Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Dec. 3 to Dec. 9, 2022

WOW! - What a night last night!

WriteOn Joliet hosted its annual anthology release party last night at the Joliet Public Library, Black Road Branch, and the night was phenomenal in ways an event can be phenomenal.

Attendance was our best yet - we were full for two solid hours. And "by attendance," I mean people we've never met, people we know but never met in person, people who support us every year, and people who regularly support us and brought friends.

By "attendance," I also mean attendees who were having a really good time. The room buzzed with conversation. Everyone was either smiling or looking as if they were having fun. And why not? 

Attendees mingled, browsed books, enjoyed free food, asked questions, caught up with old friends: this is what I mean by phenomenal attendance.

Everyone sold - and some sold very well.

We sold eleven anthologies; the anthology is also available for purchase on Amazon.

We had high praise for the, upscale appetizers and desserts Timothy laid out on two tables.

The Book Market in Crest Hill successfully held its first remote event.

Jasmine, the cookie baker and chief decorator for the edible vampire slaying kits, had lots of interest in her skills and distributed quite a few of her own business cards.

And Bertrand the Mouse and Uncle Barty had a night to remember!

I will recap more next week - once I find people who took photos.

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

Fiction-wise, These first three books in the new Girls of the BryonySeries subseries are released. They are Julie and the Too-Hard Homework,  Summer Sisters, and Katie and the Big Fear, which are all now available on Amazon.

I'm 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. 

I'm 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

Joliet church hosting new holiday production; tickets are free : Show times for ‘The Mall Messiah’ are Dec. 16, Dec. 17 and Dec. 18.

Joliet District 86 teacher’s union reach tentative agreement: The union consists of 737 certified staff members 

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet, seeking clients, volunteers for new program: Crystal Del Rio: ‘You can connect from the comfort of your own home’ 

New Lenox H.S. hosting basketball clinic for kids with special needs: Any child with special needs is welcome. 

Art plays key role in Lockport’s revitalization.: Steven Streit: ‘Artists and designers have a passion that brings excitement and energy.’

Baran-Unland: Remembering the heroes among us: History isn’t dry facts between the covers of a book. It’s the experiences of the people who lived them.

Give the gift of lifesaving blood this holiday season in Will and Grundy counties: Donations of type O blood and platelets are especially needed

Children’s Tylenol, Motrin scarce as ‘tridemic’ hits northern Illinois: Northwestern Hospital pediatrician asks parents to not hoard hard-to-find drugs

Ancient tradition at Joliet church on Sunday brings hope for ‘dark times.’: Lucia Fest is the forerunner to the Christmas holiday in Swedish culture.

Naperville man found shot dead in Bolingbrook: police

5 Things to do in Will County: holiday concerts let the spirit ring.: Plus, holiday stories for kids and adults.

Pets of the Week: Dec. 5, 2022: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"