Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Aug. 12 through Aug. 17

Very busy Friday, so just a couple quick updates and then the stories.

Proof copy for Cornell Dyer and the Necklace of Forgetfulness is here. Along with editing the fifth book of Before the Blood, I shall be reading this. Rebekah has already noted a couple of formatting issues, so we already have one more round to go.

Taking another at-home writing retreat first weekend in September and will most likely disappear from social media. This will fill in the chinks of scenes, etc. that didn't get written during July's retreat.

In a couple of weeks, four local artists who created artwork for several of my books will be exhibiting their work at Book and Bean Cafe during the months of September and October. The artist reception will be 6 p.m. Sept. 27. Please come out and support them with a few minutes of their presence. All four do very different types of work.

Then on Oct. 11, WriteOn Joliet member and man of a thousand voices Duanne Walton and I will be doing a dramatic reading of Snowbell at 6 p.m. at the Book and Bean. Don't know what that is? More information is here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/snowbell. The performance should last about thirty minutes. And it's free.

LOTS of new members and new initiatives from WriteOn Joliet including a new website we're almost ready to unveil. If you're a writer, check us out. If you're a reader, check us out.

The BryonySeries newsletter is very close to a real launch date. Reasons for the delay? Newsletters suddenly because the fashion in 2018, and we wanted to let some of that settle before we launched ours. Also, it's a bit different in scope, and we wanted time to plan, as well as learn and work with the template. Finally, since I was asked to write a newsletter for The Herald-News (and then launched a second one, the LocalLit short story newsletter), it seemed wise to concentrate on those first.

Keep reading for more information on my professional work and where to find what on social media.

Non-bylined features:

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

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

Community news? Again, under the sections tab, under features, and by topic. Updates are posted on these days in print and web (and some only on web on other days as I have the time): Monday (pets), Tuesday (health), Thursday (faith), Friday (arts and entertainment), and Sunday (people).

Social media:

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

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

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

Upcoming events: 

These are listed here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/fetes-and-feasts

Books and Such

Information on my books (including where to buy) along with upcoming events is at www.bryonyseries.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.

Training people for better lives

CrestHill personal trainer builds motivation with the muscle 

“He was just one of those people who shine so brightly,” Brian Breen, a former employer, said of McCants. “I said, ‘You should own your own business.’ What you provide your clients goes beyond showing them the machines and how to get healthy. You’re a living, breathing evangelist. People will pay to spend time with you. Just being around you will make their lives better.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/08/07/17c4fe951b304dc3b10e95ac945b0afc/index.xml

An Extraordinary Life: With a genuine love for all people

Grundy County man helped people from all over the world become U.S. citizens

"I think the main things that stick in my mind are his genuine love of people, his sense of humor, and the way he cared about everybody," Ron Romero said about his father Robert Romero. "He gave everybody a chance."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/08/12/290763ecd8e84554b20241dc8376d0b3/index.xml


Forgetting about cancer for a week
Camp Quality in Frankfort lets kids with a cancer diagnosis be just kids for a week 

"They knew what it was like to go through a X-ray or what it means to get blood drawn or a spinal tap done, unfortunately things they have to learn what they are at a young age," Sami Henderson, 19 of Joliet, former cancer patient and camper and current volunteer, said. "One of the great things about camp is that it made me smile and forget about what I was going through for a couple of days."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/08/13/20fadd8ee5b64977b0ae34bc816eff42/index.xml


Tom Kelly's New Lenox offers Irish comfort food, trendy sandwiches

We started with the pretzel appetizer, and the plate came with two options for dipping sauces: cheese and spicy mustard. I'm also a mustard fanatic, so that's what I went for first. It certainly lived up to its name — flavored with horseradish, the dip brought some heat. The cheese dip was very tasty, as well, and included pimento.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/08/13/4bd8e67440504b45962cb05cd4aa68c8/index.xml?page=1

'We trusted God for a miracle and that's what we received'

Lockport woman quickly recovers from a stroke and 3 aneurisms

The neurosurgeon also told her family to expect a long recovery – if she survived the surgery, Lisa Johnson-McFarland said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/08/01/c3182c0029774700943cdf0802dfbd2c/index.xml?page=1

Dressing for successful fundraising

Benefit fashion shows are still in style for these 2 Joliet organization

"It's a girl's day out," Past President Dorothy Stanfield of Plainfield, co-chair said. "Who doesn't like fashion and clothing and handbags?"

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/08/15/fbdfacc4c416420b89f9df8231fadd7a/index.xml

Artworks: From raw metal to useful

With books and videos, Joliet man taught himself blacksmithing 

"I liked the idea of taking something raw, a form of metal, and turning it into something useful and artistic," Dave Rura of Joliet said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/08/14/1d3f71a54fca426c826570bfcfc8741c/index.xml?page=1

LocalLit author spotlight: Norm Cowie of Chicago is back

If you liked his "were tick" story, you'll enjoy Tuesday's story. Don't subscribe to the free short story newsletter? Information is at the bottom of this article.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/08/16/96656299dfb844a5bfee3fcaf418f497/index.xml

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