Showing posts with label Arkas Restaurant Group. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arkas Restaurant Group. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

WriteOn Joliet Anthology Release Party: Books and Six Small Businesses

By now, you have read Ten Reasons Why You Should Attend WriteOn Joliet's 2025 Anthology Release Party on Thursday - and you may also have read the post with the menu for all the free chef-created heavy appetizers.

But new this year (and not in any of the previous posts) is each guest receives one FREE raffle ticket for a $10 voucher to one of five local business, which will be randomly drawn at the end of the party.

Most winners will be notified by email with a virtual voucher attached and instructions for redeeming it.

Because most of the vouchers are virtual, store owners will be provided the name of the winner.

The businesses are:

Any of the five restaurants in the Arkas Restaurant Group (winner must be present for this voucher)

Audiophils Records

Black Cat Curiosities

Blue Heron Bagels

Internode Greenery & Home 

PLUS, the first fifty customers  will leave with a bookmark to The Book Market in Crest Hill featuring a ten percent discount regular books at The Book Market through January 31 2026.

So attendees: Be sure to see Carter tomorrow night! He will be walking around with raffle tickets and a very cool hat.

And maybe when you leave the party Thursday night (very full from all the delicious food and balancing stacks of books) will have $10 off toward your next shopping or dining experience.

Happy Thursday!




Friday, October 11, 2024

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Oct. 5 to Oct. 11

Good morning!

I have fourteen stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post with more stories going live over the weekend.

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 Back-To-School display is up at The Book Market. And it's likely coming down sometime today and being replaced with our Halloween display with all-new Halloween Ribbit-Ribbits that Cindy left at my house yesterday. So please do check it out.

We are also participating in three events (so far) this month

Oct. 12: Panic at the Plaza in downtown Joliet.

Oct. 23, 24, or 25: The Book Market in Crest Hill from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. I'll know the date for sure on Monday since I'm now working on Oct. 22.

Oct. 30: Spirits with the Spirits at Black Cat Curiosities in Joliet with WriteOn member Cean Magosky as part of the Joliet City Center Partnership's "Spirits with the Spirits" event.

BryonySeries books-in-progress

House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I now have a good working draft of the entire book, with nineteen chapters of its thirty chapters and the prologue and epilogue completely edited, and a heavy editing weekend ahead of me. The plan is to submit a proof to KDP by or slightly after next weekend. We are still estimating a late 2024 release date for this book, with copies available for sale at WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party on Dec. 5.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: No updates here in a very long time, mostly because Timothy and Daniel are super busy with school on top of work (and plenty of work-related traveling). However, I 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.

Timothy said his concept for the next book in the actual series will be slightly dark ("slightly" because it's for kids, too) and will involve an old toy store. We are also working on the last book in the series (but it's not the final book, if that makes sense). Timothy is actually writing that one. In order to make progress on any of this, Timothy is hoping to schedule a "Cornell breakfast." But Timothy and Daniel are very busy with work and school right now. We've scheduled and broke several Cornell breakfasts in 2023 and 2024. Our last one was July 2022. So we are LONG, LONG, LONG overdue.

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, has already started working on the cover portrait. I've neglected this book for a few months and hope to revisit it soon. We wanted to release it in late 2024, but 2024 has been a challenging year. I'm shooting for 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...

The manuscript for Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara's third book in his Ruthless trilogy is submitted and will be my next editing project once "House on Top of the Hill" is complete. 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 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

Mammogram caught Silver Cross employee’s Stage 1 breast cancer

Shannon Connolly said she’s feeling ‘better and better every day’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/08/mammogram-caught-silver-cross-employees-stage-1-breast-cancer/

Lockport man the ultimate Jack, or in this case Adam, of many trades

From 911 operator to photographer to storm chaser and more, Adam Jomant lives busy life

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/06/lockport-man-the-ultimate-jack-or-in-this-case-adam-of-many-trades/

Joliet nonprofit volunteers honored at Philanthropy Recognition Awards Brunch

The brunch was held at the Renaissance Center in Joliet

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/08/joliet-nonprofit-volunteers-honored-at-philanthropy-recognition-brunch/

Friends of Joliet Public Library to host fall book sale

Proceeds help fund literary programs

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/06/friends-of-joliet-public-library-to-host-fall-sale/

Furniture store coming to Joliet’s Marycrest Shopping Center

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/09/furniture-store-coming-to-joliets-marycrest-shopping-center/

New Mexican restaurant opens in New Lenox

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/10/03/new-lenox-gets-new-mexican-restaurant/

Joliet USF announces 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award winners

The awards were given as part of USF’s 2024 homecoming festivities

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/07/joliet-usf-announces-2024-distinguished-alumni-award-winners/

We Rock the Spectrum sensory-friendly gym opens in Shorewood

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/05/we-rock-the-spectrum-sensory-friendly-gym-opens-in-shorewood/

New Lenox fall feast benefits ‘working school’

Attendees are encouraged to also bid on a variety of silent auction items

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/05/new-lenox-fall-feast-benefits-working-school/

Joliet’s Bicentennial Park Theatre puts on murder mystery this weekend

Fans of murder mysteries can enjoy 2 in Will County this October.

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/10/joliets-bicentennial-park-theatre-puts-on-murder-mystery-this-weekend/

Register now for Joliet Park District Floating Pumpkin Patch

Snacks and open swim will be provided during the event.

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/05/register-now-for-joliet-park-district-floating-pumpkin-patch/

Cause of Lockport home fire investigated

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/05/cause-of-lockport-home-fire-investigated/

Pets of the Week: Oct. 7, 2024

Will County Rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/07/pets-of-the-week-oct-7-2024/

5 Things to Do in Will County: Harry Potter Movie Event at ROXY Lockport

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/10/10/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-harry-potter-movie-event-at-roxy-lockport/

 

 

 

 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Friday, March 17, 2023

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, March 11 to March 17

Good morning!

Today I have just ten features and news stories to share with you today with more to be posted over the weekend, since I am working through the weekend.

So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

I've also been working on stories for a new edition The Herald-News will begin in March and a new "Thank You, Teachers" edition in May.

Also, here is a "save the date" event for people in the general Will County area:  WriteOn Joliet will host its first radio-style reading on April 22 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park in Joliet. 

And now we are officially on Bicentennial Park's calendar, which you can see here.

We held our annual Calkins Day celebration on Feb. 13 at The Book Market in Crest Hill. If you don't know what Calkins Day is, read this post and then read this post.

This year, we built our celebration around the local authors and independent authors in order to help build up Ed's library of such authors and provide a little exposure for these authors.

Authors were invited to gift Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara with one of their books. In turn, they could take home any one of five books Ed either wrote or appeared in. Readers could talk Ed out of a book.

Over the next few weeks, I'll dedicate separate posts to these authors and give them additional exposure on social media. Here is one such post from three weeks ago, one post from two weeks ago, and one post from last week. 

So do check out these posts - and watch for more posts, too. They may just lead you to your next favorite book.

Fiction projects are coming along very slowly, but they are coming along. I'm also working simultaneously working on five books and just released a new Bertrand the Mouse book in time for Easter and am eagerly awaiting my copies.

However, you can buy it now on Amazon. 

So here's the latest update on the other books:

I now have completed rough drafts for the prologue and first thirteen chapters of the final book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy: House on Top of the Hill and hope to get another done this weekend.

I am in the process of fleshing out the next book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer subseries: Cornell Dyer and the Hounds of Basketville and made some progress on that story on Monday. Timothy and I drafted it months ago, and I currently have five solid chapters. Sue Midlock sent all the interior art and it is stunning! Sue is currently working on the cover.

I have also completed three chapters for the fourth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries series.

You can find other titles in the series here. Timothy has not yet added our latest titles to the BryonySeries bookstore. But all titles are also on Amazon. 

I'm also working on a guide book to the series called: Welcome to Munsonville: the People, Places, and Things of the BryonySeries.

And I'm also working on a novella. I have written and edited a fourth of it and have about another third of it loosely written. But that's all I'm sharing about it for now.

Rebekah is also slowly updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts, so watch for those.

Now back to the 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 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 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 on Twitter at @BryonySeries and assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.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.

FEATURES

Arkas Restaurant group taking ‘Joliet restaurant scene up a level’: Bill Dimitroulas, president, is loyal to Joliet 

Gov. JB Pritzker discusses education plan on Thursday at Joliet Junior College" Gov. JB Pritzker: ‘When I first took office, people were leaving Illinois to get a college education’ 

Reception planned Sunday for Joliet West basketball player Jeremy Fears Jr.: Jeremy Kreiger: ‘It’s unusual to see someone so accomplished at the age of 17’ 

Joliet Junior College professor is now 1 of just 10 certified master pastry chefs in the U.S.: Andy Chlebana earns certification after June brain surgery

Joliet West senior named Gatorade Illinois Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Jeremy Fears Jr. is also McDonald’s All-American Game selection 

New Lenox hospital makes Newsweek’s ‘World’s Best Hospitals 2023′ list: Ruth Colby: ‘It’s all about the people who work here.’ 

Gnomes and leprechauns take Joliet stage in time for St. Patrick’s Day: Patrons must be ages 18 and up 

Support lung care with Silver Cross Foundation fundraiser in Frankfort: Sponsorships are available 

Pets of the Week: March 13, 2023: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.

5 Things to do in Will County: 5 ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day: Features include food, music, shamrock search and other activities



Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"