Friday, December 10, 2021

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Dec. 4 through Dec. 10

Good morning!

I have just eighteen features stories to share with you today, another eight that will be posted over the weekend, and another six in progress, so do watch for them.

Last night WriteOn Joliet held its fourth anthology release party to celebrate the release of its fifth anthology (we released an anthology last year but didn't hold an event, due to rising COVID cases). 

It was the first time most of us have gathered in one room in nearly two years and what a night it was!

We laughed, hugged with masks on, sold quite a few books, raised money for the group, gave away two copies of "Holiday Visage" and our first Bertrand the Mouse gift set, and as for the chocolate bombs - well, they were the bomb!

I left work a little bit early yesterday for this event. So today will be a longer (and more tired) day, but the mood is still up, so hoping that (and coffee) will carry me through it.

For those who couldn't make the party and who live in other parts of the world, you may order the anthology here. All proceeds stay in the group to support local writers.

And now, an update on my fiction projects.

I am currently re-reading my scribbled first draft for Call of the Siren (the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy) and starting to color in the lines. I'm anticipating a late spring publication date, but progress is slow, so we shall see. 

Barring the unforeseen, we do plan to publish the book in 2022. Rebekah has the cover ready to go.

Sue Midlock has completed the art for Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical Being" (cover looks great, by the way) and has begun the art for Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones. 

Timothy has nearly completed the outline for the next book in the series, a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes). 

Sarah also 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 herehere, and here

Jennifer Wainright (frontispiece artist for Lycanthropic Summer) has completed two portraits for  "Girls of the BryonySeries" series for tween girls and is currently working on a third. The portraits are beautiful and it shows that artist Jennifer Wainright can draw anything from werewolves to portraits! 

Rebekah Baran has completed cover art for two of "Girls of the BryonySeries" books. They are beautiful! One book in this series of eight books is completely written, a second is halfway written, and the rest are outlined. 

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

An Extraordinary Life: Ron Wohlwend’s ‘actions speak louder than words’: Morris resident was a ‘visionary’ for Grundy Bank and servant leader for the community

JJC, Joliet museum partnered to digitize audio reels: Digitization expands JJC library’s recent transcription of the interviews

Paul Schrik named new superintendent of Troy 30-C: Rockdale Superintendent will begin at Troy in July

Reserve tickets by today for 25th Annual Madrigal Dinner at Minooka H.S." Dinner includes vegetarian, gluten free options

269 D. 202 students named 2022-2023 Illinois State Scholars: The llinois Student Assistance Commission awards the honor each year to students 

Pets of the Week: Dec. 6: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

Will County’s ‘unprecedented need’ for services in 2020 isn’t much better in 2021: Donating to the Herald-Angels campaign will help decrease that need.

Joliet photographer hosting party for release of 1st CD on Thursday: Admission and food is free.

Morris Hospital updates visitor policy due to rising COVID cases: All visitors must be at least 18 years old

Buy some sweet treats, place gift orders at pop-up store Thursday and Friday: Gigi’s Sweet Junk ‘N The Truck holding pop-up store outside Chicago Street Pub in Joliet

Donate blood on Wednesday in Plainfield: Plainfield Fire Protection District will host a community blood drive with Versiti Blood Center of Illinois

Will County forest preserve offers 7 programs to get you outside this December: Programs include campires, caroling and hiking 

Support The Herald-News' annual Herald Angels campaign: Here's why - and how.

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."



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