Friday, October 18, 2024

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Oct. 12 to Oct. 18

Good morning!

I have twelve stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post with more stories going live over the weekend.

So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

But before the stories, I have a list of additional updates, resources, and information. Please check them out, too.

And if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.

And have a great Friday!

Event Updates

The BryonySeries Back-To-School display is up at The Book Market. And it's likely coming down sometime today and being replaced with our Halloween display with all-new Halloween Ribbit-Ribbits that Cindy left at my house yesterday. So please do check it out.

We are also participating in two more events (so far) this month

Oct. 25: The Book Market in Crest Hill from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. I'll know the date for sure on Monday since I'm now working on Oct. 22.

Oct. 30: Black Cat Curiosities in Joliet with WriteOn member Cean Magosky as part of the Joliet City Center Partnership's "Spirits with the Spirits" event.

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 six more chapters needing editing and a heavy editing weekend ahead of me. The plan is to submit a proof to KDP by the end of this weekend or early next week. 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. 5.

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 wanted to release it in late 2024, but 2024 has been a challenging year. I'm shooting for early 2025.

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...

The manuscript for Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara's third book in his Ruthless trilogy is submitted and will be my next editing project once "House on Top of the Hill" is complete. Ed

s first book is "Ruthless," his second is "The Fifth," and he is also the author of "Denise Unland's Irish Genealogy."

For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.

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.

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 Pat Sullivan shares leadership lessons from decades of coaching

In new book, retired USF coach draws parallels between athletics and leadership

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/15/joliets-pat-sullivan-shares-leadership-lessons-from-decades-of-coaching/

The Clifton in Plainfield blends sophistication with ‘a little bit of everything’

Restaurant owner Dan Tacone: ‘We wanted to build with our community’

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/10/11/the-clifton-in-plainfield-blends-sophistication-with-a-little-bit-of-everything/

Men Who Cook benefits Will County Children’s Advocacy Center

The event will also feature a cash bar, raffles, kids activities and music

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/17/men-who-cook-benefits-will-county-childrens-advocacy-center/

Winners of Joliet City Center Partnership’s Halloween decorating contest

https://www.shawlocal.com/gallery/2024/10/17/winners-of-joliet-city-center-partnerships-halloween-decorating-contest/

Wednesday program in Joliet to address misinformation’s impact on elections

Community encouraged to attend League of Women Voters event

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/15/joliet-area-league-of-women-voters-hosting-program-on-misinformation-disinformation/

New distribution center coming to Elwood

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/15/new-distribution-center-coming-to-elwood/

Joliet furniture store opening 2nd location in Marycrest Shopping Center

Carlos Perez, owner and store manager: ‘We need a bigger location’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/14/joliet-furniture-store-opening-2nd-location-in-marycrest-shopping-center/

Furniture store coming to Joliet’s Marycrest Shopping Center

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/09/furniture-store-coming-to-joliets-marycrest-shopping-center/

Abri Credit Union in Will County announces new president and CEO

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/12/abri-credit-union-announces-new-president-and-ceo/

Lockport church hosting National Coming Out Day Resource Fair today

This is an ADA-compliant and COVID-conscious event

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/11/lockport-church-hosting-national-coming-out-day-resource-fair-today/

Pets of the Week: Oct. 14, 2024

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/14/pets-of-the-week-oct-14-2024/

5 Things to Do in Will County: Genesis, Phil Collins & David Bowie tribute bands

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/10/17/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-genesis-phil-collins-david-bowie-tribute-bands/

 


 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

No comments: