Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, March 25 to March 31

Good morning!

Today I have twelve features and news stories to share with you today with more to be posted over the weekend. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

I've also been working on stories for a new edition The Herald-News will begin in March and a new "Thank You, Teachers" edition in May.

For people in the general Will County area:  WriteOn Joliet will host its first radio-style reading on April 22 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park in Joliet. 

And now we are officially on Bicentennial Park's calendar, which you can see here. And I just saw a promotional video of the show last night, which I hope to share soon (once I figure out how to upload a good quality to this blog).

Fiction projects are coming along very slowly, but I'm hoping to spend some time on this weekend. I wound up in the ER on Saturday and spent Sunday very slowly formatting scripts for the play, since they had to be at the printer on Monday.

Tomorrow four of us will be assembling scripts into binders. But after that, I'm hoping to spend most of the weekend immersed in the BryonySeries.

I'm simultaneously working on five books and just released a new Bertrand the Mouse book in time for Easter, which you can buy now on Amazon. 

So far, I've completed rough drafts for the prologue and first sixteen chapters of the final book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy: House on Top of the Hill and hope to get another chapter drafted this weekend.

I am in the process of fleshing out the next book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer subseries: Cornell Dyer and the Hounds of Basketville and made some progress on that story on Monday. Timothy and I drafted it months ago, and I currently have five solid chapters. 

Sue Midlock has already sent all the interior art and a rough draft of the cover. As always, the art is amazing and perfect for the series.

I have also completed three chapters for the fourth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries series.

You can find other titles in the series here. Timothy has not yet added our latest titles to the BryonySeries bookstore. But all titles are also on Amazon. 

I'm also working on a guide book to the series called: Welcome to Munsonville: the People, Places, and Things of the BryonySeries.

And I'm also working on a novella. I have written and edited a fourth of it and have about another third of it loosely written. But that's all I'm sharing about it for now.

Rebekah is also slowly updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts, so watch for those.

Now back to the stories. Simply click on the link of the story that looks interesting to you. Happy scrolling!

But before the stories, I have a list of additional resources and information. Please check them out, too.

Finally, if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.

And have a great Friday!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.

Each Wednesday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks, will be featured in an upcoming cookbook, or is just an "extra" we want to share with you.

Check out the recipe here.

WRITERS

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page. 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 and two ways to attend meetings. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year. Check us out at writeonjoliet.com.

I also suggest this book: Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers. It's exactly as it says. Each page some with one suggestion for revision. The rest of the page is blank, so you can add your own notes. All proceeds benefit WriteOn Joliet.

If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out dmbaranunland.com.

ARTISTS

If you need an artist for a project, I offer these recommendations.

NEWSLETTERS

Sign up for The Munsonville Times by emailing us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. The newsletter still isn't official yet, so we don't have an actual link on the website - but we are working on it! 

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 on Twitter at @BryonySeries and assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.

And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

BRYONYSERIES BOOKS

For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.

BRYONYSERIES EVENTS

A full month of virtual events can be found at bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events.

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.

FEATURES

Home Cut Donuts in Joliet is a 57-year family tradition: Jim Ruhaak: ‘I’m very protective of the business.’

Jim Healy to portray Louis Jolliet in 1-man play at Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet: Performances are April 15 and April 16 

Joliet Catholic Academy’s Key Club recognized for community service: Zach Pekol: ‘It showed us our hard work can pay off long afterward’

4 District 86 Joliet school board candidates give wide range of reasons for running: Election Day is April 4

4 District 204 Joliet board candidates want district’s students to succeed: Election Day is April 4

2 Plainfield D. 202 school board candidates share reasons for running for office. Election Day is April 4.

Lockport’s Gallery Seven calling for entries for 13th Open Lens exhibit: Entry deadline is April 30. 

Troy Township to hold annual meeting on April 11

Plainfield hosting DEA take-back event on April 22: Needles and illicit illegal substances will not be accepted at this event

Tire and auto repair shop with location in New Lenox receives award for customer satisfaction: Scott’s U-Save & Tire Repair currently has locations in New Lenox, Steger and Schererville, Indiana

Pets of the Week: March 27, 2023: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

5 Things to do in Will County: Celebrate Earth Month with exhibit of fiber art pieces in Bolingbrook: Plus spring musical, spring resale shopping, comedy fundraiser and artist showcase

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, June 24 through June 29

First of all, I am profoundly grateful to the Joliet Area Retired Teachers Association for allowing me to speak to their group about self-publishing this past week, which also allowed me to raise a little money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

While the actual presentation didn't generate many questions, the "after-presentation" did, with quite a few stopping at the display table to check out my books and take a few cards, as well as information about WriteOn Joliet, LocalLit short story newsletter, the July 21 self-publishing workshop at Book and Bean Cafe in Joliet, and the Art of the BryonySeries exhibit in September and October.

Last night, I attended the bittersweet retirement party for Dick Goss, who's served very generously as The Herald-News sports editor for 35 years. Bittersweet because, although I'm very happy for this new chapter in his life, he's been my seat mate for the last year, and I've enjoyed getting to know him over the past four or so.

Tonight, he's hosting a party just for staff, which I'm looking forward to attending and hearing everyone swap stories.

This weekend, I am really hoping to finish chapter 17 in the fifth novel of Before the Blood and start the editing on the third novel. I am taking an at-home writer's retreat for the week after next, which probably means I'll go missing on social media as well, except for coffee photos and updates on this blog.

Cornell Dyer and the Necklace of Forgetfulness still needs Rebekah's attention to some formatting. Hopefully, she can finish it this weekend so we can get that uploaded. And once BTB is in my editor's hands, I have four more Bertrand books nealy ready to go and one to be written.

Oh and WriteOn Joliet's second anthology to edit and assemble, my Fourth of July project.

Have a beautiful weekend readers, writers, vampire fans!

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.

 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."

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: 

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. And for those who came out to WriteOn Joliet's open mic night last night. Your support is greatly appreciated.

'For me, education is the beginning'
Single mom blossomed at Joliet Junior College 

Marc Kaufman, assistant professor of English and adviser for the Phi Theta Kappa chapter at JJC, said Cindy Phan was active in the chapter in many ways, including helping to start an on-campus thrift store (Phi Theta Phashion), moving a suicide awareness project forward, creating a haunted house fundraiser at JJC, helping plan the chapter's first formal event and arranging "bonding and fellowship" retreats for the office teams.

"She is a single mom and she took on a lot of extra work herself," Kaufman said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/06/19/ae3bf19c461c41d286057af71b8516f5/index.xml


An Extraordinary Life: Joliet man planted a legacy at JJC

“He was very generous,” said Kristi Mulvey, executive director of institutional advancement at Joliet Junior College. “I’d take him to Hero’s; he’d order a blue cheeseburger and then pull out a check for $45,000.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/06/23/an-extraordinary-life-joliet-man-planted-a-legacy-at-jjc/ans9iu6/

2 beloved Plainfield dogs cross the rainbow bridge

Will the Clancys adopt another dog? They've discussed it, are open to it and have decided to wait a bit longer.

"My kids all have dogs so they bring them over and we babysit for them," Mary Patt said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/06/25/7b8a73bb5be04a809c061024eef80337/index.xml?page=1

Joliet native just wants to give back

"For the past 10 years, I had my head down in my books and just went to work," Vince Gutierrez, physical therapist, said. "I didn't pay any attention to the community. But giving back to Joliet is extremely important to me."

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/06/19/joliet-native-just-wants-to-give-back/au2dwrv/


Home Cut Donuts in Joliet Excellence in each bite

In case you’ve never tried a Home Cut Donut (new to the area, perhaps?), our comments might help you with your selection.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/06/25/e93679947aef48e5babdddacad80bc6d/index.xml?page=1


Couple's love for vinyl records becomes a downtown Joliet store

What made these two 35-year-olds with kids decide to open a Mom and Pop record store?

Their own love for vinyl.

"We both work real jobs," Tiffany said. "This is what we do for fun

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/06/26/0b65b3208410435d9c509cb04e946f87/index.xml?page=1


Artworks: Not the typical blockbuster summer movie 
The Cafe Film Society shows art films at Plainfield coffee shop 

"I just would like to foster a small community where people actually get together and talk about art films," Kevin Gawthorp, one of the organizers, said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/06/26/0f7d96fec9064aac8ad5a8181ede9cce/index.xml

LocalLit author spotlight: James Guseman of Oswego

Meet this week's featured author. To read his short story on Tuesday, sign up for the free LocalLit short story newsletter today. Information at the end of this article.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/06/16/locallit-author-spotlight-james-guseman-of-oswego/ap4yvaa/