Friday, March 15, 2024

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, March 9 to March 15

 Good morning!

I have just nine 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.

Last weekend was filled with family time (Saturday), friends (Sunday), and an obituary I was asked to write. This weekend is filled with work and then I leap into a very busy work week, followed by a colonoscopy next week. 

Oh, and I have three business proposals to write before said colonoscopy - and I'm editing a manuscript for a client.

It's also been a busy week with rehearsals for WriteOn Joliet's radio play in April at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theater in Joliet on April 19 and April 20. More on that next week.

Still, even with all these fun projects to keep me occupied, I'm hoping to carve out some time for my own BryonySeries writing projects. Maybe? We shall see.

Here are the 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 six chapters and a prologue that are ready for final edits. I scrapped most of chapter seven last weekend and am now working on the current draft. We are estimating a late 2024 release date for this book.

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...and we have no opportunity for another for at least a couple more weeks. 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 novelette in the second person is completed and just needs final copyediting. 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

Daughter says at-home care a ‘godsend’ for Lemont parents with dementia" The couple receives services from Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet

Joliet’s Cadence Premier Logistics tackles business and serves the community: Rocky Caylor, president and CEO: ‘We’ve just been quiet in the background’

Plainfield District 202 hosting car parade for Tom Hernandez: Hernandez is the former director of community relations for District 202 in Plainfield

NAMI Will-Grundy brings youth mental health program to schools: Cheryl Habeeb, NAMI Will-Grundy: ‘We want to end the silence and reduce the stigma’

Joliet Bunny Bash to benefit foster kids: Buy tickets to the family friendly event by March 19

Joliet West senior earns full scholarship to Northwestern: Jaedyn Jumper-Uwumarogie said she ‘cried a little bit’ when she learned the news

Free ‘Take Time for You’ event in New Lenox on Saturday: Event is open to any adult in the community

Pets of the Week: March 11, 2024: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

The Local Scene: A Shamrockin’ Good Time at Joliet Rialto: Here are 5 things to do this weekend


Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

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