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 Sun at the End of the Road
=Rick Kaempfer and David Stern will be moderating a virtual discussion about Tony Fitzpatrick's book (The Sun at the End of the Road) on February 6th (That's this Friday!) for the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. It's free, but you need to register here. This is the description of the event....
Tony Fitzpatrick published his essay collection, The Sun at the End of the Road, just weeks before his death. Tony was celebrated as a visual artist, radio personality, boxer, and actor, but too often his accomplishments as a writer were overlooked. He was a fantastic writer--this last book is proof of that. It's a kind of memoir told in a series of small reflective prose pieces. His publisher, Eckhartz Press, expedited the release date, and because of that Tony was able to experience a small bit of the book's success. The founders and owners of Eckhartz, Rick Kaempfer and Dave Stern, will moderate a discussion about The Sun at the End of the Road. Special guests include Thomas Dyja, Ann Filmer, Mark Eleveld and Dave Hoekstra.
=Expect lots of entertaining stories about Tony, a fun discussion about his book, and a major announcement. That's just a tease for now. More info here next week.
=By the way, don't forget that Tony's final two posters are also available at Eckhartz Press. The poster for his final showing, and the poster for this book. Here they are...
=Jim Elsener got the first copy of his book in his hands last week (Photo). It's currently at the printer, and will ship the week of February 16. Thank you for the many pre-orders of the book.
=Who is Jim, you ask? Well, here's a little primer...
James Elsener is a veteran journalist and author. During his four-decade career, he has been a newspaper publisher, editor, columnist, reporter, sales manager, and association executive.
Elsener began his career at the legendary City News Bureau of Chicago. He later became a reporter with the Chicago Tribune, managed a national newspaper trade association, and founded and owned a regional business publication.
Elsener served with the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He holds degrees from Western Michigan University and Columbia University (New York). He is the author of two novels. He and his wife, Patricia, a former journalist, live in suburban Chicago.
=The podcast of Jim's interview with Steve & Johnnie on WGN was posted on WGN's website. Listen to it here.
=Jim's co-author is Paul Zimbrakos, who actually started writing the book and provided most of the material for it. Here's a little more about Paul...
Paul Zimbrakos was the legendary editor of the City News Bureau of Chicago who mentored generations of young journalists. Paul demonstrated a keen editorial vision, guiding the newsroom with integrity and a deep respect for factual reporting and timeliness. Paul was a lifelong Chicago resident, a graduate of Austin High School and Roosevelt University. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Paul passed away in 2022.
=Happy birthday to Eckhartz Press author Doug E. Jones (February 4). We were proud to publish his latest novel Take Me Back to Chicago at the end of 2025.
=Sad news in the Chicago media world last week. Sportscaster Terry Boers passed away. Boers was a long-time on-air partner of Eckhartz Press author Dan McNeil (The Heavy Fuel Crew). When Terry passed away, Dan was interviewed about their time together, and their complicated relationship. In case you missed it, you can listen to it here.
=Just a few weeks after Dan McNeil's book about Bears history in the McCaskey era was released, the family matriarch Virginia McCaskey passed away (2/6/25). She was 102 years old when she died. Dan wrote about her extensively in I Bear Witness.
Belle & Leaving Glory for Greatness & Chili Dog MVP
=February is Black History Month and Eckhartz Press proudly has fiction and non-fiction reading choices to help celebrate it.
=Judy Ann Jamerson's haunting novel Belle is the heartbreaking story of a mother struggling with the reality of the unimaginable death of her daughter. Judy is the mother of former Chicago Bears receiver Rashied Davis. Award-winning author Bayo Ojikutu has also signed with Eckhartz Press. Look for his exciting new novel later this year.
=Lou Macaluso's biography of football star-turned-civil rights hero LaMarr Thomas (Leaving Glory for Greatness) is a such an inspirational work, it is being taught as part of LaMarr's (and Lou's) high school alma mater's (Thornton) regular curriculum. Chili Dog MVP recalls the racial struggles faced by Dick Allen, and the city of Chicago's reaction to him in that memorable summer of 1972.
RADIO HALL OF FAME
=From Feb. 1 to April 1 you may submit suggestions for possible honorees for consideration by the Radio Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. We have a few suggestions for you from our stable of authors. John Records Landecker is already in there, but what about...
Mitch Michaels (Doin the Cruise)
Bobby Skafish (We Have Company)
Chet Coppock (Your Dime My Dance Floor)
Chuck Swirsky (Always a Pleasure)
Dan McNeil (I Bear Witness)
=Steve & Garry are already in there, and so is Jonathon Brandmeier, but how about these all-time greats who contributed to our book The Loop Files...
Bob Stroud
Kevin Matthews
Patti Haze
=Or these all-time greats who contributed to Landecker's book Records Truly Is My Middle Name...
Fred Winston
Tommy Edwards
Bob Sirott
=Help us remind the world that Chicago is the epicenter of all-time great radio.
=Our latest award winner, Jim Slusher, has been making the rounds discussing his Book of the Year winner To Nudge the World. He recorded an interview and will soon be featured on the Minutia Men Celebrity Interview podcast. We'll have that link for you next week.
=He was featured in the CWA's Write City E-zine.
=He was also featured in this edition of Editor & Publisher.
=Nick Digilio appeared on the CBS Chicago News at 11am on Friday with Vince Gerasole, talking about 40 Years, 40 Films.
=Birders have noticed that The Horned Lark is having a moment. It's on the cover of two birding magazines this month, and Jeff Reiter's Words on Birds column in last week's Daily Herald was all about it.
=Don't forget that Jeff Reiter (The Best of Words on Birds) will be appearing at the great birder event, Gull Frolic in Lake County, on February 15. That'll be here before you know it.
=If you live in Glen Ellyn, check out your Stroll newsletter this month. You can learn more about the Birdman of Glen Ellyn (our very own Jeff Reiter)
Additional upcoming Eckhartz Press author events. Mark your calenders...
=David Stern will be appearing
at KinoWerks (5645 N. Ravenswood in Chicago) on February 14th. He'll have a
table selling an assortment of Eckhartz Press books at their Arts Event that
day.
=Vicki Atkinson (Surviving Sue)
will be appearing at Wauconda Library (11am-12:30pm) on February 20. Vicki's
debut novel Slivers is in the pipeline, getting very close to publication on Eckhartz Press.
=Lauren LoGiudice (Inside Melania) brings her Misfit Variety show to the
Annoyance March 13. Show's at 9.
=If it seems like there is no end to the sports stars featured in Randy Merkin's book Behind the Glass, you aren't far off. For instance, Hank Aaron and Alonzo Mourning (photo), both born this week (Feb 5 & 8 respectively), each rate their own chapters. But sports stars aren't the only big names in the book. Tom Brokaw (Feb 6) and Jack Lemmon (Feb 8) are in the book too.
=Just wait until you get your hands on the upcoming Volume 2. Other non-sports stars will be in there as well, including James Caan, Carmen Electra, Larry King, Geraldo Rivera, and Jason Bateman.
Happy Anniversary!
This week in 2014 (February 8), Joel Daly got his first copy of his Eckhartz Press book (The Daly News). On this day in 2022 (February 6), Eric Litt had the same experience, getting the first copy of Oscars Biggest Mistakes. By the way, it's almost that time of year again (Academy Awards--March 15, 2026). Look for Eric to appear on the Minutia Men Celebrity Interview in the coming weeks with his Oscar picks.
=Eric also recently met fellow Eckhartz Press author Nick Digilio and exchanged books with him.
=Gloria Golec's memoir is set in Chicago's Archer Park neighborhood during the 1940s and 1950s. One of the centerpieces of that neighborhood is St. Bruno's church and school, which Gloria wrote about extensively. Sadly, this week the Archdiocese of Chicago announced that St. Bruno's school was closing down. Block Club Chicago has more.
=One of the most unique podcasts out there is Car Con Carne, where host James VanOsdol interviews his guests in his car. This week last year he had two Eckhartz Press people on with him, Ken Churilla and Jeff "Mr. Cheap" Schwartz, talking about their great book, The Flip Side.
Staying Alive is a Lot of Work
=Pat Camalliere's book is the focus of this Chicago Writes podcast hosted by Bill Turck. Pat did a great job explaining the struggles she endured, and the incredible memoir it inspired. They also went into great depth about the Chicago suburb of Lemont and why it is so important to her.
=In 2016, comedian Dobie Maxwell wrote one our best selling books, the incredibly memorable Monkey in the Middle. Dobie is currently co-hosting a podcast called Put Your Funny Where Your Mouth Is. Episode 62 came out at the end of last year, and that episode tells the tale of the bank robbery at the heart of Dobie's memoir, Monkey in the Middle.
=The anniversary of Brent Petersen's foodie novel will be next Saturday (Feb 14), but the Truffle Hunt author also wrote excellent pieces at his DestinationEatDrink substack about the inspiration that led to the novel. Here's the ultimate piece about that: How Did This All Get Started?
=Two big events in the book The
Loop Files took place this week in history. On February 6, 1981, Steve
& Garry were fired by the Loop for "violating community
standards." It was a huge shock at the time that has never been
satisfactorily explained. Also, this week in 2023, Johnny B re-emerged
to appear on WGN-TV as a mystery guest.
=Celebrating a birthday this week (February 6), former Loop late-nighter Ed Tyll. You may not like what he says, but he'll say it anyway, Ed Tyll. Ed has a book out, by the way. You can find that here.
=On the 60th anniversary (2018) of one of Chicago's most tragic fires, at Our Lady of the Angels school, veteran television reporter and producer (ABC-7, WGN-TV) Alex Burkholder released his comprehensive study of that fire, which included his well researched theory of how that fire began. WGN-TV's Steve Sanders (celebrating a birthday this week February 3) brought Alex (middle) onto the midday news to discuss it, along with one of the grown kids who survived the fire. Alex passed away in 2024.
=Rich King wrote a book in 2022 called Ike & Me, about his relationship with cameraman Richard "Ike" Isaacs. The Black & White team worked together for decades under the guidance of former WGN-TV sports director Dan Roan. Both Rich and Ike speak highly of this week's birthday boy (February 3) in the book.
=This week in 2022, The Daily Herald's Jim O'Donnell wrote about our Christmas of 2021's big hit Grammar Moses by Jim Baumann.
=This week in 2018, Lee Kingsmill appeared on Nick Digilio's show to talk about his Book of the Year finalist Safe Inside.
=May be even more relevant after a year of this administration...
=Bobby Skafish's tome about his 40 years of rock and roll encounters is like a history book of the genre, written by someone who personally met and interviewed the biggest stars imaginable. One of the greats featured in the book is celebrating a birthday this week, Graham Nash (below/February 2)
=Chet Coppock was friends with George Halas, founder of the Bears and the NFL. Chet went to every opening game for the Bears for 68 straight years. When Papa Bear died in 1983, Chet broke the story on the local news (he was doing sports at Channel 5 at the time). He also wrote about him in his Eckhartz Press book. Papa Bear was born this week (February 2) in 1895.
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