The official blog of Denise M. Baran-Unland, author. Discover her books for all ages at bryonyseries.com.
Saturday, January 4, 2025
Friday, January 3, 2025
Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Dec. 28 to Jan. 3
Good morning!
I have six stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post.
Not bad for a week off from work, in theory to get ready for my family's Christmas celebration on January 7 (I made progress). In reality, I got sick (although I'm starting to gradually feel better).
More stories will go live this weekend, too. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.
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, although it may very well come down this weekend.
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. And check out this first review on Amazon.
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). But it was postponed AGAIN because I got sick (grumble).
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 have completed the hard edits Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara's third book in his Ruthless trilogy: "Recovering Ruthless." and am eagerly awaiting the proof copy so I can check for lingering errors.
Ed's first book is "Ruthless," his second is "The Fifth," and he is also the author of "Denise Unland's Irish Genealogy."
The goal is to have books for our Calkins Day celebration on February 13. More details later.
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'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.
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/BryonySeries, youtube.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 Chamber announces its ‘2024 success’ award recipients
Tickets available now for celebration event
Remembering when Joliet church burned to the ground on New
Year’s Eve
Elvira Balog of Joliet: ‘We could look out the back window
and see it burning’
Crest Hill’s Jitterhead Brunch & Coffee Co. serves up
fresh take on breakfast, lunch
Jitterhead also has a full-service bar
Will County Pets of the Week: Dec. 30, 2024
Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/30/will-county-pets-of-the-week-dec-30-2024/
5 Things to Do in Will County: Winter Break Skate Night
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Sue's Diner: Recipe for Happiness
I featured this week's recipe on the BryonySeries blog back in 2012. And I'm featuring it on the Sue's Diner page today, in honor of the new year that is 2025.
This recipe does not appear in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.
It's simply my wish for you today.'
Check out the recipe at bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner-food.
If you have any questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com.
Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).
For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.