Friday, August 27, 2021

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Aug. 21 through Aug. 27

Good morning!

I have eighteen stories to share with you today and another eleven 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 and I had our first "Cornell Breakfast" last week to start Cornell Dyer and the Calcium-Deficient Bones. We have one scheduled for tomorrow - hopefully.

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 has returned, and you can read about it here, here, and here

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. 

Last weekend, I got 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 was working on art for the next two books (I have eight planned in all) - until she was in a bad motorcycle accident. Please send up good thoughts for her, too!

I have one "Girls of the BryonySeries" 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 eighteen 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 pageWe'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

 Longtime Joliet daycare provider ‘GaGa Cindy’ battling rare and incurable cancer: Amber Kolodziej: ‘She thought she’d be watching kids until she was 80′ 

Need free food? Come to this Crest Hill church on Aug. 27: Word of Life to host mobile food pantry

Do you have a Joliet story to share? Wednesday’s town hall meeting is for you: Joliet Focus to share details of its new app at museum

An Extraordinary Life: Joliet woman survived 4 serious car accidents, had a ‘big, giving heart’: Raynice Tadey ‘cared very deeply about everyone around’

LocalLit book review: Children’s book aims to give hope to the hopeless: The heart of ‘Eva’s Heart’ is to never give up

Joliet based hotline seeking Catholics in good standing: Upper Room Crisis #hotline begins volunteer training in September

LocalLit book preview: a blunt, concise guide to wellness from an unlikely author: Lockport resident used drugs, spent time in prison. Now he shares his ‘guide to conquering demons and crushing goals’ in new book 

LocalLit book review: a new/old way to experience Illinois this summer: Route66 guidebook for Illinois has directions, photos, suggestions for best experiences

A day just for Joliet youth and their families: Joliet Unity Movement held annual 815 Youth Day on Aug. 15

New organization seeks to strengthen the Latino business community: The Joliet Latino Economic Development Association brings resources and opportunities to members

Crest Hill hoping to expedite new development along Weber Road: City Council unanimously approves TIF inducement resolution on Monday

Veterans: meeting with a VSO officer is about to get easier: Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Service Office opens Aug. 23 in Lockport

Will County health officials hope full approval of Pfizer vaccine will convince some to get the jab: Full FDA approval is ‘a step in the right direction’ 

3 Will County hospitals mandate COVID-19 vaccines: Morris Hospital, DuPage Medical Group undecided 

Joliet native keeps murdered teen’s memory alive: Bill O’Connell will discuss the details of his book ‘Fourteen: The Murder of David Stukel’ at museum webinar this Thursday 

5 Things to do in Will County: have a doggone good time at the Crest Hill library on Saturday: More suggestions for your weekend: free concert, open air yoga, doughnuts and drafts

Too hot this weekend? Plan your autumn walking challenge: Will County Inside/Outside Guide offers suggestions for enjoying your weekend

Joliet area residents speak out about the #COVID shot: With full FDA approval of the #Pfizervaccine they hope more people will get it


Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."



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