Bertrand Goes to Japan, Part 1

Yes, you read that correctly.

Bertrand the Mouse left for Japan earlier this week.

Now he didn't go by himself...

...Bertrand went with a supervised group of young people who were happy Bertrand could join them.

Bertrand didn't fly straight into Japan. He and the group flew into an airport in Canada first.

So while they waited for the next flight, Bertrand did some exploring.

Luckily, one of the young adults picked him off the floor, so Bertrand wouldn't catch any germs.

After that, Bertrand stayed off the floor while he explored.

Eventually, all that flying and exploring and waiting tired him out. So Bertrand chilled on a backpack.

I know Bertrand has arrived in Japan based on social media posts from the group. Once someone sends photos, I can post "Bertrand Goes to Japan, Part 2."

Sue's Diner: Fried Potatoes

 This week's recipe features an unusual twist for fried potatoes. A former daughter-in-law submitted it a decade ago when we were collecting recipes for a companion cookbook prior to the release of the first book in the BryonySeries.

This recipe appears 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.

The recipe is referenced in the novel Bryony, where the protagonist, a 1970s teen named Melissa Marchellis, finds it on her breakfast tray during her first morning in the 18th century when she wakes up inside Simons Mansion,

You can try our modified 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. 

Finally, 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.

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our bryonyseries.com/merchandise.

The Book Market's Two-Sided Movable Shelves

This post is a long time in the making.

Last year, Jan Staley, owner of The Book Market in Crest Hill, told me about some shelving another organization in town was planning to donate to her at some point.

Jan was super excited about the shelves because of their weight, their amount of space, and their versatility - the shelves are double-sided and moveable.

She promised one shelf for BryonySeries books (one side) and books by WriteOn Joliet authors (one side).

Earlier this year, Rebekah and I came into the store after work to help reorganize the entire local author section and move all BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet books to the shelves.

Timothy created all the signage templates for both sides - and for future use at other places and events. 

Rebekah and I looked for the right cardholders and finished the setup in mid-June, right before yet another bout of diverticulitis for me.

The top of the shelves are reserved for WriteOn Joliet's "Author of the Month," whenever we're able to re-launch that program, either late 2026 or January 2027.

For now, the top has a bin for books, along with a sign asking patrons to purchase and donate any book by a WriteOn Joliet author (which includes books in the BryonySeries, since I have dual membership).

These books will be given away from the WriteOn Joliet booth at Kids Fest on Aug. 1, at he City Square in Downtown Joliet.

And when you're done checking out the books on this moveable shelf, be sure to browse the rest of the local author section and the other books The Book Market has to offer.

Founded in 1977, The Book Market offers used books, novels, children's literature, graphic novels, audiobooks, religious texts, sports books, and much, much more, all at very reasonable prices.

What can be more heavenly on a hot and humid July than a leisurely browse through a bookstore?

Photo Recap: BryonySeries at Bicentennial Park's Independence Celebration on July 3, 2026

For the fourth year in a row, the BryonySeries B.L.O.C.K.S. team organized and ran free children's games with free prizes at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre's annual Independence Celebration on July 3.

During these past four years, the team has seen the event grow from a one-tent idea with a spinning wheel for a BryonySeries book giveaway and Bozo buckets to several tents with eight games and free prizes, branded merchandise, and a coloring and sticker station.

As I previously said, our part of the celebration was really wonderful way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country.

Because two very important things happened on July 3.

Entire families played games together.

And we saw a level of excitement for books and reading than we've never experienced at any event we've hosted in the fifteen years we've hosted events.

Meaning, we gave away 153 books – and could’ve given away more if lightning didn’t cut the event short. Families were still approaching the tent as we were breaking down.

Please enjoy scrolling through the photos Timothy took during the setup.

Unfortunately, we were too busy once the event kicked off to take any more photos. We had just five volunteers -including one recently retired park employee who worked the event with us this year and did all the tent decorating.

In fact, one woman colored a picture just for her.

We are very thankful for the opportunity to bless the community in this way.

America The Beautiful - Piano - Tom Schaefer

Anyone new to the BryonySeries blog might wonder why I post piano music on Sundays and how that fits into the BryonySeries world.

That's because one character - John Simons - was a nineteenth century world-renowned pianist and composer before he died and became a vampire.

I'm posting this apparently lesser-know patriotic piece today in honor of the 250th birthday of the United States and because I've loved this song ever since I first heard it in early elementary school at the former St. Bernard Catholic School in Joliet.

Enjoy!

Happy 250th, United States of America!

So because the 250tyh birthday of the United States landed on a Saturday, I'd asked Ed Calkins, Stewarf of Tara to write a special blog for today.

That's because Saturdays in the BryonySeries world are dedicated to Ed and all things Irish.

However, the storms knocked out Ed's power anbd he couldn't send the blog.

That left me with the very rare occasion of having no blog ready to publish - and readers having to wait for Ed's words for another week at least.

For once, I'm short on words, since I'm still tired (physically and mentally) from hustling in the heat yesterday, despite frequent breaks into air-conditioned cars and building and staying very hydrated (the BryonySeries B.L.O.C.K.S. team ran all the games at the Joliet Eve of Independence: America 250 Fireworks and Celebration at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre in Joliet.

So although I won't post a full recap on last night's very successful event (I know everyone says their events are successful. But this one really was), I will say this.

Last night was amazing, a really wonderful way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country.

Because two very important things happened last night.

Entire families played games together.

And we saw a level of excitement for books and reading than we've never experienced at any event we've hosted in the fifteen years we've hosted events.

I don't have all the numbers yet.

But I believe you (and I) will be very, very surprised.

And those two very important things are, I believe, a very good way to celebrate American independence.

Happy 250th, United States of America!

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, June 27 through July 3

 Good morning!

I have six stories online to share with you today, with more stories likely going live over the weekend. So please check back at shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

To see the stories that ran in print this week and aren't online yet, click on the e-edition option at the top of The Herald-News website.

So 14 people (by my account) attended "Book Publishing 101 Saturday at the Joliet Public Library, and the library was very pleased. Thank you to all who attended. The feedback was very positive.

The library is planning to reschedule this presentation at a later date. So if you missed it, you will likely get another opporunity.

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!

Calendar

The BryonySeries calendar offers links to games, crafts, music, activities, science experiments, and  recipes that pick up themes to one or more of our books.

To participate, visit bryonyseries.com/ourcalendar.

Events (or where to find the BryonySeries) - so far:

July 3: Joliet Eve of Independence: America 250 Fireworks and Celebration: 6 to 10 p.m., Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park & Theatre, 201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet. Live music, food vendors, and children’s activities by B.L.O.CK.S., the BryonySeries umbrella brand. B.L.O.C.K.S. will also have limited giveaways of BryonySeries books for all ages and WriteOn Joliet's upcoming "Shoe" anthology. The evening will conclude with a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Aug. 1: Kid Fest: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., City Square, Downtown Joliet. For the third year in a row, WriteOn Joliet will have a tent at the annual Kidz Fest celebration. Write your own story with our unique, one-of-a-kind, made-just-for-us story manipulable story blocks. And be sure to pick up one (or more) WriteOn Joliet-authored books (titles for all ages), which we will distribute for free.

Sept. 19: Fountaindale Public Library Author Fair: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fontaindale Public Library District, 300 Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook.

Oct. 17: Halloween Night Market: 3 to 8 p.m.., Channahon Tractor Supply, Channahon

In addition, please check out our books by popping into The Book Market in Crest Hill (if you live in the area) or bookshop.org or Amazon if you don't. 

Also, many titles are available at the Joliet Public Library and the Downers Grove Public Library.

Please note: Bookshop and the libraries do not carry all of our books.

And if  you missed it, please check out the "Shades of Noir" photos.

What is the BryonySeries?

Please read "Books of the BryonySeries: A Quick Overview"

For more information on the developing "parent brand" that is removing some of the heavy marketing lifting from me, visit bryonyseries.com/blocks.

BryonySeries books-in-progress

Bertrand the Mouse: We have plenty of Bertrand photos and ideas. Several are at the top of the list. At some point, we will assemble and release some more.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur.") is finally begun, although albeit very slowly. I'd like to get enough done over the next month or so to finally give Sue Midlock (our artist for The Adventures of Cornell Dyer) some ideas for the book's cover and chapter heading illustrations.

Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is nearly drafted with some partial editing already begun. We plan to release this book in 2026.

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."

Other books: I am not writing a novel this year. But we plan to release a BryonySeries Christmas anthology around the holidays. This will be Christmas excerpts from existing BryonySeries novels along with a few bonus chapters only available in this anthology.

We also have a prologue/first chapter sampler of all the BryonySeries novels and an novel excerpt (so far) that's only available at certain events and another sampler cal;led "Angel or Demon" that is also only available at select events.

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 weekly recipe here.

WRITERS

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page. We'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'm gradually reviving BryonySeries on Twitter/X at x.com/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.

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 Junior College trustees Broderick and Lee respond to board chair’s resignation

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/06/26/joliet-junior-college-trustees-broderick-and-lee-respond-to-board-chairs-resignation/

Monee man who died in boating accident on Kankakee River mourned by area musicians

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/06/26/monee-man-who-died-in-boating-accident-on-kankakee-river-mourned-by-area-musicians/

Will County Pets of the Week: June 29, 2026

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/06/29/will-county-pets-of-the-week-june-29-2026/

Three-part story on AI in healthcare

Patients turning to AI chatbots for medical advice, risking dangerous missteps

Doctors warn that ChatGPT and similar tools lack clinical context and can fuel health anxiety

https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/06/23/patients-turning-to-ai-chatbots-for-medical-advice-risking-dangerous-missteps/

Illinois hospitals deploy AI tools to free doctors from paperwork

From stroke detection to seizure monitoring, artificial intelligence is reducing administrative burdens and giving physicians more time with patients

https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/06/24/illinois-hospitals-deploy-ai-tools-to-free-doctors-from-paperwork/

Doctors embrace AI as regulators work to ensure safe use

Survey shows 81% of physicians now use artificial intelligence tools, prompting new certification standards and calls for measured regulation

https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/06/25/doctors-embrace-ai-as-regulators-work-to-ensure-safe-use/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

PHOTOS: Final Food Truck Friday

Members of the BryonySeries B.L.O.C.K.S. team will be provided a changing array of kids games every Friday in June at the Carter Realty Group's Food Truck Fridays in Joliet.

The first event took place June 5, where we engaged kids with good old-fashioned backyard games under the tent (Carter Realty Group provided some of the games) and across the grassy field. 

We also provided a coloring station (with stickers) for winding down.

June 12 was a "special" night. We will set up "tentless" closer to 4 p.m. and then left 6-ish since I had a previous "Grandma" committment for that night.

But we had plenty of giant bubble fun and Timothy engaged the kids with simple ball games in the field.

Rebekah and I missed Food Truck Fridays on June 19 due to my diverticulitis. We only had Timothy, Daniel, and Cindy working the event, and they entertained an average of twenty kids at one time! So no one thought of taking pictures.

Here are the photos the final event on June 26.

Finally, here are ten reasons to pop by our tent Friday at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park in Joliet, especially if you have kids of any age.

Sue's Diner: Independence Day Cake

This week's recipe is very patriotic to me and not just because it's mentioned in the fifth installment of Before The Blood. 

It's because I actually do like it. After I wrote the passage in italics, I, too, wanted to taste Independence Cake. So Timothy, and then Rebekah, modified the recipe for the modern kitchen. And it's actually really good!

Munsonville Inn would also sell a frosted loaf, popular in Thornton, known as Independence Cake, and Bryony longed to try this food from a land so far away.

 More than once, she and Susan read the advertisement in the window, boasting it was "flavored with wine and brandy," as well as "rich with nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, mace, and citron," and "heavily speckled with currants and raisons."

Here is an actual nineteenth century recipe we found online:

"Twenty pounds of flour, fifteen pounds of sugar, ten pounds of butter, four dozen of eggs, one quart of wine, one quart of brandy, one ounce of nutmegs, three ounces each of cinnamon, cloves, and mace, two pounds of citron, five pounds each of currants and raisins, and one quart of yeast. Frost it, and dress it with box and rose leaf."

It's now my favorite Fourth of July recipe (however, no one else in my family likes it). 

Still, you can try our modified 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 a non-Victorian version with sprinkles - because Timothy likes sprinkles, he said. I love the color combination.

Below that is a more traditional version.

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.

All proceeds from "Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From 'Bryony'" benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties at bbbswillgrundy.org

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our bryonyseries.com/merchandise.

And scroll for more photos!

A Cricut for Rebekah

If you haven't guessed right now, we are a "project" family.

Christopher, Joshua, and Daniel love car projects.

Timothy loves creative projects, from culinary to storytelling to branding and design.

Sarah loves so many different projects, it's difficult to name them all, She is currently remodeling an out-of-state home, doing much of the work herself.

Rebekah especially loves craft-related projects. We're currently in the process of moving and have already planned a large dedicated protected space where Rebekah can set out craft projects in progress and work at them bit by bit.

So when Cindy brought a cricut for her craft-related projects, she suggested to Rebekah that they learn how to use it together to create BryonySeries swag.

They recently took some training at the Joliet Public Library's Digital Media Studio, which led Rebekah getting bit by the cricut bug and placing buying one of her own on her "someday" list.

Instead, I told Rebekah to pick the one best suited to everyone's needs and let BryonySeries buy it for her, since Rebekah's intention is to use it mainly for BryonySeries projects (she's already planned a list, too).

It arrived Saturday after the presentation and she was thrilled.

Really thrilled. 

As in she couldn't wait to try it out.

I'm glad she did because I had no idea how it worked, and I had fun watching the process.

Rebekah's goal is to create approximately seventy BryonySeries miniature backpacks before Friday. 

On Friday, we are running the children's games for the Independence Celebration at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park in Joliet for the fourth year in a row.

And we ran out of our previous stock of bags at last year's events.

Yes, we aren't leaving ourselves much time. But that's not do to our excellent planning abilities and more to the boulders life keeps placing in our paths.

So Rebekah printed all her logo sheets on Sunday.

And then she "weeded" them all last night, from the time she clocked out of work until long past her bedtime.

Rebekah is planning to complete everything by Wednesday night.

The backpacks are black, but the BryonySeries logo will feature different colors.

Rebekah is very pleased with her test. 

Just so you know, we are not selling these on Friday.

We are distributing them for free to people who play the games.

This gives them a handy place to put their books, prizes, and creations (we have a coloring/sticker/craft stations this year).

Thoughts?

Kindess Days

I realized the other day that I actually do very, very little to let people know about the two non-BryonySeries books I've written.

One is an editiing checklist for fiction that's a fundraiser for WriteOn Joliet.

The other is a devotional-style book on the non-obvious ways to find kindness.

Those who follow my BryonySeries Facebook page already know that I focus on different subseries on the different days of the week.

Going forward, I'm adding two "kindness days" into the Sunday rotation in order to add two very components that are key to B.L.O.C.K.S. - the parent brand of the BryonySeries.

Because although all of the BryonySeries books (except Bertrand the Mouse, who promotes the fun in reading) involve the supernatural in some way, we deliver those books with an emphasis on these two characteristics:

A spirit of community.

And kindness.

Enjoy!

It's nice to be with you - the monkees (cover by bunso)

Anyone new to the BryonySeries blog might wonder why I post piano music on Sundays and how that fits into the BryonySeries world.

That's because one character - John Simons - was a nineteenth century world-renowned pianist and composer before he died and became a vampire.

I'm posting this piece today because I: like the Monkees, like this lesser-known Monkees song, never saw this song as a piano cover by now, and because one Sunday a month I'm laying aside the focus on the BryonySeries books and more kindness, especially since I did write one non-BryonySeries book to help foster kindness in the world.

The book is called "Nine Months of Kindness."

Enjoy this piece and may it inspire you to be a kinder person today - and to notice the often overlooked kindess of others.

2 Hours Relaxing Celtic Music: Flute Music, Fantasy Music, Beautiful Music, Relaxing Music

Since the beginning of this blog on August 1, 2010, Saturdays has been a day to celebrate BryonySeries author and Irish vampire character Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, and all things Irish.

While this selection by renowned composer Tim Janis is neither Irish or features a tin whistle, it has a "Glorna" feel to it (to me), which you might understand if you're read "Staked!" or any of Ed's books in his BryonySeries Ruthless series ("Ruthless," "The Fifth," "Recovering Ruthless"). 

Either way, enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDeB9zIoE_s

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, June 20 through June 26

Good morning!

I have seven stories online to share with you today, with more stories likely going live over the weekend. So please check back at shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

To see the stories that ran in print this week and aren't online yet, click on the e-edition option at the top of The Herald-News website.

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!

Calendar

The BryonySeries calendar offers links to games, crafts, music, activities, science experiments, and  recipes that pick up themes to one or more of our books.

To participate, visit bryonyseries.com/ourcalendar.

Events (or where to find the BryonySeries) - so far:

June 5, June 12, June 19, June 26: B.L.O.C.K.S. will be hosting children's games at Food Truck Fridays, which runs 4 to 8 p.m. at Carter Realty Group, 1214 Essington Road, Joliet. We're hoping to be set 5:30-ish on all days except June 12, when we will run games from 4 to 5:30-ish p.m. In addition to children's games, we will offer BryonySeries books for sale during the games. Not in the mood to read? Buy one (or more) books and place it in our collection box for our book giveaways at the July 3 and Aug. 1 events.

June 27: "Presentation 101: An Overview for Authors Entering the Industry" 1 p.m., Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa St. Joliet. Register here.

July 3: Joliet Eve of Independence: America 250 Fireworks and Celebration: 6 to 10 p.m., Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park & Theatre, 201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet. Live music, food vendors, and children’s activities by B.L.O.CK.S., the BryonySeries umbrella brand. B.L.O.C.K.S. will also have limited giveaways of BryonySeries books for all ages and WriteOn Joliet's upcoming "Shoe" anthology. The evening will conclude with a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Aug. 1: Kid Fest: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., City Square, Downtown Joliet. For the third year in a row, WriteOn Joliet will have a tent at the annual Kidz Fest celebration. Write your own story with our unique, one-of-a-kind, made-just-for-us story manipulable story blocks. And be sure to pick up one (or more) WriteOn Joliet-authored books (titles for all ages), which we will distribute for free.

In addition, please check out our books by popping into The Book Market in Crest Hill (if you live in the area) or bookshop.org or Amazon if you don't. 

Also, many titles are available at the Joliet Public Library and the Downers Grove Public Library.

Please note: Bookshop and the libraries do not carry all of our books.

And if  you missed it, please check out the "Shades of Noir" photos.

What is the BryonySeries?

Please read "Books of the BryonySeries: A Quick Overview"

For more information on the developing "parent brand" that is removing some of the heavy marketing lifting from me, visit bryonyseries.com/blocks.

BryonySeries books-in-progress

Bertrand the Mouse: We have plenty of Bertrand photos and ideas. Several are at the top of the list. At some point, we will assemble and release some more.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur.") is finally begun, although albeit very slowly. I'd like to get enough done over the next month or so to finally give Sue Midlock (our artist for The Adventures of Cornell Dyer) some ideas for the book's cover and chapter heading illustrations.

Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is nearly drafted with some partial editing already begun. We plan to release this book in 2026.

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."

Other books: I am not writing a novel this year. But we plan to release a BryonySeries Christmas anthology around the holidays. This will be Christmas excerpts from existing BryonySeries novels along with a few bonus chapters only available in this anthology.

We also have a prologue/first chapter sampler of all the BryonySeries novels and an novel excerpt (so far) that's only available at certain events and another sampler cal;led "Angel or Demon" that is also only available at select events.

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 weekly recipe here.

WRITERS

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page. We'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'm gradually reviving BryonySeries on Twitter/X at x.com/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.

And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

QUESTIONS

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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 Junior College board chair Budzinski resigns

Says decision due to one trustee ‘who continues to go against everything the board does’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/06/25/joliet-junior-college-board-chair-budzinski-resigns/

New Lenox welcomes new car sales company among other new businesses

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/06/22/new-lenox-welcomes-new-car-sales-company-among-other-new-businesses/

Newsweek recognizes Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox for the 2nd time in 2026

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/06/21/newsweek-recognizes-silver-cross-hospital-in-new-lenox-for-the-2nd-time-in-2026

Will County Pets of the Week: June 22, 2026

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/06/22/will-county-pets-of-the-week-june-22-2026/

Three-part story on AI in healthcare

Patients turning to AI chatbots for medical advice, risking dangerous missteps

Doctors warn that ChatGPT and similar tools lack clinical context and can fuel health anxiety

https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/06/23/patients-turning-to-ai-chatbots-for-medical-advice-risking-dangerous-missteps/

Illinois hospitals deploy AI tools to free doctors from paperwork

From stroke detection to seizure monitoring, artificial intelligence is reducing administrative burdens and giving physicians more time with patients

https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/06/24/illinois-hospitals-deploy-ai-tools-to-free-doctors-from-paperwork/

Doctors embrace AI as regulators work to ensure safe use

Survey shows 81% of physicians now use artificial intelligence tools, prompting new certification standards and calls for measured regulation

https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/06/25/doctors-embrace-ai-as-regulators-work-to-ensure-safe-use/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"