Friday, April 29, 2022

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, April 23 to April 29

Good morning!

I have fifteen feature stories to share with you today and more yet posted. So do check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news

However, I wrote eighteen stories for a special "Thank You, Teachers," edition that will run in print and online on May 5. So be sure to check it out. 

On the fiction side of things, I'm working on the final development of the minor characters in Call of the Siren, which I hope to complete this weekend and finish incorporating the following weekend. 

Call of the Siren is the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy, with gorgeous cover art by Nancy Calkins.

Now that our slew of family emergencies (2022) is an adventure: here is one of our emergencies), Rebekah is planning to dedicate two days in May to catching up with BryonySeries projects she's had to let go for a while.

That includes formatting Call of the Siren and do the finishing production touches of Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones and Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being, along with some other behind-the-scenes projects, such as updating the BryonySeries Pinterest and YouTube pages.

Both Rebekah and our artist Sue Midlock have gone through health issues this past year, which has caused publication delays (both books were written last year. But I'd rather have delays and healthy collaborators. Please send up good thoughts for them both.

Next up in the series: a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes). Timothy is ready for a Cornell breakfast to share his ideas.

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 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 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 on Twitter at @BryonySeries and assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.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.

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

Family nurse practitioner Amy Bohland now seeing patients in Braidwood and Dwight: Bohland is also certified in skin and wound management.

Baran-Unland: ‘New life’ is Easter’s hope and joy, no matter how or when you celebrate: Easter gives people hope that challenges are temporary.

Joliet West H.S. interp, journalism teams do well at IHSA competitions 

Help stop spread of bird flu – stop using bird feeders and birdbaths until May 31: IDNR offers tips for cleaning bird feeders and bird baths if they can’t be removed.

D. 202 in Plainfield announces new director for middle school curriculum and instruction: Michelle Imbordino is currently principal at Liberty Elementary School 

Sen. Michael Hastings tours future NICU at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox: Hastings: ‘This new NICU will give loved ones the option to stay close to home during this critical stage’ 

Providence Catholic High School NHS inducts new 121 new members: 5 new senior members also received NHS stoles 

Pets of the Week: May 25: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.

D-202 in Plainfield to host 30th annual Awards of Excellence on April 27: Community invited to attend.

Plainfield Park District hires 2 new managers 

Providence Catholic H.S. in New Lenox inducts members, directors of its Augustinian Youth Ministry: 64 students and 6 student directors were inducted into the service organization on April 5. 

Break the Ramadan fast with Muslims at Plainfield mosque on Tuesday: Ahmed: ‘They will find out that Islam is about justice, peace, unity and love.’

5 Things to do in Will County: Get back to nature with a plant sale, spring hike: Plus, meet local authors, see an art exhibit and enjoy ‘Baby Shark Live’

Morris Hospital receives a 3-year accreditation from Commission on Cancer: Morris Hospital is one of 63 cancer programs in Illinois,

7 providers from Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers recognized for excellent patient care




Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"




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