Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, July 21 through July 26

Good morning!

Below are the feature stories that ran in this week's Herald-News. If you missed any of them, check them out now. Or re-read any you enjoyed.

Fiction update: Sue Midlock said she is done with the interior illustrations for Cornell Dyer and the Never Robbers and she is working on the cover. Once we have the art, I can upload the story.

Timothy and I have a tentative "Cornell" breakfast tomorrow morning to review his outline for Cornell Dyer and the Flu. His goal is to have five Cornell books available by September's VampCon.

Then in the afternoon, Rebekah and I are getting together with Sue to work on the scrolls. This will probably be the most fiction I'll get done this weekend.

Because my other goal is to finish my draft of Phyllis' memoir and get that to her.

No new Bertrand The Mouse books are in the works (yet), but Rebekah and Daniel did find, just yesterday, the raggedy copies of the little phonics books I used to teach my six children how to read.

A couple parents had approached me about writing some Bertrand books for kids just learning to read. I have a list of sight words that's at least a year now and no inspiration. The phonics books may help me out in that regard.

Have a great Friday, readers, writers, and BryonySeries fans! :)

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): 

 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:

Once Timothy Baran is done updating this page, these will listed here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/fetes-and-feasts.

Check out the progress he has made so far. Each square is hand-built. And be sure to "hover" your hand over the first square. Note: this only works (so far) with the desktop version.

But he's also made A LOT of changes to the website. So be sure to roam around a bit.

Books and Such

Information on my books (including where to buy) along with upcoming events is at www.bryonyseries.com. Again, Timothy is in the process of updating the website, so all titles may not appear. If you have any 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.

'I wanted to be where the action was'
Iconic Woodstock photographer to appear at commemorative event at Joliet theater

"When we heard about Woodstock, we were halfway through our trip," Baron Wolman said. "I said, 'OK, we've got to go. It looks like all the bands playing are high-level bands. We cannot not go.'"

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/18/c9ff8dc2f1a14000a9bac619a877f7f3/index.xml


An Extraordinary Life The measure of a truly good man
Wilmington man understood the value of the past and service to others

“He was an amazing man," Diane Cantu of Wilmington said about her husband Gerald Cantu. "He kind of walked to his own drum. But it was an honest drum.”

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07


Safe on foot – when commuting means walking
Pedestrians and drivers share the responsibility for keeping walkers safe

It's a dangerous time to be a pedestrian.

But it's not just drivers who are hurried and distracted.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/21/safe-on-foot-when-commuting-means-walking/a3dtmyk/


Illinois study analyzes cases of wildlife in food

Many people today like their food fresh, natural and organic.

But they may draw the line at sharing that meal with other "organic creatures."

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/16/illinois-study-analyzes-cases-of-wildlife-in-food/ad6hmud/


'A test of confidence'
60-year-old youth symphony orchestra holding auditions in Romeoville

" felt even if I was not learning something technical about my instrument, I was still learning the history about why a piece is written.” (Audra Sybert, former MYSO member and now the orchestra's executive director).

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/14/6520fb785dc2410b8c672738c86bbd74/index.xml?page=1


How does Blackmore's garden grow? 
Award-winning Lockport resident shares insights into successful gardening

One tip from Heather Blackmore: "Don’t go out and buy a bunch of plants. Chances are you’re going to kill a lot and become discouraged.”

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/24/efd63da7fb2e4801bfaa657947744cc3/index.xml


LocalLit book spotlight: 'Toby and Miko' by Terri Ellinger of Joliet
Upcoming review about a boy who befriends a unicorn

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/25/13543cbe9b4d4b9c857f7c0adfd482f3/index.xml

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