Friday, May 02, 2025
Monday, April 28, 2025
Publishing Portal--April 28, 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.
=Author Mark Wukas called this week his fifteen minutes of fame. He certainly did have a few memorable moments. For instance, this piece in Sunday's Chicago Tribune...
=And this interview on the Minutia Men Celebrity Interview.
=Dan McNeil was out on draft night holding court and signing books at Bridges in Indiana. Dan's book is more timely than ever with the news this week of Steve McMichael's passing. The Hall of Fame defensive tackle is featured in two full chapters of Dan's book I Bear Witness and it's among the most compelling material in the book. The two men knew each other for nearly 40 years.
=Look who is making a resurgence, Mob Adjacent co-author Michael Gentile Jr. He sat down for this long interview with Hard Core Italian, who is now also promoting the book. In addition, the book is being turned into a film (more info to come). Filming begins this summer.
=The man who ran the mob in Chicago for decades, Tony Accardo, would have been celebrating a birthday this week. He's not around anymore, but he certainly makes a few appearances in the Eckhartz Press book Mob Adjacent, by Jeffrey and Michael Gentile.
The Flip Side and Doin the Cruise
=Two Eckhartz Press authors appeared on the same podcast this week. Larry Rosenbaum (The Flip Side) and Mitch Michaels (Doin the Cruise) were both featured in That Rock Show with Jim and Mark. That show will air soon. We'll post it when it's available.
=This week marks the anniversary of the Kent State Massacre (May 4, 1970). One of our authors was actually there that day, and wrote about it in his memoir Doin the Cruise, Mitch Michaels. Mitch was already in radio in those days and it would be just a few short years later when he arrived on the dial in Chicago. He is now in the Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
=April 30 would have been the birthday of Eckhartz Press author Chet Coppock, who wrote his last (and most highly regarded) book Your Dime, My Dance Floor for us in 2018. Chet died the following year, but as long as Eckhartz Press is in business, Chet's words and photos live on...
=This was Chet's final interview, taped just a week before he went to South Carolina. He perished in a car accident there. You can tell by watching this that Chet had no intention of slowing down...
=Three of the contributors to the Loop Files are celebrating birthdays this week. Lee Abrams (April 29) was the man who created the Graffiti Loop era (middle of first photo) and Larry Wert (April 30) was the boss man during the second heyday of the Loop (in the late 80s/early 90s). In addition, Greg Gumbel (May 3) was on hand during the most famous moment in Loop history, Disco Demolition. That's Greg below interviewing Steve Dahl that day at Comiskey Park. Unfortunately, Greg passed away last year.
=Truffle Hunt author Brent Petersen is now a well-known travel writer living and working in Portugal. He released his latest foodie guide this week. It's a tour of Ghent, Belguim.
=This week last year, Jim Baumann announced in his final Grammar Moses column that he was retiring from the Daily Herald. Jim says he's working on the great American novel in his retirement. Maybe that will lead to his second Eckhartz Press book.
*Happy Anniversary!
=This week in 2019, the first edition of EveryCubEver was released. Author Rick Kaempfer appeared on WGN-TV Morning News doing a Cubs bit with Larry Potash, Mike Toomey, Pat Tomasulo, and Dean Richards. It led to Rick getting his own IMDB page. That same week the EveryCubEver launch party was held at Moretti's in Mt. Prospect. If you were one of the many thousands who bought that first edition, it's definitely time to update. The 7th edition is now available! It's a perfect Mother's Day gift for that Cub-fan mom in your family.
“If you grew up in Milwaukee in the 1970s or ’80s, you knew about Samson – the huge, famous and hugely famous gorilla that resided at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Samson, who now resides in that “jungle in the sky,” thrilled generations of visitors, even when he was eating and sleeping. Dobie Maxwell’s book, Monkey in the Middle, tells the tale of a much lesser-known gorilla / bank robber in our shared hometown. Once you start reading this story, you might not feel like eating or sleeping until you’ve finished. It’s a story of friendship, loyalty, betrayal and conscience told by a comedian with a knack for pointing out absurdly funny moments during a white-knuckle rollercoaster ride.”
=Dobie fills in for Drew now often on Milwaukee radio. He also co-hosts this podcast...
Records Truly Is My Middle Name
=This week in 2013, John Landecker & Rick Kaempfer were interviewed by the Daily Herald about Landecker's memoir Records Truly Is My Middle Name.
=This is the anniversary (April 28) of author Frederick Lee Brooke debuting his series of mystery books. Brooke is a big fan of Eckhartz Press author Randy Richardson's 2012 novel Cheeseland. Here's what he had to say about it...
If you liked Larry McMurtry’s The Last Picture Show, you’ll love Cheeseland, Chicago’s answer to that Texas classic. Highly recommended!
=Author Jim Korkoris (born May 4) is a fan of fellow author Ann Wilson's memoir In Small Boxes. This is what he had to say about her Eckhartz Press book...
- At times, poignant, sad and very funny. A wonderfully unique coming of age story. We will all see pieces of ourselves and our livesin this book.
=One of the biggest stars to ever play for Green White Soccer Club, Illinois Soccer Hall of Famer Joe Filian is celebrating a birthday this week (May 1). Joe is featured prominently in the book Grun Weiss Vor, including this photo from his time on the New York Cosmos.
Rick and Dave
=During the pandemic Eckhartz Press publishers Rick Kaempfer and David Stern were Zoom-interviewed by the Chicago Writers Association about Eckhartz Press. This interview happened this week (May 2) in 2021.
Friday, April 25, 2025
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Minutia Men Celebrity Interview
Our latest interview has dropped. We talked to author/writer/journalist Mark Wukas about his debut novel "The Kiss of Night" radiomisfits.com/mmci175/
— Rick Kaempfer (@rickkaempfer.bsky.social) April 24, 2025 at 9:03 AM
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Monday, April 21, 2025
Publishing Portal--April 21, 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.
=Huge week for Eckhartz Press author Mitch Michaels. The legendary disc jockey was chosen for induction into the Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Congrats to Mitch. What a great accomplishment.
Eckhartz Press author Mitch Michaels (Doin the Cruise) is now an Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Famer! Congrats Mitch! This is really turning into a Hall of Fame year for us. We will be at Baseball Hall of Fame ceremony in July, and now in Joliet in Sept. https://t.co/TYtxzhVpoy pic.twitter.com/C4xqWxGwYk
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) April 17, 2025
=Mitch was there at the Hall of Fame this weekend doing a book signing and book chat along with fellow Eckhartz Press author Larry Rosenbaum (The Flip Side). Ken Churilla (middle in the photo below) co-wrote both books.
=Chicago Book Review gave 5-stars to The Flip Side in this incredible review...
As fascinating as that journey is, the record stores are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The Rosenbaums eventually gravitate to concert promotion, earning them larger exposure in the music business and all the insanity that comes with it. In the midst of their luncheons with Celine Dion, meetings with Howie Mandell and Evel Knievel, and in-store promotions with legendary acts like Foghat and Cheap Trick, you’ll also learn about their run-ins with the mob, the FBI, Chicago’s unions, and the law. All these ordeals are conveyed not with sadness but good humor and nostalgia.
Co-Author Ken Churilla takes a fun approach to The Flip Side: Where Chicago Rocked — the entire book is presented as a filmed documentary. Carl and Larry take turns sharing stories about their experiences, and readers are occasionally treated to vignettes from employees, family members, or business partners. The last section of the book reads like an extended eulogy for the business from their kids and spouses. You’ll wish you were a part of Flip Side, if only as a music fan, thumbing through their records on W. Foster Avenue back in 1968.
=Larry Rosenbaum is still out there promoting the book.
=From the Flip Side archives. April 21, 1978—Bedlam ensues at Leif Garrett live appearance at Flip Side Records in Hoffman Estates. Fans crashed through the plate glass window to get at their hero.
=The Kiss of Night author Mark Wukas was featured this past weekend on Rick Kogan's radio show on WGN. Rick is also writing about Mark in the Chicago Tribune. That will come out next Sunday.
=Also look for Mark Wukas to make an appearance on one of the top rated podcasts in the world this week. On Wednesday he'll be featured on Minutia Men Celebrity Interview.
=Eckhartz Press author Dan McNeil also made a national radio appearance this week. He appeared on BarStool sports talking about his favorite subject, The Chicago Bears.
=Ten years ago this week (April 20), Bears great Doug Buffone passed away. In the final chapter of Dan McNeil's book he pays tribute to the Bears we've lost in the last few years. Because Dan and Doug worked together in sports radio, his tribute to Buffone was especially poignant. (Photo: Ed O'Bradovic and Doug Buffone)
=Holy Makeral, the 7th edition of EveryCubEver is flying off the shelves. We just had to go back to the printer for another printing. Thank you to everyone who has bought it. Of course, April (Opening Day), May (Mother's Day), June (Father's Day) and December (Christmas) are the four busy seasons every year for EveryCubEver. Two of those are coming up soon. If Mom and/or Dad are Cub fans, the all-new 7th edition is out now!
=This week in 2019, Rick Kaempfer appeared at the Orland Park Sports Card show to sign and sell the book. Randy Richardson was also there signing and selling his book Cubsessions. That's former Cubs catching great Randy Hundley in the photo with him below.
=This week's birthday boy (April 25), former Chicago Bull Dave Corzine, has a copy of the book.
=Here's one more bonus Cubs feature. A home movie from this week in 1938.
To the Men I've Loved (God Help Them!)
=One of the features in Pat Motto's book about her hilarious pre-marriage love life is naming a song each chapter as a potential musical accompanient while you read. This week is the anniversary of one of those songs. April 20, 1959—"Puppy Love" by Paul Anka was released. It is Pat's suggested musical accompaniment for chapter 1 of her book.
=This week last year, Ken Smoller was making the rounds promoting his book Last Comiskey. He was in the Chicago Sun Times. Thanks to Jeff Agrest for this mention...First-time author Ken Smoller’s “Last Comiskey,” an adaptation of Matt Flesch’s 2023 documentary, will be released in May. It serves as a companion piece, combining Smoller’s photographs from the 1990 Sox season, content from the film and new material.
=And he appeared on WCIU, The U, with Kenny McReynolds.
=Dobie Maxell was in the news this week in 2016. The Milwaukee Journal reviewed his book Monkey in the Middle and had this to say...
=Just a year later, this week in 2017, Dobie threw out the first pitch at a Brewers game in Milwaukee.
=Two of the contributors to the Loop Files are celebrating birthdays this week. Happy birthday to Vince Argento (April 21) and Kathy Voltmer (April 27). Both contributed stories to the oral history. In the first picture, that's Vince on the far right. He and his wife Liz are among the couples who met at the Loop and later got married, just like Rick and Bridget Kaempfer (also in the photo)
Records Truly Is My Middle Name
=This week in 1954, Joseph Nye Welch appeared at the McCarthy hearings and famously declared, "At long last, have you left no sense of decency?" That wasn't just a crucial moment in American history, it was a crucial moment in John Landecker's life. Joseph Nye Welch is the grandfather of his first wife. He tells that story in this free excerpt from Records Truly Is My Middle Name.
=Three of the people featured in Chuck Swirsky's book are celebrating birthdays this week. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (April 25), the late Blackhawks great Tony Esposito (April 25), and Chuck's partner on Bulls broadcasts, Bill Wenningon (April 26)
The Balding Handbook
=This week in 2013, David Stern appeared on the Mancow television show on WPWR-TV. Who did he meet there? Chicago sportscaster Mike North, shown here taunting Dave with his full head of hair.
=This week in 2018, Kipper McGee appeared on the Brandstorm podcast to talk about his book Brandwidth.
=This week is the real Melania Trump's birthday (April 26). The fake one, Melania impersonator Lauren LoGiudice was in town recently. She does the world's best Melania impersonation, and wrote a whole book about it for Eckhartz Press.
=Bob Shannon's great book about radio personalities features an entire chapter about this week's birthday boy, the late Casey Kasem. Casey also makes an appearance in the Rick Kaempfer spy thriller set in 1976, Back in the DDR.
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=Peter Frampton (born April 22) gets the full-chapter treatment in Bobby Skafish's great memoir about his rock and roll interviews...
Hospital, Heal Thyself!
=When we sign our authors they maintain the copyright to their work, and we agree in advance that we won't hold them back if they get a better opportunity. That's what happened this week last year with Mark Taylor. He was very grateful for all we did for him...
“I was feeling
pretty destitute when a friend referred me to Chicago’s Eckhartz Press in 2023.
My first and only book, “Hospital, Heal Thyself,” had been rejected for several
years by scores of publishers and book agents. They said it didn’t neatly fit
into a marketing niche. Admittedly, it was a tough sell: part biography of
Eugene Litvak, a math genius and Soviet émigré-turned- healthcare
innovator, part jeremiad railing against a broken healthcare delivery
system. But the very qualities that other publishers shied away from, Eckhartz
Publisher David Stern embraced. He and his talented professional staff helped
me to get my book into better shape and published it in early 2024.
By mutual agreement, I maintained ownership of the copyright to my book. So when a large international publisher expressed interest in producing “Hospital, Heal Thyself” for a wider national audience, Eckhartz and Stern could not have been more supportive. He was kind, generous and totally helpful, a writer’s dream! A few weeks later John Wiley & Sons, a publisher with deep contacts in business, academia and foreign language markets, agreed to publish my book. That never would have happened without Eckhartz’ help. I’m so grateful to David Stern and the Eckhartz staff for their support and assistance.” =Mark Taylor, April 2024
=His book went on to win Chicago Writers Association "Book of the Year".