Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, June 26 through July 2

Good morning!

I have twenty feature stories to share with you this morning - with another sixteen that haven't posted to The Herald-News website yet, so watch for them over the weekend.

I had my second COVID shot yesterday, and I'm happy to say I met ALL my deadlines for this week, in advance of the holiday weekend and the shot, so I'm planning to read, rest, and binge-watch the current K-drama I'm enjoying wiht Rebekah (who got her first shot yesterday) instead of the half hour before bedtime that's our usual habit.

I do have a big project that I should have tackled, too, but it's not due for a while, and I'll get it done. But I did want to make more progress on it this past week than I did.

Here's a quick summary of where I'm at, fiction-wise. Although, honestly, I may not tackle any of them this weekend.

The next book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer chapter book series: Cornell Dyer and the Whispering Wardrobe is now live in print and Kindle. Buy it here on Amazon and buy it here from the BryonySeries store.

I'm currently co-writing the next Cornell Dyer story with Rebekah. It's actually a book she started years ago and had 4,000 words written. I'm building off that and even worked her dyslexia into the story. She approves all chapters before I move on. It's called Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being.

Timothy has another Cornell Dyer story mentally worked out (Cornell Dyer and the Calcium-Deficient Bones, I have two other Cornell Dyer projects in the very early works.

And then, for down the road, Sarah had a crazy dream that sounded perfect for An Adventure of Cornell Dyer mystery. Bur she wants time to draw some sketches, a map, and write the "rules." It's called Cornell Dyer and the House of Broken Portals.

I'm hearing rumors that Bertrand the Mouse might be reincarnated for my sixtieth birthday in two weeks. We shall see...

The first book in the new BryonySeries Limbo trilogy The Phoenix is now available in the BryonySeries store and also on Amazon in print and Kindle.

And I FINALLY made some real progrss on the second book of the Limbo trilogy: Call of the Siren. Nancy Calkins did the cover art for it already. I just need to write it!

I also have an artist for a "Girls of the BryonySeries" series for tween girls, a series Sarah suggested to me a decade ago. The first cover is in progress (the biggest problem was finding someone who could do portraits well), and I've outlined several books. 

Now back to the twenty feature stories. Simply click on the link of the story that looks interesting to you. Happy scrolling!

But before the stories, I have a list of additional resources and information. Please check them out, too -

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

And have a great Friday!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.

Each Sunday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks or will be featured in an upcoming cookbook.

Check out the 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. 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

A massive, grassroots COVID-vaccination effort ‘of the people, by the people, for the people’: National foundation recognize the efforts of family-owned pharmacy and #Joliet university to put shots in tens of thousands of arms 

Joliet area may see flash flooding Friday night: Scattered showers may continue the rest of Friday

LocalLit book review: multi-genre anthology will expand your view of ‘caring’

Services clubs recognized these Joliet high school students:Joliet Township High School District 204 names students of the month 

Joliet students who are leaders in their classrooms and communities: Joliet Catholic Academy names students of the month 

Weasel photo taken at Rock Run Preserve ‘chewed up the competition’ in contest: Romeoville man’s photo wins May’s portion of Preserve the Moment photo contest 

14 Joliet-area Sisters celebrating Jubilees: Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate and Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in Indiana recognize their service

These kids went to camp - and now they can bike with their friends: 5-day program in New Lenox taught special needs kids how to ride a 2-wheeler

Friends of the Joliet Library receive $5,200 in donations: Charles and Rita Miller were longtime members of Friends and huge supporters of reading 

An Extraordinary Life: Tom Flavin was a builder in every sense of the word: Lockport native lived his faith at home, in art and in service to the University of St. Francis in Joliet

Brief thunderstorm comes through parts of Will County on Monday, more expected: Expect rain off and on until Thursday

LocalLit book preview: ‘Dog Church’ by Gail Gilmore: A visit to a unique chapel in Vermont gives the author the wisdom and faith to make a hard decision

And the review is here.

Pets of the Week: June 28: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

More than 95,000 books find new home at 3-day event: The Will County Land Use Department’s Resource Recovery and Energy Division sponsored annual book reuse/recycle event

Blood donors still desperately needed: American Red Cross said some hospitals are slowing the pace of elective procedures because of it

Are you eligible for VA health care benefits? Come to this free event and see: Hines VA outreach team coming to Channahon and Morris in July

Mystery Diner: Even the service is sweet at historic Frosty Tips: Ice cream venue’s roots go back to Joliet in 1949 

5 Things to do in Will County: food, fireworks and plenty of good music: Enjoy a long holiday weekend with events from Thursday through Monday

Be a ‘Scout’ and ‘Give a Hoot’: Will County Inside/Outside Guide offers 2 ways to keep the fun going all summer long 

Katy Leclair next president, CEO of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA: Leclair has served the YMCA for 18 years

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."