Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, May 21 to May 27

 Good morning!

I have 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. 

Over the last couple of months, I also wrote an additional nineteen stories for a special "Thank You, Teachers," edition that will ran in print and online on May 5. You can check out all those stories at this link: https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/thank-you/teachers/

On the fiction side of things, we released Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being this week. It's not available in the BryonySeries bookstore yet, but it is available on Amazon.

The proof copies for Call of the Siren (the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy, with gorgeous cover art by Nancy Calkins) and Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones (with artwork by Sue Midlock) have arrived. 

I'm working this weekend, but I'm off Monday and Tuesday. So I plan to read through Calcium Bones Friday night and Siren on Tuesday.

Rebekah is working on updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts, so watch for those.

Next up in the series: a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes). Timothy and I had scheduled a "Cornell" breakfast for last Saturday. But he was sick, so we postponed it again. This weekend is "Art in the Park" and next weekend I'm working. But perhaps Memorial Day?

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 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 nine 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 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

Should you be worried about monkey pox? Not for now: Pinsky: ‘Monkey pox really “doesn’t spread very efficiently.’ 

Ron Lehman honored for 50 years of enriching people’s lives: The Channahon Park District honored Lehman and will rename Community Park in his honor.

Pets of the Week: May 23: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.

“It’s in God’s hands now’: Cancer would not wait for Covid-delayed screening. 

Joliet police chaplain recovers after passing out during police memorial due to heat: Rev. Chris Groh feels that’s insignificant compared to what police face every day.

Students at D-204 in Joliet win awards at literary festival: Students from Joliet Central and Joliet West high schools submitted writing pieces 

Will County foresters honors 2021 Volunteers of the Year: In 2021, 576 volunteers generously donated more than 9,100 hours of service to the district. 

CAPE’s 46th celebration honors adults for role in Plainfield’s schools: CAPE is the committee for the Coordination of Administration and Parent groups for educational efficiency in District 202. 

Two Plainfield Girl Scouts reach the pinnacle: More than 40 girls receive service awards at ceremony in Plainfield

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"