tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84790288568985153032024-03-19T03:46:56.903-05:00 BryonySeriesThe official blog of Denise M. Baran-Unland, author. Discover her books for all ages at bryonyseries.com.
Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.comBlogger5153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-39854630203674768812024-03-18T07:50:00.002-05:002024-03-18T07:50:26.739-05:00WriteOn Joliet presents “Fragments of Time"<p>Last year, WriteOn Joliet did something very unusual for a writer's group.</p><p><a href="https://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2023/04/writeon-joliet-radio-play-wrap-up.html" target="_blank">Eight WriteOn Joliet members presented original readings in a radio theater style performance</a> at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park in Joliet, which you can watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKwEir5l96s&t=253s&ab_channel=4thtroika" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkEQ6P9Jd_8&t=239s&ab_channel=4thtroika" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>The response was so positive, Bicentennial Park invited us back with a new show for two performances instead of one. </p><p>Each member of the original cast returned. And a nineth WriteOn Joliet member is joining us.</p><p>And sooooooo...</p><p class="MsoNormal">WriteOn Joliet presents “Fragments of Time,” an original
radio theater production, on April 19 and April 20 at the Billie Limacher
Bicentennial Park and Theatre in Joliet.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nine members of WriteOn Joliet will explore various aspects
of time in original radio-style stories and poems at 7 p.m. at the Billie
Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Admission is $5.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Authors and performers are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Maureen
Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky,
Jenny Russ and Duanne Walton.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Director is Rachel Veres.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks will be
available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available
for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately
after the show’s conclusion.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre is at 201
West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For tickets and more information, visit <a href="http://bicentennialpark.org">bicentennialpark.org</a>
or contact the office: 815-724-3761/ bipark@joliet.gov.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">WriteOn Joliet is a welcoming, diverse group of writers of
varied skills, interests and experience. The group includes professional
journalists, fiction novelists, bloggers, screenwriters, musicians and poets.
We promise a safe, comfortable and supportive atmosphere to share your work,
and constructive feedback so that everyone can benefit from our shared
knowledge.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">WriteOn Joliet is a proud partner of the <a href="https://jolietlibrary.org/local-authors/" target="_blank">Joliet PublicLibrary</a> and <a href="https://bookmarketjoliet.com/#" target="_blank">The Book Market in Crest Hill</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For more information,
visit <a href="http://writeonjoliet.com">writeonjoliet.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioumuYLpppAUtcLM3W032Y_FE_SHVXCXGkKUh6uprKEqZgTWtkBBXvRytbQOhyphenhyphenijjGZyXnfrHKyqZE12ZWMGO10zaZ9ZNzyEBplL-T_cLXgfZuz1aXZ65hyvQKW6ko4CqJTStL_cF83FYxftMzMQDyIyM-U8w_LpZC-Etwx1cPcpmNVG79Yr201FbJt7Zh/s1650/WriteOn%20Joliet%20Radio%20Play%20FLYER%202024%20horz%20for%20web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1650" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioumuYLpppAUtcLM3W032Y_FE_SHVXCXGkKUh6uprKEqZgTWtkBBXvRytbQOhyphenhyphenijjGZyXnfrHKyqZE12ZWMGO10zaZ9ZNzyEBplL-T_cLXgfZuz1aXZ65hyvQKW6ko4CqJTStL_cF83FYxftMzMQDyIyM-U8w_LpZC-Etwx1cPcpmNVG79Yr201FbJt7Zh/w640-h494/WriteOn%20Joliet%20Radio%20Play%20FLYER%202024%20horz%20for%20web.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-48206791734324787422024-03-17T07:58:00.002-05:002024-03-17T07:58:23.703-05:00King of the Fairies Traditional Irish Piano<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/H8lTI0kuEF4?si=LfM1IGLwtKoHqiMD" frameborder="0"></iframe>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-25968912907017446302024-03-16T07:27:00.003-05:002024-03-16T07:27:23.526-05:00St Patrick’s Day in Ireland 2022<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/QWm1rFmhIZA?si=rN27aNSxpRctqzn_" frameborder="0"></iframe>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-18610757130930714452024-03-15T06:21:00.009-05:002024-03-15T06:21:54.600-05:00Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, March 9 to March 15<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Good morning!</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I have just nine news and features stories to share with you this week. </span><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But more will be posted over</span><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> this weekend, especially with me working this weekend. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: </span><a href="http://shawlocal.com/the-herald-news" style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">shawlocal.com/the-herald-news</a><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p><p>Last weekend was filled with family time (Saturday), friends (Sunday), and an obituary I was asked to write. This weekend is filled with work and then I leap into a very busy work week, followed by a colonoscopy next week. </p><p>Oh, and I have three business proposals to write before said colonoscopy - and I'm editing a manuscript for a client.</p><p>It's also been a busy week with rehearsals for WriteOn Joliet's radio play in April at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theater in Joliet on April 19 and April 20. More on that next week.</p><p>Still, even with all these fun projects to keep me occupied, I'm hoping to carve out some time for my own BryonySeries writing projects. Maybe? We shall see.</p><p><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Here are the BryonySeries book updates:</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>House on Top of the Hill:</b> Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I now have a good working draft of the entire book and six chapters and a prologue that are ready for final edits. I scrapped most of chapter seven last weekend and am now working on the current draft. We are estimating a late 2024 release date for this book.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: </b></span><span style="font-family: times;">Timothy said the next book will be slightly dark ("slightly" because it's for kids, too) and will involve an old toy store. We are also working on the last book in the series (but it's not the final book, if that makes sense). Timothy is actually writing that one. We had a tentative "Cornell breakfast" scheduled for last weekend, which didn't happen...and we have no opportunity for another for at least a couple more weeks. We've scheduled and broke several in 2023. Our last one was July 2022. So we are LONG overdue. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">Brainy Ann</span><span style="font-family: times;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: times;"> The fifth book in </span><a href="https://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2022/10/meet-girls-of-bryonyseries.html" style="font-family: times;" target="_blank">The Girls of the BryonySeries</a><span style="font-family: times;"> is outlined and ready for some serious writing in 2024. The first chapter is written, hurray! </span><span style="font-family: times;">Jennifer Wainwright has already started working on the cover portrait. That one is called "Brainy Ann."</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Julie-Hard-Homework-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777510/ref=sr_1_7?qid=1685021696&refinements=p_27%3ADenise+Baran-Unland&s=books&sr=1-7" target="_blank">Julie and the Too-Hard Homework</a>," "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Katie-Big-Fear-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777529/ref=sr_1_8?qid=1686230248&refinements=p_27%3ADenise+M.+Baran-Unland&s=books&sr=1-8" target="_blank">Katie and the Big Fear</a>," "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Sisters-Denise-M-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777502/ref=sr_1_13?qid=1687441377&refinements=p_27%3ADenise+Baran-Unland&s=books&sr=1-13" target="_blank">Summer Sisters</a>." and "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/194977774X?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860" target="_blank">Karla Joins In,"</a> as well as the frontispiece for <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lycanthropic-Summer-Denise-M-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777251" target="_blank">Lycanthropic Summer</a></i>. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>A Year of Shadows and Moonlight, of Gathering Blooms in the Woods</b>: A rather unusual, poetic novelette in the second person is completed and just needs final copyediting. Rebekah is also playing around with art for the cover. We are estimating a mid-2024 release date.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Rebekah is also slowly updating the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/BryonySeries" target="_blank">BryonySeries YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/bryonyseries/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Now back to The Herald-News stories stories.<b> </b>Simply click on the link of the story that looks interesting to you. Happy scrolling!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">But before the stories, I have a list of additional resources and information. Please check them out, too.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Finally, if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Months-Kindness-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777391" target="_blank">consider this book</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">And have a great Friday!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">RECIPE OF THE WEEK</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Each Wednesday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks, will be featured in an upcoming cookbook, or is just an "extra" we want to share with you.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Check out the recipe <a href="https://www.bryonyseries.com/recipe-of-the-week" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">WRITERS</span></b></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/writeonminooka/?ref=bookmarks">WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page</a><b>. </b>We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.<o:p></o:p><br /><br />If you'd like to officially join WriteOn Joliet, we have two tiers of dues and two ways to attend meetings. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year. Check us out at <a href="http://writeonjoliet.com/">writeonjoliet.com</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">I also suggest this book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1949777413/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i23" target="_blank">Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers.</a> It's exactly as it says. Each page some with one suggestion for revision. The rest of the page is blank, so you can add your own notes. All proceeds benefit WriteOn Joliet.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out <a href="http://dmbaranunland.com">dmbaranunland.com</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">ARTISTS</span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you need an artist for a project, <a href="http://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2020/07/artists-for-hire.html" target="_blank">I offer these recommendations</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>NEWSLETTERS</b><br /></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sign up for The Munsonville Times by emailing us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. The newsletter still isn't official yet, so we don't have an actual link on the website - but we are working on it! </span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">SOCIAL MEDIA</span></b></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p><span style="font-family: times;">Daily updates: I haven't posted anything on Twitter/X (except a daily Bible verse) since September I can no longer schedule posts in advance. I'm not sure yet how to manage the account without that option. But </span><span style="font-family: times;">you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">BryonySeries stuff: I used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at <a href="http://facebook.com/BryonySeries">facebook.com/BryonySeries</a>, <a href="http://youtube.com/user/BryonySeries">youtube.com/user/BryonySeries</a>, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at <a href="http://pinterest.com/bryonyseries">pinterest.com/bryonyseries</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bertrand_bryonyseries/?hl=en" target="_blank">bertrand_bryonyseries</a>.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">BRYONYSERIES BOOKS</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">For books and more information about the series, visit <a href="http://bryonyseries.com">bryonyseries.com</a>.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">BRYONYSERIES EVENTS</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">A full month of virtual events can be found at <a href="http://bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events">bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events</a>.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">QUESTIONS</span></b></p><span style="font-family: times;">Email me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br />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.</span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0in;"><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">FEATURES</span></b></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/12/palliative-care-a-godsend-for-lemont-couple-with-dementia/" target="_blank">Daughter says at-home care a ‘godsend’ for Lemont parents with dementia" The couple receives services from Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/11/joliets-cadence-premiere-logistics-tackles-business-and-serves-the-community/" target="_blank">Joliet’s Cadence Premier Logistics tackles business and serves the community: Rocky Caylor, president and CEO: ‘We’ve just been quiet in the background’</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/13/plainfield-district-202-hosting-car-parade-for-tom-hernandez/" target="_blank">Plainfield District 202 hosting car parade for Tom Hernandez: Hernandez is the former director of community relations for District 202 in Plainfield</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/08/mental-health-program-from-nami-will-grundy-educates-empowers-youth/" target="_blank">NAMI Will-Grundy brings youth mental health program to schools: Cheryl Habeeb, NAMI Will-Grundy: ‘We want to end the silence and reduce the stigma’</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/16/joliet-bunny-bash-to-benefit-foster-kids/" target="_blank">Joliet Bunny Bash to benefit foster kids: Buy tickets to the family friendly event by March 19</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/10/joliet-west-senior-earns-full-scholarship-to-northwestern/" target="_blank">Joliet West senior earns full scholarship to Northwestern: Jaedyn Jumper-Uwumarogie said she ‘cried a little bit’ when she learned the news</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/08/free-take-time-for-you-event-in-new-lenox-on-saturday/" target="_blank">Free ‘Take Time for You’ event in New Lenox on Saturday: Event is open to any adult in the community</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/11/pets-of-the-week-march-11-2024/" target="_blank">Pets of the Week: March 11, 2024: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/03/14/the-local-scene-a-shamrockin-good-time-at-joliet-rialto/" target="_blank">The Local Scene: A Shamrockin’ Good Time at Joliet Rialto: Here are 5 things to do this weekend</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8nv-Q-M-LFIu2tSD0-6Jp3GSOpz7mjB7aiM3PeaD4CWTV5z9xKxoooTVoSRE9vWdoGvGTYAmoFPaW61a7fiKUGOP0ZTzq3bjt6HWlPo3QXjPjAnor5h1zKHutEFPIqrrL_4PHG7LO_nQOrynjbOx9j0-3zuF9pZvMVXQkCbPFrOEZhZISorZfcV9SFQ=s863" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="863" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8nv-Q-M-LFIu2tSD0-6Jp3GSOpz7mjB7aiM3PeaD4CWTV5z9xKxoooTVoSRE9vWdoGvGTYAmoFPaW61a7fiKUGOP0ZTzq3bjt6HWlPo3QXjPjAnor5h1zKHutEFPIqrrL_4PHG7LO_nQOrynjbOx9j0-3zuF9pZvMVXQkCbPFrOEZhZISorZfcV9SFQ=w400-h254" width="400" /></span></a></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><span style="font-family: times;">Illustration by Matt Coundiff for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Visage-Official-BryonySeries-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/0985274859" target="_blank">"Visage"</a></span></i></p>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-75801903689707273432024-03-14T06:52:00.002-05:002024-03-14T06:52:09.037-05:00"The Rainy Day" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times;">"The Rainy Day" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1841)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times;">The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;</span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">It rains, and the wind is never weary;</span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,</div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">But at every gust the dead leaves fall,</div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">And the day is dark and dreary.</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;</div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">It rains, and the wind is never weary;</div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,</div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,</div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">And the days are dark and dreary.</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;</div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;</div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">Thy fate is the common fate of all,</div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">Into each life some rain must fall,</div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">Some days must be dark and dreary.</div></span></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwSn5gqg8awf9Cu26fW3jhOmbSlPyX-rr0u6XtHwn19DpOziI2-xPyLzg4G3UNuHvEdeuE7VwnOVCmE9z_Z8BVUWuI2TdbuolLLH1Nec1SjCw8JKtHmXKslzq2c9rNHVycgk-KJVB-DH8w7VgRZSQpuoBXAi3K1C6sBYhAyLxc9y4rKlEzj0YvDUDLC48/s1201/rainbow%20over%20I%2055%20September%2021%202022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1201" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwSn5gqg8awf9Cu26fW3jhOmbSlPyX-rr0u6XtHwn19DpOziI2-xPyLzg4G3UNuHvEdeuE7VwnOVCmE9z_Z8BVUWuI2TdbuolLLH1Nec1SjCw8JKtHmXKslzq2c9rNHVycgk-KJVB-DH8w7VgRZSQpuoBXAi3K1C6sBYhAyLxc9y4rKlEzj0YvDUDLC48/w640-h482/rainbow%20over%20I%2055%20September%2021%202022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-49003395003964446262024-03-13T06:43:00.000-05:002024-03-13T06:43:49.576-05:00Sue's Diner: 1856 Cruller Recipe<p>This week's recipe is an adaptation of a nineteenth century for crullers that I found when writing the BryonySeries novel <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Call-Siren-Denise-M-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777480?ref_=ast_author_dp" target="_blank">"Call of the Siren."</a></p><p>It does not appear the BryonySeries cookbook: <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Kitchen-Bites-Nibbles-Bryony/dp/0985274816" target="_blank">Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony,"</a> </i>which is a permanent fundraiser for <a href="https://bbbswillgrundy.org/" target="_blank">Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">A cruller is similar to a doughnut. Instead of a circle shape (which Rebekah used when she adapted the recipe), the dough is twisted and then deep fried in oil.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Y<span style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: times;">ou can try the recipe on the </span><a href="https://www.bryonyseries.com/recipe-of-the-week" style="background-color: white; font-family: times;" target="_blank">Sue's Diner page</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: times;"> on the BryonySeries <a href="https://www.bryonyseries.com/" target="_blank">website</a>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: times;">But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: times;"></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: Cardo;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPB0xgQVH2Rm3cfH3Y4OtrZgwTFwwZk0yO9pinTfhbDs1TdOLxW_knu1ycug8ZtjOWChFkX-1Cone_FIgBIRvKdB5OCBOZUFnYjW8Npqi5FO18zGtLaxLm5bGtt1lq8C5A6dxKlMK0BgUCmbmoY2c5W1DUVyWUX3oN_RAK8VGfhl_TyRZ0SIcIqxGFPsm/s2048/Sues%20Diner%201856%20Crullers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPB0xgQVH2Rm3cfH3Y4OtrZgwTFwwZk0yO9pinTfhbDs1TdOLxW_knu1ycug8ZtjOWChFkX-1Cone_FIgBIRvKdB5OCBOZUFnYjW8Npqi5FO18zGtLaxLm5bGtt1lq8C5A6dxKlMK0BgUCmbmoY2c5W1DUVyWUX3oN_RAK8VGfhl_TyRZ0SIcIqxGFPsm/w640-h360/Sues%20Diner%201856%20Crullers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: times; text-align: left;">By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the </span><a href="https://www.bryonyseries.com/" style="color: #231c2d; font-family: times; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">BryonySeries</a><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: times; text-align: left;"> world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="color: #1b1b1b; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">Here is the full diner page: <a href="http://bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner">bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner</a>. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).</span></p><p style="color: #1b1b1b; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><p style="color: #1b1b1b; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries <a href="http://bryonyseries.com/general-store">bryonyseries.com/general-store</a>.</span></p></div>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-88396604661746652392024-03-12T08:39:00.001-05:002024-03-12T08:39:11.742-05:00Open Mic Night 2023: Crystal Lawson<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/R2INEWu7AzE?si=BOHDJe5Ud6kIAEww" frameborder="0"></iframe>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-11746098410948215902024-03-11T08:53:00.001-05:002024-03-11T08:53:07.707-05:00That First Sip of Coffee<p>There is nothing like that first sip of coffee when you've had to delay it for fasting bloodwork.</p><p>Even better than coffee, there is nothing like gathering with loved ones when you've had to delay that, too.</p><p>The journey to the coffee maker is long or short, depending where you choose to place it. And once we grab our cup, we think about that journey no more.</p><p>But what an exquisite experience to gather with people who are not together randomly and look back at the journey traveled together.</p><p>Happy Monday!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh159C4MOMRD1a-OB6ry_CvCl33P8ioT5laD2NHQmNeE6H-UkRksyMVwN7zJxUzcUGml4z4bbNPWzABJyjF6KLkyvJmit6151kwEmwBZ9lhQ0Z4K5KMj_OLprsDrWMCgDc3AG2303B7mYxTZlV3IuCzVA37TYGv9d5brRvE39zQoGZfoB2UlZbDGb8R-ijD/s1440/Denise%20Coffee%20Sue's%20cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh159C4MOMRD1a-OB6ry_CvCl33P8ioT5laD2NHQmNeE6H-UkRksyMVwN7zJxUzcUGml4z4bbNPWzABJyjF6KLkyvJmit6151kwEmwBZ9lhQ0Z4K5KMj_OLprsDrWMCgDc3AG2303B7mYxTZlV3IuCzVA37TYGv9d5brRvE39zQoGZfoB2UlZbDGb8R-ijD/w640-h480/Denise%20Coffee%20Sue's%20cup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-17137305694660158862024-03-10T07:26:00.005-05:002024-03-10T07:26:59.206-05:00Sunrise: Peaceful Relaxing Music with Piano, Flute, Violin, Guitar & Birds Chirping<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/QTpFoOkyLJw?si=dvetJZWsa4tGoEd-" frameborder="0"></iframe>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-68083760068775848842024-03-09T07:37:00.002-06:002024-03-09T07:37:10.248-06:00Irish People Try American Burgers<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/VwEJSD7NSLY?si=UFEqMZLNqV6M0Ai8" frameborder="0"></iframe>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-9277856600536869772024-03-08T07:07:00.003-06:002024-03-08T07:07:55.700-06:00Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, March 2 to March 8<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Good morning!</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I have thirteen news and features stories to share with you this week. </span><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But more will be posted over</span><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> this weekend, especially with me working this weekend. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: </span><a href="http://shawlocal.com/the-herald-news" style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">shawlocal.com/the-herald-news</a><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p><p>It's been a topsy turvy year so far with a few health challenges...and one I have to address this morning. </p><p>So far, the colonoscopy had to be pushed out to the end of next month due to a slew of (overall) relatively minor health (and other) challenges as far as impacting our day-to-day lives. But a steady stream of little challenges can add up to lots of stress. Please send up good thoughts that things settle down for us a bit, enough for us to catch out breath and relax.</p><p>This weekend is filled with family time (Saturday), friends (Sunday), and an obituary I was asked to write. But I'm still hoping for a little time for my own writing projects. We shall see.</p><p><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Here are the BryonySeries book updates:</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>House on Top of the Hill:</b> Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I now have a good working draft of the entire book and six chapters and a prologue that are ready for final edits. We are estimating a late 2024 release date.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: </b></span><span style="font-family: times;">Timothy said the next book will be slightly dark ("slightly" because it's for kids, too) and will involve an old toy store. We are also working on the last book in the series (but it's not the final book, if that makes sense). Timothy is actually writing that one. We had a tentative "Cornell breakfast" scheduled for last weekend, which didn't happen...and we have no opportunity for another for at least a couple of weeks. We've scheduled and broke several in 2023. Our last one was July 2022. So we are LONG overdue.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">Brainy Ann</span><span style="font-family: times;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: times;"> The fifth book in </span><a href="https://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2022/10/meet-girls-of-bryonyseries.html" style="font-family: times;" target="_blank">The Girls of the BryonySeries</a><span style="font-family: times;"> is outlined and ready for some serious writing in 2024. The first chapter is written, hurray! </span><span style="font-family: times;">Jennifer Wainwright has already started working on the cover portrait. That one is called "Brainy Ann."</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Julie-Hard-Homework-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777510/ref=sr_1_7?qid=1685021696&refinements=p_27%3ADenise+Baran-Unland&s=books&sr=1-7" target="_blank">Julie and the Too-Hard Homework</a>," "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Katie-Big-Fear-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777529/ref=sr_1_8?qid=1686230248&refinements=p_27%3ADenise+M.+Baran-Unland&s=books&sr=1-8" target="_blank">Katie and the Big Fear</a>," "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Sisters-Denise-M-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777502/ref=sr_1_13?qid=1687441377&refinements=p_27%3ADenise+Baran-Unland&s=books&sr=1-13" target="_blank">Summer Sisters</a>." and "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/194977774X?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860" target="_blank">Karla Joins In,"</a> as well as the frontispiece for <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lycanthropic-Summer-Denise-M-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777251" target="_blank">Lycanthropic Summer</a></i>. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>A Year of Shadows and Moonlight, of Gathering Blooms in the Woods</b>: A rather unusual, poetic novelette in the second person is completed and just needs final copyediting. Rebekah is also playing around with art for the cover. We are estimating a mid-2024 release date.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Rebekah is also slowly updating the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/BryonySeries" target="_blank">BryonySeries YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/bryonyseries/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Now back to The Herald-News stories stories.<b> </b>Simply click on the link of the story that looks interesting to you. Happy scrolling!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">But before the stories, I have a list of additional resources and information. Please check them out, too.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Finally, if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Months-Kindness-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777391" target="_blank">consider this book</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">And have a great Friday!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">RECIPE OF THE WEEK</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Each Wednesday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks, will be featured in an upcoming cookbook, or is just an "extra" we want to share with you.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Check out the recipe <a href="https://www.bryonyseries.com/recipe-of-the-week" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">WRITERS</span></b></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/writeonminooka/?ref=bookmarks">WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page</a><b>. </b>We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.<o:p></o:p><br /><br />If you'd like to officially join WriteOn Joliet, we have two tiers of dues and two ways to attend meetings. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year. Check us out at <a href="http://writeonjoliet.com/">writeonjoliet.com</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">I also suggest this book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1949777413/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i23" target="_blank">Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers.</a> It's exactly as it says. Each page some with one suggestion for revision. The rest of the page is blank, so you can add your own notes. All proceeds benefit WriteOn Joliet.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out <a href="http://dmbaranunland.com">dmbaranunland.com</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">ARTISTS</span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you need an artist for a project, <a href="http://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2020/07/artists-for-hire.html" target="_blank">I offer these recommendations</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>NEWSLETTERS</b><br /></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sign up for The Munsonville Times by emailing us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. The newsletter still isn't official yet, so we don't have an actual link on the website - but we are working on it! </span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">SOCIAL MEDIA</span></b></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p><span style="font-family: times;">Daily updates: I haven't posted anything on Twitter/X (except a daily Bible verse) since September I can no longer schedule posts in advance. I'm not sure yet how to manage the account without that option. But </span><span style="font-family: times;">you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">BryonySeries stuff: I used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at <a href="http://facebook.com/BryonySeries">facebook.com/BryonySeries</a>, <a href="http://youtube.com/user/BryonySeries">youtube.com/user/BryonySeries</a>, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at <a href="http://pinterest.com/bryonyseries">pinterest.com/bryonyseries</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bertrand_bryonyseries/?hl=en" target="_blank">bertrand_bryonyseries</a>.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">BRYONYSERIES BOOKS</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">For books and more information about the series, visit <a href="http://bryonyseries.com">bryonyseries.com</a>.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">BRYONYSERIES EVENTS</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">A full month of virtual events can be found at <a href="http://bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events">bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events</a>.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">QUESTIONS</span></b></p><span style="font-family: times;">Email me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br />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.</span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0in;"><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">FEATURES</span></b></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/05/joliet-hospice-cares-for-non-hospice-patients-as-well/" target="_blank">Joliet hospice cares for non-hospice patients with chronic illness: Medicare and most insurance companies cover serious illness care through Lightways</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/05/joliet-west-journalism-student-freehands-tiger-mural/" target="_blank">Joliet West journalism student free hands tiger mural: Justin Matlow, student: ‘I wanted to be known for making art’</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/03/new-lenox-psychologist-modernizes-aesop-fable-in-new-book/" target="_blank">New Lenox psychologist modernizes Aesop fable in new book: Author Mike Mecozzi: ‘We need to take the time to reassess our personal values’</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/04/gallery-seven-in-lockport-to-host-open-lens-iv/" target="_blank">Gallery Seven in Lockport to host Open Lens XIV: Open Lens XIV will be juried and judged by the artist partners of Gallery Seven</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/05/register-now-for-plainfield-citizens-police-fire-academy/" target="_blank">Registration open for Plainfield Citizens Police and Fire Academy: Classes will be held for 12 consecutive Tuesdays</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/07/plainfield-students-hosting-game-night-fundraiser/" target="_blank">Plainfield students hosting game night fundraiser: Families also can bring canned food items</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/28/register-now-for-district-202-plainfield-summer-art-camp/" target="_blank">Register now for Plainfield District 202 summer art camp: Proceeds benefit the PEHS National Art Honor Society Scholarship</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/03/troy-township-to-host-mobile-dmv-and-icash-event/" style="white-space-collapse: collapse;" target="_blank">Troy Township to host Mobile DMV and ICash event</a>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/28/10000-waiting-for-shorewood-couple-through-icash/ " target="_blank">$10,000 waiting for Shorewood couple through ICash: ICash connects unclaimed property with the rightful owners</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/29/baran-unland-i-had-unclaimed-money-in-icash-twice/" target="_blank">Baran-Unland: I had unclaimed money in ICash twice: It’s certainly worth a few minutes to look</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/29/find-a-lenten-fish-fry-across-joliet-region/" target="_blank"><o:p> </o:p>Find a Lenten fish fry across the Joliet region</a></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/03/04/pets-of-the-week-march-4-2024/" target="_blank">Pets of the Week: March 4, 2024: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/03/07/the-local-scene-downtown-joliet-shamrock-stroll/" target="_blank">The Local Scene: Downtown Joliet Shamrock Stroll: Here are 5 things to do this weekend</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8nv-Q-M-LFIu2tSD0-6Jp3GSOpz7mjB7aiM3PeaD4CWTV5z9xKxoooTVoSRE9vWdoGvGTYAmoFPaW61a7fiKUGOP0ZTzq3bjt6HWlPo3QXjPjAnor5h1zKHutEFPIqrrL_4PHG7LO_nQOrynjbOx9j0-3zuF9pZvMVXQkCbPFrOEZhZISorZfcV9SFQ=s863" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="863" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8nv-Q-M-LFIu2tSD0-6Jp3GSOpz7mjB7aiM3PeaD4CWTV5z9xKxoooTVoSRE9vWdoGvGTYAmoFPaW61a7fiKUGOP0ZTzq3bjt6HWlPo3QXjPjAnor5h1zKHutEFPIqrrL_4PHG7LO_nQOrynjbOx9j0-3zuF9pZvMVXQkCbPFrOEZhZISorZfcV9SFQ=w400-h254" width="400" /></span></a></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><span style="font-family: times;">Illustration by Matt Coundiff for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Visage-Official-BryonySeries-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/0985274859" target="_blank">"Visage"</a></span></i></p>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-76616857679718674422024-03-07T06:11:00.004-06:002024-03-07T06:11:33.316-06:00Write On Joliet's Open Mic Night: Tom Hernandez 2<iframe style="background-image:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FwFVoyAXPIo/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/FwFVoyAXPIo?si=V7vNoliXgDMEdaZT" frameborder="0"></iframe>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-29790831031349069882024-03-06T06:39:00.000-06:002024-03-06T06:39:53.427-06:00Sue's Diner: Beer Bread<p>This week's recipe was submitted by our BryonySeries pianist and composer James Onohan for the BryonySeries cookbook: <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Kitchen-Bites-Nibbles-Bryony/dp/0985274816" target="_blank">Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony,"</a> </i>which is a permanent fundraiser for <a href="https://bbbswillgrundy.org/" target="_blank">Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>The recipe is referenced in the novel <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bryony-Denise-M-Baran-Unland/dp/0985274808" target="_blank">Bryony</a>, </i>where it's served at a memorial luncheon for the grandmother of that the book's protagonist, a 1970s teen named Melissa Marchellis.</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Neither Melissa nor
Brian felt at ease during the unfamiliar church services in memory of their
grandmother. The array of delicious food at the potluck luncheon that followed
was more appealing. This was especially true for Brian, who had heaped his
plate high.</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Y<span style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: times;">ou can try the recipe on the </span><a href="https://www.bryonyseries.com/recipe-of-the-week" style="background-color: white; font-family: times;" target="_blank">Sue's Diner page</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: times;"> on the BryonySeries <a href="https://www.bryonyseries.com/" target="_blank">website</a>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: times;">But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: times;"></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: Cardo;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">And to listen to sample tracks of the BryonySeries CD of original piano music for free before you buy (all tracks available for instant download), visit <a href="http://jamesonohan.com/bryony-album">jamesonohan.com/bryony-album</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI29QtKbR3UfHXUpiBIr3cGLqQBt3HMFKlrakzF3W3ol4chUz8slAReWkNYlp1dtUT1Uo2KDbvLH5Xf0QRIfLT2L68c9l8jDySXR4-7TaWUQuQuHUSd5CnOxzxs3zvddIuFJeHd8rMLNqA/s2048/Sues+Diner+beer+bread.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI29QtKbR3UfHXUpiBIr3cGLqQBt3HMFKlrakzF3W3ol4chUz8slAReWkNYlp1dtUT1Uo2KDbvLH5Xf0QRIfLT2L68c9l8jDySXR4-7TaWUQuQuHUSd5CnOxzxs3zvddIuFJeHd8rMLNqA/w640-h480/Sues+Diner+beer+bread.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: times; text-align: left;">By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the </span><a href="https://www.bryonyseries.com/" style="color: #231c2d; font-family: times; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">BryonySeries</a><span style="color: #1b1b1b; font-family: times; text-align: left;"> world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="color: #1b1b1b; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">Here is the full diner page: <a href="http://bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner">bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner</a>. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).</span></p><p style="color: #1b1b1b; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><p style="color: #1b1b1b; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries <a href="http://bryonyseries.com/general-store">bryonyseries.com/general-store</a>.</span></p></div>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-74931688691667051792024-03-05T06:51:00.005-06:002024-03-05T06:51:47.862-06:00Open Mic Night 2023: Colleen Robbins<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/CdgWSvaIZHE?si=8tdtg6nuTTp0mQge" frameborder="0"></iframe>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-6381727725926925232024-03-04T05:58:00.002-06:002024-03-04T05:58:21.206-06:00Five Minutes of Kindness <p>More than thirty years ago, I received a blond, 1950s-era (estimate) piece of furniture for five minutes of kindness.</p><p>I had visited a stranger in the hospital, the mother of a friend of someone my mother knew. This woman (I was told) was Catholic, in poor health, and experiencing depression, too.</p><p>Our pastor always stressed the importance of ministering to others, and this was my first time "ministering."</p><p>I popped a tuna casserole in the oven, grabbed a rosary, and drove away to the hospital across town. My husband worked an afternoon shift at the time. So once I arrived, I could only stay one hour before I had to leave.</p><p>I parked, hurried up to the room, and the woman was sound asleep. So I waited.</p><p>She awakened five minutes before I had to leave, a bit jolted by a stranger in her room. Her son arrived around the same time. So he made the introduction. I shared a bit of hard-earned inspiration and left.</p><p>That was a Monday afternoon. She died Wednesday morning.</p><p>Her son said my visit made such a difference to her, that he offered me her favorite piece of furniture, the hutch. But before he could deliver it, another relative claimed it. He was very apologetic. But my visit was from my heart; I wasn't looking to receive anything.</p><p>Two years later, that relative went into a nursing home. The son called and once again offered me the hutch. It's a very heavy piece of furniture. But it's gone where we've gone.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUSVWRdbjYqw8QOYzr2N0sXIf3cHz6jWR_DMB9SC4DeiE4D9unIogIDCNDqtcwxls5QKcFuhyphenhyphenDUeUegFNxTlxHey5XIKQhfiKFmUmY5UQbTSWVq6-cmUgcnlJe6zqy3OZWKCJXbES8A7WwEkeKHx_t1ib0_cbuoS9TvxK9QkOl-duQDA7FTKYUmBd12Ju/s1560/ugly%20piece%20of%20furniture%201%20february%2025%202024%20202%20pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUSVWRdbjYqw8QOYzr2N0sXIf3cHz6jWR_DMB9SC4DeiE4D9unIogIDCNDqtcwxls5QKcFuhyphenhyphenDUeUegFNxTlxHey5XIKQhfiKFmUmY5UQbTSWVq6-cmUgcnlJe6zqy3OZWKCJXbES8A7WwEkeKHx_t1ib0_cbuoS9TvxK9QkOl-duQDA7FTKYUmBd12Ju/w640-h360/ugly%20piece%20of%20furniture%201%20february%2025%202024%20202%20pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>When we move from Marycrest to Channahon, we took it with us. When we lost the home in Channahon and moved to my mother's, it was one of the few items that went into our small storage unit. When four of us moved into a small apartment, we took it with us. It went to the first townhome, the second townhome, the third townhome.</p><p>Gilded Age Furniture Restoration recently "restored" the piece, along with <a href="https://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2024/02/my-grandmothers-dresser.html" target="_blank">my grandmother's dresser.</a> The hutch holds some extra special dishes, such as pieces that belonged to familu members who are no longer with us.</p><p>Timothy has already claimed the piece after I die.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjm02Ll42jj3xXJMin33aczlSH4U_Tx036QaMMf0YNK8Xd9VI-Eu5ZaqQ8ggaD6Ney7z0tqWuYtnsbIeEQHAeq2Z3XKniKnnR6E3hO5Ct2MrjEh9GJSYTr9kBQeWqyAGT1eubzvhxsOSUkapJEu0s2huCXF05_AnXLkIF1_Hd8AAyNABWUdUmg7Aj4AD3O/s1560/ugly%20piece%20of%20furniture%203%20february%2025%202024%20202%20pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjm02Ll42jj3xXJMin33aczlSH4U_Tx036QaMMf0YNK8Xd9VI-Eu5ZaqQ8ggaD6Ney7z0tqWuYtnsbIeEQHAeq2Z3XKniKnnR6E3hO5Ct2MrjEh9GJSYTr9kBQeWqyAGT1eubzvhxsOSUkapJEu0s2huCXF05_AnXLkIF1_Hd8AAyNABWUdUmg7Aj4AD3O/w640-h360/ugly%20piece%20of%20furniture%203%20february%2025%202024%20202%20pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>One of the reasons why this piece is so important to our family is the story behind it. That story proves that <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Months-Kindness-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777391" target="_blank">each act of kindness, sincerely given, can literally change someone's life</a>.</p><p>The world is never not in need of kindness, I think.</p><p>Happy Monday!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHVNQfjiMwakrL5GDEacopk8xvHeOgY0QM3njFUzq7EwBUVOBBPbSvKH1rZDRc2dutIMXZD556cJmBHtddcxOXovQk1TrNd8eogGEwRNwc26hyphenhyphenmre3Jk3gzEAxDSgpXpG31gqdqoHDqt9FWRWkSIyTWgyRKLV6AFLdh3brst4q-fXEiqY-Sz9qfhhr9rL/s1560/ugly%20piece%20of%20furniture%204b%20february%2025%202024%20202%20pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHVNQfjiMwakrL5GDEacopk8xvHeOgY0QM3njFUzq7EwBUVOBBPbSvKH1rZDRc2dutIMXZD556cJmBHtddcxOXovQk1TrNd8eogGEwRNwc26hyphenhyphenmre3Jk3gzEAxDSgpXpG31gqdqoHDqt9FWRWkSIyTWgyRKLV6AFLdh3brst4q-fXEiqY-Sz9qfhhr9rL/w640-h360/ugly%20piece%20of%20furniture%204b%20february%2025%202024%20202%20pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-36448272605683373912024-03-03T09:32:00.003-06:002024-03-03T09:32:31.465-06:00Calm Wind: Relaxing Alone On A Boat With Piano Music<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/OAGvRoPbURc?si=xamqavAAi6VU7d0N" frameborder="0"></iframe>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-37505014537159289032024-03-02T09:03:00.006-06:002024-03-02T09:03:28.511-06:00Irish Spring<iframe width="480" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/y385Abwy0Ho?si=jV4C4G7ejC2ecmCj" frameborder="0"></iframe>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-14997594054795064442024-03-01T08:55:00.004-06:002024-03-07T16:43:13.158-06:00Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Feb. 24 to March 1<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Good morning!</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I have thirteen news and features stories to share with you this week. </span><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But more will be posted over</span><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> this weekend, especially with me working this weekend. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: </span><a href="http://shawlocal.com/the-herald-news" style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">shawlocal.com/the-herald-news</a><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p><p>It's been a topsy turvy year so far with a few health challenges. Overall, this has been a stable week for me (not at baseline, but stable), even though the colonoscopy had to be pushed out to the end of next month due to said health challenges. </p><p>So I'm hoping for a productive weekend, fiction-wise, over the next couple of days. I'm editing a manuscript for a client, and I'd like to work on my own projects, too. Hoping!</p><p><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Here are the BryonySeries book updates:</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>House on Top of the Hill:</b> Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I now have a good working draft of the entire book and four chapters and a prologue that are ready for final edits. We are estimating a late 2024 release date.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: </b></span><span style="font-family: times;">Timothy said the next book will be slightly dark ("slightly" because it's for kids, too) and will involve an old toy store. We are also working on the last book in the series (but it's not the final book, if that makes sense). Timothy is actually writing that one. We had a tentative "Cornell breakfast" scheduled for last weekend, which didn't happen. We are trying again for this weekend. We've scheduled and broke several in 2023. Our last one was July 2022. So we are LONG overdue.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">Brainy Ann</span><span style="font-family: times;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: times;"> The fifth book in </span><a href="https://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2022/10/meet-girls-of-bryonyseries.html" style="font-family: times;" target="_blank">The Girls of the BryonySeries</a><span style="font-family: times;"> is outlined and ready for some serious writing in 2024. The first chapter is written, hurray! </span><span style="font-family: times;">Jennifer Wainwright has already started working on the cover portrait. That one is called "Brainy Ann."</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Julie-Hard-Homework-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777510/ref=sr_1_7?qid=1685021696&refinements=p_27%3ADenise+Baran-Unland&s=books&sr=1-7" target="_blank">Julie and the Too-Hard Homework</a>," "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Katie-Big-Fear-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777529/ref=sr_1_8?qid=1686230248&refinements=p_27%3ADenise+M.+Baran-Unland&s=books&sr=1-8" target="_blank">Katie and the Big Fear</a>," "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Sisters-Denise-M-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777502/ref=sr_1_13?qid=1687441377&refinements=p_27%3ADenise+Baran-Unland&s=books&sr=1-13" target="_blank">Summer Sisters</a>." and "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/194977774X?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860" target="_blank">Karla Joins In,"</a> as well as the frontispiece for <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lycanthropic-Summer-Denise-M-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777251" target="_blank">Lycanthropic Summer</a></i>. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>A Year of Shadows and Moonlight, of Gathering Blooms in the Woods</b>: A rather unusual, poetic novelette in the second person is completed and just needs final copyediting. Rebekah is also playing around with art for the cover. We are estimating a mid-2024 release date.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Rebekah is also slowly updating the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/BryonySeries" target="_blank">BryonySeries YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/bryonyseries/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Now back to The Herald-News stories stories.<b> </b>Simply click on the link of the story that looks interesting to you. Happy scrolling!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">But before the stories, I have a list of additional resources and information. Please check them out, too.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Finally, if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Months-Kindness-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777391" target="_blank">consider this book</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">And have a great Friday!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">RECIPE OF THE WEEK</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Each Wednesday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks, will be featured in an upcoming cookbook, or is just an "extra" we want to share with you.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Check out the recipe <a href="https://www.bryonyseries.com/recipe-of-the-week" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">WRITERS</span></b></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/writeonminooka/?ref=bookmarks">WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page</a><b>. </b>We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.<o:p></o:p><br /><br />If you'd like to officially join WriteOn Joliet, we have two tiers of dues and two ways to attend meetings. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year. Check us out at <a href="http://writeonjoliet.com/">writeonjoliet.com</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">I also suggest this book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1949777413/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i23" target="_blank">Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers.</a> It's exactly as it says. Each page some with one suggestion for revision. The rest of the page is blank, so you can add your own notes. All proceeds benefit WriteOn Joliet.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out <a href="http://dmbaranunland.com">dmbaranunland.com</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">ARTISTS</span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you need an artist for a project, <a href="http://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2020/07/artists-for-hire.html" target="_blank">I offer these recommendations</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>NEWSLETTERS</b><br /></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sign up for The Munsonville Times by emailing us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. The newsletter still isn't official yet, so we don't have an actual link on the website - but we are working on it! </span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">SOCIAL MEDIA</span></b></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p><span style="font-family: times;">Daily updates: I haven't posted anything on Twitter/X (except a daily Bible verse) since September I can no longer schedule posts in advance. I'm not sure yet how to manage the account without that option. But </span><span style="font-family: times;">you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">BryonySeries stuff: I used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at <a href="http://facebook.com/BryonySeries">facebook.com/BryonySeries</a>, <a href="http://youtube.com/user/BryonySeries">youtube.com/user/BryonySeries</a>, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at <a href="http://pinterest.com/bryonyseries">pinterest.com/bryonyseries</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bertrand_bryonyseries/?hl=en" target="_blank">bertrand_bryonyseries</a>.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">BRYONYSERIES BOOKS</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">For books and more information about the series, visit <a href="http://bryonyseries.com">bryonyseries.com</a>.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">BRYONYSERIES EVENTS</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">A full month of virtual events can be found at <a href="http://bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events">bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events</a>.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">QUESTIONS</span></b></p><span style="font-family: times;">Email me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br />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.</span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0in;"><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">FEATURES</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/28/10000-waiting-for-shorewood-couple-through-icash/ " target="_blank">$10,000 waiting for Shorewood couple through ICash: ICash connects unclaimed property with the rightful owners</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/29/baran-unland-i-had-unclaimed-money-in-icash-twice/" target="_blank">Baran-Unland: I had unclaimed money in ICash twice: It’s certainly worth a few minutes to look</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/28/will-county-irish-society-awards-scholarships-for-study-abroad-program/" target="_blank">Will County Irish society awards scholarships for study abroad program: IASCW has awarded scholarships to 56 students since 1983</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/27/stepping-stones-joliet-showcases-renovations-at-treatment-center/" target="_blank">Stepping Stones Joliet showcases renovations at treatment center: The total cost was $3.5 million</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/26/minooka-womans-zumbathon-to-benefit-special-needs-prom/" target="_blank">Minooka woman’s Zumbathon to benefit special-needs prom: Providing a free prom for 160 local people with special needs costs about $8,000</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/10/silver-cross-cardiologist-shares-her-own-heart-experience-expertise/ " target="_blank">Silver Cross cardiologist shares her own heart experience, expertise: Dr. Reema Sheth is skilled in transradial cardiac catheterization</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/21/family-of-silver-cross-ceo-files-complaint-against-university-of-chicago-hospital/" target="_blank">Family of late Silver Cross CEO files complaint against
Chicago hospital: The complaint included a letter from an expert dated Feb. 12</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/21/family-of-silver-cross-ceo-files-complaint-against-university-of-chicago-hospital/" target="_blank"><o:p></o:p></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/25/former-coach-honored-at-st-jude-joliet-final-home-basketball-game/ " target="_blank">Former coach at St. Jude Joliet honored at final home basketball game: Bob Tyrell, St. Jude principal: ‘Our kids shook Mr. Long’s hand and thanked him’</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/24/rock-circus-at-the-forge-in-joliet-to-benefit-concussion-legacy-foundation/" target="_blank">Rock Circus at The Forge in Joliet to benefit Concussion Legacy Foundation: The organizer has post-concussion syndrome</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/29/find-a-lenten-fish-fry-across-joliet-region/" target="_blank"><o:p> </o:p>Find a Lenten fish fry across the Joliet region</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/22/register-now-for-joliet-zontas-3rd-annual-film-festival/" target="_blank">Register now for Joliet Zonta’s 3rd annual film festival: The event is formerly known as LUNAFEST</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/26/pets-of-the-week-feb-26-2024/" target="_blank">Pets of the Week: Feb. 26, 2024: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/02/29/the-local-scene-get-the-led-out-at-joliet-rialto/" target="_blank">The Local Scene: Get the Led Out at Joliet’s Rialto<o:p></o:p></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8nv-Q-M-LFIu2tSD0-6Jp3GSOpz7mjB7aiM3PeaD4CWTV5z9xKxoooTVoSRE9vWdoGvGTYAmoFPaW61a7fiKUGOP0ZTzq3bjt6HWlPo3QXjPjAnor5h1zKHutEFPIqrrL_4PHG7LO_nQOrynjbOx9j0-3zuF9pZvMVXQkCbPFrOEZhZISorZfcV9SFQ=s863" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="863" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8nv-Q-M-LFIu2tSD0-6Jp3GSOpz7mjB7aiM3PeaD4CWTV5z9xKxoooTVoSRE9vWdoGvGTYAmoFPaW61a7fiKUGOP0ZTzq3bjt6HWlPo3QXjPjAnor5h1zKHutEFPIqrrL_4PHG7LO_nQOrynjbOx9j0-3zuF9pZvMVXQkCbPFrOEZhZISorZfcV9SFQ=w400-h254" width="400" /></span></a></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><span style="font-family: times;">Illustration by Matt Coundiff for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Visage-Official-BryonySeries-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/0985274859" target="_blank">"Visage"</a></span></i></p>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-14311381765379390542024-02-29T06:35:00.000-06:002024-02-29T06:35:25.088-06:00Six Cat Photos<p>We received the results of Faith's bloodwork yesterday, and she is, overall, doing really well, especially for a cat with cancer. A few numbers are a little off, either from the cancer or taking steroids for two years.</p><p>The lab did say she has a 95 percent chance of developing kidney failure in twenty-fourth months. We are not worried. She will be seventeen in April and was diagnosed with small cell lymphoma two years ago, which we opted to treat with palliative care only. Faith will most likely not be here in twenty-four months where kidney failure is a concern.</p><p>However, Faith gets concerned whenever I leave my room and will check up on me. I caught his photo at her eye level before she darted away (as if I didn't see her).</p><p>Here are a few photos I snapped of our cats: Faith (calico), Senna (tabby), and Midnight (black cat and Faith's mom).</p><p>All three cats are rescue cats.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kUC9TWEhJfCJktFGVLNgBPsFuZ1Ae_v2uooB0vlqZ1S6ECs4TF-cCWnS6tIbd8393mKOLetnkpWzyD7Ib0zTKkH4tB8wg-raoU-tXyHAg-OVQKraQfR2jmw6VRMoE2_YljYjYAjN2uP9xWTV9GDYMrZbzySpMvUoRQZZp8u3v7HTl5iZSCBCcLA0TpD3/s1560/Faith%20peeking%20through%20bathroom%20door%20February%2015%202024%201%2055%20pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kUC9TWEhJfCJktFGVLNgBPsFuZ1Ae_v2uooB0vlqZ1S6ECs4TF-cCWnS6tIbd8393mKOLetnkpWzyD7Ib0zTKkH4tB8wg-raoU-tXyHAg-OVQKraQfR2jmw6VRMoE2_YljYjYAjN2uP9xWTV9GDYMrZbzySpMvUoRQZZp8u3v7HTl5iZSCBCcLA0TpD3/w640-h360/Faith%20peeking%20through%20bathroom%20door%20February%2015%202024%201%2055%20pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZheYMAky-laXpR8ZIUZ7J18yvrQF4xyUclnVQ18WQ3Wb72keuJCdYLglWtYOEBJyYI3ss5VeQYnvQCuntIxH-_nHC7KUl2hN5mo8R82soyTd3Q-W4bBSUF7m8ZqrsKlzjERL9pVKy1z-AQ6bk2d4ihXtoF2C5cDHMrfdREGYve8M8px3Gdk0jt0XZkrDa/s1560/Senna%20cat%20house%20rebekah%20room%20february%2013%202024%2012%2042%20pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZheYMAky-laXpR8ZIUZ7J18yvrQF4xyUclnVQ18WQ3Wb72keuJCdYLglWtYOEBJyYI3ss5VeQYnvQCuntIxH-_nHC7KUl2hN5mo8R82soyTd3Q-W4bBSUF7m8ZqrsKlzjERL9pVKy1z-AQ6bk2d4ihXtoF2C5cDHMrfdREGYve8M8px3Gdk0jt0XZkrDa/w640-h360/Senna%20cat%20house%20rebekah%20room%20february%2013%202024%2012%2042%20pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuk_dTwVmqZVKRD9f_algIWiIaQHroWRB7sWSD8gRpD30XVF10fC3roAqkQe9oFEWjr-Rsu4Ds1ZrW7wWcqznciQ0dtyXrdRn3CAybwz1SJMqRSNoSYm-GuYI3izSAMazOLabJyWxi9mLQHe-ape58OIE6qFg0qxbh19-KIIlpYWxeOmEYLK06NThlzw5/s1560/midnight%20cat%20tree%20february%2025%202024%202%20pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuk_dTwVmqZVKRD9f_algIWiIaQHroWRB7sWSD8gRpD30XVF10fC3roAqkQe9oFEWjr-Rsu4Ds1ZrW7wWcqznciQ0dtyXrdRn3CAybwz1SJMqRSNoSYm-GuYI3izSAMazOLabJyWxi9mLQHe-ape58OIE6qFg0qxbh19-KIIlpYWxeOmEYLK06NThlzw5/w640-h360/midnight%20cat%20tree%20february%2025%202024%202%20pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOYIofUIEhsuefYEZ7wmB6v-LMR5RgdTAXira54T_KRQcH3taI7WHAUinaFmR9GwZfF_F9hESknQFgGzHM2YOpXbiXPXe4WpwAN1lL4o1byTDeu2BBJvGw1fVBa_PF9WB7TgpuVVotLqbSq4VVJCHDhf-5PQ_oGL-LQZDGkctphZhskYY-kACWFBUI8m0/s1560/Senna%20toys%20december%204%202023%209%2056%20pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOYIofUIEhsuefYEZ7wmB6v-LMR5RgdTAXira54T_KRQcH3taI7WHAUinaFmR9GwZfF_F9hESknQFgGzHM2YOpXbiXPXe4WpwAN1lL4o1byTDeu2BBJvGw1fVBa_PF9WB7TgpuVVotLqbSq4VVJCHDhf-5PQ_oGL-LQZDGkctphZhskYY-kACWFBUI8m0/w640-h360/Senna%20toys%20december%204%202023%209%2056%20pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo3DQvj0PYj5arSFIfmJG90cxFREW39SbRgCzq87GRCDckR3u3fQxEAUBQWTMfEpUyVXGGioJmPXmcaA_7ub0YpLalwgJwERbo3ZS_1tHctuWrWDLWqZ7HNb2fReXqysapHuq1PhKsh3nmrZ0JxNEjB226OljyV1EFblYvnDEdz301LG11sz8RgHdczrf/s1560/Midnight%20wine%20bottle%20woodstock%20Denise%20shelves%20December%205%202023%209%2037%20am.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo3DQvj0PYj5arSFIfmJG90cxFREW39SbRgCzq87GRCDckR3u3fQxEAUBQWTMfEpUyVXGGioJmPXmcaA_7ub0YpLalwgJwERbo3ZS_1tHctuWrWDLWqZ7HNb2fReXqysapHuq1PhKsh3nmrZ0JxNEjB226OljyV1EFblYvnDEdz301LG11sz8RgHdczrf/w640-h360/Midnight%20wine%20bottle%20woodstock%20Denise%20shelves%20December%205%202023%209%2037%20am.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydPg2MCmS1qwCdNIznNFlh23yXjCLSSs0sOtl9JPC0F9rmkVyMvAqb_uhYREW17Dvf1JsQkia0XxOcwZ32fPuhHrOgKLFT6JWIU9c6QQHfTu5imHJRs3RaSBpvl12aUbp94_nhB-AcNx3gKWQI5OTuQ5Ly39rVnQ4GBUk3nShDQ3IdIAA5Hth2Lh_qOEZ/s1560/Faith%20sleeping%20woodstock%20january%2026%202024%2010%2056%20am.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydPg2MCmS1qwCdNIznNFlh23yXjCLSSs0sOtl9JPC0F9rmkVyMvAqb_uhYREW17Dvf1JsQkia0XxOcwZ32fPuhHrOgKLFT6JWIU9c6QQHfTu5imHJRs3RaSBpvl12aUbp94_nhB-AcNx3gKWQI5OTuQ5Ly39rVnQ4GBUk3nShDQ3IdIAA5Hth2Lh_qOEZ/w640-h360/Faith%20sleeping%20woodstock%20january%2026%202024%2010%2056%20am.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-59518797001611621602024-02-28T06:41:00.000-06:002024-02-28T06:41:06.706-06:00Sue's Diner: Vampire Kiss<p>We don't often post a recipe with alcohol on Sue's Diner, since we really like all recipes to be family friendly and appeal to a wide variety of ages and tastes. </p><p>But Jasmine brought this Vampire Kiss recipe to our table - and it was too good not to share with readers. And if you don't drink alcohol and want to try it anyway, just leave out the alcohol and see what you think. </p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: Cardo;">This Vampire Kiss drink is not featured in any of the BryonySeries cookbooks, including </span><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Kitchen-Bites-Nibbles-Bryony/dp/0985274816" target="_blank">Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony,"</a> which is </i>a permanent fundraiser for <a href="https://bbbswillgrundy.org/" target="_blank">Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties</a> and features all the recipes <o:p>referenced in the novel <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bryony-Denise-M-Baran-Unland/dp/0985274808" target="_blank">Bryony</a>. </i></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: Cardo;"><span style="font-family: times;">However, you can try this recipe for Vampire Kiss on the </span><a href="https://www.bryonyseries.com/recipe-of-the-week" style="color: #231c2d; font-family: times; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sue's Diner page</a><span style="font-family: times;"> on the BryonySeries website. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: Cardo;"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: Cardo;"><span style="font-family: times;">But try the recipe this week. It will be gone next week. A new recipe will take it's place. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; font-family: Cardo;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXctUCIKoOVO4ctqiXLDM78oGiCQa2yFYJL9m339epX3ODxvxuziU8ZBVeRGis_tCtryto1mws5C85wNPb2hPmqiZ42jeuytIBJngF3yo44V02QZIBxILSPfMUznZnFFY9bedXhKfSkjDn2zcoJdQMLIe4og557NSaJWhlA4trAziV5rbd4mRIakOpXQ/s800/vampires%20kiss.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXctUCIKoOVO4ctqiXLDM78oGiCQa2yFYJL9m339epX3ODxvxuziU8ZBVeRGis_tCtryto1mws5C85wNPb2hPmqiZ42jeuytIBJngF3yo44V02QZIBxILSPfMUznZnFFY9bedXhKfSkjDn2zcoJdQMLIe4og557NSaJWhlA4trAziV5rbd4mRIakOpXQ/w640-h480/vampires%20kiss.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: left;">By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?</span></div><p style="color: #1b1b1b;"><span style="font-family: times;">Here is the full diner page: <a href="http://bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner">bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner</a>. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).</span></p><p style="color: #1b1b1b;"><span style="font-family: times;"></span></p><p style="color: #1b1b1b;"><span style="font-family: times;">For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries <a href="http://bryonyseries.com/general-store">bryonyseries.com/general-store</a>.</span></p>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-54191008632018396302024-02-27T06:28:00.000-06:002024-02-27T06:28:15.742-06:00Open Mic Night 2023: Lindsay Lake<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/QoI1rdggJAw?si=9XqDW5pg-iC8uO3m" frameborder="0"></iframe>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-8218638865116116752024-02-26T06:29:00.000-06:002024-02-26T06:29:37.291-06:00My Grandmother's Dresser<p>If you live in the Will County, Illinois, area, you should know about Gilded Age Furniture Restoration at 473 Ruby Street in Joliet. Phone number is 815-726-8493.</p><p>That company just refinished two pieces of antique furniture for us. One is my maternal grandmother's dresser, which we're using as a coffee bar in our townhome. The other piece (for a separate post, much longer post), is way off to the far right in the photo below, past the kitchen table.</p><p>By the way, all those boxes to the left of the coffee bar are nearly thirty years of photos that were never put into photo albums (because I became a single mom and worked two jobs through 2012, when Ron's dementia was becoming apparent). </p><p>We did buy a scanner in 2019. Now we just need to make/find some really dedicated time to process all those photos (including the ones in the photo albums, dating back to 1981), so all six kids can have digital copies.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXx5-XxxI9HtV4RtHeqZOUpJkTOp8ql0yOU9AYsUPh2BZ5kEltUBLVMO_I2IILeyYB933KJZlTAoKKkizwCZhCW9vAO4CgmNVyDZRNA9DxcIiphYK8duv5jwvcLwV5FA1oLBGHeP6pPM1Pgx5PyJ66_XnkPLW_04hyphenhyphensb1p31oXqR9w2H1WWA7tnSAMWfi/s1560/grandmothers%20dresser%20coffee%20bar%20February%2025%202024%202%2004%20pm%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXx5-XxxI9HtV4RtHeqZOUpJkTOp8ql0yOU9AYsUPh2BZ5kEltUBLVMO_I2IILeyYB933KJZlTAoKKkizwCZhCW9vAO4CgmNVyDZRNA9DxcIiphYK8duv5jwvcLwV5FA1oLBGHeP6pPM1Pgx5PyJ66_XnkPLW_04hyphenhyphensb1p31oXqR9w2H1WWA7tnSAMWfi/w640-h360/grandmothers%20dresser%20coffee%20bar%20February%2025%202024%202%2004%20pm%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>My maternal grandmother died shortly after my seventh birthday in July 1968, and rather suddenly, it seemed to us. But apparently she had been ill a very long time and never told anyone.</p><p>This dresser and a double bed were the only furniture I recall in her small bedroom of the two-family bungalow on Chicago's South side where she lived. I slept in that bed with her whenever I stayed with her. When my uncle moved out of the home in the early 1990s, he offered the family anything we wanted in that house. I wanted the dresser.</p><p>When I moved into our current townhome in August 2021, I set the dresser right under this window and turned it into a coffee bar. But our old Keurig developed a leak and ruined it. So Rebekah went looking for someone to restore it and founded Gilded Age.</p><p>Now, not everything sitting on it belongs to the coffee bar. The dishes and the baskets are for my son. The goblets are gifts for co-workers. The rest actually belongs there: coffee, tea, cups, and little "coffee" gifts from friends, who are virtually present with us for each cup.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J9vydAUvxZ2RzEgV1ognmStdAgf7yp-NROGoQ_B7ODR8eRnaDFCsAA6k5ZRPaQuJxIQRPj-pyoPNjj7amCdtPwYKEgkrItIOyjNrJ2uKWrQ4cS6JQGjYcqlK9FXsV164zHDKPK-w6i_scX_pOPYZB9SnPO5POITl4m1F6GKhsmVP530aTS9JyH0_fryu/s1560/grandmothers%20dresser%20coffee%20bar%20February%2025%202024%202%2004%20pm%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J9vydAUvxZ2RzEgV1ognmStdAgf7yp-NROGoQ_B7ODR8eRnaDFCsAA6k5ZRPaQuJxIQRPj-pyoPNjj7amCdtPwYKEgkrItIOyjNrJ2uKWrQ4cS6JQGjYcqlK9FXsV164zHDKPK-w6i_scX_pOPYZB9SnPO5POITl4m1F6GKhsmVP530aTS9JyH0_fryu/w640-h360/grandmothers%20dresser%20coffee%20bar%20February%2025%202024%202%2004%20pm%203.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Gilded Age did an amazing job, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Monday!</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d-P78sjZu3Sk785l202q_KzAgwIR_rGo_R6DWP9jL38Y5WrcWHpaHSubcw8Omq3dbxy1oWgHlUrTTVFerjfMQXgybtgtHYSltyidAZ27wb8q2luUpD5QNKB3ByzCCk0rixI_nqsWpZZSzXZO5thC8HUGvkjZ8CPeE0WJ0u64n6_oOfFShvVGdiJ4KBO_/s1560/grandmothers%20dresser%20coffee%20bar%20February%2025%202024%202%2004%20pm%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d-P78sjZu3Sk785l202q_KzAgwIR_rGo_R6DWP9jL38Y5WrcWHpaHSubcw8Omq3dbxy1oWgHlUrTTVFerjfMQXgybtgtHYSltyidAZ27wb8q2luUpD5QNKB3ByzCCk0rixI_nqsWpZZSzXZO5thC8HUGvkjZ8CPeE0WJ0u64n6_oOfFShvVGdiJ4KBO_/w640-h360/grandmothers%20dresser%20coffee%20bar%20February%2025%202024%202%2004%20pm%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-40676812386263128622024-02-25T07:47:00.004-06:002024-02-25T07:48:13.196-06:00This Song Has No Title (Remastered 2014)<iframe width="480" height="360" src="https://youtube.com/embed/npVeAKbr0hA?si=0DUnL-k2NVg1YmB7" frameborder="0"></iframe>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-9873046818815406622024-02-24T09:43:00.006-06:002024-02-24T09:43:36.357-06:00Alan Hines: Winner of 2024 Calkins Day Painting<p>Good morning! </p><p>In between assignments last Saturday, I popped into <a href="https://bookmarketjoliet.com/" target="_blank">The Book Market in Crest Hill</a> where <a href="https://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2023/02/reflections-of-love-by-alan-hines.html" style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Chicago poet Alan Hines</a> was having a book signing.</p><p>Alan is super supportive of the BryonySeries ever since we first met him at our 2023 Calkins Day celebration. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2h1AB7dNOMqu5qT3Itc-Knlo6Lm8XslLV21Ai448eXnLSmeHaMMtML1t0fEuiIEpCiTw0vbW37rrSbycXXmbtpq95TyuqyDNB8nWXCoam-oph34UNXebMAPRyJyRbJjHovNIVid88mmQ8pxU7RtfACq13hh5lTNxu__jK-LP_JzeEHpgM_4NjhX2IWu63/s1560/Alan%20Hines%20The%20Book%20Market%20in%20Crest%20Hill%20February%2017%202024%201%2010%20pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2h1AB7dNOMqu5qT3Itc-Knlo6Lm8XslLV21Ai448eXnLSmeHaMMtML1t0fEuiIEpCiTw0vbW37rrSbycXXmbtpq95TyuqyDNB8nWXCoam-oph34UNXebMAPRyJyRbJjHovNIVid88mmQ8pxU7RtfACq13hh5lTNxu__jK-LP_JzeEHpgM_4NjhX2IWu63/w640-h360/Alan%20Hines%20The%20Book%20Market%20in%20Crest%20Hill%20February%2017%202024%201%2010%20pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Calkins Day (Feb. 13) is the BryonySeries' official holiday. It's a day to celebrate laughter, imagination, and generosity, and it just so happens to land on the birthday of Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, BryonySeries author and character. </p><p>Ed is a ruthless dictator/Irish vampire in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bryony-Denise-M-Baran-Unland/dp/0985274808/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15IXL1V9W7BU6&keywords=unland+bryony&qid=1676732596&s=books&sprefix=unland+bryony%2Cstripbooks%2C135&sr=1-1" target="_blank">this book</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Visage-Official-BryonySeries-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/0985274859/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3772EQ0O96I41&keywords=unland+Visage&qid=1676732614&s=books&sprefix=unland+visage%2Cstripbooks%2C83&sr=1-1" target="_blank">this book</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Staked-BryonySeries-Denise-M-Baran-Unland/dp/0985274832/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QP4PFJNZCQ0Y&keywords=unland+Staked&qid=1676732631&s=books&sprefix=unland+staked%2Cstripbooks%2C122&sr=1-1" target="_blank">this book</a> in the BryonySeries, is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Denise-M-Baran-Unlands-Irish-Genealogy/dp/0998313491" target="_blank">also an author in the series</a>. After he published <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ruthless-Edward-Calkins/dp/1949777421/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1R4FRX0SROVXE&keywords=ruthless+calkins&qid=1676732543&s=books&sprefix=ruthless+calkins%2Cstripbooks%2C88&sr=1-1" target="_blank">his first novel</a>, he joined <a href="https://www.writeonjoliet.com/" target="_blank">WriteOn Joliet</a>. So on Calkins Day 2024, we were celebrating the release of <a href="https://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-fifth-has-arrived-in-time-for.html" target="_blank">"The Fifth"</a> (Ed's latest book).</p><p>I was thrilled to learn Alan had won<span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> a beautiful painting that painter and retired art teacher Nancy Calkins (Ed's wife) created and gave away just for Calkins Day.</span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Alan found out when he was setting up for his book signing. So, of course, I had to get a photo of him holding it. </span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To check out his many, many titles, here is the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Alan-Hines/author/B00EUL6XGU/allbooks?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true" target="_blank">Alan Hines Amazon author page</a>. </span></p><p><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And for those who don't know (yet), h</span>ere is <a href="https://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2011/02/case-for-calkins-day.html" target="_blank">why we celebrate Calkins Day</a>.</p><p>Here is <a href="https://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2020/02/a-guide-to-becoming-un-serious.html" target="_blank">how to celebrate Calkins Day.</a></p><p>And here is <a href="https://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2015/08/twenty-questions-with-ed-calkins.html" target="_blank">a twenty-question interview with the real Ed Calkins</a>.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiaKwm27U4xj42euy99Il8Wvqmww0QxfZugG9X9fDKwhDNYZC0dZZHlzPnnIYrc4ZTJAKIWiGcanlB_GppL2sTdykWOfXIl30oWdLIpgke_VADq8LQkQaX-Qg94oAfADyppKCwQKNOAUx1W7ZqJPsHbR3ACT9ZamQ6vVULVnN7ZcNrHldzi9oZMttXveD/s1560/Alan%20Hines%20The%20Book%20Market%20in%20Crest%20Hill%20with%20Nancy%20painting%20February%2017%202024%201%2010%20pm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiaKwm27U4xj42euy99Il8Wvqmww0QxfZugG9X9fDKwhDNYZC0dZZHlzPnnIYrc4ZTJAKIWiGcanlB_GppL2sTdykWOfXIl30oWdLIpgke_VADq8LQkQaX-Qg94oAfADyppKCwQKNOAUx1W7ZqJPsHbR3ACT9ZamQ6vVULVnN7ZcNrHldzi9oZMttXveD/w640-h360/Alan%20Hines%20The%20Book%20Market%20in%20Crest%20Hill%20with%20Nancy%20painting%20February%2017%202024%201%2010%20pm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8479028856898515303.post-67574072825407369492024-02-23T08:30:00.004-06:002024-02-23T08:30:24.881-06:00Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Feb. 17 to Feb. 23<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Good morning!</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I have nine news and features stories to share with you this week. </span><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But more will be posted over</span><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> this weekend, especially with me working this weekend. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: </span><a href="http://shawlocal.com/the-herald-news" style="font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">shawlocal.com/the-herald-news</a><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p><p>Despite a steady flow of health challenges this year, I finally finished the novelette I started about eighteen months ago earlier this week and dabbled a bit with the third novel in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy (see updates below).</p><p>And on Wednesday evening, the local authors of WriteOn Joliet (which includes the BryonySeries) experienced a huge victory (for us) in terms of recognition and future plans to connect readers with their books. </p><p>I'll share more about that triumph in future posts. For now, we're basking in the recognition as we make plans to move forward.</p><p><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: times;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Here are the BryonySeries book updates:</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>House on Top of the Hill:</b> Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I now have a good working draft of the entire book and four chapters and a prologue that are ready for final edits. We are estimating a late 2024 release date.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: </b></span><span style="font-family: times;">Timothy said the next book will be slightly dark ("slightly" because it's for kids, too) and will involve an old toy store. We are also working on the last book in the series (but it's not the final book, if that makes sense). Timothy is actually writing that one. We had a tentative "Cornell breakfast" scheduled for last weekend, which didn't happen. We are trying again for this weekend. We've scheduled and broke several in 2023. Our last one was July 2022. So we are LONG overdue.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">Brainy Ann</span><span style="font-family: times;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: times;"> The fifth book in </span><a href="https://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2022/10/meet-girls-of-bryonyseries.html" style="font-family: times;" target="_blank">The Girls of the BryonySeries</a><span style="font-family: times;"> is outlined and ready for some serious writing in 2024. The first chapter is written, hurray! </span><span style="font-family: times;">Jennifer Wainwright has already started working on the cover portrait. That one is called "Brainy Ann."</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Julie-Hard-Homework-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777510/ref=sr_1_7?qid=1685021696&refinements=p_27%3ADenise+Baran-Unland&s=books&sr=1-7" target="_blank">Julie and the Too-Hard Homework</a>," "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Katie-Big-Fear-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777529/ref=sr_1_8?qid=1686230248&refinements=p_27%3ADenise+M.+Baran-Unland&s=books&sr=1-8" target="_blank">Katie and the Big Fear</a>," "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Sisters-Denise-M-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777502/ref=sr_1_13?qid=1687441377&refinements=p_27%3ADenise+Baran-Unland&s=books&sr=1-13" target="_blank">Summer Sisters</a>." and "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/194977774X?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860" target="_blank">Karla Joins In,"</a> as well as the frontispiece for <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lycanthropic-Summer-Denise-M-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777251" target="_blank">Lycanthropic Summer</a></i>. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>A Year of Shadows and Moonlight, of Gathering Blooms in the Woods</b>: A rather unusual, poetic novelette in the second person is completed and just needs final copyediting. Rebekah is also playing around with art for the cover. We are estimating a mid-2024 release date.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Rebekah is also slowly updating the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/BryonySeries" target="_blank">BryonySeries YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/bryonyseries/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Now back to The Herald-News stories stories.<b> </b>Simply click on the link of the story that looks interesting to you. Happy scrolling!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">But before the stories, I have a list of additional resources and information. Please check them out, too.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Finally, if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Months-Kindness-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/1949777391" target="_blank">consider this book</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">And have a great Friday!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">RECIPE OF THE WEEK</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Each Wednesday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks, will be featured in an upcoming cookbook, or is just an "extra" we want to share with you.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Check out the recipe <a href="https://www.bryonyseries.com/recipe-of-the-week" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">WRITERS</span></b></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/writeonminooka/?ref=bookmarks">WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page</a><b>. </b>We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.<o:p></o:p><br /><br />If you'd like to officially join WriteOn Joliet, we have two tiers of dues and two ways to attend meetings. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year. Check us out at <a href="http://writeonjoliet.com/">writeonjoliet.com</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">I also suggest this book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1949777413/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i23" target="_blank">Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers.</a> It's exactly as it says. Each page some with one suggestion for revision. The rest of the page is blank, so you can add your own notes. All proceeds benefit WriteOn Joliet.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out <a href="http://dmbaranunland.com">dmbaranunland.com</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">ARTISTS</span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you need an artist for a project, <a href="http://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2020/07/artists-for-hire.html" target="_blank">I offer these recommendations</a>.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>NEWSLETTERS</b><br /></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sign up for The Munsonville Times by emailing us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. The newsletter still isn't official yet, so we don't have an actual link on the website - but we are working on it! </span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">SOCIAL MEDIA</span></b></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><p><span style="font-family: times;">Daily updates: I haven't posted anything on Twitter/X (except a daily Bible verse) since September I can no longer schedule posts in advance. I'm not sure yet how to manage the account without that option. But </span><span style="font-family: times;">you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">BryonySeries stuff: I used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at <a href="http://facebook.com/BryonySeries">facebook.com/BryonySeries</a>, <a href="http://youtube.com/user/BryonySeries">youtube.com/user/BryonySeries</a>, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at <a href="http://pinterest.com/bryonyseries">pinterest.com/bryonyseries</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bertrand_bryonyseries/?hl=en" target="_blank">bertrand_bryonyseries</a>.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">BRYONYSERIES BOOKS</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">For books and more information about the series, visit <a href="http://bryonyseries.com">bryonyseries.com</a>.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">BRYONYSERIES EVENTS</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">A full month of virtual events can be found at <a href="http://bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events">bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events</a>.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">QUESTIONS</span></b></p><span style="font-family: times;">Email me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0f1419; margin: 0in; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br />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.</span></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0in;"><p style="color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b><span style="font-family: times;">FEATURES</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/16/joliet-east-alum-creates-coming-of-age-with-joliet-nostalgia/" target="_blank">Joliet East alum creates ‘coming-of-age’ song with Joliet nostalgia: Dave McBride: ‘I’ve had that longing to get reconnected with Joliet for some time’</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/18/morris-hospital-offers-concussion-management-program/" target="_blank">Morris Hospital offers concussion management program: A concussion is a brain injury that happens acutely</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/18/lewis-university-hosts-fulfilling-the-dream-conference-in-romeoville/" target="_blank">Lewis University hosts ‘Fulfilling the Dream’ Conference in Romeoville: Workshops provided information on the admission process financial aid and possible career paths</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/20/will-county-states-attorneys-office-donates-5000-to-heroin-relief-program/" target="_blank">Will County State’s Attorney’s Office donates $5,000 to heroin relief program: HERO now has a physical home in the community</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/21/family-of-silver-cross-ceo-files-complaint-against-university-of-chicago-hospital/" target="_blank">Family of Silver Cross CEO files complaint against University of Chicago Hospital: The complaint included a letter from an expert dated Feb. 12</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/22/joliet-hospice-announces-2-new-leadership-members/" target="_blank">Joliet hospice announces 2 new leadership members: Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care is currently‘ poised for large growth’</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/breaking/2024/02/18/2-dead-following-joliet-crash-sunday-morning/" target="_blank">2 killed in crash Sunday morning in Joliet</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/02/19/pets-of-the-week-feb-19-2024/" target="_blank">Pets of the Week: Feb. 19, 2024: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/02/22/the-local-scene-night-hike-at-joliets-pilcher-park/" target="_blank">The Local Scene: Night hike at Joliet’s Pilcher Park: Here are 5 things to do this weekend</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8nv-Q-M-LFIu2tSD0-6Jp3GSOpz7mjB7aiM3PeaD4CWTV5z9xKxoooTVoSRE9vWdoGvGTYAmoFPaW61a7fiKUGOP0ZTzq3bjt6HWlPo3QXjPjAnor5h1zKHutEFPIqrrL_4PHG7LO_nQOrynjbOx9j0-3zuF9pZvMVXQkCbPFrOEZhZISorZfcV9SFQ=s863" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="863" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8nv-Q-M-LFIu2tSD0-6Jp3GSOpz7mjB7aiM3PeaD4CWTV5z9xKxoooTVoSRE9vWdoGvGTYAmoFPaW61a7fiKUGOP0ZTzq3bjt6HWlPo3QXjPjAnor5h1zKHutEFPIqrrL_4PHG7LO_nQOrynjbOx9j0-3zuF9pZvMVXQkCbPFrOEZhZISorZfcV9SFQ=w400-h254" width="400" /></span></a></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i><span style="font-family: times;">Illustration by Matt Coundiff for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Visage-Official-BryonySeries-Denise-Baran-Unland/dp/0985274859" target="_blank">"Visage"</a></span></i></p>Denise M. Baran-Unlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03665356051544078327noreply@blogger.com0