Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Feb. 6 through Feb. 12

Good Friday morning!

So I woke up to some exciting news.

BulletMap Academy, an international online resource for students with dyslexia, invited Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, to appear on the school's podcast and talk about how he overcame his dyslexia to write his first novel, "Ruthless."

And speaking of Ed Calkins here is a reminder to register for his book release party tomorrow night.

“Ruthless,” by Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, is a work of absolute literary nonsense about the last seven seconds in the life of an Irishman and his afterlife as an Irish vampire, most of which never happened.

Calkins Day 2021 will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Calkins Day (Feb. 13, 2021) on Zoom. 

Real food and drink available if you bring your own ingredients. 

Calkins and his sidekick “The Goddess” will chat about author collaborations, how to legally  fictionalize a real person, literary nonsense. Irish vampires, deep time psychosis, and Astro-Time Physics.

He will also answer questions but doesn’t promise you’ll understand the answers. Calkins will also randomly give away three copies of “Ruthless.”

Local author and WriteOn Joliet co-leader Tom Hernandez will emcee. 

Chef Tim will give three demonstrations. Menu and ingredient list provided after registration.

Calkins Day is free. To register, visit bryonyseries.com/registerforcalkinsday.

And be sure you check out some of my features stories for this week, at the bottom of this post.

Finally, if you'd like more kindness in your life, here are some reflections where you might find it: Nine Months of Kindness.

Have a great Friday!

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. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year, well, except this 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 support in your writing, I highly recommend this Twitter group: #5amwritersclub. I  joined it last year. Writers support each other on Twitter and meet every three weeks at 5 a.m. (4 a.m. CST - needless to say, I am often late!) on Zoom.

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 Will County Go Guide and Sign up for the LocalLit Short Story and Book Review Newsletter at https://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/

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 do post the briefs 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.

BRYONYSERIES BOOKS

For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.

BRYONYSERIES EVENTS

A full month of virtual events can be found at bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events-1.

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

Some virtual fun this week - and tips for making a great snowman (outside the house or inside the house)

LocalLit book spotlight: ‘WereWoof’ by Norm Cowie

LocalLit book review: ‘Mooned’ by Norm Cowie: So enthralling, it will leave you howling for more

10 students at D. 202 in Plainfield place in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards: Past winners include Stephen King and Andy Warhol 

In search of better protection from COVID?: The answer’s in your dresser drawer (U of I research team found the best face mask – and CDC references its research)

An Extraordinary Life: Joliet woman believed in the goodness of people – and stood up for their rights

Pets of the Week: Feb. 8: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

‘I needed him as much as he needed me’: Frankfort clerk’s rescue dog brings comfort after #cancer treatments 

Gradually making their way back: Students returning to D. 202 in Plainfield over the next 3 weeks

JCA students succeed in and out the classroom: Joliet Catholic Academy recognizes its Students of the Month 

Students at D. 86 in Joliet recognized by district: Joliet Public Schools District 86 names its ‘Students of the Month’ for November and December 2020 

Troy students recognized for effort, citizenship, attitude and participation: Shorewood Lions Club honors students at William B. Orenic Intermediate School and Troy Middle School

Minooka senior and founder of non-profit named Rotary Club ‘Student of the Month’: Alaina Frazier plans to major in political science and minor in media studies or creative writing

New COVID-19 variants: Should you be concerned?: Quick overview of why experts are watching them

FDA grants emergency use to new COVID treatment - and this Joliet hospital has it: 'By day 11, the viral load in patients goes down by 99 percent’

Will County libraries offer a variety of free and fun events

To make this year a little warmer, a little easier Bolingbrook woman hosts coat drive for people in recovery 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."