Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, June 18 to June 24

Good morning!

I have ten 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/

I also wrote a three-part series on the impact of COVID on kids, which you will at the bottom of this blog.

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

I have incorporated three-fourths of the edits for Call of the Siren (the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy, with gorgeous cover art by Nancy Calkins) from the proof copy and still need to do likewise with Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones (with artwork by Sue Midlock). 

My goal was to finish these last weekend, in my "off" times (I worked through last weekend). However, "off" never happened, due to "life" things and one family medical emergency. So the goal is to finish these edits over the weekend.

I'm currently outlining the final book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy: House on Top of the Hill. 

And I'm also working on a guide book to the series called: Welcome to Munsonville: the People, Places, and Things of the BryonySeries.

Next up in the series: a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes), which has a solid outline. Sue Midlock is already working on the cover and the interior art: Sherman Homes and the Howls of Basketville.

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. 

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

Now back to the ten 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

Joliet pet cemetery adds butterfly garden for grieving animal ownersL Piazza: ‘There’s not a better place to be’

'If I go back to drinking, who’s going to be there for my father?’: Joliet father and son renew their relationship through different recovery journeys  

Joliet’s Paws on 66 Pet Rescue Day: a pawsitive way to connect people and pets: Events manager: ‘There are so many pets in need of homes.’

Joliet wants to keep panhandlers off roadways: Plainfield, too, has begun citing panhandlers for being in the street @bokonjoliet

Juneteenth an opportunity ‘to move forward and not be so angry’: ‘Juneteenth in Joliet’ celebration had a theme of ‘On a Mission from God.’

Will County residents love food trucks and events that feature them. Why?: Vida Larucci: ‘Every event I feel like going to always has a food truck’

Lincoln-Way Area Business Women’s Organization awards two dozen $1,000 scholarships: Young women must live in New Lenox, Frankfort, Mokena and Manhattan.

5 Things to do in Will County: family friendly fun at St. Joe’s park on Sunday.: Or catch a rooftop concert on Saturday night at the Joliet Area Historical Museum

Mystery Diner in Minooka: From smoothies to sundaes, Minooka Creamery the place for frozen treats: Reasonable prices, friendly staff, great ice cream

The Great Race pitstops in Plainfield on a perfect summer day: Hundreds came out to see 130 antique vehicles traveling in a 9-day race 

Pets of the Week: June 20, 2022: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.

Kids and COVID

COVID-19 didn’t leave kids unscathed: Aschinberg: ‘Like any negative social event, kids who are most at risk bear most of the brunt’

The pandemic was a lonely time for kids: Loss of in-school experiences, sports affected many youth on some level.

Facing the post-pandemic: ‘We know when something is off with our children’: Showing kids how to talk about feelings is a good first step toward protecting their mental health.