Friday, November 29, 2024

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Nov. 23 to Nov. 29

Good morning!

Today we're hanging out at the North Pole Christmas Market from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the 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.

ONE AND TWO: I am reading two Christmas stories and raffling ten copies of "Bertrand the Christmas Surprise" books at 11 a.m. Details are here.

THREE: We are giving away twenty swag bags to the first twenty people at the BryonySeries booth. Each bag has a retails value of $30 to $35. No purchase is necessary. The swags bags are gifts.

But we do have crocheted mice for adoption and purple music roses are "thank yous" for select purchases. Those details are here.

I also have thirteen 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.

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.

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. Dec. 17.

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. Print copies should arrive on Sunday and be available for sale at WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party on Dec. 5.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Timothy and Daniel are super busy with school on top of work (and plenty of work-related traveling). But Sue Midlock is already hard at work with the cover for the next book that involves a toymaker: "Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur."). Timothy and I have tentatively agreed to a "Cornell" breakfast when he's off school and work during the holidays. Here's hoping! (we are looooong over due).

I also 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.

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, is nearly done with the cover portrait. I let this book slide for other BryonySeries projects. But I'll return to this book in 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."

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

Be a Herald Angel: Help Will County United Way meet high community need

Sarah Oprzedek, United Way of Will County: ‘One hundred percent of those dollars go right back into the community’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/19/be-a-herald-angel-help-will-county-united-way-meet-high-community-need/

Here’s how to shop local in Plainfield on Small Business Saturday

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/26/heres-how-to-shop-local-in-plainfield-on-small-business-saturday/

Silver Cross Hospital names 2 new vice presidents

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/28/silver-cross-hospital-names-2-new-vice-presidents/

2 Bolingbrook men arrested in New Lenox on vehicle theft, drug charges

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/22/2-bolingbrook-men-arrested-in-new-lenox-on-vehicle-theft-drug-charges/

Man in custody after barricading himself inside Plainfield Township home

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/22/police-at-scene-in-plainfield-township-of-man-barricaded-in-house/

Plainfield Township man charged with battery after barricading himself inside house

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/23/plainfield-township-man-charged-with-battery-after-barricading-himself-inside-house/

Joliet police ID alleged thief of reindeer decorations from Slammers Stadium

The decorations are valued at $45,000

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/23/joliet-police-id-thief-of-reindeer-decorations-from-slammers-stadium/

Joliet diocese tells visiting priest to leave church, diocese; relic tour canceled

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/24/joliet-diocese-tells-visiting-priest-to-leave-church-diocese-relic-tour-canceled/

Downtown Plainfield gets Roman-style pizzeria

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/20/downtown-plainfield-gets-roman-style-pizzeria/

Lockport’s Nik & Ivy Brewing offers club memberships

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/19/lockport-brewery-founder-club-memberships-open/

Chicken-N-Spice in Shorewood now offers new menu item

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/19/chicken-n-spice-in-shorewood-offers-bone-in-chicken/

Will County Pets of the Week: Nov. 25, 2024

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/25/will-county-pets-of-the-week-nov-25-2024/

5 Things to Do in Will County: Light Up The Holidays Festival & Parade

By 5 Things to Do in Joliet and Will County

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/11/27/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-light-up-the-holidays-festival-parade/

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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