About the BryonySeries: Dedicated Days of the Week

It's interesting to see how social media's evolved since I first wrote "Bryony" in 2007 and 2008.

In late 2009, a small press accepted the book for publication. And in spring 2010, Sarah started a Bryony Facebook page to build engagement and collect recipes for the book's companion cookbook.

Sarah actually had very nice engagement on the page until the small press (which is no more) pushed publication back a year. 

Engagement tanked, Sarah got busy and lost interest, and I debated how and why I should keep the page going. 

In the meantime, the titles of books we published kept growing.

And the number of people actually viewing the posts without commenting actually grew, too.

So I decided the page was worth keeping just to keep us visible and to help readers discover the series.

That's when I segmented the days of the week, which gave a framework for posting and ensuring no book was left behind:

Sunday: Limbo trilogy (with kindness on the fourth Sunday)

Monday: Bertrand the Mouse

Tuesday: The Adventures of Cornell Dyer

Wednesday: The original "drop of blood" young adult vampire trilogy

Thursday: Witches and werewolves (every other Thursday) and Girls of the BryonySeries (every other Thursday).

Friday: Before The Blood

Saturday: Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara

Here is an overview of all the Books of the BryonySeries.

So much focus on social media today is based on popularity, of people, of posts.

Everyone wants to be an influencer, it seems.

But not all growth is front-facing.

A lot of growth happens behind the scenes, too.

I guess that's a metaphor for life, too.

Daily Themes of the BryonySeries

Daily themes might not be necessary for a social media page dedicated to just one book.

But what happens when an author published multiple books in multiple subseries? Confusion, right?

So years ago, we dedicated different days of the week to different BryonySeries books.

This ensured that anyone following the pages knew what to expect on a given day (or what day to check in, for those preferring certain titles.

This means, most of the content shared and posted on a given day ties into the theme of the particular series highlighted on that day and the theme of the particular book in the particular series we are highlighting on that day.

For instance, Wednesday is dedicated to the original "drop of blood" trilogy, which also includes a cookbook and a short story. So one week, we highlight "Bryony." The next week, we highlight "Visage" - and so forth, until we move through all the books. Then we start over.

Even the "Good morning" coffee photos pick up the theme of the day. For instance Bertrand Mondays feature red or yarn (red yarn is even better) or woven materials (Bertrand is a crocheted mouse), and Cornell Tuesdays feature cookies, doughnuts, chocolate cake (I'm sure you can guess why).

For now, that is mostly confined to the BryonySeries Facebook page, as I've not been on the BryonySeries Twitter/X account since September. I don't want to delete it. But I'm rolling ideas around in my mind on how to reimagine it. For now, BryonySeries Twitter/X is dormant.

Here's how we've divided the days of the week. Pop in, follow us, and enjoy! We try to keep the page friendly, social, and without a push to buy.

Note: Collages for Bertrand and Cornell do not reflect all available titles. And we've only published half of the eight Girls of the BryonySeries titles so far. And Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, has a third novel in progress.

SUNDAY: Limbo trilogy

MONDAY: Bertrand the Mouse

TUESDAY: The Adventures of Cornell Dyer

WEDNESDAY "drop of blood" trilogy

THURSDAY: Werewolves, "A Year of Shadows and Moonlight" (coming 2024) and Girls of the BryonySeries (four more books in the works)

FRIDAY: Before the Blood

SATURDAY: Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, all things Irish, and Ed's "Ruthless" series

A Triple Gift of Life

My nickname in the plant world is "Angel of Death."

That's because, except for my good plant deskmate Chloe "Lucky" Hawk (a gift in the fall of 2016 from a job shadower), any plant unfortunate enough to come under my care dies.

Always and without exceptions.

Period.

So you can imagine my "delight" when a Facebook friend offered to gift me with some of her plants for my balcony.

After explaining my lack of green thumbs to her (sounds less gross than saying I have black thumbs), she selected plants she felt could stand up against my lack of vegetation competency.

She also oversaw all their initial growings, ensuring they'd passed their most vulerable staged and could survive in the wild.

It was fun, too, because she sent updates and photos on my fledgling little herbages, which I likened to peeks at offspring via ultrasound images.

Encouraged, Rebekah even adopted a few tomato plants to round out our garden family. 

So this post should really read, "An Quadruple Gift of Life." Except Rebekah brought home three tomato plants. Which is making the title of this blog post complicated.

So - no. No title adjusting.

As ill-fate ordained, Daniel and I brought my little plant babies home in their pots just as a heat wave struck our area. 

The poor things wilted, turned brown, and curled up their little leaves. Whether that was due to the heat, homesickness, or the fact I kept forgetting to water them enough is uncertain.

I couldn't fix the heat and their homesickness. But I could step up the water.

Boy, did those babies slurp up the water! (Good there is no DCFS for plants - Department of Caring Flower Stewards - or I'd be in trouble).

In the meantime, my Facebook friend is messaging me, "Do you have any flowers yet?"

Flowers, ha! 

I'm just trying to keep the little plants alive. First things first.

Such as coaxing them back from the brink of compost with encouraging words and regular waterings.

Yeah. No flowers yet.

But they are alive.

And like any proud parent, I'm whipping out the virtual wallet and showing off a few photos.

They may not bloom.

They may not last the summer.

But they are alive.

For now.

I may even name them.

If I can remember which species is which.

Why I Didn't Record It

With images becoming more important to media of all types, I thought back today to Christmas Day 2014, when our church traditionally gathers in the small hall after liturgy to sing Christmas carols.

As we began singing in the kitchen (less of us every year, and that is where the coffee is) i started to instinctively reach for my phone to record it. Then I stopped.

Sometimes, it's simply more important to enjoy the moment than to capture it. Next year, I might feel differently, wish I had, and then record it. Certainly, I'm happy I have photo albums full of pictures I snapped through the years of special and ordinary days, especially during those years I was raising a houseful of children.

But this past time, I just wanted to be part of it, instead of the onlooker preserving it. Not every moment is a Kodak moment or even (GASP!) and Facbook or Snapchat moment.

Just a thought...

WriteOn, Workshops, and Where to Buy "Bryony"

Several weeks ago, a local writer, Kristina Gardner Skaggs (see her short story, Dead Serious, www.bryonyseries.com/Harold_Masters.html and her interview at http://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2011/09/meet-kristina-skaggs-author-of-dead.html) approached me about assisting her with a new writer’s group.

A few conversational emails later, we finalized time, date, and location: 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., the first and third Thursdays of every month, at the Three Rivers Arts Council (TRAC), 413 Mondamin Road, Minooka.

To our delight, five local writers turned out for that first meeting last week We shared our interests, heard some readings, set some goals, directed each other to helpful sites, and brainstormed our official title. Please come join us. For more information contact kristinasgardner@gmail.com

That same night, TRAC’s president purchased a copy of Bryony for the council’s lending library and instructed me to bring additional copies at the next meeting, so she could offer them for sale, too. I am definitely happy to oblige!

Then, on Friday night, while happily editing Visage, the second novel in the BryonySeries, I received a Facebook message from a local gallery member asking me if I would be interested in presenting a lecture about writing and publishing Bryony as well as leading creative writing workshop.

She and I swapped some ideas yesterday afternoon. We have not yet finalized a date, except to agree it should be on a Saturday afternoon in September. Last Friday, the owner of a Joliet establishment and I discussed on the possibility of offering ongoing writer’s assessments. I’ll post more information on all opportunities as I receive it.

Finally, a number of businesses are now offering signed copies of Bryony on consignment, so if you haven’t purchased yours set, here are some additional opportunities to do so. We are also working on making Bryony available as an ebook, finishing the final formatting of the Bryony cookbook, Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," and formatting a couple of Bryony bonus chapters, previous only available to my family as Christmas presents.

And if that doesn't fulfill your need for Bryony, you can download the "voice" of John Simons with a copy of The Best-Loved Compositions of John Simons. These are ten original piano compositions, including the theme song from Bryony, by romantic pianist/composer James Onohan. To download, visit www.jamesonohan.com.

International readers: Bryony distribution has been a bit sticky, so until we work the bugs out, if you’d like a hard copy, email me at BryonySeries@gmail.com, and we’ll make it happen. Bryony is also available on amazon.com and through the website at www.bryonyseries.com.

The following locations carry Bryony:

Aunt Nina's Sweets N Treats
21121 Division Street in Crest Hill, Illinois.
815-741-0600
www.auntninas.net


Book Market Sales & Trading
2368 Plainfield Road, Crest Hill, IL 60403
815-744-4240


HS Healing and Wellness Center
3109 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60435
815-741-4386
www.hshealingandwellnesscenter.com


T's N Taps Smiley Dyes
15 W. St. Charles Road
Lombard, IL, 60148
888-792-TEES
www.angelfire.com/il2/smileydyes

Three Rivers Arts Council

413 Mondamin, Minooka, IL, 60441
info@three-rivers-arts.org
www.three-rivers-arts.org

The Good Samaritan Revisited: A Recipe for Building Fellowship in the World via Facebook

Last week, a most pressing engagement was unfortunately rescheduled in favor of a more pressing need: our water heater, just several months past its warranty expiration, had ceased functioning.

Now, I often unintentionally land in hot water, but when it’s unexpectedly dried up at its source with no tangible resources for quick replacement (especially when the dishes are stacked to the ceiling and a line is forming at the bathroom door for evening showers), it’s a miserable situation. So, fully trusting in God for wisdom and provision, I prayed and posted a double entendre on Facebook to amuse my family.

Someone I know only on Facebook responded with a silly comment, to which I added a one-sentence summary of our situation. She immediately messaged me and asked for a longer synopsis. I provided a brief sketch of our bleak financial situation and thanked her for the concern. In desperate moments, compassionate words are truly soothing. Rebekah proceeded to boil water for dishes and hair washings.

"I feel like Little House on the Prairie,” she said.

By next morning, this Facebook angel had located the lowest price for water heaters and solicited a family member to install it after he clocked out of work for the evening; would after six o’clock be convenient for us? When I offered to thank her in person, with a copy of Bryony in-hand, she postponed the suggestion  because she was fighting a virus.

As I emptied my scant savings, the bank teller, who knows of our situation, became a little chocked-up. I’m humming to the rendition of Winter Wonderland piping through the lobby’s speakers.

"It’s okay,” I told her. “It’s Christmas.”

The kind fellow who performed the installation, who had family at home waiting for him and who had to be on his feet again before dawn, stayed until ten o’clock, long enough to guarantee the glue had dried, nothing leaked, and that the new unit was properly heating water. Timothy connected well with him, so to speak, as he played both host and assistant while I hid in the attic and pounded out assignments.

With all the news stories about the dangers of the internet, online predators, identity robbers, and the like, as well the usual moaning of how texting and email have destroyed authentic communication, it’s heartening and humbling to know that social networking is just that, a means of connecting in a very rich and rewarding way with the other humans on this planet.

In this case, two people went out of their way to help me, at personal discomfort to themselves, not because they knew me or liked me, but because their characters are solid gold. I, for one, am humbled and grateful for their kindness and generosity, which made my world, not just my water, a little warmer.

In the Midst of Chaos...

...is joy.

Staff changes, job uncertainty, financial woes, challenging health issues, housework back-up, and skittish technological devices. They clamor for front row life billing, but only because they scream so loudly, like a two-year-old in a tantrum fit.

Yet today has been full of sweet blessings: a personalized song link on Facebook, throwing newspapers to the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack, a quick ride to the grocery store with my husband, a pleasant voice on the other end of the phone, a mid-morning chat with a good friend, a purring cat jumping into my lap for some loving (and another one, jealous, trying to edge her out), my grandson trailing after my fifteen year old youngest son and chatting away in his pretty toddler voice (and remembering how my son did the same to his oldest siblings), a hot cup of coffee, and a cold mug of ice water.

Life is good. Have a terrific day!!!
Have a wonderful day!!!

Have Flashdrive, Will Travel

Newspaper routes thrown, two meetings accomplished, voice mail, email, and Facebook messages checked, I read the thunderstorm warning in my News Feed from the Joliet Weather Center. I glance out my attic window. Humid, but sunny. By the time I finished one story on deadline and an interview, it would be too hot for a walk.

Shoot!

Timothy was driving Rebekah to a weeklong culinary class at Joliet Junior College and had just pulled out of the driveway when the sky blackened and the wind kicked up. I quickly called him. "Bad weather coming in. Be careful."

"Sunny skies where I'm heading," Timothy said.

Good. They would beat it. I opened "new document," typed the first letter and felt a huge blast through my window. Then all went black. We had no power. Great. Staff changes at the newspaper over the weekend meant my new contact's number had not yet made it into my cell phone. It was on my office phone, yes, but that one was dead.

After Timothy dropped Rebekah off at school, he called to let me know she had made to class on time. So, I asked if he could send email from his new phone. He could, but didn't really know how. So I called Bryony's web administrator, Sarah Stegall, who lives out of state.

"Can you email my editor?" I asked.

I gave her the address and a few bullet points, then called my mother who lived in the next town. She still had power and was more than happy to share her electricity and internet service. So I packed my notes and flashdrive and headed over.

After I met the most immediate deadlines, I spent a deligthful afternoon catching up on an editing project, free from phone calls, instant messages, texts, and compulsive checking of my news feed. Later, my parents invited me to dinner and even made sure Timothy and Rebekah ate when they returned from cleaning the warehouse. I called Christopher and asked him to buy dinner for everyone else. Daniel even assumed my household chores.

With an editor going on vacation and needing her upcoming pages filled before she left, the last couple of weeks were busier and crazier than usual. Then I learned my new contact would be on vacation next week, so she needs her stories stockpiled, too. Throw a few family emergencies in the mix, tack on several thousand extra sets of weekend inserts (It's vacation time  for newspaper carriers, too), and, although thankful for much work, my mind felt flat and body longed for a break.

It came today in the form of a power outage. Coincidence or providence?

You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Philippians 4: 19.

A Most Profitable Conversation

First meeting this morning: 4:30 a.m., and a darn good meeting it was, too.

Back in January, I noticed the Bryony team needed another member. I prayed for guidance, asked God to please deliver, and even checked out a few possiblities, then waited to see if those doors would open or close.

A few weeks ago, someone I had not considered for the role knocked on my virtual door and made the inquiry. Now, although nothing is official yet--since some of it hinges on his finishing Bryony (He's read one-third and likes it so far, but it's early....) and deciding for sure if that's a project for him--we've had one dynamic meeting and a couple of productive phone calls, including the one a few hours ago.

So why am I considering someone I had not approached?

1) He brings some interesting marketing qualities to the table.

2) He's interested in collaborating with the existing Bryony team members.

3) He's followed the Bryony website, blog, Facebook, etc., etc., etc., and so was already familiar with the project.

4) He's proactive. We have a "maybe" deal, but he has already sent out feelers and done some homework.

5) Lastly...and to me, most importantly...he came with three qualities only God could have arranged which, when put together, form something greater than a coincidence. No matter how prepared he was to list the reasons why we should work together, he couldn't have contrived this last. (No, I'm not saying, either, but they concern details from the third book in the Bryony series, first draft completed over a year ago).

Basically, here's how I work. If an opportunity feels like it's coming from God, I trust Him enough to take a chance. If I'm wrong, He'll slam the window shut and open another. God's plan is worth a a few pinched fingers.

"The LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." Samuel 16:7.

How and Why We Chose the Byrony Cookbook Name

The winning name of the official Bryony cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from “Bryony.”


For the one-year anniversary of the Bryony Facebook page, we offered a, "Name the Bryony Cookbook," contest to fans of the Facebook Page.

We received many entries, Thank You, Fans! The Bryony cookbook team debated them over the weekend. Once we were down to the final few, we struggled to pick, "the one.” Because we had so many good entries, we could not find just one that fit.

As soon as we chose to combine two entries, the winning name stood out! Congratulations to Nola Sawyer (Memories in the Kitchen) and Kathryn Dunlap (Bites and Nibbles).

Bryony, because of the weaving back and forth between two time periods, is full of memories, many of which revolve around the food in this cookbook, which range from delicious to eclectic.

Not EVERY single mention of food is in the cookbook, which is where Bites and Nibbles comes into the title. It's also perfect to pair with a vampire novel, so Bryony-ish!

The Bryony cookbook team did consider all entries without prejudice. We didn't contemplate who submitted what title until the name for the cookbook was decided. Meaning, we studied only the titles, without submitters’ names attached.

Then, we went back and looked at who provided the compilation for the official title. Runner up was," Miss Bessie Beasland's Guide to Domestic Cookery," (Suzy Staley Baker), which will be incorporated into the final book of the Bryony series.

Thank You again to anyone who participated. Don't forget: ALL Bryony cookbook proceeds are being donated to Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Will and Grundy County. Cookbook purchase is pending until its release later this year.

Sarah C. Stegall

Mentoring Grant Cut: Another Reason to Support the Bryony Cookbook

This is reposted from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties Facebook page with permission. This organization is the recipient of the Bryony cookbook.


On May 11, 2011, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties was one of 152 Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates nationwide to receive notice that federal grant funding earmarked to serve high-risk children has been cut, effective September 29, 2011.

Big Brothers Big Sisters currently provides consistent, enduring, success-focused mentoring services through two 3-year Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCP) grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children & Families (ACF).

In 2009, the agency received a $300,000 3-year grant to serve children of incarcerated parents in Will and Grundy Counties.

In 2010, the agency was part of an Illinois state-wide association of Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies that received a $4.5 million 3-year grant, and they use that funding to serve children of incarcerated parents in and Kankakee and Iroquois Counties.

“We received notice that no funding was appropriated in the FY 2011 budget to continue either of these grants,” said Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO Lisa Morel Las.

In April 2011, Congress passed and the President signed into law H.R.1473 that provides full year funding for the Federal Government for FY 2011. H.R. 1473 does not include a provision for the Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCP) program and therefore, there was no funding appropriated to continue the MCP program.

The abrupt cancellation of the MCP program will require 152 agencies across the nation to transition or terminate services for 18,000 vulnerable children. Locally, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties serves approximately 500 children in Will, Grundy, Kankakee and Iroquois, and approximately 100 of these matches are supported by MCP grant funding.

“While we will do all we can to transition services for the children served locally under this grant – up to 100 children could have their matches prematurely terminated,” explained Las.

“Recognizing that the premature termination of a match can cause additional harm to already vulnerable children; the Board of Directors and I are working on focusing resources and utilizing the remaining funds effectively. Last week, we were forced to layoff two employees and are identifying and searching for alternate public or private funding to prevent premature termination of matches and more layoffs in September.”

Las notes, “We recognize that the federal deficit must be addressed for the sake of current and future generations, but feel strongly that good programs should be separated from those that don’t work. Research shows that positive outcomes increase with the use of evidence-based practices – which is what Big Brothers Big Sisters uses.”

Studies find when served by Big Brothers Big Sisters, these kids and others who face serious adversity have a greater chance than their peers for having positive relationship interactions and breaking cycles of crime, poverty and school under performance too often linked to youths in their circumstances.

“Investing in quality mentoring for at-risk children has a demonstrable return on investment. The short-term savings that will be realized with the cancellation of the MCP grants will have a lasting and negative impact on our nation and our youth,” says Las. “We will have to spend substantially more later in the child’s life - when these same young people who could have continued to be mentored in our program – become both the perpetrators and victims of crime.”

Time is Running Out!

You have exactly seven days to submit a title suggestion for the Bryony cookbook. To get your creative juices flowing, here are the entries (contest rules follow below):

"Deadly Delights"

"Savory Bites"

"Timeless Recipes"

"The Table Is Set"

"A Bit of This, A Bit of That"

"Love at First Bite"

"Some Like it Hot"

"Some Like it Hot, Not Congealed"

"Secret Recipes of the Victorian Era"

"on’t be a Vampire: A Guide to Eating Like a Human"

"Taste of Munsonville""

"Vampire Delite"

"Recipes from the Dark"

"Food from the Darkside"

"Hold the Garlic"

"Deception in the Kitchen"

"Bloody Delights"

"Stakes and Snacks"

"Bloody Good Temptations"

"Sink Your Teeth into These"

"Bloody Good Recipes To Sink Your Teeth Into"

"Bloody Tempting Recipes"

"Human Digest"

“Prey Before You Eat”

"Chicken Soup for the Souless," "When Blood Won't do, Byrony Culinary Treats for the Earth Bound..."

"Heart, Hold the stake!!!"

"Delectable Toothsome"

"A Collection of Munsonville's Timeless Recipes"

The contest will run through May 31, 2011 until 12:00 am (midnight) EST time (North Carolina time). This gives all fans the opportunity to vote. However, there is a catch. You must be a Bryony Facebook fan to vote.

No, this isn't a ruse to up the fan count, but rather, some fun, with a perk, for those who have been faithfully following the page, in honor of Bryony's one-year Facebook anniversary earlier this month.

Other details are: You must comment on the Bryony Facebook page to enter a name or title; you can comment as often as you like; no foul language (posts will be deleted at admin discretion); and all entries will be reviewed by the author, who will decide the title from the entries.

Prize: A free copy of the cookbook signed by as many Bryony team members as possible at the time of publication.

Profits from the Bryony cookbook will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties (http://www.bbbswillgrundy.org/).

To fan the Bryony Facebook page, visit www.facebook.com/BryonySeries

Happy Naming!

Contest Selections (So Far)

Initial submissions for the Name the Bryony Cookbook contest are in:


"Taste of Munsonville""

"VAMPIRE DELITE"

"RECIPES FROM THE DARK."

"FOOD FROM THE DARKSIDE"

"Hold the Garlic"

"Deception in the Kitchen"

"Bloody Delights"

"Stakes and Snacks"

"Bloody Good Temptations"

"Sink Your Teeth into These"

"Bloody Good Recipes To Sink Your Teeth Into"

"Bloody Tempting Recipies"

"Human Digest"

“Prey Before You Eat”

"Chicken Soup for the Souless," "When Blood Won't do, Byrony Culinary Treats for the Earth Bound..."

"Heart, Hold the stake!!!"

"Delectable Toothsome"


"Hold the Garlic"

"A Collection of Munsonville's Timeless Recipes"


The contest will run until May 31, 2011 until 12:00 am (midnight) EST time (North Carolina time). This gives all fans the opportunity to vote. However, there is a catch. You must be a Bryony Facebook fan to vote.

No, this isn't a ruse to up the fan count, but rather, some fun, with a perk, for those who have been faithfully following the page, in honor of Bryony's one-year Facebook anniversary.

Other details are: You must comment to enter a name or title; you can comment as often as you like; no foul language (posts will be deleted at admin discretion); and all entries will be reviewed by the author.

Prize: A free copy of the cookbook signed by as many Bryony team members as possible at the time of publication.

To fan the Bryony Facebook page, visit www.facebook.com/BryonySeries

Happy Naming!

Details for the "Name the Bryony Cookbook" Contest.

In honor of Bryony's one-year annivesary on Facebook, we have initiated a contest to name the upcoming cookbook.

This cookbook will be an eclectic compilations of (mostly) Victorian-era and '70s stylish recipes, complete with story teasers (appetizers) and Kathleen Rose Van Pelts (http://www.imaginarylinesstudio.com/) signature pen and ink drawings (treats) Recipes will be arranged according to events in Bryony and will not be grouped by subject.

However, there is a catch. The contest is only open to Bryony Facebook fans. To "like" the page and submit your suggestion, visit www.facebook.com/BryonySeries. All (any) profits from the Bryony cookbook will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties (http://www.bbbswillgrundy.org/).

Contest rules: You must comment to enter a name or title; you may comment as often as you like; no foul language (posts will be deleted at administrator discretion); and all entries will be reviewed by the author.

The winner receives a free copy of the cookbook with the signatures of as many members of the Bryony team as possible at time of publication.

Name the Bryony Cookbook contest will run until May 31, 2011 until 12:00 am (midnight) EST time (North Carolina time). This gives all fans the opportunity to vote.

We've already received a number of clever/intersting/amusing title possibilities. Tomorrow, we will post them.

Happy Naming!

Facebook BryonySeries is a Year Old Today!

It's been one year since Sarah Stegall created a web administrator position for herself by designing a Facebook page for Bryony and surprising the author with it.

Along with a minimum of fun, twice-daily posts, the Bryony Facebook page features sneak peeks into book production, Bryony cookbook information, the evolution of a book cover, Bryony's interior pen and ink drawings, stills from the Bryony book trailer and Bryony music video, rejected tag lines, fantasy pics of Munsonville, and a bevy of whimsical treats regarding Bryony in particular and vampires in general.

It's now 236 fans strong, so if you haven't "liked" the page, today is a good day for it, since we'll be adding extra celebratory posts throughout the day and a contest specifically for Bryony Facebook fans.

Come find us at www.facebook.com/BryonySeries and join the party!

The "Ghost" in the Doll Case at the Magosky Mansion

 Yesterday, I had forwarded the Bryony trailer stills to a friend. He gave them the polite lauds, and I thought that was the end of it.

Last night, as I was burning the 9 p.m. oil (that's late when you customarily rise at midnight), he emails me, asking if we used trick photography on the doll pictures. I told him those weren't "official" Bryony photos, just something Bryony's web adminstrator Sarah Stegall took on her camera phone the day we interviewed her.

He emails back again and asked if I'd seen the face. Busy with editing, I took a sip of warmed over coffee and told him a doll or something had been superimposed on the picture, making it look creepy, and that's why Sarah had posted it on Facebook.

My friend then sent the picture back, rotated, with the face circled, and the words, "She caught a ghost on film!"

So I called Sarah this morning from the route and asked her. She said the face was only museum director Pat Magosky. "I posted it because it looked mysterious," Sarah said.

My friend maintains it still might have a supernatural basis. "The doll room is supposed to be the most haunted room in the house," he said.

So, I showed the picture to my husband Ron. He said, "That's not Pat. If it was, the image would be distorted, and it wouldn't be sideways."

"Well, maybe it has something to with the angle where he was standing," I said.

I showed it to my twenty-year-old son Timothy (who does NOT believe in ghosts), and he said, "That's not Pat's reflection. There's not enough light in that room to catch it."

I called Sarah again. She said, "That's Pat. I'm sure."

"Too bad," I said. "There's been paranormal groups in that mansion, and they're convinced something's going on in there." I paused. "We could forget we had this conversation."

Sarah laughed. "Yeah, let someone else debunk it."
I asked her to post the picture here, anyway. Reader, what do you think?

Making the Bryony Video, Step 4: Wardrobe by Piecemeal

Victorian-style men’s clothing and long blond wigs, I thought, were the least of my concerns.

During one of the Bryony pre-shoot days at the P. Seth Magosky Museum of Victorian Life and Joliet History, museum director Pat Magosky showed me a closet full of clothes, but at my first, untrained eye, they resembled 60’s leisure suits, certainly not the appropriate garments for John Simons. Still, I was not worried.

Since the one costume shop in town had closed its doors, I called the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park in Joliet, figuring they’d have what I needed, but they steered me right back to the Magosky mansion and to another costume shop miles away. Since one of the fellows I was fitting lived out of town, I didn’t want to take chances on renting a costume that might not fit.

So, I poured out my request on Facebook and contacted Joliet Junior College. The forthcoming suggestions from Facebook were impractical. However, JJC offered to help if I ever needed Victorian women’s clothing. I was about to contact the two local universities on my list when my publicist called to see if I had assembled all props. I poured out my sad tale. She listened somewhat patiently (Dulcinea is patient and kind), and then reminded me Seth had participated in Civil War reenactments.

“There are Victorian clothes in that mansion,” Dulcinea said. “You just have to find them.”

“Maybe,” I hedged, “but I wish Heather could help. I can’t put it together so it looks right.”

Heather Frelichowski of Crafty Mom Inc., who’s making me two Victorian walking suits and a ball gown, is an expert on sewing and fashion, but Heather was sick and couldn’t help.

“What about the wig?” Dulcinea asked.

“Nothing.” LARGE sigh.

Dulcinea, in conjunction with Relentless Iota Productions (a company that specializes in custom set design and fabrication of costumes and props) is experienced in costuming, etc. I don’t have a clue (I only know what I like), so I REALLY needed her help with this.

So, Dulcinea, because she is kind, too, rearranged her schedule and met me at the Magosky mansion the next day. That time, Andrea Magosky, the education coordinator, had laid out an array of Victorian and pseudo-Victorian themed coats, shirts and ties, as well as three top hats. They had probably been in that closet the entire time. So much for 60s leisure suits (Say that three times fast).

Quickly, Dulcinea rejected some items and arranged combinations of others on hangers while my fifteen-year-old son Daniel amused himself by trying on some of them. Photos of Daniel’s experiment here: http://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2011/04/wigtraption-is-now-word.html

The clothing worry was gone. All we needed was a wig for John Simons’ long hair.

We parted ways, I to re-record an audio interview for Bryony and rescue a hypoglysemic attack with fast food, and Dulcinea for some uneventful wig shopping. Apparently, long blonde hair is not a popular wig item, but Dulcinea had other venues she would hit tomorrow. I wasn’t worried. When Dulcinea needs something, she gets it.

That night, Dulcinea called, pleased with herself. In the past, she had created wigs from human hair and had some blonde remnants. Not knowing the size of “John Simons'” head, she was stitching these to an adjustable headband our actor could wear under a top hat. We were saved!

Well, not quite.

At midnight, fifteen hours before show time, an exasperated and out of patience Dulcinea called again. The wig was shedding on her as fast as she was stitching it. Enough was enough. Tomorrow, no matter what, she was buying a wig.

Bryony Business Cards....

....are in and the first 1500 or so are distributed.
These plastic-coated cards features the Bryony logo, complete with Bryony's signature vines (created by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt (http://www.imaginarylinesstudio.com/), tagline (a drop of blood, a deceptive fantasy), and contact information: website, blog, Facebook page, and email.

THANK YOU Christine at CAL Graphics, Inc. (http://www.calgraphicsinc.com/) for designing a fabulous logo!

Best of all, they cards are FREE!

If you'd like some, contact me at BryonySeries@gmail.com, and I'll send you some.

Sarah Stegall's Thoughts on Bryony, Part 3

11) How did you wind up with the Bryony website?

"When I created the FB page, I was disappointed because we didn't have a coinciding website to further direct readers. As a reader, when I become interested in a series, I check out all that the series has to offer online. Where was the website? Where was the blog? Ugh, so frustrating."


12) Why was creating the Bryony website important to you?

"I felt I was contributing to getting projects accomplished. In my head I was crossing off my own checklist and I was racking up new experiences left and right. We needed a website and I was eager to learn how to make one."


13) What will people find on the website?

"Mass information involving the team behind the book, additional links directing readers to other sites, interactive pages where they can submit their own short stories, view unique pictures, eventually listen to the theme song and purchase related merchandise, and possibly be able to play different types of games."


14) Why are those elements there?

"To draw readers into the world Denise has created with the Bryony Series and to immerse themselves in all things Bryony. We want readers to be able to get their fill. I don't want anyone left hanging."


15) What else do you hope to add?

"Anything that is demanded. Our site features a guest book where comments and questions can be left. Oh, and games. I have all these nifty ideas for games and nobody that knows how to design them."

Sarah Stegall's Thoughts on Bryony, Part 2

6) Why did you become involved in the Bryony cookbook project?

"I wanted to be involved in something good. I love to cook and I'm always recipe hunting, so I figured I would be a positive force behind the project."


7) Why is the cookbook a good idea?

"The Bryony Series mentions food quite a bit and some of the dishes are rather entertaining. I felt readers like myself would want to try and recreate these dishes themselves."


8) Is the Bryony cookbook just another collection of recipes?

"In some ways yes, but overall not really. How many cookbooks floating around your kitchen feature eclectic recipes from the Victorian Era and the 70's?"


9) What made you take the initiative in designing the Bryony Facebook page?

"It started as a gift; I created it on Mother's Day, 2010, but ultimately I was already thinking big. I wanted to have my hands dirty in all things Bryony."


10) What elements did you add as you developed the page?

"I themed it out so readers could expect their favorite posts, pictures, songs, and so forth. I try to keep posts different and funny so readers don't lose interest."