Friday, August 2, 2024

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, July 27 to Aug. 2

Good morning!

I have ten stories to share with you today with stories posting over the weekend, especially since I am working on Sunday. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

Currently, I am also writing two more stories just for print. One is called "Eye on Enterprise" and it runs on Wednesdays. The other is a print version of "5 Things to do," which is slightly different from the online version.

"Eye on Enterprise" is a roundup of local business development, as wells as businesses that are opening or closing.

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.

In the BryonySeries world:

BryonySeries was one of the sponsors for Bicentennial Park's Independence Celebration on July 3 and we had a fantastic night! I will recap the details for next week (FOR SURE).

But the short summary is that we gave away sixty-five BryonySeries books, ran four games, and sold twenty-two WriteOn Joliet anthologies. We are definitely looking forward to next year.

We also have a special BryonySeries Summer Book Sale at The Book Market was "enhanced," this week. So if you live in the area, do check it out. And stay tuned for the updates!

Also, BryonySeries will be part of two larger WriteOn Joliet events. One is Kidz Fest on Saturday in downtown Joliet. The other is New Orleans North on Aug. 16 at the Slammers stadium, also in downtown Joliet.

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've done some minor editing since the at-home writing retreat, but June was a super packed month, which I anticipated. July (so far) has also been packed, but I did get another chapter and a half in good shape and some minor editing on several other chapters. We are estimating a late 2024 release date for this book, which is looking a little impossible since the end of July is quickly approaching. But I still have two more at-home writing retreats, so I'm not pushing the release date out yet.

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). However, I outlined a "bonus" book that is intended for distribution at Bicentennial's "Ye Olde Mayfest" event in 2025. Here is a recap of the 2024 event.

Timothy said his concept for the next book in the actual series 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 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. I've neglected this book for a few months and hope to revisit it soon. We'd like to release it in late 2024.

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.

Rebekah is also slowly (very, very 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 twenty-one 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

Joliet musician seeks home for historic Chicago theater organ

Taylor Trimby helping to re-home a Wurlitzer console from former Oriental Theatre in Chicago

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/07/30/joliet-musician-seeks-home-for-historic-chicago-theater-organ/

5 Will County business owners share lessons learned on first job

Jennifer Joho, owner of J.Joho Boutique in Plainfield: ‘Everyone at some point must do the ‘grunt work’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/07/28/5-will-county-business-owners-share-lessons-learned-on-first-job/

Joliet 11-year-old will teach at tech conference for 2nd time

Student at Trinity Christian will present at THAT Conference in August

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/07/26/joliet-11-year-old-will-teach-at-tech-conference-for-2nd-time/

Sale of Joliet Jewel store pending as Kroger and Albertsons merger stalls

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/01/closure-of-joliet-jewel-store-on-hold-as-kroger-and-albertsons-merger-stalls/

Joliet MorningStar Mission hosts progressive dinner to raise funds for programs

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/07/31/joliet-morningstar-mission-hosts-progressive-dinner-to-raise-funds-for-programs/

Plainfield hosting competitive bike race Saturday

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/07/31/plainfield-hosting-competitive-bike-race-on-saturday/

Joliet hospital renames its ‘heart hospital within a hospital’ for Jay and Lori Bergman

The couple’s most recent donation will provide equipment for the cardiac catheterization lab

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/07/30/joliet-hospital-renames-its-heart-hospital-within-a-hospital-for-jay-and-lori-bergman/

Rockdale Pancake House hosted grand opening on Sunday

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/07/26/rockdale-pancake-house-to-host-grand-opening-sunday/

Will County Pets of the Week: July 29, 2024

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/07/29/will-county-pets-of-the-week-july-29-2024/

5 Things to do in Will County: Joliet Kidz Fest

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/08/01/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-joliet-kidz-fest/


 

 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

No comments: