BryonySeries: Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, July 31 through Aug. 13

Friday, August 13, 2021

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, July 31 through Aug. 13

Good morning!

I have two weeks of stories (features and news) to share with you today for a total of thirty-seven (and about six not yet posted). Last Friday was moving day, and our internet was shut off at some point while we were asleep.

Nothing has changed, fiction-wise, in the last couple of weeks, but I'll quickly recap.

We have another book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer series to share (Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being) as soon as our artist Sue Midlock is up to working on illustratins. She had surgery in June and is still struggling, so please send up some good thoughts for her.

In terms of actual composition, this book was the first ever written - and by Rebekah, not me, as a piece of fan fiction. I expanded it; she approved it; and we are eager to share it.

Timothy has Cornell Dyer and the Calcium-Deficient Bones mentally worked out. We just need our schedules to sync up and the boxes to be unpacked.

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.

Bertrand the Mouse is still missing, but Bertrand's Uncle Bartie is in town to help find his mischievous little nephew.

I'm currently working on tons of character outlines for all the new characters (and returning minor characters who now have secnodary or major role) in the second book of the Limbo trilogy: Call of the Siren.

However, I haven't used any of my vacation time this year, so I'm planning a couple at-home writing retreats to get a decent first draft of the book completed, as we'd like to release it in 2022.

I have in my possession the first piece of completed cover art for the "Girls of the BryonySeries" series for tween girls. It's beautiful and it shows that artist Jennifer Wainright can draw anything from werewolves to portraits! She's working on art for the next two books (I have eight planned in all).

I have one book ready for editing, a second in progress, and some really skeletal outlines for the rest. So I'm not lacking in projects, just time.

Now back to the thirty-seven 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

Plainfield Park District requiring face masks inside its facilities: The requirement is regardless of vaccination status

Plainfield Boy Scout earns Eagle rank: McGwire Andrew Holman created sensory stations at the Pilcher Park Nature Center

Will County confirms its 1st West Nile virus-positive mosquito sample: Sample was collected from a health department mosquito trap in Homer Glen

Joliet Unity Movement to host free party in the park: Annual family friendly event is meant to uplift and support youth

Pets of the Week: Aug. 2: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

An Extraordinary Life: Wilmington mom fostered hundreds of children:‘She was a really good role model for being a good human being’

12 local students receive scholarships from Joliet Junior College Faculty Union: Total amount awarded was $7,200

LocalLit book preview: ‘Traveling the New, Historic Route 66 of Illinois’: Classic book by Will County Route 66 expert now in its 9th edition

Morris Hospital honors surgical technician Rob Chaplin: Surgeons often choose Chaplin for their ‘most difficult cases’

Baran-Unland: Who are your everyday heroes?: Please tell us about yours so we can honor them, too

5 Things to do in Will County: 5 outdoor events and 3 have water themes: Boat fun, festivals, music, plays and waterskiing competition