BryonySeries: Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, March 15 through March 21

Friday, March 21, 2025

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, March 15 through March 21

Good morning!

I have just six feature stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post, since I was in the hospital for a few days, culminating in the diagnosis of an aneurism.

But I did write more than five stories this week - and some will go live this weekend. 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

Calkins Day 2025 took place at The Book Market in Crest Hill and it was a wonderful celebration of laughter, imagination, generosity, and the release of "Recovering Ruthless," the third book in the BryonySeries Ruthless series by Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara.

The book display will remain up at The Book Market through St. Patrick's Day. And we now have some Irish-themed ribbit specials, that you can purchase at a discounted price with every book purchase.

BryonySeries books-in-progress

Bertand the Mouse: Barring any further emergencies in our life, I am working on a special Bertrand the Mouse book this weekend that I'm hoping to give away at a special event. Yes, I'm being mysterious about it...for now.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur.") is stalled until Timothy finished his master's degree, which he did. So now we just have to stop having family emergencies (three more this week - our life is like a novel!).

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 last year, is nearly done with the cover portrait. I let this book slide for other BryonySeries projects. But I'm hoping to finish the book in 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."

Bertrand the Mouse: I have tons of Bertrand photos and books in progress. The goal is to release at least two new ones this year.

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.

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 page. We'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/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

Coal City family’s home ‘looks like an ICU;’ help needed to get accessible van

Pens family has two with heredity spastic paraplegia

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/03/14/coal-city-familys-home-looks-like-an-icu-in-our-living-room-as-they-desperately-need-accessible-van/

Plainfield District 202, teachers union agree on new contract

Union President Steve Jepsen: ‘The contract was a win for both sides’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/03/12/plainfield-district-202-teachers-union-agree-on-new-contract/

Chop’d restaurant in Plainfield to host St. Patrick’s Day improv comedy night

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2025/03/15/chopd-restaurant-in-plainfield-to-host-st-patricks-day-improv-comedy-night/

Plainfield to host Hometown Irish run and parade on Sunday

Road closures to begin early Sunday morning

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/03/13/plainfield-to-host-mile-irish-themed-run-and-parade-on-sunday/