Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Jan. 1 through Jan. 7

Good morning!

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

It's been a full first week back to work: a few new duties, lots of stories in flux, one family emergency, and now celebrating Old Calendar Christmas and Rebekah's birthday with my family today and tomorrow.

I'm not certain how much fiction I will wrote over the weekend, but, of course, I'm hoping to scroll through and, at least, do some spot editing whe  the activities settle down, and the house is quiet.

Speaking of fiction, here is an update on those 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 is touching up 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 twelve 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

JJC’s 10-year partnership with ExxonMobil gives students paid experience: Bradford: Most years, they been taking between two and six of our students into their co-op program.’

Students can earn GED, supply chain managment certificate at JJC: Lyman: ‘We’re training our students to fill these shortages and gaps’

'In my 32 years as a healthcare administrator, I’ve never witnessed anything like this’: COVID cases dramatically rising at Will, Grundy county hospitals 

It’s back to remote learning this week for D. 210 in New Lenox: The district’s Facebook page cited staffing issues due to COVID-19.

Morris Hospital warns of potential phone scam: Calls appear to come from Morris Hospital or one of Morris Hospital’s Healthcare Centers.

Funds available to help with water and waste water bills: Assistance given to income-eligible households on first-come, first-serve basis

No visitors allowed at Silver Cross due to COVID-19 surge:The New Lenox hospital will make exceptions in certain circumstances

D. 202 in Plainfield calling off school for Friday: Reason is transportation and staffing issues due to rise in COVID-related cases

5 Things to do in Will County: tune up 2022 with local musical events: And check out handmade items at the January Craft Fair at Louis Joliet Mall

Get your COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot at JJC on Friday: Schedule an appointment at Joliet Junior College or walk in

Silver Cross reached peak capacity on Monday, briefly went on bypass: The New Lenox hospital has activated its hospital surge plan 

Pets of the Week: Jan. 3Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."