Friday, December 27, 2024

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Dec. 21 to Dec. 27

Good morning!

I have nineteen stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post.

Nineteen!

No wonder I've felt so busy lately!

And more stories will go live this weekend and into next week, even though I won't return to work until Jan. 2. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

We finally got the Christmas tree up at our house. It now has a lights and even a few ornaments (courtesy of several grandchildren, who kindly placed them on Christmas Eve. So here's hoping today's the day!

Before the stories I also 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 still 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.

It's the perfect way to support the only local book story in the Joliet area and find some wonderful books for your winter reading pleasure.

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. Copies are also available at The Book Market.

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/

Support downtown Joliet businesses and earn rewards

The Winter Rewards Program has 3 tiers of rewards

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/11/earn-rewards-for-supporting-downtown-joliet-businesses/

Community rallies to save a Shorewood board game cafe

Dana Buxbaum, Critical Grind co-owner: ‘We’ll be making some changes in the new year’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/13/community-rallies-to-save-a-shorewood-board-game-cafe/

Eyes on Enterprise: Downtown Joliet holiday window contest winners announced

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/25/downtown-joliet-holiday-window-contest-winners-announced/

Will County to welcome Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

$16 will enable a child to receive 1 year of free books

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/22/will-county-to-welcome-dolly-partons-imagination-library/

Will County residents have access to free mental health resources over the holidays

Emergency and non-emergency care is available

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/24/will-county-residents-have-access-to-free-mental-health-resources-over-the-holidays/

Free microchipping for Will County pets during December

Owners must have proof of current rabies vaccination and proof of Will County residence

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/20/free-microchipping-for-will-county-pets-during-december/

Plainfield opens 143rd Street West extension with ribbon-cutting

The total project cost $12 million

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/20/plainfield-opens-143rd-street-west-extension-with-ribbon-cutting/

Plainfield Park District receives $260,000 from state for Creekside Crossing South

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/23/plainfield-park-district-receives-260000-matching-grant/

Lockport Duly Health office adds 3 new primary care doctors

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/will-county/2024/12/22/lockport-duly-health-office-adds-3-new-primary-care-doctors

New Lenox building now named Town Center Bank Building

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/will-county/2024/12/20/new-lenox-building-now-named-town-center-bank-building/

Crest Hill meal prep company seeking donations for Christmas dinners

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/local/2024/12/21/crest-hill-meal-prep-company-seeking-donations-for-christmas-dinners/

Joliet Witches Night Out raises $1,108,000 in 15 years for local nonprofits

The 2-day event attracts 3,000 attendees, sponsors and volunteers

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/14/joliet-witches-night-out-raises-1108000-in-15-years-for-local-nonprofits/

Semi falls off I-55 bridge in Plainfield blocking train tracks

Tow truck driver goes into cardiac arrest at the scene

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/22/semi-falls-off-i-55-bridge-in-plainfield-blocking-train-tracks/

Police raise awareness of ‘brushing’ scam

QR code scams aren’t limited to packages, can send info to scammers

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/22/police-raise-awareness-of-brushing-scam/

Police: Joliet man’s death under investigation, seemed to be ‘under influence of an unknown substance’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/25/police-joliet-mans-death-under-investigation-seemed-to-be-under-influence-of-an-unknown-substance/

Joliet police: Man arrested following domestic disturbance that involved woman getting shot

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/25/joliet-police-man-arrested-following-domestic-disturbance-that-involved-woman-getting-shot/

Will County Pets of the Week: Dec. 23, 2024

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/23/will-county-pets-of-the-week-dec-23-2024/

5 Things to Do in Will County: GLOW Holiday Festival

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/12/26/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-glow-holiday-festival/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

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