Laundromat Reading

If you go into a Chicagoland Laundromat these days, keep a look out for the following flier...

More Photos from the "Down at the Golden Coin" launch

If you missed it last Friday, a good time was had by all. Here are a few more photos of Eckhartz Press author Kim Strickland with some of the people that came out to see her...

Defending Cliches

Eckhartz Press author Kim Strickland was mentioned in yesterday's Chicago Tribune. The article was called "Defending Cliches".

You can read it here.

The "Down at the Golden Coin" Book Launch Party

We had a great turnout at the Down at the Golden Coin launch party. A fun time was had by one and all...

Author Kim Strickland (right) with "Down at the Golden Coin" cover designer Beth Selix Tomas.

Eckhartz Press publishers Rick Kaempfer & David Stern








"Down at the Golden Coin" is available at the Eckhartz Press store.

More Love for "The Living Wills"

We'd like to thank Lydia Rypcinski, the membership services/marketing and events director of the Illinois State Bowling Proprietor's Association, for a nice mention of "The Living Wills" in their latest "Prarie State Proprietor" newsletter (on page 8, for those of you looking at your copy at home).

The bowling press has been very kind to our little novel. Apparently not too many novels these days take place in a bowling alley. As the Prarie State Proprietor mentions, "The Living Wills" has several chapters that take place in a real life Chicago bowling alley, Waveland Bowl.

Waveland Bowl has been quite supportive of our book too. If you order the book now from the Eckhartz Press website, you will even receive a very generous coupon from Waveland Bowl.

Order your copy today at the Eckhartz Press bookstore.

Book Launch Party

Here are the crucial details for tonight's Book Launch party for "Down at the Golden Coin".

Address: August House Studio, 2113 West Roscoe Street in Chicago, between Damen and Western (near Hamilton).

Time: 6-9pm.

Dress: Casual

Available for purchase: "Down at the Golden Coin"

Autographing copies there: Author Kim Strickland

Another reason for going: See picture below

"Down at the Golden Coin" Book Launch Party

The official book launch party for "Down at the Golden Coin" will take place tomorrow night (March 23rd) at the August House Studio.

Address: 2113 West Roscoe Street in Chicago, between Damen and Western (near Hamilton).
Time: 6-9pm.

Naturally, the book will be for sale there, and Author Kim Strickland (photo above) will personally autograph your copy.

For more information about the August House Studio, Click Here.

For more information about "Down at the Golden Coin", Click Here.

If you can't make it to the party and still want to order a copy, Click Here.

More Reader Reviews for "The Living Wills"

We've been getting a lot of e-mails lately from people that have just finished reading "The Living Wills". Here are a few highlights...

LMR writes: "I just finished reading Living Wills and I absolutely loved it! I could barely put it down - read it in less than 48 hours - lol. I'm a pretty avid reader and I have to tell you that this one of the best stories I have ever read and the telling of it is simply superb. It somewhat reminded me of The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Alboms, which I liked, but yours is a better story, better read and I enjoyed it so much more. If Albom can achieve bestseller status with his, there is no reason you can't with this. LW is definitely now one of my favorite books and I will be highly recommending it! Can't wait for your next book to come out. Congratulations on a fine piece of work."

SM writes: "Read your book in less than a week. I couldn't put it down. It was tremendously entertaining...although you did make me cry."

LW writes: "I loved the story! I enjoyed the fact that the story took place in Chicago, the characters were everday people that you could relate to, and best of all, the story made me both laugh and cry."

The book currently is rated 5 stars on Amazon, 5 stars on Barnes & Noble, and 4.25 stars on GoodReads (with more than 30 ratings).

Release Date!

The post office is busy shipping out the pre-orders of "Down at the Golden Coin" today.

Meanwhile, a very nice review of the book was posted on Karyn Bowman's blog "Notes from Rumbly Cottage".

A highlight: "It was bright, introspective, unfailingly honest. Sarcasm is spoken well here. I am the type of person who reads for beautiful descriptive sentences. There is this one… “Like no other man I’ve known, Jake reeks of success.“ It tells me everything I need to know about this guy, at least what he looks like – his confidence, his swagger. I also look for characters to remain true to their basic personality traits. When a messiah comes along to give you a message, I wonder how any of us would act but I knew Annie was being real. She was scared but intrigued, as much as she said she wanted real answers the truth of her life frightened her. More importantly, I never felt that Annie, Violet or the other characters acted unlike themselves. They stayed true to themselves, stayed true to their codes which can be really hard when the writer is fighting for a happy ending. The book was worth my time, a worthwhile read. If Kim tells me she has another book coming out, you can bet I am in line waiting for my copy."

Get your copy of the book today! It's just one click away.

Down at the Golden Coin

It's a big day for Eckhartz Press. This morning we picked up several boxes of our second book, "Down at the Golden Coin" by Kim Strickland.

Tomorrow is the official release date.

Order your copy today. We'll send it out immediately.

Catalyst For Collaboration

That's the title of Rick Kogan's column in the Printer's Row section of the Chicago Tribune this weekend. He wrote a very nice piece about "The Living Wills" (pages 18-19), which included this photograph by Terrence James.





Thanks so much to Rick, Terrence, and the Chicago Tribune.

The Living Wills in the Chicago Tribune

Rick Kogan has been very kind to Eckhartz Press authors Rick Kaempfer and Brendan Sullivan. First he wrote this review featured on the back cover of their novel: "Rollicking and real on so many levels, 'The Living Wills' is a captivating collaboration by two immensely talented writers. I hope this team keeps at it for keeps."

Then, he had Rick and Brendan on his radio show.

And this weekend (Sunday), he is featuring them in his column in the Chicago Tribune's Printer's Row book section. If you're a subscriber, keep an eye out for it. Rick and Brendan even went downtown to do a photo shoot to accompany the piece.

Our gratitude is eternal.

Countdown to "Down at the Golden Coin"

The pre-orders are coming in for "Down at the Golden Coin" by Kim Strickland. We'll be shipping out those orders on March 20th, the official release date of the book.

Here's another date to remember: March 23, 2012. Exactly one week from today.

That's the date of the official book launch party for "Down at the Golden Coin". It will take place at the August House Studio, on 2113 West Roscoe Street in Chicago from 6-9pm.

Author Kim Strickland will personally autograph your copy if you come out that night.

See you there!

Countdown to "Down at the Golden Coin"

The pre-orders are coming in for "Down at the Golden Coin" by Kim Strickland. We'll be shipping out those orders on March 20th, the official release date of the book.

If you'd like to get a feel for the book, Kim has posted the first chapter on her website. You can read it here.

Now that you're hooked, go to the Eckhartz Press store and pre-order your copy today.
The first one hundred orders will receive a thematically appropriate golden dollar coin (which may or may not feature the man who wrote the first chapter of American history. He probably didn't post: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" on his website, but you get the point.)

Countdown to "Down at the Golden Coin"

The pre-orders are coming in for "Down at the Golden Coin" by Kim Strickland. We'll be shipping out those orders on March 20th, the official release date of the book.

You may or may not realize that in addition to being an author, blogger, and mom, Kim Strickland is a pilot for a major airline. That explains the nice write up in the current issue of Air Line Pilot Magazine.

Here's a little taste: "Kim Strickland crafts an intriguing and curious tale in the Golden Coin Laundromat, and the reader will be invested in this story as it unfolds, as truths are learned, and as Annie's reality is affirmed."

"Down at the Golden Coin" will send you soaring. Pre-order your copy today. The first one hundred orders will receive a thematically appropriate golden dollar coin (which sadly, will definitely not feature the face of any president that served since the Wright Brothers' first flight. They did that during Teddy Roosevelt's presidency, and his golden dollar coin doesn't come out until next year. At best, you may get one featuring the face of Grover Cleveland. At least he was still alive when the Wright Brothers flew at Kitty Hawk.)

Robert Temple Ayres

You may not know the name Robert Temple Ayres, so if you heard he passed away this week at the age of 98, it may not have affected you.

It did affect Eckhartz Press authors Rick Kaempfer and Brendan Sullivan, however, because Robert Temple Ayres is the artist that created the flaming Bonanza map.

And the book that Rick and Brendan wrote, "The Living Wills", will almost certainly one day be recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the novel with the most references to Bonanza of all time. Rick and Brendan even referenced that burning Bonanza map in the pages of "The Living Wills".

They mourn the passing of Robert Temple Ayres.

Countdown to "Down at the Golden Coin"

The pre-orders are coming in for "Down at the Golden Coin" by Kim Strickland. We'll be shipping out those orders on March 20th, the official release date of the book (which, by the way, is exactly one week from today!)

The Monthly Aspectarian is a Chicago area magazine Dedicated to Awakening Consciousness, and they recognize a book that appeals to their readers when they see one. In the current issue, which you can download here, they do a nice write up about Kim's "Down at the Golden Coin".

It's on page 19.

The Monthly Aspectarian has got the right idea. "Down at the Golden Coin" will awake your consciousness. Pre-order your copy today. The first one hundred orders will receive a thematically appropriate golden dollar coin (which may or may not feature the face of James Madison, widely considered the most "enlightened" president in history.)

Countdown to "Down at the Golden Coin"

The pre-orders are coming in for "Down at the Golden Coin" by Kim Strickland. We'll be shipping out those orders on March 20th, the official release date of the book.

Kirkus Reviews has read Kim's book, and they posted their very positive review on-line. You can read the full review here. This is our favorite part...

"Strickland, in her second novel, effectively combines the earnestness of Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life with the didactic voice of The Secret. With its timely, relatable story peppered liberally with pop-culture references and religious conviction, Strickland’s novel should strike a chord with readers who will relate to Annie’s struggles and search for a happier future. A lesson in faith and the power of positive thinking, all nestled within a satisfying story."

"Down at the Golden Coin" is guaranteed to make you think. Pre-order your copy today. The first one hundred orders will receive a thematically appropriate golden dollar coin (which may or may not feature the face of Benjamin Harrison, a president that is not related to Beatle George in any way.)

Countdown to "Down at the Golden Coin"

The pre-orders are coming in for "Down at the Golden Coin" by Kim Strickland. We'll be shipping out those orders on March 20th, the official release date of the book.

Here's another date to remember: March 23, 2012. Exactly two weeks from today.

That's the date of the official book launch party for "Down at the Golden Coin". We have some details about the party, for those of you in the Chicago area.

It will take place at the August House Studio, on 2113 West Roscoe Street in Chicago from 6-9pm.

What is August House Studio? Here's how they describe themselves: Springing out of an art rental business run from owner Marya Veeck's living room, August House Studio is dedicated to bringing art into the neighborhood. "In Europe," Veeck says,"galleries are like florists: they're everywhere, interspersed in neighborhoods, making art a part of everyday life." Instead of being located in a specific district, art galleries are spread throughout the city, making art available to everyone."

On March 23rd from 6-9pm you can purchase this piece of art: "Down at the Golden Coin". Author Kim Strickland will personally autograph your copy if you come out that night.

See you there!

More Love for "The Living Wills"

For those of you who haven't yet leafed through the current (March) issue of Bowler's Journal International, keep your eyes peeled for a nice piece about a certain novel that has a bowling jacket on the cover.

The article is called "A Novel That Most Bowlers Should Love" and it's written by legendary bowling writer Jim Dressel.

Sadly, it's not available on-line so we can't link to it.

Countdown to "Down at the Golden Coin"

The pre-orders are coming in for "Down at the Golden Coin" by Kim Strickland. We'll be shipping out those orders on March 20th, the official release date of the book.

We're not the type of publisher that engages in needless hyperbole, so when we make a claim about one of our books, we mean it. Want to hear the truth about "Down at the Golden Coin"?

"Down at the Golden Coin" is the greatest novel featuring a can of Grape Fanta (in a crucial scene, no less) ever written.

That's right, we said it. And we're not backing down from that claim.

Sue us, if you think you've got a better one. Not a jury in America will agree with you.

"Down at the Golden Coin" is also guaranteed to make you think. Pre-order your copy today. The first one hundred orders will receive a thematically appropriate golden dollar coin (which may or may not feature the face of Chester Arthur, the president with the greatest presidential sideburns of all time.)

Countdown to "Down at the Golden Coin"

The pre-orders are coming in for "Down at the Golden Coin" by Kim Strickland. We'll be shipping out those orders on March 20th, the official release date of the book.

If you're a music fan, you'll want to read "Down at the Golden Coin". You'll never listen to the following songs the same way again...

"Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McPherrin

"Who'll Stop The Rain" by CCR

"Get the Balance Right" by Depeche Mode

and

"What if God was one of us" by Joan Osborne

"Down at the Golden Coin" is guaranteed to make you think...and sing. Pre-order your copy today. The first one hundred orders will receive a thematically appropriate golden dollar coin (which may or may not feature the face of impeached president Andrew Johnson).

Countdown to "Down at the Golden Coin"

The pre-orders are starting to come in for "Down at the Golden Coin" by Kim Strickland. We'll be shipping out those orders on March 20th.

Chicago writer and film critic Paige Wiser ("Windy City Live"/ABC-TV) said that the book features "the most eccentric spiritual guide since Clarence the Angel."

That spiritual guide is named Violet, and without giving too much away or telling you more about Violet than Paige has already told you, we can tell you positively that this Violet is far more interesting and compelling than the following Violets...

The flower

The town in Louisiana

And even the immortal (but let's face it, supplementary character) Violet Gray.

For a much more memorable Violet, you owe it to yourself to check out "Down at the Golden Coin". It's guaranteed to make you think. Pre-order your copy today. The first one hundred orders will receive a thematically appropriate golden dollar coin (which may or may not feature the face of Zachary Taylor, the president with the greatest presidential nickname of all-time: Old Rough and Ready)

Countdown to "Down at the Golden Coin"

The pre-orders are starting to come in for "Down at the Golden Coin" by Kim Strickland. We'll be shipping out those orders on March 20th.

A few select people have gotten their lucky paws on a galley of the book, and this is what they told us about "Down at the Golden Coin"...

“Down at the Golden Coin” couldn’t be more timely or original, with the most eccentric spiritual guide since Clarence the Angel. Prepare to set your brain to “spin cycle.”
-–Paige Wiser, Windy City Live ABC-7

Kim Strickland has done it again! Profound spiritual insight, intimate personal truths, humanity and divinity—woven together and delivered in a deceptively simple, engaging story—touching our hearts, opening our minds and moving our spirits! Absolutely Brilliant! A Golden Coin!
-–Linda Howe, author of "How to Read the Akashic Records" and "Healing Through the Akashic Records"

Strickland, in her second novel, effectively combines the earnestness of Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life with the didactic voice of The Secret...A lesson in faith and the power of positive thinking, all nestled within a satisfying story.
--Kirkus Reviews

"Down at the Golden Coin" is guaranteed to make you think. Pre-order your copy today. The first one hundred orders will receive a thematically appropriate golden dollar coin (which may or may not feature the face of one-term President James K. Polk, a man immortalized in song by the band They Might Be Giants).

Countdown to "Down at the Golden Coin"

The pre-orders are starting to come in for "Down at the Golden Coin" by Kim Strickland. We'll be shipping out those orders on March 20th.

What can you expect from a Kim Strickland book?

Here are some reviews for her first novel "Wish Club"...

"Wish Club is a zany and witty story that you are sure to love. Kim Strickland has developed her characters so well and they are so believable and charming and funny. I can find no faults with this novel. I am recommending it for our reading group. The story is funny, smart and so intriguing. This is a perfect book club read. I give it an outstanding 5 stars." - Terry South, Quality Book Reviews

"Hot Read for Summer" - Chicago Tribune

"City Plays Major Role in Bewitching First Novel by Airline Pilot" - Chicago Sun Times (feature article on Wish Club)

"Wonderful. Funny. Chilling. Everything a book should be." - Rick Kogan, WGN Radio. Listen to the Interview - WGN Sunday Papers with Rick Kogan.

"Strickland, who pilots a Boeing 767 for a living, gives her five passengers a naivety of witchcraft and strength of character that charms." - Publisher's Weekly

"A fast, fun beach read." - Sharon Broom, Armchair Interviews

Her second novel, and first for Eckhartz Press, is entitled "Down at the Golden Coin". It's guaranteed to make you think. Pre-order your copy today. The first one hundred orders will receive a thematically appropriate golden dollar coin (which may or may not feature the face of the one-month president William Henry Harrison).

Countdown to "Down at the Golden Coin"

Starting today we are taking pre-orders for Kim Strickland's latest novel, "Down at the Golden Coin". It officially starts shipping on March 20th.

Who is Kim Strickland?

She's the attractive lady on the left here (shown in her natural laundromat habitat, the location of "Down at the Golden Coin"). Kim is a previously published author ("Wish Club"), and a blogger for ChicagoNow ("A City Mom"), but her day job is flying. She's a pilot for a major airline, and flies 767s to places like Paris, Amsterdam, and Buenes Aires.

She's also a mom (two boys and a girl), a wife, a runner, a former journalist/broadcaster, and makes a mean pea-salad.

Luckily for us at Eckhartz Press, she's a gifted writer too. Her book "Down at the Golden Coin" is guaranteed to make you think. Pre-order your copy today. The first one hundred orders will receive a thematically appropriate golden dollar coin (which may or may not feature the face of the most obscure president of all-time, Millard Filmore).

It's just one click away.