Assorted News from Munsonville

The Bryony team is busy! Here's what we've been doing:

* The author is working hard on her editorial notes and even pulled at twenty-four plus day last week before calling it a night (morning?). She hopes to finish by the end of the month, so more long days are ahead.

* The filming of the official Bryony book trailer and music video is scheduled for next week. In the meantime, we are feverishly seeking two men's Victorian suits.

* There is a possibility of a second music video in an historic theatre.

* James Onohan (Bryony's pianist/composer) has written several songs for the 10-song CD, The Best-Loved Compositions of John Simons (http://www.jamesonohan.com/).

* The author will be re-recording the audio documentary on vampires, hopefully this weekend.

* The Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids' Sake statistics are posted. The two Bryony teams--Just Steve and Stake and Blade--beat their $1000 goal by $105!

* We may have a sponsor for the Bryony cookbook.

* Almost 2000 Bryony business cards have been dispersed. They are FREE. To get yours, contact BryonySeries@gmail.com, and we will send some to you.

"Every man shall give as he is able." Deuteronomy 16:17

*On Friday night, Bryony did just that. In the entire scheme of Bowl for Kids' Sake, the annual fundraiser of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties (http://www.bbbswillgrundy.org/), ten bowlers' efforts for the two Bryony teams--Just Steve and Stake and Blade--seem small and insignificant, but it will make the difference for one child. *We made our fundraising goal of $1,000, the amount it takes to match one child from a single parent home with one positive adult mentor. *To be sure, we sweated it, and we reached the eleventh hour not certain if we would make it. Everyone we know (including us) is broke, so soliciting those donations was hard work. *Still, most people were happy to help, even if all they could offer was a dollar. My fifteen year old son obtained a solicitor's permit and went door to door. We even had a donation post online at midnight, just as the bowling ended. The next day, we received a cash donation. *Besides, we had a blast. My mother bought my daughter, Sarah Stegall, Bryony's web administrator, a plane ticket from North Carolina to Illinois. Sarah like a rock star by flying into town for twenty-four hours for a fundraiser and a taped Bryony interview at the P. Seth Magosky Museum of Victorian Life (http://www.museumofvictorianlife.org/). *Anyway, Sarah deserved to feel like a rock star. She designed and maintains the BryonySeries Facebook page, has been instrumental in solicting recipes for the Bryony cookbook, set up the BryonySeries blog, and is the entire creative force behind the BryonySeries website. Moreoever, she raised several hundred for the cause (all this while caring for a four-year old at home). *During the bowling, my twenty-year-old son performed a ridiculous turkey dance, which Sarah videotaped on her phone and plans to upload soon. *My seventeen year old daughter Rebekah bowled with a case of hives and fell asleep between turns due to the antihistamine and a very long day at work. *It was the first time I had seen my adult godddaughter since she lost over a hundred pounds. She's had a makeover, works out, and looks so great, I stood in admiration of her all evening. *We even will have a souvenior of Bryony's first bowling fundraiser. My adult son Christopher bid on and won a blank bowling pin, which a local artist has agreed to decorate in whatever theme the winner requested. *Naturally, Christopher told her he wanted the Bryony logo. He also took a bet that other team members would have some money in their pockets, because he bid more than he had in his wallet. *The high point for the author, fundraising goals aside, was spending a lighthearted evening with all six of her children. With one living out of town and conflicting work and school schedules amongst the rest of them, this hasn't happened in year. *And yes, we got an updated sibling shot. Look for Sarah to post soon at www.facebook.com/BryonySeries.

The Countess and the Impossible by Richard Thurman (The Five Dollar Yard)

The term five dollar yard is a cliche around our house. While pondering Bryony's next editing step and with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl For Kids' Sake merely hours away, the cliche is sure to be bantered about a bit. The story opens with a reserved older, wealthy woman rapping our protagonist on the head with her cane and offering a job caring for her lawn. Pay is dependent on performance, with five dollars being an excellance she's certain he'll never attain. At first, the boy doesn't care about top pay, but as the story progresses, he becomes more and more determined to reach that coveted goal. Read it for free online.

So, Is There Really Going to be a Book?

LOL! Yes, there is. It’s been four months since I returned Round Three Bryony Edits to WriteLife, but word is that my editor is finishing up a comprehensive edit, and I should see the manuscript again soon. In the meantime, there is plenty of Byrony pre-publication bliss to keep me happy: * Just saw the proof for the business cards, and they took terrific! * My editor posted a quote from Bryony on her site. Woo Hoo! * My publicist, Dulcinea Hawksworth, has talked to people eager to review Bryony AND * The first person to review it (a university English professor) sounds positive AND * Dulcinea is lining up venues interested in a Bryony event AND * I'm to appear at a pre-event in April (details as we get closer). * Fundraising for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake on March 25 is slow, but happening. * I’ve met a number of terrific people willing to be interviewed for the BryonySeries blog. * Sarah Stegall, Bryony’s web administrator, has added a music room page to the Bryony website (http://www.bryonyseries.com/) and is working on a humane society page. Plus, the board of trustees page is updated. Check them out! * Stephen Tuplin, Bryony’s filmmaker, has begun some initial shooting for the Bryony trailer in a REAL Victorian mansion. * A small press that MIGHT be interested in the Bryony cookbook is reviewing those files. We're getting closer....

Bryony and Bowl for Kids Sake

It's official! Bryony is now one of the sponsors of this year's Bowl for Kids' Sake for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties (http://www.bbss.org/).

My family has formed two teams that will be bowling at the March 25 Candlelight Bowl: Just Steve and Stake and Blade. If you would like to bowl with us that night or form your own Bryony team, message us at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

Although team members have set modest goals, we are trying to raise as much money as possible. If you would like to sponsor me, click here: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=451843&supId=321208760

Why should you get involved? According to BBBS, at-risk youth from single parent homes that have experienced their professionally supported, one-on-one mentoring have

* Higher graduation rates
* More positive relationships
* Increased levels of self-confidence

They are also

* 1/3 ess likely to become violent
* 46 percent less likely to use drugs
* 52 percent less likely to skip school

BBBS serves nearly 500 children annually in Will and Grundy Counties. Each $1,000 raised will allow one child to be safey and successfully matched to an adult volunteer for one year. This year's goal is to raise $100,000. Sponsorships fund event costs, so all of the money raised for Bowl for Kids' Sake goes directly to the children.

Why is Bryony getting involved? In my novel, the main character, Melissa, and her brother Brian, live, for a short time, in a single parent home, and are fortunate to have an adult mentor. This is our way of honoring and supporting the efforts of adults who consciously commit to influence children in positive, life-changing ways.