Good morning!
WHEW! What a night last night.
About a year ago, I donated two of WriteOn Joliet's anthologies to The Timbers of Shorewood retirement community after getting a refund of an overpayment of a medical procedure.
I had already written off the money and, when it returned, I wanted to do some good with it. I have a longstanding working relationship with the company that handles its marketing, so I reached out and asked if The Timbers might be interested, stressing that I wasn't selling anything.
Well, The Timbers WAS interested, so I donated WriteOn's current anthology up to that point and it's bonus "cheetah" anthology.
Last night The Timbers hosted a signing, reading, and overall reception that included skirted banquet tables, appetizers and wine, fellowship, some of the most engaging readings we, as a group, have ever produced - well, The Timbers all but rolled out the red carpet. Apparently they have that, too, and promised to roll is out next time.
For the book club is eager to read more anthologies and host another event. I'll share details next week, but here's the message that's apparent to me: if I thought I was being generous with the donation, entertaining the book club and giving a bit of marketing to its members - well, The Timbers outdid my small donation tenfold last night. Truly, truly humbling.
On the stories side of the things, I have fourteen features and news stories to share with you today - and more not yet posted. So do check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.
This past spring, 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.
We recently and unexpectedly euthanize our oldest cat. She had an amazing and somewhat mysterious life. You can read details here.
Also, please send up good thoughts/prayers etc. for Rebekah. She's had a challenging couple years, health-wise (especially the last twelve months). Her latest bloodwork was all over the place, more was ordered, and she now needs to see three specialists and have a stress test (as if she weren't stressed enough already). Of course, the insurance is taking its time approving some of these tests.
Rebekah is absolutely integral to the BryonySeries, not to mention our family. She oversees its all its financial aspects, handles all book production, manages two social media accounts, and is the go-to person at events. Plus, she's a wonderful person. We need her to feel much better soon.
We pulled back WriteOn Joliet's anthology from production to add a memorial page to one of our active members who died suddenly last week. We also lost two former members this year, one of whom was an original member. All three deaths were sudden. Please send up good thoughts/prayers for their families.
One the fiction side of things, I read through the first eighteen chapters of the second book in the BryonySeries "ruthless" trilogy by Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara while Ed is working on the remaining chapters.
Ed's feeling a bit discouraged because he wanted to release his second book by Calkins Day 2023 (Feb. 13). But as any creative person knows, good art doesn't always happen on our timetable.
You can find Ed's first novel here.
Also, 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.
We also released Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones. It, too, is not available in the BryonySeries bookstore yet, or on Kindle yet, but it is available on Amazon.
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.
And we also released Call of the Siren (the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy, with gorgeous cover art by Nancy Calkins). It, too, is not available in the BryonySeries bookstore yet, or on Kindle yet, but it is available on Amazon.
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.
And I'm also working on a novella. But I'm not sharing any details yet.
Jennifer Wainright (frontispiece artist for Lycanthropic Summer) has completed three portraits for "Girls of the BryonySeries" series for tween girls and is currently working on a fourth. The portraits are beautiful and it shows that artist Jennifer Wainright can draw anything from werewolves to portraits!
Rebekah has completed cover art for three of "Girls of the BryonySeries" books. They, too, are beautiful! One book in this series of eight books is completely written, a second should be ready for production this weekend (I had some formatting issues last weekend) and the rest are outlined.
We hope to release the first three books in this series at WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party in early December.
Rebekah is also working on updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts, so watch for those.
Now back to the 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'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.
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
A mother’s love: Jamie O’Connor is thankful she can give life to her son a second time.
Pumpkin season is here – check out our expansive list of pumpkin farms and festivities
Pets of the Week: Sept. 26, 2022: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.
Kids and COVID
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"
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