Friday, January 17, 2025

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Jan 11. to Jan. 17

Good morning!

I have fourteen feature stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post, with more stories going live this weekend and into early next week, since I am working the weekend and the holiday. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

Before the stories I also have a list of additional updates, resources, and information. Please check them out, too.

Also, if you live in the Will County, Illinois area, consider checking out WriteOn Joliet's anthology display at The Book Market in Crest Hill - and purchasing one (or two) to add to your winter reading list.

And if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.

And have a great Friday!

Event Updates

Calkins Day 2025 will take place at 6 p.m. Feb. 13 at The Book Market in Crest Hill.

I finished the copy edits for Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara's third book in his Ruthless trilogy: "Recovering Ruthless, KDP has approved it, and copies are on their way.

Ed's first book is "Ruthless," his second is "The Fifth," and he is also the author of "Denise Unland's Irish Genealogy."

Unless we wind up with a delivery issue, we will have copies for our annual Calkins Day celebration on February 13.

Stay tuned for details!

BryonySeries books-in-progress

House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy, and the book is now live on Amazon and already has its first organic review. Copies are also available at The Book Market. And check out this first review on Amazon.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Timothy and Daniel are super busy with school on top of work (and plenty of work-related traveling). But Sue Midlock is already hard at work with the cover for the next book that involves a toymaker: "Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur."). Timothy and I have tentatively agreed to a "Cornell" breakfast when he's off school and work during the holidays. Here's hoping! (we are looooong over due). But it was postponed AGAIN because I got sick (grumble). So...soon?

I also 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.

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, is nearly done with the cover portrait. I let this book slide for other BryonySeries projects. But I'll return to this book in 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.

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're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook pageWe're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

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.

I also suggest this book: Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers. 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.

If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out dmbaranunland.com.

ARTISTS

If you need an artist for a project, I offer these recommendations.

NEWSLETTERS

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! 

SOCIAL MEDIA

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/BryonySeriesyoutube.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

Will County law enforcement, community leaders brace for Trump immigration crackdown

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/01/17/will-county-law-enforcement-community-leaders-brace-for-trump-immigration-crackdown/

Crest Hill 6-year-old wins Little Miss Black Joliet title

A’maree Dixon entered with zero pageant experience

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/01/11/crest-hill-6-year-old-wins-little-miss-black-joliet-title/

Plainfield Township expanding mental health services in community

Town administrator: ‘It’s all about crisis management in the long term'

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/01/16/plainfield-township-expanding-mental-health-services/

Illinois’ largest LEGO retailer celebrates Crest Hill location with special weekend events

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/will-county/2025/01/16/illinois-largest-lego-retailer-celebrates-crest-hill-location-with-special-weekend-events/

Lockport Sonic shuts down

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/will-county/2025/01/14/lockport-sonic-shuts-down/

UrgentVet opening new clinic in Joliet

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/will-county/2025/01/15/urgentvet-opening-new-clinic-in-joliet/

Villa Nova Pizza in Lockport opens up new location

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/will-county/2025/01/14/villa-nova-pizza-lockport-opens-in-new-location/

Volunteers needed for Joliet’s annual MLK Day of Service

Even families can volunteer to work side by side

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/01/05/volunteers-needed-for-joliets-annual-mlk-day-of-service/

Downtown Joliet businesses offering Winter Rewards program for shoppers

More than 20 shops, restaurants participating

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/business/2025/01/09/more-than-20-downtown-joliet-businesses-participating-in-winter-rewards-program/

Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes fitness club, boutique retailer

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/will-county/2025/01/11/plainfield-shorewood-area-chamber-of-commerce-welcomes-fitness-club-boutique-retailer/

Heritage Corridor Destinations celebrates new Joliet office

Heritage Corridor includes 6 Illinois counties

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/01/12/heritage-corridor-destinations-hosted-open-house-at-new-joliet-office/

Joliet area in January will be filled with musical entertainment

Check out these upcoming performances

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/01/12/joliet-area-musical-entertainment-lineup-for-january/

Will County Pets of the Week: Jan. 13, 2025

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/01/13/will-county-pets-of-the-week-jan-13-2025/

5 Things to Do in Will County: JJC planetarium show about Mars

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2025/01/16/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-jjc-planetarium-show-about-mars/

 

 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Sue's Diner: Cindy's Chicken and Gravy

Cindy Phan, who makes all the Ribbit-Ribbits for the BryonySeries, often treats us to her special chicken and gravy recipe (center) when she stays at our house.

So upon request from the Sue's Diner staff, Cindy shared the recipe with, so we could share it with you today.

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.

But you may find the recipe at bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner-food.

If you have any questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

We'll be sure to pass those onto Cindy!



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?

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, January 14, 2025

A Simple Post

I worked last night until almost eight-thirty and then had to switch into care of the animals, shower, counting out medication, etc.

So the post I wanted to finish last night for this morning - well, let's just say I was really "worded out."

And since I MUST finish the copyedits for "Recovering Ruthless," by Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara TODAY (for I won't have another day off until Tuesday), I need to reserve a few brain cells for the task.

Instead, here is a post of original Bertrand at the former Panera at Louis Joliet Mall in Joliet on this date in 2017.

Original Bertrand is gone, the Panera that had full dining is gone, and (of course) the dark roast coffee that I drank there is long gone.

How quickly life those moments that feel like forever come and go.

Savor today, even if just for today.

Soon today will be a memory you won't remember in all its details.

But that's OK. 

Although each moment is precious, we're supposed to be overly focused on that. Otherwise, we would miss living the dailyness of life.

Still...we should retain, at the very least, a hazy awareness in the background of our busyness of the actual worth of our steps.

Savor today, even if just for today.

OK?





Monday, January 13, 2025

Nightmares

I read something years ago that said children often have nightmares, but they grow out of them; adults only have them occasionally.

I was surprised to read this because I've had nightmares all my life. The night I don't have one would be the exception.

But the nightmares have been really bizarre since I came down with a respiratory virus shortly after Christmas.  And they've stepped up their vivid strangeness during my recovery period.

I know it's temporary. But - WOW!

And, no, they're too disjointed to use as fiction material.

Researchers still aren't sure why we dream and or the purpose of dreams. One theory that makes the most sense is that our brains are clearing out their "cache" while we sleep, which explains the random impressions of our lives that reassemble in very peculiar ways while we sleep.

Mostly I'm curious if anyone else reading this post regularly experiencing nightmares or has nightmares when sick. 

Thoughts?





Friday, January 10, 2025

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Jan 4. to Jan. 10

Good morning!

I have eight stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post, which is not bad for having two days off work this week (and much of last week off): Old Calendar Christmas, which is our family Christmas, and a day off to address various "life" things.

And I accomplished it while still dragging from this wicked virus (I feel a bit "normal" today).

Also, more stories will go live this weekend, too. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

Before the stories I also have a list of additional updates, resources, and information. Please check them out, too.

Also, if you live in the Will County, Illinois area, consider checking out WriteOn Joliet's anthology display at The Book Market in Crest Hill - and purchasing one (or two) to add to your winter reading list.

And if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.

And have a great Friday!

Event Updates

Calkins Day 2025 will take place at 6 p.m. Feb. 13 at The Book Market in Crest Hill.

I am currently working on the copy edits for Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara's third book in his Ruthless trilogy: "Recovering Ruthless.

Ed's first book is "Ruthless," his second is "The Fifth," and he is also the author of "Denise Unland's Irish Genealogy."

The goal is to have books for our Calkins Day celebration on February 13.

Stay tuned for details!

BryonySeries books-in-progress

House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy, and the book is now live on Amazon and already has its first organic review. Copies are also available at The Book Market. And check out this first review on Amazon.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Timothy and Daniel are super busy with school on top of work (and plenty of work-related traveling). But Sue Midlock is already hard at work with the cover for the next book that involves a toymaker: "Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur."). Timothy and I have tentatively agreed to a "Cornell" breakfast when he's off school and work during the holidays. Here's hoping! (we are looooong over due). But it was postponed AGAIN because I got sick (grumble). So...soon?

I also 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.

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, is nearly done with the cover portrait. I let this book slide for other BryonySeries projects. But I'll return to this book in 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.

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're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook pageWe're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

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.

I also suggest this book: Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers. 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.

If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out dmbaranunland.com.

ARTISTS

If you need an artist for a project, I offer these recommendations.

NEWSLETTERS

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! 

SOCIAL MEDIA

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/BryonySeriesyoutube.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

More than 20 downtown Joliet businesses participating in Winter Rewards program

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/business/2025/01/09/more-than-20-downtown-joliet-businesses-participating-in-winter-rewards-program/

Joliet Central to host open house on new culinary arts addition

The addition includes 2 state-of-the-art culinary labs

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/01/03/joliet-central-to-host-open-house-on-new-culinary-arts-addition/

Volunteers needed for Joliet’s annual MLK Day of Service

Even families can volunteer to work side by side

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/01/05/volunteers-needed-for-joliets-annual-mlk-day-of-service/

Crest Hill’s Jitterhead Brunch & Coffee Co. serves up fresh take on breakfast, lunch

Jitterhead also has a full-service bar

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/12/20/crest-hills-jitterhead-brunch-coffee-co-serves-unique-options/

Plainfield Maple Butter Cafe owner serves up decades of experience

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/01/03/plainfield-maple-butter-cafe-owner-serves-up-decades-of-experience/

Joliet Noon Lions thankful for business partnership on winter clothing collection

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/will-county/2025/01/08/joliet-noon-lions-thankful-for-business-partnership-on-winter-clothing-collection/

Will County Pets of the Week: Jan. 6, 2025

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/01/06/will-county-pets-of-the-week-jan-6-2025/

5 Things to Do in Will County: Eagle Watch

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2025/01/09/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-eagle-watch/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

My First Christmas Address

In terms of money spent for Christmas this year, 2024/2025 was an extremely lean year for my family and me.

And in terms of some of the really expensive technology items I've seen my grandchildren want and receive for birthdays and holidays, well - I will never be able to meet those wants and expectations no matter what kind of year it is.

But the last way I want to present a gift is with an apology that it isn't more - or see crestfallen faces when something at receiving something insignificant.

So I put some very hard thought and time into Christmas this year, despite being sick.

On Sunday, I spent an entire day, wrapping and decorating some really modest gifts for all the grandchildren, which went into small Christmas bags.

But several days before that, I wrote this Christmas speech. If you can believe, the speech held everyone's attention. Two of my kids actually recorded it. 

And the excitement that followed when the paper started flying really surprised me. Not only did the mood remain elevated the rest of the day, I believe the speech set expectations (in a good way) for birthdays and holidays going forward, recementing the element of surprise and delight in giving, receiving, and sharing.

So if you need a dose of inspiration today, I'm including the speech in this post.

Happy Wednesday!


As a grandma with lots of grandkids and little money, it sometimes breaks my heart that I can’t afford all the expensive technology things my grandkids love and really want.

But then I read this article last month called, “Why the Best Gift You Can Give Your Grandchild This Christmas is a Book.” And this paragraph really stood out to me.

If there’s one thing grandparents understand, it’s the fragility, the brevity of life. We need to keep giving books as if we missed the memo that ‘technology rules.’ We know that big, sullen teenage lump really wants something techie, or cash — mostly cash, and that you are just a means to providing the latest gadget. But teenagers are sullen and oafish because they’ve learned a thing about life, so you can play them at their own game. Keep handing over books.

And this got me thinking. Yes, I know reading is often presented as a chore, something we “should” do that really isn’t very fun, like eating raw broccoli instead of chocolate chip cookies. We all know kids need to read to become successful students and successful adults in the business world.

Well, that reasoning would turn me off reading, too.

And the more I thought about it, the more I felt bad for kids who prefer technology over books and reading. And I feel especially bad for kids who can’t read, struggle with reading, or hate to read.

Because the non-reading kids are missing out on so much.

I really feel bad for kids (and adults who used to be kids) who haven’t spent hours of their childhood reading.

Yes, I know it’s “feel badly.”

I spent hours of my childhood reading because I had a mother who’d bought a subscription to the Weekly Readers Children’s Book Club, where we got a book in the mail each month.

And I had a father who used to read those books to my sister and me until we were old enough to read books ourselves.

I feel bad for kids who didn’t grow up having a father who made up tunes to sing along with the ditties in the books, “I’m the gift bear for the king. I won’t stop for anything!” or the snake’s song in the “Crows of Pearblossom” (for those who didn’t know Aldous Huxley wrote a children’s book):  I cannot fly; I have no wings; I cannot run; I have no legs. But I can creep where the black bird sings And eat her speckled eggs, ha, ha! And eat her speckled eggs.”

I feel bad for kids who never felt the rejection the Witch of Hissing Hill felt from her witchy customers (who came from miles around to buy one of Gizelle’s cats)

Far back in the hill country is Hissing Hill.

It's a bare lonely spot, with one twisted house

and a tall fir behind it.

Once upon a time the hill was aswarm

with black witch cats.

Cats arching their backs on the rooftop,

cats chasing up the fir tree,

cats yowling on crooked fence posts,

cats hissing in every corner of the shackly house.

And all of them black, black, black.

Her cats were the witchiest, the wickedest, the very worst, wonderful witch cats in the world…until the day one of those cats birthed a yellow cat named Gold.

“Now Gold was yellow and Gold was nice, but she had a bit of mustard in her yellow for spice.”

I feel bad for kids who never met Little Devil when he got sick or tasted the hot spider soup his mother made him (“Wait for the gloom to come, my son!”) or took the advice of his best friend Fritz, who said Little Devil was sick because he wasn’t doing enough good deeds (Ollie ollie zonka choo!).

I feel bad for kids who’ve never met Stevie and his Seven Orphans or played impossible hide and seek or tasted “salty” beet greens or had to obey dinner rules that included no more than one elbow and one knee on the kitchen table in “Good Ole Archbald.”

I feel bad for kids who never saw golden windows from afar, longed to be part of the Knights of the Silver Shield, met Marty from Mars, or felt the longing Danny Drake had for a dog named Bozo – and since their house was too small for a dog, Danny instead brought home mice, frogs, and ants – all named Bozo. Spoiler: Danny eventually gets the dog.

I feel bad for kids who never experienced “earning a playground” or accomplishing a “five-dollar yard,” who never cheered for Bunnyboy when he saved the columbine, mourned with King Charlemagne at the death of Roland the Noble Knight in battle, felt the fear of meeting Grendel the giant in the celebration hall for a fight only one would win, or saw the miraculous pitcher with their very own eyes.

I feel bad for kids who never saw Curious George make a fishing pole from a mop handle and  wall hook and then bait the hook with a slice of cake and who never left Old Bohemia with Nanka and to learn – in America – that a pancake is sometimes also a hat.

I feel bad for kids who don’t know that one is the engine, two is the boxcar, three is the covered hopper car. I feel bad for kids who never survived nearly drowning because the terrible Miss Dove wouldn’t let them get a drink of water in class.

I feel bad for kids who never experienced the world from the vantage point of the Poky Little Puppy and his four siblings after they dug a hole under the fence and went for a walk in the wide, wide world through the meadow, down the road, across the green grass and up the hill, one after the other.

I feel bad for kids who never felt the discontent of Scuffy the toy Tugboat (Scuffy was sad. Scuffy was cross. Scuffy sniffed his blue smokestack. “I won’t sail in a bathtub. I was meant for bigger things”). I feel bad for kids who never learned about boundaries on their behavior with Tootle the Train and “red flags waving,” or felt the loyalty of Mike toward his steam shovel Mary Anne, a steam shovel that could “dig as much in a day as one hundred men can dig in a week.”

I feel bad for kids who didn’t know that Mr. Willowby’s Christmas tree came by special delivery, full and fresh and glistening green, the biggest tree he’d ever seen.

I feel bad for kids who do not even know that where they walked to school each day, Indian children used to play, all about their native land, where the shops and houses stand. and the trees were very tall, and there were no streets at all, not a church, not a steeple —only woods and Indian people.”

I feel bad for kids who never slept beneath a sidewalk with Booker T. Washington or watch him sweep a floor so well that its lack of even one speck of dust earned him a college education. I feel bad for kids who never hung out with George Washington Carver as he invented face powder, shampoo, shaving cream, hand lotion, insecticides, glue, charcoal, rubber, nitroglycerine, plastics, and axle grease all from peanuts.

I feel bad for kids who were never “snowbound” with John Greenleaf Whittier or who never slept in the house with James Thurber the night the bed fell, or who never got deathly in the drenching rain the night the last leaf fell.

I feel bad for kids who’ve never felt the heart-stopping terror of Pew the blind pirate tap-tap-tapping his way down the sidewalk, who’ve never stolen a hot air balloon with other escaped prisoners only to be blown off course and land on a mysterious island having to fend for yourself with these strangers, or felt sorry for the frog who was in love with the jailor’s daughter, who knew in his little frog heart his love for her couldn’t not work because he was a frog and she was a woman.

If you haven’t guessed by now, I love reading books. And I like writing books, too.

Uncle Tim helps write some of my books. And Aunt Rebekah takes all the writings and turns them into books.

You’re probably not too curious about what we write or why we do it. You’re probably more curious about what’s in the little bags – and maybe disappointed that we don’t have many gifts to give this year.

But circling back to the beginning of my Christmas speech, “if there’s one thing grandparents understand, it’s the fragility, the brevity of life. We need to keep giving books as if we missed the memo that ‘technology rules.’”

Last year we had lots of gifts for you under the tree. This year, a lot of money went to pay medical bills.

So this year, we have some smaller gifts for you that we hope you’ll like.

And I am giving you the option (and you don’t have to do it) of picking out one book that I wrote (note: most picked out two, actually...surprised we even wrote and published books) to take home with you.

           You can read it or give it away or throw it away.

If you can’t read it by yourself (or if you don’t want to read it yourself), I can read it to you, a chapter at a time, over a video call. This way, we can enjoy the story together.

And if that sounds like a boring gift, I don’t care.

It’s not only what I have to give this Christmas; it’s what I WANT to give this Christmas.

I’m giving the gift of self, of imagination, and the opportunity for us to experience something together you can’t get anywhere else.

Merry Christmas!

P.S.: Copies of this speech are available to take home upon request.




 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, January 6, 2025

"Read Local" This Winter

As you line up your "winter read" this month, be sure to pop into The Book Market in Crest Hill and pick up a WriteOn Joliet anthology (or two).

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.

And WriteOn Joliet has published an anthology of original poems, essays, and short stories since 2017.

We have copies of each edition of "Write Where We Are" currently for sale except for our two bonus anthologies: the "cheetah" anthology and the holiday anthology (we are currently out of copies).

But both are available on Amazon.

Not only is each anthology a uniquely wonderful read, each purchase supports local authors and a local small business.

And you might just discover a new favorite author, one that lives and writes in the community.

Happy Monday!







Friday, January 3, 2025

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Dec. 28 to Jan. 3

Good morning!

I have six stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post.

Not bad for a week off from work, in theory to get ready for my family's Christmas celebration on January 7 (I made progress). In reality, I got sick (although I'm starting to gradually feel better).

More stories will go live this weekend, too. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

Before the stories I also 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 Christmas Display is still up at The Book Market in Crest Hill, although it may very well come down this weekend.

Along with eleven curated BryonySeries books for you to browse and buy, the display features Ribbit-Ribbits from Cindy and free purple music roses with select purchases while supplies last.

It's the perfect way to support the only local book story in the Joliet area and find some wonderful books for your winter reading pleasure.

BryonySeries books-in-progress

House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy, and the book is now live on Amazon. Copies are also available at The Book Market. And check out this first review on Amazon.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Timothy and Daniel are super busy with school on top of work (and plenty of work-related traveling). But Sue Midlock is already hard at work with the cover for the next book that involves a toymaker: "Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur."). Timothy and I have tentatively agreed to a "Cornell" breakfast when he's off school and work during the holidays. Here's hoping! (we are looooong over due). But it was postponed AGAIN because I got sick (grumble).

I also 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.

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, is nearly done with the cover portrait. I let this book slide for other BryonySeries projects. But I'll return to this book in 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...

I have completed the hard edits Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara's third book in his Ruthless trilogy: "Recovering Ruthless." and am eagerly awaiting the proof copy so I can check for lingering errors.

Ed's first book is "Ruthless," his second is "The Fifth," and he is also the author of "Denise Unland's Irish Genealogy."

The goal is to have books for our Calkins Day celebration on February 13. More details later.

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're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook pageWe're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

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.

I also suggest this book: Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers. 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.

If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out dmbaranunland.com.

ARTISTS

If you need an artist for a project, I offer these recommendations.

NEWSLETTERS

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! 

SOCIAL MEDIA

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/BryonySeriesyoutube.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

 Plainfield Maple Butter Cafe owner serves up decades of experience

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/01/03/plainfield-maple-butter-cafe-owner-serves-up-decades-of-experience/

Joliet Chamber announces its ‘2024 success’ award recipients

Tickets available now for celebration event

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/01/02/eyes-on-enterprise-joliet-chamber-announces-its-2024-success-award-recipients/

Remembering when Joliet church burned to the ground on New Year’s Eve

Elvira Balog of Joliet: ‘We could look out the back window and see it burning’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/31/remembering-when-joliet-church-burned-to-the-ground-on-new-years-eve/

Crest Hill’s Jitterhead Brunch & Coffee Co. serves up fresh take on breakfast, lunch

Jitterhead also has a full-service bar

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/12/20/crest-hills-jitterhead-brunch-coffee-co-serves-unique-options/

Will County Pets of the Week: Dec. 30, 2024

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/30/will-county-pets-of-the-week-dec-30-2024/

5 Things to Do in Will County: Winter Break Skate Night

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2025/01/01/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-winter-break-skate-night/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"