Author Archives: Jim Merkel

My lederhosen shorts and suspenders came today. I can’t wait until I get the rest of it, so I can show you how I’ll look at my book release/signing party at 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16 at the Feasting Fox, 4200 S. Grand in St. Louis.

Before the Civil War, Heinrich Boernstein edited the biggest and best German-language newspaper in St. Louis, was the main force behind the city’s German theater, and ran a brewery and beer hall. He led a regiment at the beginning of the war in an action that kept St. Louis on the Union side. But  heContinue reading “Larger Than Life”

I just ordered my lederhosen shorts and suspenders, my lederhosen socks and a hat to match. What a sight! Plus music like what’s in the album on the left and a German flag. Now all we need is for the book to roll off the presses and for you to show up at my releaseContinue reading “8/10/2012 Getting ready”

Had a terrific time at a meeting of the Gateway Postcard Club at the Kirkwood Community Center talking about and selling my last book Hoosiers and Scrubby Dutch: St. Louis’s South Side.  So what does that have to do with Beer, Brats, and Baseball? There was lots of interest in the book. I gave outContinue reading “8/6/2012 A book talk”

Talked to my editor on Monday. He said he planned to send the book to the printer on Tuesday (yesterday).

We’re headed for Bayfield, Wisconsin for a much-needed vacation in Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands. You won’t see any more posts here until we return. Then, refreshed, we’ll turn our attention to preparing for the book’s release and the Release Party from 2-5 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Feasting Fox, 4200 S. Grand in St. Louis.Continue reading “7/27/2012 Time off”

With the book finished, I’m turning my efforts towards promotion. Today I went with videographer David Ayres to G.&W. Bavarian Style Sausage Company in South St. Louis to shoot more of the promotional video for the book. G&W represents the “Brats” in the name of the book. I spoke in front of the camera inContinue reading “7/21/2012 Back to the video”

I did some cleanup tonight that really marks the end of writing Beer, Brats, and Baseball: St. Louis Germans. Matt Heidenry, my editor, sent me back a PDF of the book after he inserted the corrections I made in the proofs. I went over them to make sure everything was done right. There were onlyContinue reading “7/19/2012 Some final sweeping up”

Lorraine and I finished proofing the manuscript tonight. That could mean the book’s done, although Matt Heidenry’s given us the option of checking a new PDF for tiny mistakes during his vacation next week.  There are only a handful left, if any. Now it’s on to the next phase, which is promotion. So tell me,Continue reading “7/17/2012 Finished. Done. Finito. Fertig. Race over.”

We’ve had my manuscript under a microscope for about six week. Five sets of eyes have looked at it, some repeatedly. Tomorrow night we’ll finish. The next day, Lorraine will take it to Matt Heidenry.  He’ll send back a PDF so we can still check for very minor stuff the next week, while he’s on vacation.Continue reading “7/16/2012 Almost done”