Friday, August 16, 2024

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

Good morning!

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

Tonight until late, five WriteOn Joliet authors (which includes the BryonySeries) will be showcasing out work at New Orleans North in Joliet (so please stop by our tents).

And then first thing tomorrow morning, BryonySeries will be making bargain-based deals with our booth attendees at Stuff on Bluff." Come out and make a shopping deal with us!

BryonySeries books-in-progress

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 all but eight chapters that are ready for final edits. I should be able to finish the eight at the next at-home writing retreat in early September. We are still estimating a late 2024 release date for this book, with copies available for sale at WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party on Dec. 6.

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, but 2024 has been a challenging year. We shall see.

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’s Cathedral neighborhood to host 3rd Porch & Park Music Fest

Genres include rock, blues, bluegrass, folk, duos, brass and jazz, Irish and Americana

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/12/joliet-neighborhood-to-host-3rd-porch-park-music-fest/

Will County business experts: 4 things you need to do when starting a business

Opening a business is ‘much more than just setting up a storefront’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/12/will-county-business-experts-4-things-you-need-to-do-when-starting-a-business/

Merichka’s in Crest Hill now selling its house dressing at Berkot’s grocery stores

Joe Zdralevich III, Merichka’s co-manager: ‘This was a long time coming’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/06/merichkas-in-crest-hill-now-selling-its-house-dressing-at-berkots-grocery-stores/

New Plainfield pancake restaurant opens

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/03/new-pancake-restaurant-in-plainfield/

Silver Cross Medical Group in New Lenox opens new location

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/12/silver-cross-medical-group-in-new-lenox-opens-new-location/

Joliet Unity Movement works to empower, engage local youth

Families can register now for home ownership seminar on Saturday

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/09/joliet-unity-movement-works-to-empower-engage

Will County schools standing pat as national trends show schools tighten cellphone rules

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/15/will-county-schools-reminding-students-parents-of-cell-phone-policies/

Joliet Bishop Hill winery hosting Sunday concert series

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/07/17/joliet-bishop-hill-winery-hosting-sunday-concert-series/

Will County Pets of the Week: Aug. 12, 2024

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/12/will-county-pets-of-the-week-aug-12-2024/

5 Things to Do in Will County: Joliet Blues Brothers Con

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/08/15/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-joliet-blues-brothers-con/

 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I read this too late. I was at New Orleans North but didn't see Joliet Writers tent. Would've looked for it.

Denise M. Baran-Unland said...

There is always next time! I could have, perhaps, mentioned it more. I struggle to find the balance between getting the word out and being pushy.