Will You Take a BryonySeries Superhero Bag Home on April 26?

Ten members of WriteOn Joliet will explore various aspects of heroism in original radio-style stories and poems at 7 p.m. April 25 and 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 26  at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre.

Yes, this year we have a matinee performance.

In celebration of WriteOn Joliet's first matinee, the BryonySeries table is giving away "superhero" bags to the first fifteen attendees who stop at the BryonySeries table (you have to stop at the BryonySeries table; they will not be at the ticket table).

By "attendees," we mean people who aren't performers or park staff. Sorry, guys.

So - what is a BryonySeries Superhero Bag?

Well, it is a bag that will look like this. And it will contain at least four items from local superheroes. Keep scrolling for details!

One item will be a copy of the BryonySeries novel "House on Top of the Hill," a collection of short stories (that move the entire book forward) centered on a village's preoccupation with a mansion that is literally on top of the hill.

Chapter 2 features the story that's been adapted for the performances. And that chapter will be marked with a special gift card from the The Book Market in Crest Hill. 

Not only is The Book Market a treasure trove of new, used, and rare books, the owner is a superhero to local authors in that she carries their books and hosts their events in store.

Another item in the BryonySeries Superhero Bag will be a hand-painted, plastic wrapped greeting card from local artist, WriteOn Joliet member, and super hero Barbara Eberhard. 

Each card is unique in design (no peeking to pick the one you want) and comes with the words "Be kind" on the front.

Barbara is a superhero in that she makes and sells these cards to benefit Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care in Joliet. (yes, hospice benefited from the card in your bag).

So when you give that card to someone, you will be giving more than a loving greeting. You will also be giving a piece of local art (suitable for framing) and the knowledge that hospice can help another family because of Barbara's generosity.

Finally, each bag will also include a Superhero Ribbit from Cindy. Each Superhero Ribbit is one-of-a-kind (again, no peeking to see which one you want) and individually packaged.

All Superhero Ribbits feature everyday heroes (could it be you? could it be me?) to help inspire you each time you look at it.

The Superhero Ribbit below is a nurse.

In addition to the BryonySeries Superhero bags, the first 15 attendees at EACH performance will receive a free copy of WriteOn Joliet’s 2024 anthology “Write Where We Are,” courtesy of Saporta Law Offices in Joliet, owned by superhero Stephen Saporta.

Admission to “We Can Be Heroes” is $5.

Authors and performers are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky, Colleen H. Robbins, Jenny Russ and Duanne Walton.

Director is Anne Magosky.

Production Assistant is Rebekah Baran.

Lobby doors open one hour before performances. Concessions and drinks are available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761/ bipark@joliet.gov.

WriteOn Joliet is a welcoming, diverse group of writers of varied skills, interests and experience. The group includes professional journalists, fiction novelists, bloggers, screenwriters, musicians and poets. We promise a safe, comfortable and supportive atmosphere to share your work, and constructive feedback so that everyone can benefit from our shared knowledge.

WriteOn Joliet is a proud partner of the Joliet Public Library and The Book Market in Crest Hill.

 For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.

Stop out if you can! We strive to entertain and inspire you!

Lovely Notecards from Barbara Eberhard

I've told my daughter that when I retire, I want to be like Lockport artist Barbara Eberhard.

Not only is Barbara a very talented photographer, artist, and storyteller in her own right, she supports just about every art-related event in the Will County area and beyond. Some day, I hope to immerse myself in local art events the way she does.

Barbara attends (and often brings a few friends) to WriteOn Joliet's annual anthology release party, a good many of WriteOn Joliet's mic nights, and nearly every book signing I myself have held.

Last year, Barbara even saw WriteOn Joliet's radio play TWICE. 

Twice, Barbara has invited me to tell a story at her monthly storytelling event at Nik & Ivy's in Lockport. (and I had to take the day off work to make sure I'd get there on time!)

On Saturday, Barbara came out to the Joliet Public Library's Local Author Fair, bought three Bertrand the Mouse books for a gift and then gifted me with a lovely set of her original notecards.

Maybe you could like some of your own. Her email is on the bookmark in the photo.

For more information about Barbara Eberhard. visit barbaraeberhard.com and storiesrus.fun.

Stories R Us 2023: Come Join Us

When Barbara Eberhard re-started her monthly storytelling event last year, she invited me to be part of the October lineup of storytellers.

Barbara also said I could read one of my fiction stories, as opposed to telling a personal life experience. I agreed and a had a great time.

A few months ago, Barbara invited me to return in October and tell an actual story this time, adding that she's certain I have plenty of stories I could tell. Well, this is true.

And then this nice thing happened Saturday night at Panic at the Plaza.

Someone actually came up to the booth and asked if I was still telling a story on Oct. 18, that she was looking forward to it. That was definitely a sweet bit of encouragement.

Again, I won't be reading a story this time. I will be telling a true story from my life. And so will the other four storytellers that evening, including our hostess Barbara Eberhard.

I will also have BryonySeries books (and a nice giveaway with select purchases) for sale before and after the event.

Admission to the event is free. Please come join us.

For more information about the storytelling event, visit storiesrus.fun.

For more information about BryonySeries books, visit bryonyseries.com.

A Good Time Was Had By All

On Saturday, seven members of WriteOn Joliet performed our original writings in a radio-style show at the downtown branch of the Joliet Public Library using nearly the same scripts as the first show at the Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

I say "nearly" because each performance is unique unto itself with parts of it specific to the venue, author availability, and up coming events.

And, of course, we learned a few things this time around.

1. We learned that we can adapt our readings to the cast. Two members had family medical emergencies, so we pulled one of my sons into the emcee role. That left an vacant spot for "rigor and mortis." So we pulled a family friend into that role. We dropped the sound effects. And then we divided up the other parts, moving from an eight-person show to a seven-person show.

2. We learned that practice really does make perfect, especially with my niece (who has a strong theater background) coaching the practices.. We easily adapted to a new space with less technology and only needed one rehearsal to do it (and a third member couldn't make even that). We were slightly less polished on show day, perhaps, but the delivery was still bordering on excellent. 

3. We also rewrote quite a bit of the emcee script for the venue and the commercials to update events and circumstances.

4. We learned that the show has an audience, even if (for now) that audience is small while we struggle to get the word out. Barbara Eberhard of "Stories R Us" came out twice (in April and on Saturday). And David Kump, who spontaneously took photos during Act 2, praised the quality of the show during intermission, even stressing that praise by adding, "You are better than you think you are."

"You are better than you think you are."

Those words will ring in our ears for a long, long, long time.

So a Writer Walked into a Bar...

Last night local storyteller and photographer Barbara Eberhard invited me to read "something" from one of my novels and offer my books for sale at her inaugural "Stories R Us" at Nik & Ivy Brewing Company in Lockport.

So guess what? I'm going to tell you a story in order to tell you this story. Actually, I'm going to tell you a couple of stories. 

Back in 2013, my WriteOn Joliet co-leader Tom Hernandez worked out an partnership with the owner of Book and Bean Cafe in Joliet, which is inside the Black Road branch of the https://www.jolietlibrary.org/en/Joliet Public Library, where WriteOn meets.

Tom felt that we, as writers, should get used to publicly reading our work. I should also mention that Tom loves to perform and he thoroughly loves open mics. The rest of us agreed to do it, but most of us (me included) approached the mic with sheer terror, and our shaking voices showed it.

Our first open mic was on Oct. 17, 2013, and WriteOn's original member and intrepid videographer recorded each of those readings and has continued to do so ever since, since WriteOn (pre-COVID), would hold these one to two times a year.

Here is my first one, for anyone who needs a good laugh. I should add it was my first time standing up before a group of people and speaking since I had to give speeches in "Concepts of Communication," my first mass communications class as a freshman in the fall of 1979 at the College of St. Francis in Joliet, before it became the University of St. Francis.

And Tom was right. Although I don't gravitate toward the mic as he does, my fright has been reduced to strong intimidation with practice through the years.

Now Barbara Eberhard is very supportive of WriteOn. She attends our open mics, author signings, and our annual anthology release party, in addition to being very talented creatively and just a good person all the way around.

Naturally, I wanted to support her. And by supporting her, I could say "yes" to an opportunity to support a local business (I was giving away $5 gift certificates to Nik & Ivy with select purchases), face my persistent fear, and (maybe) entertain some of the people attending.

And while we were there last night,. Rebekah found a great story idea. So guess who's going back very, very soon?

But I digress (wink).

Actually, I'm going to digress once more.

In 1990, our second year as a homeschooling family, the third grade history book we used featured a series of biographies. One of those people featured was poet named John Greenleaf Whittier. I had never heard of him, so the children and I learned about him together.

A big deal was made of his poem "Snow-Bound," which the book did not feature, and which we did not read until years later, thanks to the power of the internet. But all of my kids now know who he is and are familiar with some of his poems.

One is given a nod in my BryonySeries novel Call of the Siren. 

And Timothy, when he created the calendar page on the BryonySeries website, used the opening of a Greenleaf poem (The Pumpkin) never knowing those same lines are featured in one of the novels, since he hasn't read that one yet.

Oh, greenly and fair in the lands of the sun,

The vines of the gourd and the rich melon run,

And the rock and the tree and the cottage enfold,

With broad leaves all greenness and blossoms all gold.

So last night.

The other four storytellers were real storytellers. They told engaging, relatable stories from their lives that held the audience, including me, absolutely captive.

And me?

Well, I read an excerpt about a harvest party takes place at a nineteenth century party on a farm and features a storyteller telling his version of the Halloween legend Stingy Jack.

I ran into an old boss from the paper route days.

I sold five books (yes, in a bar) and gave away three gift cards.

We did forget to take Bertrand's photo (he was in Rebekah's purse with Uncle Barty).

And while the entire night was perfect from beginning to end, perhaps the most exquisite part of the night, for me, was when I neared the end of the piece.

For the piece I had read featured someone reciting, by heart, The Pumpkin. And when I launched into it, my eyes happened to meet Timothy's in the back of the room, and it was a joke only we got.

But the really, really fun part, for me, was the sudden realization that I was standing at a mic, in a bar, and reading a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier.

Truly, an exquisite moment.

Most of you can leave off reading now.

But if you're curious about the piece, here it is now, for your enjoyment, in the large type I used last night, the better for my old eyes to see it, my dears.

Good evening. My name is Denise M. Baran-Unland and I tell stories by writing.

 

I’m more comfortable behind a computer than behind a mic, so if I sound like I’m hyperventilating, I am.

 

Ironically, my story tonight, which is from one of  my novels, is about a storyteller.

 

The setting is about this time of year, 1884, at a harvest party on the fictional Fisher Farm, which is just outside a fictional fishing village – Munsonville – in Northern Michigan.

 

The events are seen from the perspective of a sheltered 9-year-old girl named Bryony. She’s being raised by her widowed father, who’s also pastor of the local church.

 

This event is her first gathering outside church picnics and potlucks.

 

Here’s the part I’m reading tonight.

 

The villagers were just entertained by a mysterious magician and the women are discussing him as they eat.

 

The men will have a jack-o-lantern carving contest. The winner receives a bottle of Clyde Fisher’s moonshine.

 

And the winner, Owen Munson, our storyteller and founder of the village, will tell his version of the Halloween legend, Stingy Jack.

 

The night then turns into an open mic, with the village’s mayor getting up to recite a poem by John Greenleaf Whitter.

 

At which point Bryony falls asleep. The end.

 

 

Talk of the magician ruled the refreshment hour, with Mrs. Bass dominating the conversation.

          "Abnicola the Great! Seriously! Who was that man?"

          "I don't know, Sally, honey, but, oh! Wasn't he something? I declare, I've never been so frightened out of my wits! Why, if I hadn't known James was here protectin' us, I would have..."

          "Maybelle, sometin' is right. He skeered me, and I think Sebbie was skeered, too."

          "Phoebe, honestly! That was probably James Fisher masqueradin.'"

          Mr. Drake looked up from where he and Addison were inspecting the pumpkins. "James was in the last row, Sally. I saw him myself."

          "Well, it wouldn't surprise me if Mayor Pike hired him. He knows every swank."

          "Boswell?" Mrs. Pike walked toward the gaggle with her plate. "No, he's as mystified as we are. And it wasn't Owen who arranged it, either. I already asked."

          Mrs. Parks swapped Bryony's empty dinner plate for one with thin slices of all three pies, drizzled with cream. Above the din, Bryony heard Mrs. Drake say, "Sally, kin I have yore recipe for..." and  Mr. Bass cry out, "Let the carvin' begin!"

          The men dashed about, grabbing pumpkins, brandishing knives, and pouring drinks, before settling in the vicinity of the bonfire and slicing into virgin orange flesh. Without saying a word amongst them, Mr. Hasset and his sons quietly selected their pumpkins and began the serious work of carving them.

          "Now gentlemen," Mayor Pike held his pumpkin over his head. "Watch as I transform this simple gourd into the perfect Hoberdy's lantern."

          He dropped to the ground Indian-style, wedged the pumpkin in the space between his legs, and jabbed as if Old Nick was driving him.

          "I expect serious results from our two master carpenters," Mr. Drake said. "Addison, how can we expect to win with Mr. Bass and Mr. Betts in our midst?"

          "Wash a masta at woork!" Mr. Betts wiped the drool from his mouth and picked up his knife.

          "Mister Sebastian," Mr. Bass retorted. "Know your place!"

          For a moment, all was quiet, and then...

          "Dang nab it, I've cut myself!"

          "Orville, how did you...OW!"

          Mayor Pike jumped up, blood trickling down his hand. Mr. Parks was already running for rags.

          With a sneer. Mr. Bass momentarily glanced up, his forehead and cheeks shiny with sweat. "Bosie, stick to your books and leave carvin' to experts!"

          "Pumpkin-carving is work for sober men." Mrs. Fisher cast a reproachful look at the group and then a proud one in her husband's direction. "You won't be finding James acting all silly and undignified-like. Why, just last night, when we were working on the preparations for tonight's party, he told me..."

          Mr. Fisher sat apart from the rest, methodically turning his innocent pumpkin into Lucifer after the fall. By his side was a half-full glass of milk. In the fire's glow, he looked as young as Robbie.

          "Maybelle, mind yer damn bizness. Sides, you callin' my Sebbie a drunk?"

          Bryony ate the pie in little bites and in alphabetical order, savoring each mouthful, making the sweet treats last. This impromptu entertainment by the men was nearly as good as the magic show.

          "Well, that scared the dung outa me!"

          "Owen, what the Sam Hill is that?"

          "Wha'd he carve? Lemme see!"

          Mr. Munson's strutted around, flaunting his version of a Hoberdy's Lantern.

          "Why, it's the restored head of the headless horseman!" And Mr. Munson threw back his own head and laughed so strangely Bryony's skin prickled.

          Gradually, the men arranged the pumpkins, now grotesquely carved and lit with candles, around the bonfire, which now burned lower, less brightly.

          "Owen, come git yore prize!"

          Mesmerized, Bryony watched the flickering eyes of the cadaverous lanterns.

          "Now, you young'un's know the legend of the Stingy Jack?" Mr. Munson asked.

          A chorus of young voices cried, "Noooo!"

          Immersed in the mystery of the night, Bryony could only watch Mr. Munson and shake her head.

          A sly expression crossed his face, and he took a swig from his well-earned bottle.

          "Well, it just so happens Stingy Jack's legend begins with a bottle just like this."

          Mr. Munson held it up for all to see.

          "Now everyone knows," Mr. Munson dropped his voice, "that the devil makes the best moonshine around." He raised his eyes and the bottle. "No slam, Clyde!"

          "None, taken!"

          "So Stingy Jack longed for some of the devil's brew, but he didn't want to ante up for it. 'Course, he wouldn't share that information with you-know-who. So he washed his face and combed his hair and knocked on the door of hell and told the devil he wanted to buy his best spirits.'

          "'Why, come in, Jack,' the devil says, setting down his pitchfork and opening the furnace door wide. 'I've got just the thing.'

          "So Jack goes inside, drinks up the sample, and says, 'Oh, ho, devil, you have to get up early in the morning to trick Old Jack. I said I wanted to buy your best spirits.' And Jack threw down the glass."

          Mr. Munson's eyes swept over the crowd. "Now what do you  s'pose happened to poor Jack?"

          No one answered. Bryony's mouth hung loose, and she shrank lower on her hay bale..

          "Well, the devil says, 'Why, Jack, you are a clever man. I only save the best spirits for the most worthy of drinkers.' And the devil brought in a fresh glass for Jack to taste.'

          "Jacks drinks it up, smacks his lips, and again throws down the glass. 'Mr. Satan,' Jack said, 'I'm beginning to think the tales about your moonshine are false. If you don't have anything better'n this, I'll be on my way.'

          "But as Jack turns to leave, the devil grabs him by the throat. 'Now, Jack,' the devil says, 'I'll have no dissatisfied customers, especially when they are as discerning as you. Wait here.'"

          Mr. Munson took a gulp and swiped his mouth on his shoulder.

          "So Jack waits, and he waits, and he waits, and he waits, and he waits. After a long, long wait, the devil trots in with a glass of the clearest brew Jack ever did see. Jack, delighted the devil finally brought forth the goods, savored that drink, sip by itty bitty sip, until he was done."

          Mr. Munson paused, grinning as wickedly as a Hoberdy lantern.

          "'Did you enjoy it?' the devil asked. 'I've had better,' Jack said and turned to the door, only to find the door had disappeared into the flames, as had the walls and everything else except for him and Satan.

          "'It's time to settle your debt, Jack,' the devil softly said.

          "This frightened Jack, but he still was keen on outwitting the devil. 'Lookee here, Satan,' Jack said. 'I've somehow misplaced my wallet. If you just let me run home, I'll be back lickety-split with your money.'

          "'I'm afraid it's not that simple, Jack,' the devil replied."

          Mr. Munson took a gulp of Old Man Fisher's moonshine and a step toward the audience.

          "'You see, Jack, anyone who's tasted my prized spirits can no longer enter heaven, but because you tried swindling me, you ain't fit for hell, either.'"

          Mr. Munson moved closer to the hay hales.

          "This frightened Jack. He wished he never heard of the devil or his moonshine."

          Mr. Munson leaned close to the front row.

          "'There's only one way to pay for this, Jack. I'm gonna have to take..."

          He grabbed Freddie Betts' throat, and Freddie slid right off his bale and out of Mr. Munson's clutches.

          "Your soul! MUAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!"

          Freddie sprinted to the outhouse. With a snarl and a chuckle, Mr. Munson brought the bottle to his lips, leaned down, and scanned the faces before him.

          "Now that the devil had poor Jack's soul, he needed a place to stick it. So he sliced the top off a juicy pumpkin, gouged out some eye holes, and a nose hole, and a mouth hole so Jack could see the world he lost, stuffed Jack's soul in, and popped back the top."

          An invisible force lured Bryony's gaze to the rows of Hoberdy lanterns, their lost souls cavorting in hellfire and damnation.

          Mayor Pike, left hand wound conspicuously in linen, jumped up. "Now, Owen, where's the culture? Where's the art?"

          With a friendly leer, Mr. Munson staggered aside and swept Mayor Pike into the foreground. "Let's hear it, fancy pants."

          Swaying from side to side, although he did his best to conceal it, Mayor Pike managed to get to center stage.

          "A little John Greenleaf Whittier, if you please. I shall now recite, 'The Pumpkin.'"

          Mr. Munson moaned, clutched his heart, and slumped. "Janet, how the hell do you suffer him?"

          "He makes up for it." Mrs. Pike smiled a mysterious smile, and her eyes danced.

          One hand on his chest and bandaged hand to the sky, Mayor Pike assumed an exaggerated orator position and began:

 

          Oh, greenly and fair in the lands of the sun,

           The vines of the gourd and the rich melon run,

           And the rock and the tree and the cottage enfold,

           With broad leaves all greenness and blossoms all gold..

 

          Mayor Pike teetered. Bryony's eyes drooped; her head bobbed; her little body swayed with the dying fire, the starry night, the cold breeze, and the drone of Mayor Pike's melodious voice.

 

 

A Wonderful Opportunity from "Stories R Us" and Barbara Eberhard

If you like stories and want to hear me babble, come out to "Stories R Us" at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at Nik and Ivy Brewing Co.at 1026 S. State St. in Lockport.

Storyteller and photographer Barbara Eberhard is hosting the monthly event, and I am honored to be one of the artists at her opening night. Barbara asked me to read from one of my novels, and I have an excerpt ready to go!

I will also have my BryonySeries books for sale, along with other titles for sale, too.

Every person who buys one (or more) of these combinations will receive a $5 gift card to Nik and Ivy Brewing as a "thank you" gift while supplies last.

Gift cards are not limited to one per customer. But for each additional gift card, you must still purchase one of these four combinations.

1) One "regular" young adult or adult BryonySeries book (choices include any book in the "drop of blood" trilogy, Lycanthropic Summer, The Phoenix, Call of the Siren, Ruthless by Ed Calkins Steward of Tara or any of the Before the Blood books) or Nine Months of Kindness.

2) Any two books in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer series.

3) Any three books in the Bertrand the Mouse series.

4) All three of our BryonySeries cookbooks.

To check out our books, visit bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Hope to see you there!

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, April 22 through May 3

I just spent the last hour or so talking with one of my sons and catching up with his week.

So now that I'm behind on my first Friday back to work, I'll head right into the stories.

One final thought: after all the rain we've had here this past week, it's really nice to see the sun! :)

Non-bylined features:

Monday through Saturday I assembled my non-bylined works - brief posts and calendar listings - into one convenient file and posting them on Facebook in the evening, so readers can easily choose the ones they want to read.

One can also find those event listings, the Gotta Do It calendar, as well as the pets, health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars, under the sections tab on the left hand side of http://www.theherald-news.com/. Click on "features" and the topics drop down.  Gotta Do It runs under "people."

Community news? Again, under the sections tab, under features, and by topic. Updates are posted on these days in print and web (and some only on web on other days as I have the time): Monday (pets), Tuesday (health), Thursday (faith), Friday (arts and entertainment), and Sunday (people).

 Social media:

Daily updates: I do post the briefs and calendars 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 www.facebook.com/BryonySeries. And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to jon WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/writeonminooka/?ref=bookmarks. We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

Upcoming events:

Once Timothy Baran is done updating this page, these will listed here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/fetes-and-feasts.

Check out the progress he has made so far. Each square is hand-built.

Books and Such

Information on my books (including where to buy) along with upcoming events is at www.bryonyseries.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.

Women of the Year
Churches, organizations, recognize the contribution of women

Read on to see the women local churches and other organizations honored this year.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/03/18/c9c23ad0656940a29018d3b7220b2ede/index.xml


An Extraordinary Life: 'He was a giver and not a taker'
Raymond 'DeVere' Johnson of #Joliet served others in an unassuming manner

How many local people have a documentary made about their military service? And how did such a thing happen?

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/04/16/an-extraordinary-life-he-was-a-giver-and-not-a-taker/a4p5nav/


Braidwood mom shares her daughter's battle with heroin

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/04/22/braidwood-mom-shares-her-daughters-battle-with-heroin/ap5qg78/


Addressing the unique needs of senior mental health
Herald-News Senior Expo to include talk about Monarch program at Silver Oaks in New Lenox 

The senior expo has passed, but the information about this program is very relevant. read on!

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/04/22/48a73734d26d46a5bdd47b1a0f03d363/index.xml


Two new spirits make Derby Day on May 4 extra festive
Try Frankfort Spirits' new bourbon and rum

If you can't wait until tomorrow, the distillery is releasing one of these spirits today at a special event. Details are in the story.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/04/30/3748f9d670604af8ba8182a3aea202d9/index.xml


Exhibit of Briscoe Mounds artifacts at Channahon library

Check out this pictorial glimpse of the display. Then go see the rest for yourself.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/05/02/e1af8530e8474208a99aa80cc81de3db/index.xml


Artworks Giving a glimpse of life on the inside
Lockport exhibit shows #oliet Correctional from the prisoners' viewpoint

"I was always driving past it and it was very interesting," Barbara Eberhard, photographer, said. "I remember many years ago trying to take pictures outside. I was stopped by a guard who said I couldn't take pictures of the buildings."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/04/30/f1b99087ef7442f19d06bf3d8c843d82/index.xml


LocalLit author spotlight: J.L. Callison of Aurora
Callison's stories address real-life problems

This author of three books said, "I entered into the writing world knowing nothing of the process. I still don’t know much, but I’m having a lot of fun."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/04/15/4880334271524602a619be2ef64a4a06/index.xml

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff