Friday, June 14, 2024

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, June 8 to June 14

Good morning!

I have nine stories to share with you today...but only eight of them area available as clickable links. And more stories will post over the weekend. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

Now here's information about the ninth story.

Last week, Herald-News managing editor Judy Harvey asked me to take on a new column for print only. It's called "Eye on Enterprise" and it ran this morning.

"Eye on Enterprise" is a roundup of local business development, as wells as businesses that are opening or closing. I am enjoying the project so far as it's giving me a deeper look at local enterprise.

As I started researching the topic, I found many new businesses (and many new small businesses) that I might have known had actually "opened shop" in Will County.

Of course, my colleagues passed on any information about local businesses they received, too. so it's really a collaborative project. The result is that the first column ran on a full page, and I have the next two columns started.

People outside our coverage area and those who don't subscribe to a physical newspaper should know The Herald-News also has an e-edition. This is an online version of the print publication with virtual pages that actually turn.

You can access The Herald-News e-edition here: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/enewspaper.

It's been a busy couple of BryonySeries weeks.

First, have a special BryonySeries Summer Book Sale at The Book Market. So if you live in the area, do check it out.

Rebekah and I also hung out at The Book Market in Crest Hill on Tuesday and sold four books: The Phoenix, Call of the Siren, Before The Blood, and Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From Bryony.

Plus, we've released TWO new books!

Bertrand the Mouse has a new book, just in time for summer.

And we also released "A Year of Shadows and Moonlight, of Gathering Blooms in the Woods," which is, well, interesting. The story is part journey, part lyrical novelette. Here is its back cover summary:

You place the snowy candle in the center of your palm and hold it high.
You gaze across the bubbly foam over the azure lake.
And you take the first step to
Who you are
What you lost
And why all your magic can’t bring it back

"A Year of Shadows and Moonlight, of Gathering Blooms in the Woods" is currently available on Amazon.

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, with nearly two-thirds that are ready for final edits. I'm hoping to jump back into the manuscript this weekend. I haven't really looked at it since the at-home writing retreat. We are estimating a late 2024 release date for this book.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: No updates here in a very long time, mostly because Timothy and Daniel are super busy with school on top of work (and plenty of work-related traveling). 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 is hoping 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, LONG, 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!

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'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

Metal cicadas emerge from Joliet garage as artist enters sculptures in show

Steve Kost, metal artist: ‘I had live models to work off of’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/06/11/metal-cicadas-emerge-from-joliet-garage-into-art-competition/

Joliet YMCA leader Katy Leclair named ‘Woman of the Year’ by Zonta Club

Lora McGuire, Zonta member: ‘She exemplifies what a Zonta Woman of the Year does’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/06/13/joliet-ymca-leader-katy-leclair-named-woman-of-the-year-by-zonta-club/

Employee becomes new owner of TCBY Shorewood

Jen Howard, former co-owner, said Jana Brodeur is ‘a very wise person and an old soul’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/06/10/employee-becomes-new-owner-of-tcby-shorewood/

Will County Humane Society receives surprise $7,500 donation

Jackie McTee, humane society: ‘We are over the moon about it’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/06/07/will-county-humane-society-receives-surprise-7500-donation/

Lockport’s Old Canal Days fun for visitors, vendors

People enjoyed a variety of activities and merchandise

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/06/09/lockports-old-canal-days-fun-for-visitors-vendors/

New Lenox man killed in Joliet hit-and-run crash

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/06/08/new-lenox-man-killed-in-traffic-crash/

Will County Pets of the Week: June 10, 2024

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/06/10/will-county-pets-of-the-week-june-10-2024/

 Things to do in Will County: Seussical

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/06/13/things-to-do-in-will-county-seussical/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

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