Here’s an appearance I recently made on the local series, Authors Showcase, which can also be seen on Chicago Cable Channel 25:
Thu 23 Apr 2015
Posted by Michael under A Peek At The Past, Appearances And Interviews
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Here’s an appearance I recently made on the local series, Authors Showcase, which can also be seen on Chicago Cable Channel 25:
Fri 1 Aug 2014
Posted by Michael under Appearances And Interviews, Cool Events and Shows
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I am EXTREMELY pleased and honored to announce that I will be the Featured Author in the Lt. Governor’s Tent at the Illinois State Fair from 11AM-1PM on Friday, August 8!!! I’ll be doing an interview, reading excerpts from Hollywood On Lake Michigan, 2nd Edition, and signing free copies to be raffled off to attendees.
Stop on by if you are at The Fair that day. It’s going to be HUGE fun!!!
Wed 26 Feb 2014
Posted by Michael under Appearances And Interviews, Cool Events and Shows, General Falderol, Reviews and Mentions
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In another incredibly huge honor, Hollywood On Lake Michigan, 2nd Edition has been selected to be one the books included in the 2014 Illinois Reads Program!
Illinois Reads is a statewide program to promote reading amongst all Illinois citizens. It is under the auspices of the Illinois Reading Council and in conjunction with the Illinois State Library, State Librarian and Honorary Chair Jesse White (whose Secretary Of State Office funds the literacy effort under which I volunteer tutor).
I can’t begin to state how excited I am by this development. As a volunteer ESL/ABE tutor, Universal Literacy is a cause near and dear to me, so this is an especially heartfelt honor. It is also wonderful for the book itself, which I had hoped would become a textbook of sorts, and this definitely puts it well on the way to that status.
Many thanks to The Illinois Reading Council, my co-author Arnie Bernstein, my publisher Chicago Review Press, the State Library and Librarian, and anyone else who had a hand in the section process. I’m greatly looking forward to the festivities and kickoff ceremony on Wednesday, March 12 down in Springfield!
Thu 19 Dec 2013
Posted by Michael under A Peek At The Past, A Peek Behind The Scenes, Reviews For Hollywood On Lake Michigan
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Kevin’s Movie Corner has an excellent review of Hollywood On Lake Michigan, 2nd Edition. Check it out here!
I especially enjoy the fact that he had read the original edition and loved the additions I made and the extra material that Arnie put in the history section:
http://kevinsmoviecorner.blogspot.com/2013/12/book-review-hollywood-on-lake-michigan.html
Thu 21 Nov 2013
Posted by Michael under A Peek At The Past, Appearances And Interviews, Cool Events and Shows, General Falderol
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I am extremely honored to announce that I am speaking at Chicago Book Expo. It is a major gathering of Chicago Writers and Independent Publishers and I can’t begin to describe how pleased I am to be a part of it.
Sunday, November 24
St Augustine College, 1345 W Argyle.
 The event starts at 11AM and I’ll be presenting from 2:30-3:30
It will be such a kick to do my HOLM 2 presentation in the old Essanay Studio Buildings- which were the site of one of the first movie studios on earth. And to be in the company of such fine authors and publishers makes it an even bigger thrill.
You really ought to stop on by because I will be in Full Expounding Mode!!!
Fri 8 Nov 2013
Posted by Michael under A Peek At The Past, A Peek Behind The Scenes, Appearances And Interviews
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Here is the ABC 7 News segment featuring me discussing Hollywood On Lake Michigan, 2nd Edition and Chicago Film. I couldn’t be more pleased with how well it turned out. Enjoy!!!
WOW! I watch the ABC 7 News At 4 pretty regularly and it was SUCH a surreal and wonderful experience to see ME suddenly appear on screen in the midst of such a well done piece of work. Incredibly reifying!!!
A big thanks to Producer Marsha Jordan for her kindness and general awesomeness. And a huge shout out to Tonya Davis for a brilliant editing job!!!
Part 2 will be airing at some point in the future. Stay tuned for details!
Fri 1 Nov 2013
Posted by Michael under A Peek At The Past, Appearances And Interviews, General Falderol
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Here is an interview I did for the Outside The Loop radio show on WLUW.
I come on right after the first break:
Mon 9 Sep 2013
Posted by Michael under General Falderol, Reviews For Hollywood On Lake Michigan
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The love for Hollywood On Lake Michigan, 2nd Edition keeps on flowing with two more great reviews!!!
The first one is in the online entertainment journal Pop Matters and was written by Brendan William Boyle. Brendan gives the book 8 out of 10 stars!
Click here for the Pop Matters review.
The second was done by film blogger Aurora on her classic movie site Once Upon A Screen (aka Aurora’s Gin Joint). Aurora gives a great review of the book and even had a book giveaway! (My apologies to those who missed out on it for my procrastination in not posting this here earlier)
Click here for Aurora’s review.
Sun 21 Jul 2013
Posted by Michael under A Peek Behind The Scenes, Appearances And Interviews, Cool Events and Shows
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Arnie and I had a wonderful time with Bill Moller on WGN-AM yesterday. Have a listen!
Here we are in the fishbowl studio on the ground floor of the Tribune Tower, which was a fabulously Chicago-esque experience.
Bill kept the two of us on our toes by occasionally asking each of us questions from the other person’s knowledge base, but that was a nice change of pace. My voice was sounding OK but I have GOT to cut down on my UHMMs and AHHs, which will happen as I get more acclimated to these interview deals. I can’t wait to do a long form interview some time where I don’t have to be so conscious about cramming the point in before time runs out.
After the interview Arnie and I got our picture taken with The Twinkie Kid and headed underground for a breakfast Cheezborger at The Billy Goat. A quintessentially Chicago morning!
Fri 19 Jul 2013
Posted by Michael under Appearances And Interviews, Cool Events and Shows, General Falderol
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I will be appearing with Arnie Bernstein on WGN Weekend With Bill Moller (WGN 720 AM) on Saturday, July 20th at 9AM CDT. We will be discussing Chicago Film and Hollywood On Lake Michigan, 2nd Edition. Gonna be fun!!!
I always enjoyed Bill’s work on CLTV so I am really looking forward to chatting with him about HOLM 2!!!