Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Oct. 13 through Oct. 18

LOTS of stories and videos to share this week, but otherwise a very quick post.

Tight deadlines today, and I'm overseeing the WriteOn Joliet table tomorrow at the White Oak Author Fest at the Crest Hill Library...WHILE we're moving today and tomorrow. It should be adventurous, to say the least.

Stayed up late last night to pack up my bedroom and home office, so this post is one of the last pieces I'll be typing from the old space.

But do stop out at the author fest tomorrow. I'll be there with my books, Rebekah, and, hopefully, an abundance of dark roast coffee.

Have a wonderful day readers, writers, and BryonySeries fans. I'll write soon - from the view of the new room.

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): 

 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:

Once Timothy Baran is done updating this page, these will listed here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/fetes-and-feasts. 

Check out the progress he has made so far. Each square is hand-built. And be sure to "hover" your hand over the first square. Note: this only works (so far) with the desktop version.

But he's also made A LOT of changes to the website. So be sure to roam around a bit.

Books and Such

Information on my books (including where to buy) along with upcoming events is at www.bryonyseries.com. Again, Timothy is in the process of updating the website, so all titles may not appear. If you have any 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.

Prevention every pet should have
SNIP offers low-cost services to dogs and cats in low-income families in the Joliet area

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/10/08/03297aea41364cc78a3dced3a2f3b01c/index.xml


VIDEO A peek inside the SNIP Society in Joliet

https://www.theherald-news.com/video/id/a18ce72e-32ef-47fb-bff3-22bbaa6a053f.html


An Extraordinary Life: New Lenox man led by example

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/10/07/an-extraordinary-life-new-lenox-man-led-by-example/aq1xga/


Plainfield rescue's benefit was a 'drag'
'It’s entertainment not being done in our area,' Terri Crotty, founder, said.

 Crotty said, “Part of our marketing is reaching every different culture and lifestyle. It doesn’t matter what you do or what you choose, there is a dog for you.”

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/10/15/fa72d3f1e32c452eacc9439177fc7f42/index.xml?page=1


VIDEO: Kara Mel performs Prince songs in Bolingbrook

https://www.theherald-news.com/video/id/ee83a1f7-a434-4a61-a42b-b76964d2218c.html


VIDEO Audrina Phoenix performs "Close Your Eyes" in Bolingbrook

https://www.theherald-news.com/video/id/e23efe6d-58f3-46e2-9e6f-a26125e70379.html


Decorating tricks from these Joliet residents are a treat to use

Three Joliet-area residents share budget-friendly tips for frightful decor that won't scare your wallet.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/10/15/d2a305eb3473478fb048cdea0fc696d9/index.xml


LocalLit author spotlight: Cean Magosky of Lockport

Magosky summed up his children's story like this: A new toy joins the playroom and learns an important lesson.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/10/15/locallit-author-spotlight-cean-magosky-of-lockport/az2qf66/


VIDEO: James Finn Garner talks about rejection 

https://www.theherald-news.com/video/id/1c4e1c52-6071-4eff-8242-76faaa8fd04a.html


VIDEO: James Finn Garner shares his writing process 

https://www.theherald-news.com/video/id/88bcc5fa-4bc4-4723-b150-edf37b5171bf.html

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." 

For Throwback, A Look Back

The last nine years, almost to the date, have been a strange ride.

It started with a call to my husband from my doctor's office that I was being hospitalized. He was just about to call me. 

He had quit his job.

And as the months unfolded, his dementia became more obvious.

Another son was out of work. He and his family moved in. A year later, she and their son left. Towards the end of our time in Channahon, another son and his family refused to resign the lease on their roach-infested apartment and asked to move in, too

Over the years, we had invested our own money in our church. We ran developed a Sunday school and a youth program, even remodeled some adjacent buildings on our property to host the youth group. 

We also hosted elaborate monthly lunches at our church and two banquets a year. We bought and prepared the majority of the food, which was so good, when one couple was getting married, the bride's mother approached us and offered to pay for all the supplies if we could host a breakfast for the guests the day after the wedding.

We did all this while working four jobs between us. As a family, we delivered over a thousand newspapers each night. By day, my husband worked in the maintenance department at a local school district; I was a freelance writer and wrote about ten pieces a week for various publications.

We homeschooled.

But our pastor returned the generosity and supplemented us to the tune of $500 a month for 2011 and 2012 and $250 a month through part of 2014 so I could buy health insurance for my three youngest kids and me.

Because of all my husband's medical issues, I could not find a policy to cover him. This was pre-Obama care. And we fell just outside the income guidelines for subsidized care.

Eventually Aunt Martha's saw him. And with only one very kind doctor and me filling out the forms and talking to the state, my husband was approved for disability. But the road from job loss to disability was five years. And he had continued to decline during those four years.

The house his parents built went first. We could have stayed longer, but the well failed that fall of 2013. That meant no water and no septic. With eight people and five cats in the house.

By then, my husband, my children's stepfather, had left to move in with a relative, another blessing, because he did not have to see the dismantling of his childhood home, the home we lovingly remodeled, the home where we thought we'd live out our days and welcome visiting children and grandchildren into the fold.

At the end of hard days, some days I just want to go home.

Fortunately, we had run the youth group. And so we had a portable toilet on the property. My daughter-in-law, who worked in another town, refilled water jugs after work. Friends let us use their shower. We knew the best hours for frequenting laundry mats.

That hardship only lasted two weeks. We worked hard in that time period to re-home everyone.

Again, the failed well was a blessing. Otherwise, we would have been breaking down that house in the brutal winter of 2013-2014 (remember that?).

Some of the freelance worked dried up that fall, and I decided to stop writing and look for work. Right after Christmas, the Sun Times sold The Herald-News and Shaw Media bought it and hired me, a wonderful Christmas gift, indeed!

Instead of looking for work, I grew in my work with new opportunities.

Several months later, my three youngest kids (I have six) two of whom went to school and worked at Joliet Junior College, and one, who had just graduated and was working, and I moved into a two bedroom apartment.

We were right by the door and across from the laundry facilities, one of the sweetest spots in the complex, so it was yet another blessing.

A year later, a two bedroom townhouse opened up, and we moved again. This was the spring of 2015.

The kids continued to progress in their work and education. They gradually made more money. 

So this weekend, we are moving again.

A three bedroom townhouse has now opened up. One son is staying in the two bedroom. My other two adults kids and me are moving.

It will be a bit of a crazy move as this week is super-packed!

Tonight, WriteOn Joliet is hosting James Finn Garner at 6 p.m. at the Joliet Public Library, 3395 Black Road, so if you're in the area, please join us! The event is free. But make sure you stop at the Book and Bean Cafe inside the library first. The coffee is excellent.

Then tomorrow night, I have tight deadlines for Sunday and Monday publications.

And then on Saturday, WriteOn Joliet will be part of the White Oak Author Fest, which will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Crest Hill Library. Since no one can stay the entire time, Rebekah and I will. 

How will we get the move done?

There's before and after work times and before and after event hours.

And we have wonderful family and friends who understand our insane schedule and are helping in between their own work hours.

See? Blessings abound!

The only sad part about all these wonderful happenings is that my ex-husband and my children's stepfather will not be here to see it. He has not passed, physically, but his mind has.

Since he's in a nursing home in another town, and I still don't have a vehicle yet, I'm only able to get down to see him once a week or so. 

But I have two sons that live closer. One son has been excellent about popping in a few times a week and making sure needs are met. And I keep in contact with my oldest stepson, who's been great in coordinating care.

Tonight will be the last night in what is to become yet another former bedroom/home office, a little bittersweet, as I've written hundreds of thousands of words in this space.

But the pull toward the future is stronger within me. 

I can't wait to meet our new home!

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

James Finn Garner at C2E2 2018

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Oct. 6 through Oct. 11

It's been a busy few weeks, almost non-stop really, since I returned from Raleigh at the end of August.

So here's a quick update on projects. On Monday, I'll tell you where to find me (and my books) this fall.

Progress on the werewolf story is slow and wobbly but it IS progress. 

The focus of my fiction time right now is on getting Cornell Dyer and the Flu done by November since it does have a Christmas Carol parody in parts of it. Hope to seriously dig into that one this weekend (looking good so far, but hey! It's still early in the day).

The Limbo trilogy (the series after Before the Blood and before the "drop of blood" young adult trilogy) is taking slow shape in outline form.

The memoir of the Joliet woman (which, sadly, won't be available to the public) is coming into the home stretch. I'm meeting with Phyllis on Sunday for the last few bits of information and then (hopefully) onto the formatting.

I've also begun editing a novel for a WriteOn Joliet member.

And that's that!

Have a great weekend readers, writers, and BryonySeries fans!

Now, here's where to find information:


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): 

 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:

Once Timothy Baran is done updating this page, these will listed here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/fetes-and-feasts. 

Check out the progress he has made so far. Each square is hand-built. And be sure to "hover" your hand over the first square. Note: this only works (so far) with the desktop version.

But he's also made A LOT of changes to the website. So be sure to roam around a bit.

Books and Such

Information on my books (including where to buy) along with upcoming events is at www.bryonyseries.com. Again, Timothy is in the process of updating the website, so all titles may not appear. If you have any 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.

Building strong community at Dirksen Junior High School in Joliet 

A trip to Ron Clark Academy led this assistant principal to overhaul the way students and teachers interact.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/10/04/a338b9ff3e54431fb48af75ceb285130/index.xml


An Extraordinary Life: Lemont man captured the artistry
Exhibit showcases his photographs through Oct. 27

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/10/06/a6f7e8c643754576b9b5d539f5f8b89d/index.xml


Silver Cross employee, breast cancer survivor thankful her tumor was caught early 

If she had continued on her previous path, she might not have been so fortunate. Read on to see why.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/10/04/9b0f74792021479aae80544f21582548/index.xml?page=1


Exercise for breast cancer patients

Experts explain why cancer patients should exercise and provide guidelines for best outcomes.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/10/01/exercise-for-breast-cancer-patients/atz5h7n/


Joliet Junior College students serve up great food in downtown 

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/10/08/fc8c6491697c49fcb97b284855bbc8cb/index.xml

VIDEO: Future chefs at work in Joliet

JJC chef/instructor Eric Bell guides the students as they prepare and serve.

https://www.theherald-news.com/video/id/f2f25cb9-d20c-4c33-8ec0-8cfbe6ca2130.html


'Ya can’t put a price on money'
James Finn Garner to share his writing experiences on Oct. 17 in Joliet

Best-selling humorist James Finn Garner will share his writing experiences on Oct. 17 at the Black Road Branch of the Joliet Public Library.

According to Garner's website, Garner’s first book, "Politically Correct Bedtime Stories," has sold more than 2.5 million copies in the U.S. and has been translated into 20 languages. It spent 65 weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers list.

Garner was also a contributing editor with Chicago Magazine, for which he wrote the monthly column “The Garner Report.”

His fiction and satire have also appeared in Playboy, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, TV Guide, The Chicago Tribune Magazine, Utne Reader, and other publications.

Moreover, Garner's commentaries have been broadcast on National Public Radio and his stories on the British Broadcasting Corporation.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/10/01/8d1e5d22468344f19390e6c8d3c0a2b3/index.xml


Artworks: Documentary featuring Joliet man wins Emmy 

Take 30 minutes and watch this powerful documentary. You won't be sorry.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/10/08/artworks-documentary-featuring-joliet-man-wins-emmy/anlx9os/


LocalLit spotlight: Kathy Whitgrove of Joliet

Sign up for the free newsletter and read this Facebook-photo inspired story on Tuesday.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/10/02/locallit-spotlight-kathy-whitgrove-of-joliet/aj4bw0t/

James Finn Garner and Paul Erikson at C2E2 2019