Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Dec. 18 through Dec. 31

Good morning!

I have twenty-two features stories to share with you today. a few more will be posted over the weekend, so do watch for them.

I used up the last of my vacation days this week and it has been a whirlwind week of catching up on medical tests, getting a hint of new job duties, fiddling with a bit of fiction, and, most importantly of all, beginning the celebration of the Christmas season with my family, which will culminate in some sort of COVID-safe celebration on January 7.

And now, an update on my fiction projects.

I have about half of Call of the Siren (the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy) ready for editing, a pleasant surprise to me this week, when I started scrolling through the manuscript. This book has a different "vibe" from some of the others in the BryonySeries (all of which have their own vibes, to), but I've struggled to get it where I wanted it. I'm anticipating a late spring publication date. 

That may still be an ambitious goal, but publishing the book at some point in 2022 seems very possible. Rebekah has the cover ready to go. Nancy Calkins created the gorgeous cover art.

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 here, here, 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 twenty-two 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

Hospitals in Will, Grundy counties have nursing shortages: Here’s how they’re addressing it.

Morris Hospital updates its visitor guidelines again: The update is because of rising COVID-19 cases

All is calm and a lot is bright in downtown Joliet: Not even the COVID-19 pandemic can squelch the holiday spirit

How bad is the nursing shortage at St. Joe’s? It depends on whom you ask: Chief nursing officer says the Joliet hospital is addressing it well. One nurse disagrees.

Join a neighborhood holiday parade today to cheer a 2-year-old with cancer: Meet at Santa’s hut in Lockport. Santa and Mrs. Claus will lead the way.

Looking for work? Looking to hire? This free Will County resource can help: Workforce Service Division of Will County has plenty of programs to get people hired, positions filled.

52 students at Providence Catholic H.S. named Illinois State Scholars for 2022-2023: All 52 students are from the Providence Catholic graduating class of 2022

COVID cases still rising at area hospitals: Silver Cross releases 5-minute video on the current state of COVID-19

Need extra time to renew that driver’s license? Now you have it: Illinois secretary of state extends driver’s license and ID card expiration date

MorningStar Mission in Joliet receives 400 pairs of socks from 4th-graders: Here’s how you can help the mission’s clients during the holidays, too.

Pets of the Week: Dec. 20, 2021: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

Joliet West honor student portrayed Santa Lucia in church festival: Swedish tradition of Santa Lucia ushers in the Christmas holiday 

Minooka resident receives 2021 Heart of our Community award: Heartland Bank and Trust Company in Minooka honors one Minooka resident each year for outstanding volunteerism 

5 Things to do in Will County: story walks, holiday lights, kids crafts and ‘owl prowl’: And bring your ugly sweather and unwrapped toy to SkooterBELLS

Need 11th hour holiday gifts? Will County forest preserve, Grundy chamber can help: Selections include eco-friendly and fair trades gifts and gift cards for local businesses

Most home fires occur during the holiday season. Here’s how to prevent them.: Help the Plainfield Fire Department keep its holiday wreaths red 

Baran-Unland: Good things happen when we support local artists: Be sure to catch the Joliet Focus “Our Community, Your Experience” exhibit at the Joliet Area Historical Museum.

Pets of the Week: Dec. 27: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

Apprenticeship program at Joliet Jr. College is a win-win for students and employers: Meza-Gotto: ‘Turnover is a major issue in our nation. Apprenticeships help reduce that turnover.’ 

Dec. 29 is the 131st anniversary of the Wounded Knee Massacre. Here’s why it matters.: David Kump of Joliet has pledged to spend the rest of his life making sure people don’t forget

Scholarship at JJC covers costs, provides internships, for eligible students: Aguilar: ‘I was skeptical about the program, especially with all the benefits’ 

Five Things to do in Will County: Lots of ways to ring in 2022: And still plenty of opportunity to check out holiday lights in Joliet.

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."