Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, June 2 through June 7

Joliet area readers: could you do me a favor?

Tonight I lead a monthly fiction workshop so I won't be able to attend the New Orleans North event in downtown Joliet.

Not only does a portion of the proceeds benefit local charities, BryonySeries artist Matt Coundiff (Visage, Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony") will there with his art.

Since I can't stop and see him, please do so for me. He'd be thrilled to meet you! (and most likely would rather see a new friendly face than my old one).

Post a photo of you with Matt on the Bryony Facebook page (link below), and you just might receive a copy of one of the books he illustrated.

This weekend, after getting some work done, I hope to spend some time with my new werewolf novel, finish working on the outline of Cornell Dyer and the Never Robbers with Timothy AND (if luck is on my side), persuade Rebekah (who's worked A LOT of extra hours this week) to assemble the cover of Before the Blood: Bryony Simons so I can upload it and order a proof.

Of course, I also plan to walk and drink coffee. But that's a given.

Have a great weekend readers, writers, and BryonySeries fans. :)

Non-bylined features:

Monday through Saturday I assembled my non-bylined works - brief posts and calendar listings - into one convenient file and posting them on Facebook in the evening, so readers can easily choose the ones they want to read.

One can also find those event listings, the Gotta Do It calendar, as well as the pets, health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars, under the sections tab on the left hand side of http://www.theherald-news.com/. Click on "features" and the topics drop down.  Gotta Do It runs under "people."

Community news? Again, under the sections tab, under features, and by topic. Updates are posted on these days in print and web (and some only on web on other days as I have the time): 

 Social media:

Daily updates: I do post the briefs and calendars on Twitter during the week, so you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

BryonySeries stuff: I post curated content relating to the BryonySeries at @BryonySeries. And assorted related content at www.facebook.com/BryonySeries. And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to jon WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/writeonminooka/?ref=bookmarks. We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

Upcoming events:

Once Timothy Baran is done updating this page, these will listed here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/fetes-and-feasts.

Check out the progress he has made so far. Each square is hand-built.

Books and Such

Information on my books (including where to buy) along with upcoming events is at www.bryonyseries.com. Again, Timothy is in the process of updating the website, so all titles may not appear. If you have any questions, email me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. And if you've read (or plan to read) any of my books. Your support is greatly appreciated.

An Extraordinary Life: 'She'd be proud of what we've done'
New Lenox teacher and his sister raise money each year for lupus research

 "Our mom was the most selfless person even when she needed things more than us," Jennifer Finley of Greenup wrote about Gayla Rakoczy. "She always made sure we still had things before she did.  She was never one to complain. She really was a kid at heart."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/05/28/11a0a3928efd42e69169407b4fed0425/index.xml?page=1


Coal City man has been on both sides of organ donation
By Kevin Solari

Rob Hicks had one thing going for him, though. Because he was a previous donor, he would be put on a priority list.

It was not an easy road. He received one kidney but, due to an infection, it had to be taken out again, and he had to go back on dialysis.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/06/03/coal-city-man-has-been-on-both-sides-of-organ-donation/a9z5yqg/


'It's really a great gift'
Joliet churches: plotting new ways to feed the hungry

"I haven't done anything in years that has gotten this much positive support,"  

Eileen H. Gutierrez, director of development at the Cathedral of St. Raymond, said.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/06/04/605531415a0d4561ae7aeda50267caa9/index.xml


Plenty of summer festivals scheduled in Will, Grundy counties for 2019

The return of warm weather brings outside fun – like these festivals – with plenty of events continuing into early fall.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/06/03/plenty-of-summer-festivals-scheduled-in-will-grundy-counties-for-2019/a5zf4wo/


Artworks: 'Those days are pretty much gone'
Restored midget racing car at Joliet museum is part of location history 

The car once belonged to Bob Steffes, 100, of Elwood. Bob's son Rex Steffes of Manhattan, an owner of Route 66 Raceway until 2007, he said, created an information booklet to accompany it.

Rex donated the car to the museum in 2012 and the museum was happy to have it, he said.

That was the easy part.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/06/04/688de7e1212e47b2a74084ae9d3b9f63/index.xml?page=1


LocalLit book spotlight: 'Fifteen Years' by Allison Rios of Joliet

Here is the book's Amazon description: "How many lies can be undone? The remainder of Rae Pinemore’s heart broke the day she said goodbye to her baby. To be fair, her heart hadn’t been whole since she left home after graduation in search of greener pastures.

"With her high school sweetheart, James Preston, comfortable in his new life with a new wife, Rae builds a future far from her small hometown of Jessup in hopes the distance will help her forget all the lies she’d told; lies that could destroy every friendship she has. But then she returns home for her fifteen-year reunion. Is it too late to apologize?"

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/06/06/2cfcfecffbcc453db106f9fea33ceae6/index.xml

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff