Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Aug. 14 through Aug. 20

Good morning!

I have fifteen stories (features and news) to share with you today and another ten not yet posted, so watch for them over the weekend.

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, co-written by Rebekah, who also needs surgery now). Our artist Sue Midlock is currently working on the chapter. Thank you for the good thoughts. She is recovering nicely now from that surgery but may have another issue, ugh! So please keep the good thoughts coming.

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.We have acutally scheduled half a dozen "Cornell" breakfasts this summer, which kept gettting pushed out due to work, moving, medical issues, conflicting schedules. We have one scheduled for tomorrow, but the weekend is already full, so we shall see.

And then, for down the road, Sarah had a crazy dream that sounded perfect for An Adventure of Cornell Dyer mystery. But 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. Last weekend, I also wrote the first and last line for every chapter. 

This weekend, I'm hoping to get a little more granular on the outlines. Since I'm not going to Raleigh this year AGAIN (I'm so bummed), I'm planning two at-home writing retreats with my vacation time and want to make good use of that time as we'd like to release the book in 2022.

I also 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. And coffee.

Now back to the fifteen 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 church celebrated 25 years of faithfulness to the vision: Harvest Church began in pastor’s ‘field of dreams’

Pets of the Week: Aug. 16: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

Free screening helps prevent sudden cardiac death in teens: Morris Hospital’s free Rhythm of Our Youth cardiac screening seeking volunteers

St. Rose in Wilmington to host traveling exhibit of Eucharistic miracles: Gargol: ‘We invite everyone to take this opportunity and see with their own eyes’

JJC completes $1.75M renovation project for new respiratory care therapy program: Police station renovations and landscape modifications are next

Crest Hill gated community celebrates 20th anniversary with mayoral proclamation: Singles club at Carillon Lakes also collected school supplies for Chaney-Monge and Richland schools

LocalLit book preview: ‘Eva’s Heart’ encourages people to hold fast to their dreams: Illinois author based picture book on her experiences with adopting a rescue dog

An Extraordinary Life: Joliet real estate appraiser, teacher received Senate proclamation: Nanette O’Hara earned two masters degrees, began 2nd career in her 50s

Forest fire management officer in Wilmington fought forest fire in Oregon: Chris Lundgren part of emergency team that brought the fire under control

Joliet pub closed its doors on Tuesday after 40 years of ‘great memories’: Patrons reminisce about their experiences at O’Charley’s Irish Pub 

Troy 30-C to dedicate Troy Middle School gym in Plainfield to former board member on Friday: J. Terry McFadden was ‘the voice of everyone who needed to be heard’

10 tips for keeping kids safe from COVID at school: Crest Hill pediatrician offers down-to-earth advice 

LocalLit book review: Explore Route 66 with book and app: Authors say ‘Route 66 Chicago to Santa Monica’ is ‘the only Route 66 guidebook with a fully integrated app’

5 Things to do in Will County: A whole lot of walking, talking and singing: Open mics, outdoor markets, Elwood Days, nature walks, country music

Check out fun and books at a Will County library this weekend: Will County Inside/Outside Guide 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."