Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, Receives a Birthday Limerick

Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, BryonySeries author and Irish vampire character, reads the birthday limerick WriteOn Joliet member Recapper Jenny presented to Ed on Calkins Day (Feb. 13) 2026 at The Book Market in Crest Hill.

Daniel Bought a Bible from 1881

For Last Friday, Daniel bought an 1881 Bible from The Book Market with the help of the store credit that Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, provided every guest during the Calkins Day celebration.

Daniel took the Bible out of its package last night after physical therapy, and he, Rebekah, and I marveled at its weight, thoroughness of helpful information (more complete than any modern Bible study), detailed artwork (including some plates in color), section that once held family portraits (a shame they were removed), string binding.

Of course, 1881 puts us right into many of the scenes in the BryonySeries novel "Before The Blood," so we have that connection, too.

Here are some photos from you to enjoy!

 

Calkins Day is Less Than a Week Away!

Calkins Day is less than a week away!

What is Calkins Day, you may ask?

It's the BryonySeries official holiday, and a day to celebrate creativity, generosity, and laughter.

This post will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about Calkins Day (and most likely more than you ever dreamed possible).

The flyer at the bottom of today's post sums up the event experience (although you really need to attend for the full experience).

Can't attend due to prior commitments? Live to far away?

Why, just attend in your imagination, which is an Ed Calkins-approved way to attend anything.

Concerned financial restrictions might impede your ability to celebrate? Then check out "Calkins Day on a Budget."

However, if you live reasonably close to The Book Market in Crest Hill, the only financial concern is gas money for your car, since the entire event is FREE (unless you buy a book, which is highly unlikely, as Ed is more likely to simply give you one).

Wearing a striped shirt like this one is optional and only if you have one. One year I didn't wear mine, and Ed called me out on it. However, that's only because he knows I DO own one. So you probably have more flexability on this point.

Your greater concern really should be your answer to this question: "Are you a member of the IVA?" And my advice to you is to carefully consider your answer and ONLY after you read this post.

And remember: CALKINS DAY IS LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY!

Save the Date: Calkins Day 2026

Calkins Day (Feb. 13) is the BryonySeries' official holiday. It's a day to celebrate laughter, imagination, generosity, and the birthday of Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara: man, myth, and author.

And we are inviting you to that celebration from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at The Book Market in Crest Hill.

The drop-in celebration will include free food, a chance to win an original acrylic waterscape painted by Ed’s wife Nancy Calkins (an accomplished artist and retired art teacher), and the opportunity to purchase books authored by Ed and books in which Ed appears as a character.

One of those books will include “Recovering Ruthless,” the third book in the outrageous, literary nonsense BryonySeries Ruthless series, all authored by Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara.

The first book is simply called “Ruthless.” The second book is titled “The Fifth.”

Ed also wrote my Irish genealogy. (I’m not Irish).

Ed also appears as himself (as in himself, a ruthless dictator, and an Irish vampire) in “Bryony,” “Visage,” and “Staked!”

Who is Ed Calkins? Here is a twenty-question interview withthe real Ed Calkins, here is my Calkins Day address from 2020, and here is Ed’s Calkins Day message from 2018.

Here is why we celebrate Calkins Day.

Here is how to celebrate Calkins Day in our "Guide to Becoming Un-Serious."

I must also add that Ed is very dyslexic, which makes writing more challenging for him than many other writers. But he not only works through the challenge, he’s made dyslexia a key part of the plot in his Ruthless trilogy in ways that has nothing to do with reading or writing.

You also might want to listen to this podcast.

And if you follow those links, you might find yourself almost prepared to celebrate Calkins Day at The Book Market on Feb. 13.

But if you really want to impress the Steward of Tara (also known as Your Ruthlessness), come prepared to recite a limerick about him as WriteOn Joliet member Mauverneen Blevins did in 2023.

Or memorize “Birches” by Robert Frost and recite it to him.

And then watch the magic unfold.

Happy Saturday!