BryonySeries: Black Lives Matter

Showing posts with label Black Lives Matter. Show all posts

Friday, June 12, 2020

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, June 6 through June 12

Whew! Sixteen stories (so far) posted this week - with more coming later in the day on The Herald-News site.

That does not include any of the features briefs I've posted (and we'll catch up on them next week).

With so much to read, I'll just give a quick update about my fiction, especially if you're wondering if I've had time to write any.

Yes, I'm making slow (but sure) progress on both The Phoenix (the first book in the Limbo series) and the standalone Lycanthropic Summer.

I am also (even more slowly) working on a side short story that ties into the series. But that one is one deadline so I need to get that keyboard moving.

I'm also wrapping up Phyllis' memoir (one of her granddaughters has the third proof copy and only has a couple ore slight changes; no need for another proof - hurray!).

I'm also working on the final round of edits for a client's novel and the first round for another client's short story collection (horror - right up my genre!)

And speaking of getting the keyboard moving, Rebekah noticed this week that some of the keys and part of the space bar is worn - and the keyboard was brand new in March, proof positive I do more than drink coffee and play on social media all day.

As far as social media does go, here's where to find me. After that are the story links.

Be safe, be well, be full of love, joy, and peace.

Non-bylined features:

Search by topic (people, pets, A and E, faith, health, and food) at theherald-news.com.

Once a week, I do combine a week's worth into a single blog post.

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 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 join 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.

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 with each year. Check us out at writeonjoliet.com.

Upcoming BryonySeries events:

A full month of virtual events can be found at bryonyseries.com/fetes-and-feasts.

Books and Such

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

Newsletters:

Sign up for the Will County Go Guide

http://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/will-county-go-guide/#//

Sign up for the LocalLit Short Story Newsletter

http://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/locallit/

Sign up for The Munsonville Times

https://www.bryonyseries.com/munsonville-times

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.

A scrap of paper set this Joliet man free
'It's pretty much a miracle'

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/09/a-scrap-of-paper-set-this-joliet-man-free/ad98xmg/

'How is this man even conscious?' Joliet man shares his 5-week hospital stay with severe COVID-19

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/09/how-is-this-man-even-conscious/asfdn56/

Mystery Diner: Think 'Rax' for good roast beef in Joliet

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/09/mystery-diner-think-rax-for-good-roast-beef-in-joliet/dydqwpw/

LocalLit book rreview: 'Cherry Blossoms in Twilight'

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/08/locallit-book-review-cherry-blossoms-in-twilight/al4chlt/

An Extraordinary Life: ‘She always cared about the patients'
Plainfield EMT gave her best despite a life-threatening condition

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2020/06/07/606ec258d938473abe2c0f76c1d479da/index.xml?page=1

LocalLit book spotlight: ‘Cherry Blossoms in Twilight’

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/04/locallit-book-spotlight-cherry-blossoms-in-twilight/a8fqza5/

Cases of cannabis-induced psychosis increase during COVID-19 pandemic
“Each and everyone has said, 'I didn’t realize that. I didn’t know that'"

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/01/cases-of-cannabis-induced-psychosis-increase-during-covid-19-pandemic/axa9jtv/

Pets of the Week: June 8

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/07/pets-of-the-week-june-8/dki39ns/

How to make the most of video visits - and 2 places to schedule them locally

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/08/how-to-make-the-most-of-video-visits-and-2-places-to-schedule-them-locally/abj8y0o/

Recent studies shed new light on the novel coronavirus

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/09/recent-studies-shed-new-light-on-the-novel-coronavirus/aibetfk/

Joliet couple's income is art and music - and they're surviving the pandemic

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/08/joliet-couples-income-is-art-and-music-and-theyre-surviving-the-pandemic/aq71wjc/

‘Truth will get you into trouble; truth will get you killed’
Joliet pastor challenges people to listen to each other

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/07/truth-will-get-you-into-trouble-truth-will-get-you-killed/a9ljyp0/

'I have never gotten so frustrated that I felt like burning down Target'
Will County Board member says two wrongs don’t make a right

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/02/i-have-never-gotten-so-frustrated-that-i-felt-like-burning-down-target/ajk1yux/

'At the end of the day, we're all broken people, right?'
Joliet pastor says people need to take responsibility for racism

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/05/at-the-end-of-the-day-were-all-broken-people-right/agucfft/

'Black people have been in an unhealthy domestic abuse relationship with America'
#Joliet pastor said the oppressors need to fix the problem

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/04/black-people-have-been-in-an-unhealthy-domestic-abuse-relationship-with-america/aov3ksg/

'It's kind of like open season on the African American male'
Clergyman says real issue is flaw in judicial system

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/02/its-kind-of-like-open-season-on-the-african-american-male/awfyaai/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."

Monday, June 8, 2020

The Best Post You'll Read All Week

Ever have one of those moments when the Holy Spirit appears to tap you on the shoulder?

I had one last week in the middle of an extremely busy afternoon on deadline. Immediately, I laid aside my other work and followed up on it.

I picked up the phone and called six black male pastors I had interviewed over the years and asked them one question: What are your thoughts regarding the death of George Floyd and the events that followed?

Four picked up the phone right away and talked a lot. Some talked loudly, some talked rapidly, some chose his words very carefully, not in any sort of political correctness way, but because, and I could hear it in his voice, think about the best way to express what he was thinking and feeling.

One called me back and set up a time to talk the following morning. And he talked for over an hour, which turned into a bit of dialogue between us

One never called back, although, to be fair, I didn't leave the question on the voice mail, just a requst to call me back.

Why did I call them?

Because they are leaders in their church communities and will have to continue addressing this issue, so I knew they could communicate the sentiments well for the readers.

Because they are objective enough to see all sides.

Because they are both rational and spiritual.

Because racism affects their lives and the lives of people they know.

And because since everyone seems to have something to say right now, I felt somebody ought to ask them what they thought.

Here are the responses, which, instead of one story, turned into five.

‘Truth will get you into trouble; truth will get you killed’
Joliet pastor challenges people to listen to each other

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/07/truth-will-get-you-into-trouble-truth-will-get-you-killed/a9ljyp0/

'I have never gotten so frustrated that I felt like burning down Target'
Will County Board member says two wrongs don’t make a right

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/02/i-have-never-gotten-so-frustrated-that-i-felt-like-burning-down-target/ajk1yux/

'At the end of the day, we're all broken people, right?'
#Joliet pastor says people need to take responsibility for racism

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/05/at-the-end-of-the-day-were-all-broken-people-right/agucfft/

'Black people have been in an unhealthy domestic abuse relationship with America'
#Joliet pastor said the oppressors need to fix the problem

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/04/black-people-have-been-in-an-unhealthy-domestic-abuse-relationship-with-america/aov3ksg/

'It's kind of like open season on the African American male'
Clergyman says real issue is flaw in judicial system

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/06/02/its-kind-of-like-open-season-on-the-african-american-male/awfyaai/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."

Interestingly, this illustration occurs at the end of the book, which leads into the third book. "Staked! deals with the theme of righting wrongs.

Friday, June 5, 2020

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, May 30 through June 5

Good morning readers, writers, and BryonySeries fans.

I have so many stories to share with you this morning (20 including two videos and a photo list and not counting briefs, those are for another day), so I'll skip any commentary.

Hope everyone is safe, healthy, happy, and enjoying a beautiful start to Friday. On this side of the planet, it's 72 degrees, sunny, and I can hear birds outside my window.

And the coffee is delicious!

Here's where to find me (virtually) and my writing work.