Friday, February 16, 2024

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Feb. 10 to Feb. 16

 Good morning!

I have eleven news and features stories to share with you this week. But more will be posted over this weekend, especially with me working this weekend. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

We had a small but wonderful Calkins Day celebration at The Book Market in Crest Hill. In addition to Ed and Nancy Calkins (and me), seven other guests came out (at least, while I was there). This included Chicago poet Alan Hines, who won a beautiful painting Nancy created and gave away just for the occasion.

We met Alan at Calkins Day 2023, and he came out for both WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party and for Calkins Day 2024. Alan has a book signing tomorrow from noon to 4 p.m. at The Book Market. He is even more prolific than I am. I encourage anyone in the area to pop in and see what he offers. From stories I've heard about Alan, he's also a terrific human being and someone you might want to know.

I am thrilled to report that we did have copies of "The Fifth," the second novel by Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, which is now live on Amazon and available for purchase.

If you're new to the BryonySeries and this blog, here is a post that with links that explains Calkins Day. We will post some photos on tomorrow's blog.

Other BryonySeries book updates:

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 four chapters and a prologue that are ready for final edits. We are estimating a late 2024 release date.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Timothy said the next book will be slightly dark ("slightly" because it's for kids, too) and will involve an old toy store. We are also working on the last book in the series (but it's not the final book, if that makes sense). Timothy is actually writing that one. We had a tentative "Cornell breakfast" scheduled for last weekend, which didn't happen. We are trying again for this weekend. We've scheduled and broke several in 2023. Our last one was July 2022. So we are LONG overdue.

Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is outlined and ready for some serious writing in 2024. The first chapter is written, hurray! Jennifer Wainwright has already started working on the cover portrait. That one is called "Brainy Ann."

Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "Julie and the Too-Hard Homework," "Katie and the Big Fear," "Summer Sisters." and "Karla Joins In," as well as the frontispiece for Lycanthropic Summer.

A Year of Shadows and Moonlight, of Gathering Blooms in the Woods: A rather unusual, poetic novella in the second person. Three-fourths of it is written and edited and another fourth is in the developmental stage. Rebekah is also playing around with art for the cover. We are estimating a mid-2024 release date.

Rebekah is also slowly updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.

Now back to The Herald-News stories 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 pageWe'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 haven't posted anything on Twitter/X (except a daily Bible verse) since September I can no longer schedule posts in advance. I'm not sure yet how to manage the account without that option. But you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

BryonySeries stuff: I used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeriesyoutube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.

Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.

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

Plainfield D-202 adopts asthma medication program for quicker emergency response

Plainfield South invites all to sing along at Black History Month Showcase: Hope Moore Mezo, coordinator: ‘Any age, any race, any culture may participate in the community sing’

Joliet’s Rialto Theatre to show ‘Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Mary Poppins’ in February:  Tickets go on sale Jan. 29.

Shorewood HUGS chocolate ball fundraiser helps group grant wishes: Shorewood HUGS hosted its 14th chocolate ball Feb. 3

Photos: Shorewood HUGS 14th chocolate ball

Silver Cross cardiologist shares her own heart experience, expertise: Dr. Reema Sheth is skilled in transradial cardiac catheterization

Lenten fish fries to try across the Joliet region: Here are 11 fish fries to try

Veterans must register by Monday for Vet-to-Vet program in Shorewood: The event is free to veterans

Herald-News seeking ‘Women of the Year’ submissions: Entry deadline is April 5

Pets of the Week: Feb. 12, 2024: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

The Local Scene: Visitor-led art at Will County forest preserve: Here are 5 things to do this weekend



Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

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