Good morning! And...WHEW!
It's been a super, super, super busy week!
I have fifteen news and features stories to share with you this week since I worked a busy, breaking news weekend over Mother's Day weekend.
And more stories will post over the weekend - and through next week while I'm on an in-home writing retreat. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.
Last night, eight members of WriteOn Joliet attended the public reading for three finalists for the city of Joliet's first poet laureate, which will be announced Saturday at "Ye Olde Mayfest."
To our joy and surprise, WriteOn received a shoutout in the introductory remarks for our strong participation and promotion of the literary arts in Joliet. I was so happy that eight of us (including two other original members who've been part of the group since its inception in 2012) were present to hear revel in those remarks.
I believe last night's poet laureate reading was the first non-WriteOn event that some of us attended together as a group. But it was also the first real Joliet-hosted celebration of literary arts that I can recall - and it was a joy to attend. We hope this was the first of many more opportunities!
Speaking of "Ye Olde Mayfest," BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet will be part of the "Merry Merchants Row" at Ye Olde May Fest at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet. Two other WriteOn members (Holly Coop and Cean Magosky) will also be vending.
If you're in the area, pop in and see us. And please enjoy the rest of the event. Rebekah and I were invited to be part of the planning committee. Rebekah wrote a fun "quest" for attendees to enjoy (with a gift for those who complete it). And the committee has a great two days of medieval-style family fun ready for attendees to enjoy.
Next week, I hope to FINALLY share some post-event thoughts about "Fragments of Time," WriteOn Joliet's second annual radio-style performance, which was held last weekend at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre. And I will recap "Ye Olde Mayfest," too.
The WriteOn Joliet Radio Players had a wonderful recap dinner last. We talked about what went well, where we can improve next year, and ways to present our first two show (or parts of the show) at other venues until then; lots of ideas poured out.
I also hope to share my thoughts about the Joliet Public Library's first Local Author Fair in more than a decade, which was held April 27.
The Herald-News published its "Thank You, First Responders" last Thursday, where most of the publication was dedicated to stories about first responders in our community. I was very honored to be part of this project and have seven stories to share.
Finally, here is an update on my BryonySeries book projects:
House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I now have a good working draft of the entire book, eight chapters, and a prologue that are ready for final edits. I hope to get through chapter fifteen on next week's writing retreat. Wish me luck! 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. In order to make progress on any of this, Timothy and I need to schedule a "Cornell breakfast." But Timothy and Daniel are very busy with work and school right now. We've scheduled and broke several Cornell breakfasts in 2023 and 2024. 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, who welcomed her first child into the world in April, has already started working on the cover portrait. The fifth book 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.
Congratulations, Jennifer, on the new addition to your family!
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 still experimenting with cover art for this and made good progress this past weekend. 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.
And finally...
Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, has sent me more than a dozen chapters to edit for his third book in his Ruthless trilogy. His first book is "Ruthless," his second is "The Fifth," and he is also the author of "Denise Unland's Irish Genealogy."
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'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.
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/BryonySeries, youtube.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
3 people seriously injured in crash Friday in Joliet
Motorcyclist injured in crash Saturday in Joliet
Joliet police investigating murder/suicide: Man and woman found stabbed in the street
Pets of the Week: May 13, 2024: Will County rescues have
dogs and cats for adoption
Local Scene: Joliet’s Ye Olde May Fest: Here are 5 things todo this weekend
THANK YOU, FIRST RESPONDERS
Joliet Dr. Adnan Hussain stresses ‘care’ for patients and providers
Morris Hospital’s Dr. Sean Atchison cares about people
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"
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