February 21st is comedian Ross Bennett's birthday. He appeared on the show and told us a hilarious story about getting a colonoscopy. (Listen to the entire interview here)

*February 21st is also Adam Greenberg's birthday. Adam has one of the most memorable stories in Chicago Cubs history, and he appeared on our show to talk about it. (Listen to the entire interview here)

*February 22nd is Jonathan Demme's birthday. We've interviewed a few people who worked with the Academy Award winning director, including actor Dan Butler. (Listen to the entire interview here)



Schlachtfest Week

  Before the pandemic I emceed a banquet every year for Green White Soccer Club called "Schlachtfest". It was a celebration of soccer and sausage. We crowned a soccer queen, gave out soccer awards, and ate sausage that we made ourselves. This year the event will be virtual. (We're making the sausage on Thursday night, and handing it out on Saturday).

This is from 2019...



Eckhartz Everyday

*On this day in 2015, I appeared on WBEZ Radio (NPR) to talk about my book Father Knows Nothing. You can listen to that interview here. (Photo: Taken from outside WBEZ window)

*On this day in 2017, Eckhartz Press author Brent Petersen (Truffle Hunt) found a story about fake truffles that mirrored a story-line in his great novel. You can read all about that here.

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Tweet of the Week

RIP Gary Brooker

The lead singer of Procol Harum passed away over the weekend (February 19). He will always be remembered for this great song...

Got a Book in Ya?

We have new submission guidelines, but we're open for business.

Some News

Bob Boone

 Thanks to everyone who came out to see and support Eckhartz Press author Bob Boone at the Book Stall this weekend! If you didn't get a chance to make it, his great collection of short stories (City U) is still available at Eckhartz Press.





Schlachtfest Week

 Before the pandemic I emceed a banquet every year for Green White Soccer Club called "Schlachtfest". It was a celebration of soccer and sausage. We crowned a soccer queen, gave out soccer awards, and ate sausage that we made ourselves. This year the event will be virtual. (We're making the sausage on Thursday night, and handing it out on Saturday).

This is from 2013...