Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Nov. 19 to Nov.25, 2022

Good morning!

I have fourteen features and news stories to share with you today. But more will be scheduled this weekend. So do check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news. 

Thank you for all the good thoughts and prayers for Rebekah. We finally have finally identified and eliminated some health concerns and now have a clear picture on how to treat her. She has a road ahead of her, but everything is treatable. So please continue all the well wishes.

Rebekah is the behind-the-scenes driver of the BryonySeries. 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.

WriteOn Joliet's sixth anthology is live and you can buy it here on Amazon. Or you can purchase it on Dec. 8 at WriteOn Joliet's annual anthology release party, which will be held at the Joliet Public Library, one of our community partners. Details are here.

One the fiction side of things, I plan to release the first three books in the new "Girls of the BryonySeries" subseries  at WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party on December 8 are now available online on Amazon.

Jennifer Wainright (frontispiece artist for Lycanthropic Summer) created the portraits for all three books (and is currently working on a fourth). Rebekah designed the cover art.

These first three books are Julie and the Too-Hard Homework,  Summer Sisters, and Katie and the Big Fear, which are all now available on Amazon. And when Timothy has time to update the website, these three books, as well as Call of the Siren, will also be available in the BryonySeries bookstore.

I'm also currently working on a new Adventures of Cornell Dyer story: Cornell Dyer and the Hounds of Basketville. You can find other titles in the series here. Timothy has not yet added our latest titles to the BryonySeries bookstore. But all titles are also 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.

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

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. 

Rebekah is also slowly 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'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

Santa Sightings 2022: Where to find Santa in Will, Grundy counties this year: Registration required for some events.

Festival of Gnomes is Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 and Drunk’n Gnome is Dec. 9 and Dec. 10 

'A whole flock of them came over: Random #turkey photo becomes Seneca man’s Thanksgiving tradition': Robert Anselme: ‘It was unreal, the sound. I’ll never forget it.’

Joliet theater presented ‘A Very Rialto Christmas… There’s No Place Like Home’ on Monday night: Rialto Square Theatre kicked off its holiday season with annual concert 

The need for basic necessities in Will County just isn’t going away: Affordable housing is the highest need as annual Herald-Angels campaign kicks off.

Shorewood assisted living facility celebrates 20 years of senior living: Sheila Albor: ‘Everyone here is like one big family.’ 

Joliet kindergarteners explain the importance of Thanksgiving: Children’s perceptions of Thanksgiving are very similar to those of adults.

Here how’s to donate toys to kids in Will, Grundy Counties this holiday season.: Options range from donating online to a jeep toy ride.

Donate a new or gently used coat to keep someone warm in Will County: And if you need a coat, Our Caring Closet NFP in Wilmington can help.

2 Lockport Catholic grade schools will become regional school for Lockport and Homer Glen

Apply for a 4-year scholarship from the American Italian Cultural Society in Crest Hill." Applicants must be graduating seniors.

Baran-Unland: Why you should care about local hospitals’ Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades: Morris Hospital, Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, received an ‘A’ for patient safety for fall 2022

5 Things to do in Will County: holiday music, movies and more: Bird lovers: Don’t miss the last monthly Midwest Bird Fair of 2022.

Pets of the Week: Nov. 21, 2022: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"