Friday, April 22, 2022

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, April 16 to April 22

Good morning!

I have just nine 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

It's been a busy week of of finishing up some large projects on the features side and turning the challenges of last week into blessings on the personal side. Our family is Eastern Orthodox and this is our Holy Week, so the timing for everything is perfect, wouldn't you agree?

On the fiction side of things, the drafts and initial edits of the remaining chapters of Call of the Siren are complete as are the first round of edits for a client. I'll be busy on Saturday with some of my kids preparing traditional Easter food and I have a dentist appointment (routine), but I plan to slip in some time on the novel in pockets of time, especially since I work next weekend and fiction time will be minimal.

Call of the Siren is the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I'm anticipating a late spring publication date, with gorgeous cover art by Nancy Calkins.

We plan to release Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones and Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being very soon. Both Rebekah and our artist Sue Midlock have gone through health issues this past year, which has caused publication delays. 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. He and I just need our time off schedules to sync. But that won't be this week as he is leaving this morning for a week-long business trip out of state. 

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 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 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.

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

5 Things to do in Will County: Earth Day, ‘Forest Fitness’ and music: Plus, St. Mary Immaculate Parish in Plainfield will host an Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit Saturday and Sunday

Sen. Dick Durbin toured future NICU at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox Wednesday: During a press conference, Durbin shared his affinity for newborns who need care 

Roger ‘Zeke’ Gates’ 20-year Easter basket ministry is still hopping: Gates gave up his partying ways in 1985 when he found God. And the community supports Gates’ efforts to help others.

Will County residents turn expired surgical drapes into waterproof sleeping bags for Ukranian refugees: Greg Aimaro: ‘They’re waterproof and also good at containing heat’

Pets of the Week: April 18: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.

New Lenox resident hopes he can safely return to the Ukraine next month: Greg Aimaro has plans for giving back to the people of Ukraine.

Visitation and Aid Society in Joliet hosting Spring Elegance Brunch on May 1: Deadline to purchase tickets is April 25

Karen Pastell receives Woman of the Year award from Zonta Club of Joliet Area: Pastell has belonged to the club 14 years

7 providers from Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers recognized for excellent patient care: Awards based on patient experience surveys from 2021






Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"




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