Good morning!
I have nineteen feature stories to share with you today, with a few more that may go live this weekend.
Good morning!
We had a small but heart and robust Calkins Day chat last night, with plenty of laughter and a Calkins Day address by a WriteOn Joliet member who had a small speech (with notes) prepared in advance.
In fact, I have passed the Calkins Day address officially to him for future Calkins Day events!
Those onscreen got to hear the marvelous story of how Ed, more than twenty years ago, helped a co-worker at another company (when he worked in the software division) helped a Russian family immigrate to the United States.
The couple was onscreen, happy to share their story, speak kind thoughts about Ed and his wife Nancy and how the two families are more like family than friends.
We also had three writers on screen who discussed their own creative works and provided links in the chat. The works of a fourth writer, who listened in only, was had works praised quite nicely after she signed off. I was sorry she had missed that.
Nancy shared some of her artwork and paintings, and we talked a bit about the creative process and writers block.
What is Calkins Day?
Calkins Day is our official BryonySeries holiday. It's a day to celebrate imagination, laughter, and generosity - and I think we hit all three of those notes last night.
It is celebrated on February 13 of every year but, with Super Bowl Sunday falling on that date is 2022, the Steward of Tara thoughtfully suggested moving our celebration to February 10.
On the fiction front, I'm still making nice progress on Call of the Siren. I have all but six chapters edited, and I hope to have at least one more in good shape by the end of this weekend.
Call of the Siren is the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy). I'm anticipating a late spring publication date, with gorgeous cover art by Nancy Calkins.
Sue Midlock has completed the art for Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones, and Rebekah should have the book formatted soon. The proof copy of Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being is here, and Rebekah has already read through it and marked changes. So we plan to release both books soon.
Timothy has nearly completed the outline for the next book in the series, a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes). We were hoping to make some time for a "Cornell Breakfast" over the holidays, but that didn't happen. However, he did finish the bulk of his overhaul of the BryonySeries website. You can read more about that here.
Sarah also had a crazy dream that sounded perfect for An Adventure of Cornell Dyer mystery. But she wants time to draw some sketches, a map, and write the "rules." It's called Cornell Dyer and the House of Broken Portals.
Bertrand the Mouse has "returned," and you can read about it here, here, and here.
Jennifer Wainright (frontispiece artist for Lycanthropic Summer) has completed two portraits for "Girls of the BryonySeries" series for tween girls and is currently working on a third. The portraits are beautiful and it shows that artist Jennifer Wainright can draw anything from werewolves to portraits!
Rebekah Baran has completed cover art for two of "Girls of the BryonySeries" books. They are beautiful! One book in this series of eight books is completely written, a second is halfway written, and the rest are outlined.
Now back to the nineteen stories. Simply click on the link of the story that looks interesting to you. Happy scrolling!
But before the stories, I have a list of additional resources and information. Please check them out, too -
Finally, if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.
And have a great Friday!
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.
Each Sunday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks or will be featured in an upcoming cookbook.
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. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year, well, except this year. Check us out at
writeonjoliet.com.
If you need support in your writing, I highly recommend this Twitter group: #5amwritersclub. I joined it last year. Writers support each other on Twitter and meet every three weeks at 5 a.m. (4 a.m. CST - needless to say, I am often late!) on Zoom.
ARTISTS
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 do post the briefs on Twitter during the week, so you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.
BryonySeries stuff: I post curated content relating to the BryonySeries at @BryonySeries. And assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries.
And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.
BRYONYSERIES BOOKS
For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.
BRYONYSERIES EVENTS
A full month of virtual events can be found at bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events.
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.
Pray for vocations before historic monstrance on Feb. 8 in Plainfield: St. Mary Immaculate Parish to display gift from Pope Pius XI to Cardinal George Mundelein.
Meet’ 2 COVID survivors who each spent several months at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox: George Fushi, Brad Moss, look at life a bit differently now
Pets of the Week: Feb. 7Will County Rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.
Joliet Central art student wins $10,000 scholarship prize at USF competition: Other students win Best of Show and honorable mentions
JCA announces its September 2021 Students of the Month: Students recognized by 3 Joliet area service clubs for leadership in the classroom and in the community
Students not wearing face masks at Lockport East HS were removed from classrooms: Universal masking is still part of District 205′s COVID mitigations
After 6 years of faithful service, Ryker the therapy dog is retiring: Senior Star at Weber Place in Romeoville expecting a new therapy dog this summer
Shorewood robotics team receives ‘Rising Star Award’ from First Lego League: First Lego League is an international robotics STEM program for ages 4 through 16.
Some Will County school districts still requiring face masks for its students on Monday: Reasons include not being named in the lawsuit and the temporary nature of the restraining order
Orchestra director at D. 204 in Joliet to direct 63-year-old youth symphony orchestra: Peter Lipari of Plainfield is the new music director at Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra
Mystery Diner: From brunch to barbecue, Skooter’s RoadHouse offers impressive lineup of food: Shorewood venue also known for plenty of live music
2 additional Will County school districts adjust face mask policy: Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C, Frankfort School District 157-C call special meetings
Joliet man receives 2nd thank you for handmade crosses he brought to NYC after 9/11: Former volunteer at Ground Zero called Bob Figurowski an ‘everyday hero’
New Lockport escape room offers ax throwing, too: A grand opening will be held on Feb. 18
Joliet Central Chess Team competing at state level Friday and Saturday: The team qualified to compete in the IHSA State Chess Tournament
Will County residents, businesses respond to lifting of the statewide mask mandate: Staley: ‘The fear of the virus is what has affected business – the fear of going out, period’
Lockport Township Park District president named chairman-elect of statewide association: Jeff Rigoni joined the Illinois Association of Park Districts in 2017.
5 Things to do in Will County: candy, crafts, dinosaurs and the blues: Plus, check out The Way We Worked: A Traveling Exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution in Romeoville
7 students at D-202 in Plainfield heading to Will County spelling bee: These students won their individual schools’ spelling bees
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"
