Friday, November 15, 2024

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Nov. 9 to Nov. 15

Good morning!

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

And I have five stories that were part of The Herald-News' second "Thank You, Veterans" edition. That makes a total of twenty-one!

So if you like reading anything I've written, you won't run out of reading material any time soon.

More stories will go live this 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 Christmas Display is now up at The Book Market in Crest Hill. Along with eleven curated BryonySeries books for you to browse and buy, the display features Ribbit-Ribbits from Cindy and free purple music roses with select purchases while supplies last.

We are also participating in four more events (so far) in November and December.

North Pole Christmas Market: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Renaissance Center, 214 N. Ottawa St., Joliet. The Christmas Market is part of the Joliet City Center Partnership's "Light Up the Holidays Festival and Parade." And we are participating in THREE unique ways this year. More details to come later.

WriteOn Joliet 8th Annual Anthology Release Party: 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5, Joliet Public Library, 3395 Black Road, Joliet. FREE chef-created heavy appetizers and desserts and FREE photos with Santa. Chance to meet WriteOn Joliet authors and browse many varieties of locally written genres. One-stop checkout.

Plus, the ByronySeries will appear at The Book Market in Crest Hill from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on one date in November and one in December, both TBA.

BryonySeries books-in-progress

House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy, and the book is now live on Amazon. We are hoping print copies will be 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...

I am working on the hard edits for Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara's third book in his Ruthless trilogy: "Recovering Ruthless."

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 food bank donates meat waste to Lockport wildlife ranch

The Northern Illinois Food Bank tries to make sure ‘nothing goes to waste’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/14/joliet-food-bank-donates-meat-waste-to-lockport-wildlife-ranch/

Plainfield 5th grader raises $2,060 to help disabled veterans

Commemorative flags will remain on school grounds through Thursday

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/11/plainfield-5th-grader-raised-2060-to-help-disabled-veterans/

We Rock the Spectrum in Shorewood a gym for kids of all abilities

Amy Allen wants facility to be a resource for the community

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/04/we-rock-the-spectrum-in-shorewood-more-then-an-all-abilities-gym/

The ‘Drew Barrymore Show’ featured Shorewood man

Tom Bolek of Shorewood appeared with a veteran and support dog

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/10/the-drew-barrymore-show-to-feature-shorewood-man-on-monday/

Shorewood hybrid battery business moving location

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/09/shorewood-hybrid-battery-business-moving-location/

CIEL Senior Living in Plainfield holds grand opening on Friday

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/14/ciel-senior-living-in-plainfield-holds-grand-opening-on-friday/

McWethy’s Tavern in Romeoville hosting red-carpet barrel release party

Two ticket options are available

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/14/mcwethys-tavern-in-romeoville-hosting-red-carpet-barrel-release-party/

95th Childerguild Ball to benefit Silver Cross New Lenox

Ticket deadline was Thursday

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/12/95th-childerguild-ball-to-benefit-silver-cross-new-lenox/

Cookie Store in Plainfield now open

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/13/cookie-store-in-plainfield-now-open/

Silver Cross New Lenox held lung cancer event on Wednesday

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/12/silver-cross-new-lenox-to-host-lung-cancer-event-on-wednesday/

Joliet church hosted St. Jude relic on Monday

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/08/joliet-church-hosting-st-jude-relic-on-monday/

Joliet Chamber event supports Council for Working Women

Tickets now available for Dec. 2 event

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/11/joliet-chamber-event-supports-council-for-working-women/

Will County says 75% of registered voters cast ballots on Tuesday

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/05/will-county-sees-robust-voter-turnout-on-election-day/

Joliet’s Rialto Square Theatre offers plenty of holiday entertainment

Holiday series kicks off with a tree lighting on Nov. 26

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/18/joliet-rialto-announces-2024-holiday-entertainment/

Will County Pets of the Week: Nov. 11, 2024

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/11/will-county-pets-of-the-week-nov11-2024/

5 Things to Do in Will County: Christmas, holiday markets

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/11/14/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-christmas-holiday-markets/


THANK YOU, VETERANS

 Michael Collins of Plainfield proud of service to country, community

Collins said he always tried to ‘make the right decisions’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/thank-you/veterans/2024/11/09/michael-collins-of-plainfield-proud-of-service-to-country-community/

Service is paramount to New Lenox physician and veteran

Dr. Joseph Hindo, Silver Cross: ‘Everyone should try to be of service to others.’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/thank-you/veterans/2024/11/09/service-is-paramount-to-new-lenox-internist-and-veteran/

Joliet veteran ‘can’t do enough for veterans’

Dan Miller can’t imagine not serving in some way

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/thank-you/veterans/2024/11/09/joliet-veteran-cant-do-enough-for-veterans/

Cancer leads Joliet Army veteran to service twice over

Skip Hoechbauer: ‘I love helping veterans and making them feel they’re not forgotten’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/thank-you/veterans/2024/11/09/cancer-leads-joliet-army-veteran-to-service-twice-over/

New Lenox veteran gives back through craftsmanship

Regina Lattuca, vice president of K9s for Veterans: ‘He really wants to help his fellow veterans.’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/thank-you/veterans/2024/11/09/new-lenox-veteran-gives-back-through-craftsmanship/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

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