The official blog of Denise M. Baran-Unland, author. Discover her books for all ages at bryonyseries.com.
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Sue's Diner: Chocolate Bat Cookies
Sue's Diner's featured recipe this week is for chocolate bat cookies, which are as chocolatey good as they are adorable.
They are perfect for indulging any pre-Halloween sweet tooth (and any post-Halloween, out-of-chocolate sweet teeth, too).
This recipe does not appear in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.
However, you will find this recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website, where it's ready to fly into your kitchen so baking preparations may begin.
But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.
If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com.
Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).
For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
BryonySeries Back-To-School Book Special at The Book Market (With Ribbit-Ribbits and More!)
Be sure to pop into The Book Market in Crest Hill and check out the BryonySeries Back-To-School display.
We've curated seven books for preschoolers all the way through adult that are perfect for Halloween.
Plus, we also have special prices on Ribbit-Ribbits with BryonySeries book purchases (while supplies last)
And you may take home a miniature book bags and water tumbler filled with wrapped Halloween candy with the purchase of any BryonySeries book (again, while supplies last).
Read on for this month's featured BryonySeries books.
Eleven-year-old Katie Miller finds security in her family and routine - until both change in "Katie and the Big Fear."
Eleven-year-old Karla Dyer struggles to balance her mother's expectations for developing her psychic abilities with her need to be "a normal girl" like her friends in "Karla Joins In."
While eighteen-year-old Melissa Marchellis is grieving the abrupt end of her blood bargain with nineteenth century pianist and vampire John Simons in the young adult novel "Visage," she flings herself into a relationship with a college music professor, a man with a shady reputation and an uncanny resemblance to John.
Bertrand the Mouse learns that Halloween decorations can't hurt him and that Halloween can be fun in "Bertrand Faces His Fear."
When supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer is asked to banish ghosts in a backyard lake in "Cornell Dyer and the 'Mistical' Being," he encounters one mystery after another: a ghostly mist with eyes, a ghost town, and a town that keeps changing its name. Delving into each one will change Cornell's life. Is he ready?
In the Sherlock Holmes parody, "Cornell Dyer and the Howls of Basketville," something is roaming the run-down town of Basketville, Michigan, and Detective Sherman Homes is struggling to connect the dots. So he asks supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer for help - but the mystery bites back. Brains or beast: which will win?
Finally, if you're more in the mood for cooking instead of reading, try a recipe or two from "GRRR: Twelve pawtastic werewolf-themed recipes," by Rebekah Baran.
Ribbit-Ribbits specials and free gifts apply to any BryonySeries book, not just the ones on the display table.
The other BryonySeries titles are located in the local author section, which is slightly behind and to the left of the display table.
Or just ask Jan Staley, owner of The Book Market to help you find the other books.
Jan is super friendly and always ready to assist customers.
And for BryonySeries customers who live out of state...
...please visit our promotions page and reach out to bryonyseries@gmail.com with any questions.
At this time, we do not ship "swag." But we are happy to work out discounts on BryonySeries books to promote the love of reading to all ages.
Happy Tuesday!
Monday, October 14, 2024
Blur
The first chapter of my high school psychology textbook from my senior year at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox has a list of ten characteristics of a mentally healthy person.
I remember sitting in my parents' basement in the early summer of 1980, re-reading them and making all ten my goal.
Now I only remember one of the ten - and that's because I could scarcely envision what that particular precept meant, for I had never experienced it. And that was the ability to lose oneself so completely in an activity that you lose track of all time. Here I was, not quite nineteen years old and had no idea what that meant.
I'm not sure when, how, or why that changed. It could be that, once I grew physically healthier (I was chronically sick for all of my childhood and into my young adult years), I could finally concentrate on a task without the distraction of feeling unwell.
Or perhaps my focus switched in early adulthood because I loved homemaking, raising children, and home-schooling so much.
That sense of losing track of time happens to me quite often at work - and even more so on the weekends I work on fiction.
At work, of course, I'm often responding to emails, texts, calls and am very cognizant of deadlines. But when deadlines are met, and I can pour myself into a project, time just rushes past - until the next ding, buzz, or ring.
Yesterday morning I awakened early and posted my Bible verse, coffee greeting, and blog on social media. And then I leaped right into editing "House on Top of the Hill," promising myself I would get outside for a walk in the sunshine.
I made it outside at 6:10 p.m., just as the sun was going down, and the wind was picking up. It was an exhilarating walk, so no complaints. And then I jumped back into a chapter. When I looked up, it was almost 9 p.m. and I was now way behind on life "stuff" I still needed to get done that day.
But how did the hours blur past that fast?
How did an entire day last for just an hour? Because Sunday felt as if only one hour had passed.
Seriously.
Happy Monday!
Sunday, October 13, 2024
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Friday, October 11, 2024
Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Oct. 5 to Oct. 11
Good morning!
I have fourteen stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post with more stories going live over the weekend.
So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.
But before the stories, I have a list of additional updates, resources, and information. Please check them out, too.
And if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.
And have a great Friday!
Event Updates
The BryonySeries Back-To-School display is up at The Book Market. And it's likely coming down sometime today and being replaced with our Halloween display with all-new Halloween Ribbit-Ribbits that Cindy left at my house yesterday. So please do check it out.
We are also participating in three events (so far) this month
Oct. 12: Panic at the Plaza in downtown Joliet.
Oct. 23, 24, or 25: The Book Market in Crest Hill from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. I'll know the date for sure on Monday since I'm now working on Oct. 22.
Oct. 30: Spirits with the Spirits at Black Cat Curiosities in Joliet with WriteOn member Cean Magosky as part of the Joliet City Center Partnership's "Spirits with the Spirits" event.
BryonySeries books-in-progress
House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I now have a good working draft of the entire book, with nineteen chapters of its thirty chapters and the prologue and epilogue completely edited, and a heavy editing weekend ahead of me. The plan is to submit a proof to KDP by or slightly after next weekend. We are still estimating a late 2024 release date for this book, with copies available for sale at WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party on Dec. 5.
The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: No updates here in a very long time, mostly because Timothy and Daniel are super busy with school on top of work (and plenty of work-related traveling). However, I outlined a "bonus" book that is intended for distribution at Bicentennial's "Ye Olde Mayfest" event in 2025. Here is a recap of the 2024 event.
Timothy said his concept for the next book in the actual series 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. In order to make progress on any of this, Timothy is hoping to schedule a "Cornell breakfast." But Timothy and Daniel are very busy with work and school right now. We've scheduled and broke several Cornell breakfasts in 2023 and 2024. Our last one was July 2022. So we are LONG, LONG, LONG overdue.
Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is outlined and the first chapter is written, hurray! Jennifer Wainwright, who welcomed her first child into the world in April, has already started working on the cover portrait. I've neglected this book for a few months and hope to revisit it soon. We wanted to release it in late 2024, but 2024 has been a challenging year. I'm shooting for early 2025.
Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "Julie and the Too-Hard Homework," "Katie and the Big Fear," "Summer Sisters." and "Karla Joins In," as well as the frontispiece for Lycanthropic Summer.
Rebekah is also slowly (very, very slowly) updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.
And finally...
The manuscript for Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara's third book in his Ruthless trilogy is submitted and will be my next editing project once "House on Top of the Hill" is complete. Ed
s first book is "Ruthless," his second is "The Fifth," and he is also the author of "Denise Unland's Irish Genealogy."
For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.
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.
Check out the recipe here.
WRITERS
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 writeonjoliet.com.
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 you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.
BryonySeries stuff: I used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.
Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.
And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.
QUESTIONS
Email me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. And if you've read (or plan to read) any of my books. Your support is greatly appreciated.
FEATURES
Mammogram caught Silver Cross employee’s Stage 1 breast
cancer
Shannon Connolly said she’s feeling ‘better and better every
day’
Lockport man the ultimate Jack, or in this case Adam, of
many trades
From 911 operator to photographer to storm chaser and more,
Adam Jomant lives busy life
Joliet nonprofit volunteers honored at Philanthropy
Recognition Awards Brunch
The brunch was held at the Renaissance Center in Joliet
Friends of Joliet Public Library to host fall book sale
Proceeds help fund literary programs
Furniture store coming to Joliet’s Marycrest Shopping Center
New Mexican restaurant opens in New Lenox
https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/10/03/new-lenox-gets-new-mexican-restaurant/
Joliet USF announces 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award winners
The awards were given as part of USF’s 2024 homecoming
festivities
We Rock the Spectrum sensory-friendly gym opens in Shorewood
New Lenox fall feast benefits ‘working school’
Attendees are encouraged to also bid on a variety of silent
auction items
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/05/new-lenox-fall-feast-benefits-working-school/
Joliet’s Bicentennial Park Theatre puts on murder mystery
this weekend
Fans of murder mysteries can enjoy 2 in Will County this
October.
Register now for Joliet Park District Floating Pumpkin Patch
Snacks and open swim will be provided during the event.
Cause of Lockport home fire investigated
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/05/cause-of-lockport-home-fire-investigated/
Pets of the Week: Oct. 7, 2024
Will County Rescues have dogs and cats for adoption
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/07/pets-of-the-week-oct-7-2024/
5 Things to Do in Will County: Harry Potter Movie Event at
ROXY Lockport
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Sue's Diner: Tomato Soup With Monster Sandwiches
This week's recipe is for tomato soup with monster sandwiches, a nice, healthy way to finally welcome some cooler temperatures and get into the Halloween spirit.
The addition of fennel for the tomato soup and the apple jelly for the cheese sandwiches are delicious variations of the familiar recipes.
One suggestion: We wish we'd used more cheese on the bread than the recipe suggests and the picture indicates. Try both ways and see which you prefer.
This recipe does not appear in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.
However, you will find this recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.
But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.
If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com.
Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).
For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Letter From Camp
So when I was eleven, my parents sent me to Camp Pokanoka in Ottawa, one of my last Girl Scout events.
I learned to swim at Camp Pokanoka and (apparently) how to sum up one day at camp on a greeting card.
My mother texted me this photo the other day and asked if I remembered it - and then offered to mail all the cards to me.
Monday, October 7, 2024
Faith and Midnight
We never expected to wind up with two cats with cancer.
We're grateful to everyone's whose prayed, thought good thoughts, and sent out healing energy their way.
Today's blog seems the best way to update everyone, since both cats had some medical stuff these past few weeks.
Yes, they are both alive and stable. It's not that kind of update.
Midnight
Midnight came to us at four months of age. Someone had thrown Midnight away along with her siblings. Christopher discovered them, rescued them, cared for them, and found homes for all except Midnight because she was "skittish" and no one wanted her.
So I named her Midnight and picked her up from his house when she was sixteen weeks (that's the short story).
Well, Midnight was skittish because she was sick, underweight, and fighting amongst the bigger cats at Christopher's house for her food. She had ear mites and tape worms, and I didn't expect her to live.
Our veterinarian would not spay her until she was free of heartworm segments. For months, Midnight had regular deworming treatments and we regularly submitted stool samples for testing. Midnight could not be spayed until she was tapeworm-free.
Well, one night she was nine months old and the temperature was eighteen degrees below zero, Midnight dashed out of the house at one in the morning as we were leaving to deliver newspapers. We circled back several times, calling out, "Midnight" all around the yard in the middle of the night.
Around four in the morning, Midnight crawled out from under the deck with three cats and she was not cold at all. I'm sure you know where this story is going.
Ron wouldn't hear of breaking up the family. He named the kittens Faith, Hope, and Charity, and we now had five cats instead of just our rescue cat Frances.
Charity used all all nine lives in three years.
Hope died in July two days before my birthday.
Fast forward to the last couple of years: Midnight's had three surgeries in two years to remove aggressive spindle cell sarcoma tumors from her back. Each time, they've regrown more quickly than the last. She'd barely recovered from the last surgery when the growths reappeared. They grow larger every day. I now call them "Tina Tumors."
The insidiousness of spindle cell sarcomas is that the part you see is not the evil part. These sarcomas finger out and and out, typically with the lungs as their destination.
After consulting with Midnight's primary, oncologist, and surgeon, we learned that, even at eighteen, Midnight is a great candidate for additional surgery. All her bloodwork is perfect. She does have a grade one heart murmur that isn't always detectable. The heart murmur is not a barrier to more surgery.
However.
The next surgery would need extremely wide margins with the goal of removing all the tumors, going into muscle and part of her spine. She would need radiation five days a week and spend most of her days for eight weeks waiting in a cage for those treatments.
None of this will cure her, although it may buy her time. But what kind of time?
Midnight is terrified of all of it and she was shaking hard when Timothy had to leave her for her CT scan.
Oh, and she also has feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia with two lymph nodes involvements.
Midnight can't decide for herself, so we decided for her.
We decided no more surgery for Midnight unless one of her tumors rupture or become necrotic. The surgeon said he could still remove the affected section should it happen as a palliative care option.
The heartbreaking part is that Midnight, at eighteen and dealing with all of this, is still Midnight in personality and activity level. And she may still be her regular Midnight self when it comes time for euthanasia if the reason for euthanasia is this cancer.
The good news is that these tumors have not traveled to her lungs so far. They do seem located despite their rapid growths. Both Midnight's primary and her surgeon feel confident she may die from something else.
So Midnight has joined her daughter Faith in palliative care.
Faith
Faith, as you know, was diagnosed with small cell lymphoma in early April 2022. After much soul searching and multiple opinions, we chose palliative care (for many reasons), which her oncologist said would buy her two to three months.
Chemotherapy treatment, if Faith responded to it, could have theoretically bought her two to three years.
Well, Faith has lived two and half on palliative alone. At the time of this writing, she is sitting next to me on my desk chair, chin on my arm, and meowing at me when I look at her.
But.
Faith is slowly losing weight.
She needs her anti-nausea medicine daily now - and has Zofran as a backup should she vomit or start eating and drinking less again. Fortunately, we haven't needed it yet.
She was treated for dehydration again a couple of weeks ago.
She is hiding more.
And she looks like an older cat.
Well, Faith is now an older cat.
Faith is a sixteen-year-old cat with cancer.
Some days, she just looks tired, like a clock that's winding down.
She does not look tired now. In this moment, she's now standing on the arm of my chair, nuzzling me for attention.
She tends to look down or away from the camera when I point it at her. Just six months ago, she was such a ham for the camera.
As sad as we'll be when the time to say goodbye arrives, we are so thankful.
We could have lost Midnight all those years ago when she was just a sick little kitten.
We could have only gotten two or three months with Faith after her diagnosis.
And we also almost euthanized Faith eleven months ago. We never dreamed she'd still be with us.
Last November she'd stopped eating and drinking. She was assessed by her primary and a doctor who euthanizes in the home. No one found a reason for Faith's decline. Her bloodwork was good. Her heart and lungs were normal. She had no palpable masses.
So Faith received a modified care plan and had two days to respond. Otherwise, humane euthanasia on the third day was recommended. Daniel was out of town for business for a couple of weeks at the time, and we did a "goodbye" video visit with him, since he and Faith are close.
One hour before Faith's scheduled euthanasia, she jumped off the bed and ran to her food bowl. I took a video and sent it to the doctor. She canceled the euthanasia.
Then we scheduled another euthanasia appointment for two days later, a Saturday, with her primary, just in case. If Faith declined again, we didn't want to drive her an hour away, with her suffering, just to end it all.
We canceled that one, too.
Later that Saturday, Faith left the ugliest, largest hair ball by her food ball I ever saw. That likely caused a blockage that could have killed her. Seriously, this thing was as wide as a sausage and half as long, with long spiky hair sticking out of it.
YUCK!
So now our daily routine looks like we're running an animal hospital, with medication rounds twice a day for both cats and regular weigh-ins. Midnight is taking two, Faith is taking three, and both have additional "as needed" medications, too.
So that's the "tail end" of our update.
We are thankful.
We are grateful.
We are in awe.
Thank you for taking this journey with us.
Happy Monday!
Sunday, October 6, 2024
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Friday, October 4, 2024
Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Sept. 28 to Oct. 4
Good morning!
I have thirteen stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post with more stories going live over the weekend.
So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.
But before the stories, I have a list of additional updates, resources, and information. Please check them out, too.
And if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.
And have a great Friday!
Event Updates
The BryonySeries Back-To-School display is up at The Book Market. But we are transitioning to a Halloween display soon. So please do check it out.
We are also participating in three events (so far) this month
Oct. 12: Panic at the Plaza in downtown Joliet.
Oct. 22: The Book Market in Crest Hill from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Oct. 30: Spirits with the Spirits at Black Cat Curiosities in Joliet with WriteOn member Cean Magosky as part of the Joliet City Center Partnership's "Spirits with the Spirits" event.
BryonySeries books-in-progress
House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I now have a good working draft of the entire book, with eleven chapters completely edited, and a heavy editing weekend ahead of me. The plan is to submit a proof to KDP by or slightly after next weekend. We are still estimating a late 2024 release date for this book, with copies available for sale at WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party on Dec. 5.
The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: No updates here in a very long time, mostly because Timothy and Daniel are super busy with school on top of work (and plenty of work-related traveling). However, I outlined a "bonus" book that is intended for distribution at Bicentennial's "Ye Olde Mayfest" event in 2025. Here is a recap of the 2024 event.
Timothy said his concept for the next book in the actual series 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. In order to make progress on any of this, Timothy is hoping to schedule a "Cornell breakfast." But Timothy and Daniel are very busy with work and school right now. We've scheduled and broke several Cornell breakfasts in 2023 and 2024. Our last one was July 2022. So we are LONG, LONG, LONG overdue.
Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is outlined and the first chapter is written, hurray! Jennifer Wainwright, who welcomed her first child into the world in April, has already started working on the cover portrait. I've neglected this book for a few months and hope to revisit it soon. We wanted to release it in late 2024, but 2024 has been a challenging year. I'm shooting for early 2025.
Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "Julie and the Too-Hard Homework," "Katie and the Big Fear," "Summer Sisters." and "Karla Joins In," as well as the frontispiece for Lycanthropic Summer.
Rebekah is also slowly (very, very slowly) updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.
And finally...
The manuscript for Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara's third book in his Ruthless trilogy is submitted and will be my next editing project once "House on Top of the Hill" is complete. Ed
s first book is "Ruthless," his second is "The Fifth," and he is also the author of "Denise Unland's Irish Genealogy."
For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.
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.
Check out the recipe here.
WRITERS
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 writeonjoliet.com.
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 you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.
BryonySeries stuff: I used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.
Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.
And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.
QUESTIONS
Email me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. And if you've read (or plan to read) any of my books. Your support is greatly appreciated.
FEATURES
Joliet museum photo exhibit captures early 20th century in
Joliet area
Extensive collection of images were taken by resident more
than century ago
Minooka family loses all 4 pets to house fire
Family wasn’t home at time fire started
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/26/minooka-family-loses-all-4-pets-to-house-fire/
Why fall is the best time to plant trees
Experts: Tree roots get more time to settle in
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/15/this-is-why-you-should-plant-trees-in-the-fall/
Playnfield Players bringing live theater to Plainfield
Plainfield President John F. Argoudelis: ‘It’s right in
their own hometown’
Joliet Wish Upon a Star to host pumpkin derby fundraiser on
Saturday
Proceeds benefit children with life-threatening illnesses
New special events venue coming to Shorewood
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/30/new-special-events-venue-coming-to-shorewood/
Pesciolino Osteria in Channahon remodels, updates menu
New Lenox gets new Mexican restaurant
https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/10/03/new-lenox-gets-new-mexican-restaurant/
New pizza restaurant opens in downtown Plainfield
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/28/new-pizza-restaurant-opens-in-plainfield/
Bolingbrook pop-up store’s weekend special promotion helps
veterans
Store proceeds help fund K9s for Veterans programs
Plainfield road closures for Sunday’s Harvest 5K/10K
Run/Walk
Will County Pets of the Week: Sept. 30, 2024
Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/30/will-county-pets-of-the-week-sept-30-2024/
5 Things to Do in Will County: CAPA Beer Walk
https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/10/03/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-capa-beer-walk/
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Sue's Diner: Vampire Milkshakes
Well, we are in that in-between time of year: getting ready for Halloween and stuck inside a summer that just won't quit.
That's why this recipe for Vampire Milkshakes is perfect for this week.
They are also quick and easy to make: mix, blend, and drink!
This recipe does not appear in any of the BryonySeries cookbooks.
However, you may try this recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.
But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.
If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com.
Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).
For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Save the Date: WriteOn Joliet Anthology Release Party 2024
Good morning and Happy October!
It's not too early to be thinking about WriteOn Joliet's Anthology Release Party, which will arrive before you know it.
To be sure you don't miss the fun, here are ten reasons why should consider putting this event on your calendar right now.
1. FREE, fantastic, chef-prepared heavy appetizers and desserts.
2. FREE photos with Santa.
3. An opportunity to chat with a really great group of local authors and browse through their books with no pressure to buy.
4. One-stop Christmas shop for all the bookworms on your list, children through adult, with one-stop checkout, courtesy of Janet Staley, owner of The Book Market in Crest Hill.
5. A treasure trove of books with a wide variety of genres and storylines you haven't (yet) imagined, including copies of ALL WriteOn Joliet's anthologies, including our 2024 edition.
6. Each purchase supports The Book Market, a local business.
7, Each purchase supports local art, both the authors individually and as a group.
8. Really unique and gift-worthy giveaways at the BryonySeries table with book purchases (while supplies last).
9. Notecards, framed artwork, vintage postcards of downtown Joliet: these are some of the other items for sale, since many WriteOn authors are talented in other artistic ways.
10. An opportunity to stroll through the Joliet Public Library is you haven't done so lately. Staff is friendly and ready to assist you.
And did I mention FREE, fantastic, chef-prepared heavy appetizers and desserts? No rushing home to cook dinner on that night!
The event is from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Joliet Public Library, 3395 Black Road in Joliet.
For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.
We look forward to meeting you!
Monday, September 30, 2024
An Idea for Monday
Timothy and Daniel treated us to Chinese carryout last night, complete with fortune cookies.
Here's mine, and I look at the little message in two ways.
One: I can take the fortune literally and to see what "good things" come to me.
But what if I'd picked a different fortune cookie? What if this cookie was really intended for someone else? So then the second perspective would apply.
Two: Be the "good thing" that happens to someone today.
So let's not be too busy or preoccupied to notice the good things 'when they show up.
And let's make some good things happen for others, too.
This should guarantee some joy, even if Monday is otherwise stressful, as Mondays often are.
Thoughts?
Sunday, September 29, 2024
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Friday, September 27, 2024
Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Sept. 21 to Sept. 27
Good morning!
I have fourteen stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post with more stories going live over the weekend.
So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.
But before the stories, I have a list of additional updates, resources, and information. Please check them out, too.
And if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.
And have a great Friday!
Event Updates
The BryonySeries Back-To-School display is now up at The Book Market. So do check it out if you're in the area.
We are also participating in two events this weekend
Sept. 27: End-Of-Summer Open Mic at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet
Sept. 28: Local Author Fair at the Downers Grove Public Library
BryonySeries books-in-progress
House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I now have a good working draft of the entire book, with all but three chapters that are ready for final edits. I'm hoping that all three will be in good editing shape by Monday. We are still estimating a late 2024 release date for this book, with copies available for sale at WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party on Dec. 5.
The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: No updates here in a very long time, mostly because Timothy and Daniel are super busy with school on top of work (and plenty of work-related traveling). However, I outlined a "bonus" book that is intended for distribution at Bicentennial's "Ye Olde Mayfest" event in 2025. Here is a recap of the 2024 event.
Timothy said his concept for the next book in the actual series 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. In order to make progress on any of this, Timothy is hoping to schedule a "Cornell breakfast." But Timothy and Daniel are very busy with work and school right now. We've scheduled and broke several Cornell breakfasts in 2023 and 2024. Our last one was July 2022. So we are LONG, LONG, LONG overdue.
Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is outlined and the first chapter is written, hurray! Jennifer Wainwright, who welcomed her first child into the world in April, has already started working on the cover portrait. I've neglected this book for a few months and hope to revisit it soon. We wanted to release it in late 2024, but 2024 has been a challenging year. I'm shooting for early 2025.
Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "Julie and the Too-Hard Homework," "Katie and the Big Fear," "Summer Sisters." and "Karla Joins In," as well as the frontispiece for Lycanthropic Summer.
Rebekah is also slowly (very, very slowly) updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.
And finally...
Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, has sent me twenty-one chapters to edit for his third book in his Ruthless trilogy. His first book is "Ruthless," his second is "The Fifth," and he is also the author of "Denise Unland's Irish Genealogy."
For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.
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.
Check out the recipe here.
WRITERS
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 writeonjoliet.com.
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 you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.
BryonySeries stuff: I used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.
Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.
And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.
QUESTIONS
Email me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. And if you've read (or plan to read) any of my books. Your support is greatly appreciated.
FEATURES
Joliet peace celebration and walk inspires individuals to
take action
Alicia Morales: ‘It is ultimately up to each and every one
of us to do something’
Baran-Unland: 33 kittens at Joliet vet’s office need good
homes
Do you have room in your home for a cat or two?
Summer in September: New climate trend or not so unusual?
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2024/09/21/summer-in-september-new-climate-trend-or-not-so-unusual/
Got skills? Volunteer for Joliet Junior College Repair Cafe
Volunteers can be professional artisans, hobbyists or
general handy people
New Lenox boutique receives $15,000 small business
accelerator grant
Pesciolino Oseteria in Channahon updates menu and remodels
School District 202 retiree is grand marshal of Plainfield
homecoming parade
Providence Catholic H.S. in New Lenox adding sports
officiating course
Quilters guild hosting show Saturday and Sunday in New Lenox
The Lockport Heritage Quilters Guild also creates veterans
quilts
Joliet Texas Roadhouse meat cutters compete in national
competition
Winner will receive a grand prize of $25,000
3 people shot in Joliet bar on Sunday morning
Police: Gunfire came from outside
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/22/3-people-shot-in-joliet-bar-on-sunday-morning/
Minooka police arrest 2 people after threat directed at
students of Minooka Intermediate School
Will County Pets of the Week: Sept. 23, 2024
Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/23/will-county-pets-of-the-week-sept-23-2024/
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"