The official blog of Denise M. Baran-Unland, author. Discover her books for all ages at bryonyseries.com.
Showing posts with label Daraga's Quest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daraga's Quest. Show all posts
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Saturday, October 27, 2018
The Novels Are Written: Now What?
Earlier this year, I set, and met, some goals for writing and self-editing the fifth novel of the BryonySeries trilogy Before the Blood.
Although I'll certainly be busy with making the changes and getting each book ready for its 2019 release (where a couple of people can't wait to read them), the burning question now is: How am I filling that writing time until Colleen Robbins returns the manuscripts?
Catching up on neglected projects at home and work, that's what!
For instance, this I'm working straight through most of this weekend in order to spend part of Tuesday at Loyola and leave a little early on Wednesday to go trick or treating with grandkids.
Last weekend, I put together the albums of the four BryonySeries artists, tentatively scheduled a year's worth of signings for WriteOn Joliet members at a local bookstore and then visited that said bookstore to meet with the owner to handle some final details of a unique partnership that's happening in 2019 (details later, it's not launched yet).
Also last weekend, I put together a new Bertrand the Mouse Book and finished the copy editing of Cornell Dyer and the Necklace of Forgetfulness. A new proof has been ordered. Bertrand is stalled because the ISBN site is down for maintenance. I'll be calling on Monday.
And I caught up on correspondence with my grandkids! :)
This weekend and last weekend, I worked on some light editing on a novel for another WriteOn Joliet member. Ten chapters down, forty more to go!
(And I still need to practice my piece for this Thursday's open mic at the Book and Bean Cafe in Joliet. The topic is "fear." We have about twenty local authors reading. Hope to see you there!)
Next weekend, I'll be hanging out the bookstore, getting stuff reading for the launch. And giving Ed Calkins a call. True, he sent a telegram last week, but he's altogether too quiet. Time to shake him up.
Plus, I'll be attending the monthly meeting of the WriteOn Joliet Gothic Book Club between 12:30 and 2 p.m. at the Book and Bean Cafe in Joliet. Come join us! :)
Plus, I'll be attending the monthly meeting of the WriteOn Joliet Gothic Book Club between 12:30 and 2 p.m. at the Book and Bean Cafe in Joliet. Come join us! :)
By then I'm guessing Colleen might be ready with the edits. And in between those, I have more projects waiting. These are:
Five Bertrand books waiting to be assembled (photos are all done, except for one book and those are half done).
Getting the next two Adventures of Cornell Dyer books written: Cornell Dyer and the Eerie Lake and Cornell Dyer: In the Shadow of the Mountain.
Finally, finally, finally starting my standalone werewolf novel (and I am sooooooooooo tempted to start that now!).
Plus, I'm planning to spend 2019 catching up on reading books by WriteOn Joliet authors.
And now, back to work!
Friday, September 14, 2018
Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Sept. 3 through Sept. 14
Three key points this morning.
My crocheted mouse is miffed at me.
WriteOn Joliet is moving into spheres few (if any) writers groups have moved.
I felt a bit of the thrill famous writers feel at a new release.
For simplicity's sake, I'll explain point by point.
1) Bertrand.
I've not posted a single Bertrand on Instagram these past two weeks, but I have two good reasons: I took an at-home writing retreat and returned to work this past week under the weather, where work was priority, and Bertrand was not.
However, I will make it up to him. I'm taking him out to a very nice restaurant and then letting him post what HE did during my writing retreat. (The photos are shocking but clean so don't go there).
2) WriteOn Joliet.
Last year, my co-leader Tom Hernandez and I decided to address marketing frustrations of our group's writers by at least introducing the marketing conversation this year outside of our regular meetings and add a marketing "arm" to our group, which we can develop over time.
This resulted in our hosting two marketing roundtables where writers could gather and share. We held our second last night, and one new member even created (on her own) a survey so members could assess their own priorities and help us decide how, as a group, we'd like to address it. Most of last night's ten attendees have already filled out and returned their surveys.
From these two meetings, we've developed a focus for last year and accumulated ideas for future ideas. It's an exciting step for us.
3) I'm famous!
Well, not quite. In fact, not at all.
Yesterday when I texted my editor (Colleen Robbins, author of Daraga's Quest and one of the authors to the last two books in the BryonySeries trilogy) to let her know the first four books of Before the Blood were ready for pickup from the printer, she texted me back eighteen minutes later and said she had them.
I knew she was eager to read them (I have been working on them seven years), but my first thought was, "Did she camp out on the parking lot?" and "She must have rushed right over!"
Alas, she was merely on her way to the Joliet Public Library (where she volunteers) when I sent the text. So she headed over the printer's, which was near the library.
Still, for a few minutes, I had a glimmer of the feeling authors must feel when people wrap around a bookstore waiting for an official release. And it felt good.
Also, please check out my events page on the BryonySeries website (scroll down to "upcomng events"). I've added one for Oct. 11 that's taking an author reading to a slightly different level.
Now, where to find my official writing, me on social media, and my two stories, since this week was a catching up week?
Non-bylined features:
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."
He was just trying to be a good dad
My crocheted mouse is miffed at me.
WriteOn Joliet is moving into spheres few (if any) writers groups have moved.
I felt a bit of the thrill famous writers feel at a new release.
For simplicity's sake, I'll explain point by point.
1) Bertrand.
I've not posted a single Bertrand on Instagram these past two weeks, but I have two good reasons: I took an at-home writing retreat and returned to work this past week under the weather, where work was priority, and Bertrand was not.
However, I will make it up to him. I'm taking him out to a very nice restaurant and then letting him post what HE did during my writing retreat. (The photos are shocking but clean so don't go there).
2) WriteOn Joliet.
Last year, my co-leader Tom Hernandez and I decided to address marketing frustrations of our group's writers by at least introducing the marketing conversation this year outside of our regular meetings and add a marketing "arm" to our group, which we can develop over time.
This resulted in our hosting two marketing roundtables where writers could gather and share. We held our second last night, and one new member even created (on her own) a survey so members could assess their own priorities and help us decide how, as a group, we'd like to address it. Most of last night's ten attendees have already filled out and returned their surveys.
From these two meetings, we've developed a focus for last year and accumulated ideas for future ideas. It's an exciting step for us.
3) I'm famous!
Well, not quite. In fact, not at all.
Yesterday when I texted my editor (Colleen Robbins, author of Daraga's Quest and one of the authors to the last two books in the BryonySeries trilogy) to let her know the first four books of Before the Blood were ready for pickup from the printer, she texted me back eighteen minutes later and said she had them.
I knew she was eager to read them (I have been working on them seven years), but my first thought was, "Did she camp out on the parking lot?" and "She must have rushed right over!"
Alas, she was merely on her way to the Joliet Public Library (where she volunteers) when I sent the text. So she headed over the printer's, which was near the library.
Still, for a few minutes, I had a glimmer of the feeling authors must feel when people wrap around a bookstore waiting for an official release. And it felt good.
Also, please check out my events page on the BryonySeries website (scroll down to "upcomng events"). I've added one for Oct. 11 that's taking an author reading to a slightly different level.
Now, where to find my official writing, me on social media, and my two stories, since this week was a catching up week?
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.
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:
These are listed here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/fetes-and-feasts
Upcoming events:
These are listed here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/fetes-and-feasts
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.
He was just trying to be a good dad
Kevin Molloy retires from leadership in New Lenox community
theater
For 20 years, Molloy, a State Farm Insurance agent, was instrumental in helping to bring high-quality productions to the New Lenox area for community theater prices, a news release said.
Ironically, a tragedy spurred Molloy’s involvement.
LocalLit author spotlight: Ramesh Shah of St. Charles
Meet the man behind the memoir.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
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