Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, May 27 to June 2

Good morning!

Today I have thirteen features and news stories to share with you today. And if you missed my stories for The Herald-News' "Thank You, Teachers" edition on May 4, links are available at the very bottom of this post.

Also more stories will be posted over the weekend. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

I worked Memorial Day, my way of giving back on the day, so I have my three-day weekend starting today. The BryonySeries team will be at New Orleans North tonight in Joliet. So if you come out, be sure to stop by our tent and check out our books. We have phantasmic books for all ages and information if you'd like to write and publish your own book.

Here is a recap of my BryonySeries projects so far.

House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I now have a good working draft of the entire book and one chapter ready to edit. Hoping to sink into a second over this long weekend.

Cornell Dyer and the Howls of Basketville: The next book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer subseries. Timothy and I drafted it months ago, and I currently have six solid chapters ready to go and hoping for a seventh by the end of this weekend. Sue Midlock has already sent all the interior and cover. As always, the art is amazing and perfect for the series.

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. 

Karla Joins In: The fourth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries series. Six chapters are completed and a hope to make progress on a seventh this weekend.

BryonySeries reference/guide book: Welcome to Munsonville: the People, Places, and Things of the BryonySeries. I'd love to have this one ready by the end of the year. Pecking slowly at it.

A Year of Shadows and Moonlight, of Gathering Blooms in the Woods: A rather unusual, poetic novella in the second person. Half of it is written and edited and another half is loosely written. Rebekah is also playing around with art for the cover. This is typically a Friday night project - so hoping to play with it tonight.

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 Wednesday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks, will be featured in an upcoming cookbook, or is just an "extra" we want to share with you.

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 and two ways to attend meetings. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every 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 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

Channahon instructional technology resource teacher said she has ‘the best job in the whole district’: Renee Bogacz: ‘I get to work with teachers and students; what more could I possibly wish for?’ 

Plainfield kids stir up purr-fect fundraiser for stray cat’s medical bills:Boo the cat was ‘so skinny you could see every bone in its body’

3 Lincoln-Way High School commencement speakers share their future plans: Graduation ceremonies were held May 23 (Lincoln-Way East), May 24 (Lincoln-Way West) and May 25 (Lincoln-Way Central) @LWEGriffins @LWDistrict210 @LWWestWarriors

Romeoville High School valedictorian defines success, stresses need for empathy: Lillian Borbas: ‘The secret to success, although simple, is to not accept defeat.’

Joliet’s Bicentennial Park announces ‘Concerts on the Hill’ lineup for summer 2023: Lori Carmine, park director: ‘We have a wide variety of acts, so there really is something for everyone’ 

National cemetery in Elwood attracts hundreds for 24th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony: Nick Thomas, emcee: ‘Americans have been putting their lives on the line even before our nation was started.’

Crest Hill teacher has played taps at Memorial Day ceremony since age 11: Crest Hill Mayor Ray Soliman called Michael Creasey ‘a great person.’

Joliet art gallery lives up to its name with ‘strange and unusual’ beginning: Christine Nordstrom: ‘You can’t trust your eyes when you’re in here’

New Lenox hospital, home health care recognized for ‘safe and quality patient care’: The Joint Commission reviewers evaluated ‘compliance with Silver Cross Hospital’s standards’ 

Minooka H.S. co-valedictorians and salutatorian share post-graduation plans 

Lockport garage fire under investigation: The single car garage was ‘a total loss,’ the Lockport Fire Protection District said.

Pets of the Week: May 28, 2023L Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

5 Things to do in Will County: Joliet’s Star Wars Day is Saturday: Plus 4 more suggestions for enjoying your weekend.

THANK YOU, TEACHERS

Joliet Central special needs teacher visits and raises money for orphans in Uganda: Assistant vice principal: ‘She’s remarkable, so full of love’

Plainfield’s District 202 director of student services committed to students’ social emotional health: ‘He has really been a leader and he will continue to keep it at the forefront for all of us’ 

Associate professor at Lewis University in Romeoville is a role model for future special education teachers: Jennifer Buss: ‘My goal was just to provide more doors being opened’  

Joliet’s District 86 hires its first French bilingual English language resource specialist: Kira Cloonan: ‘Once I found out this job was available, I just had to try for it’

Lincoln-Way West social worker ‘just lifts everyone’: Chrissy Hack promotes social-emotional health wherever she can

District 86 teacher shares her Colombian culture in Joliet classroom: Teacher Jenny Cuesta Hernandez said her Sator Sanchez students love learning new songs and games

Valley View special education teacher has taught every grade in 30-year career: Jennifer Foster ‘helps to build the whole child’  

Troy ELA teacher brings language to life for her students: Jennifer Lowe: ‘I so love getting kids up on their feet and getting them to engage’

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"