Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Feb. 18 to Feb. 24

Good morning!

Today I have just eleven features and news stories to share with you today with more to be posted over the weekend as I will be working. 

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.

So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

Also, here is a "save the date" event 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. 

I'll share details as they jell - and they are jelling. We worked on the readings last night and realized we need more practice. 

But for now, read this post. 

We held our annual Calkins Day celebration on Feb. 13 at The Book Market in Crest Hill. If you don't know what Calkins Day is, read this post and then read this post.

This year, we built our celebration around the local authors and independent authors in order to help build up Ed's library of such authors and provide a little exposure for these authors.

Authors were invited to gift Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara with one of their books. In turn, they could take home any one of five books Ed either wrote or appeared in. Readers could talk Ed out of a book.

Over the next few weeks, I'll dedicate separate posts to these authors and give them additional exposure on social media. Here is one such post from earlier this week.

So please watch for these posts. They may just lead you to your next favorite book.

Fiction projects are coming along very slowly, but they are coming along. I'm also working simultaneously working on five books (and a new Bertrand book), a first for me.

So here's the latest update:

I now have completed rough drafts for the first eleven chapters of the final book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy: House on Top of the Hill and hope to get another done 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 three solid chapters. Sue Midlock sent all the interior art and it is stunning! Sue is currently working on the cover.

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. 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

Joliet’s UCP’s Great Chef’s Tasting returns March 5: Tickets available now.

United Way of Will County urges local agencies and nonprofits to apply for Emergency Food & Shelter Program Funds

Young Joliet boxer winning awards, wants to pursue nursing: At 15, Joseph “Jo Jo” Awinongya Jr. is competing and attending Joliet Junior College.

Enjoy the Herald-News roundup of Joliet-area fish fries this Lent: Here are ten fish fries you can try.

Joliet club to host women-centered film festival Joliet’s Renaissance Center: The event also raises scholarship funds for women.

Citizens form committee to support bond referendum for Joliet schools: The referendum question needs 50% approval along with one additional ‘yes’ vote. 

Plainfield School District 202 approves building security upgrades: This work is part of District 202′s 5-year strategic plan.

Joliet woman killed in car crash Wednesday morning 

Silver Cross president and CEO named New Lenox’s Citizen of the Year: Ruth Colby: ‘Since 2005, it’s been the most amazing journey for me personally.' 

Pets of the Week: Feb. 20, 2023: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption 

5 Things to do in Will County: Enjoy comedy on Saturday in New Lenox and help 4 animal rescues.: Plus, 4 additional ways to enjoy the arts this weekend.

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, March 12 to March 19

Good morning!

I have seventeen feature stories to share with you today and about a dozen not posted yet. So do check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

On the fiction front, I'm still making nice progress on Call of the Siren. I have all but four chapters edited, and I hope to have at least one more in good shape by the end of the weekend.

Call of the Siren is the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy). I'm anticipating a late spring publication date, with gorgeous cover art by Nancy Calkins.

We plan to release Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones and Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being very soon. Both Rebekah and our artist Sue Midlock have gone through health issues this past year, which has caused publication delays. But I'd rather have delays and healthy collaborators. Please send up good thoughts for them both.

Next up in the series: a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes). Timothy is ready for a Cornell breakfast to share his ideas. He and I just need our time off schedules to sync.

Jennifer Wainright (frontispiece artist for Lycanthropic Summer) has completed two portraits for  "Girls of the BryonySeries" series for tween girls and is currently working on a third. The portraits are beautiful and it shows that artist Jennifer Wainright can draw anything from werewolves to portraits! 

Rebekah Baran has completed cover art for two of "Girls of the BryonySeries" books. They are beautiful! One book in this series of eight books is completely written, a second is halfway written, and the rest are outlined. 

Now back to the seventeen 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 Sunday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks or will be featured in an upcoming cookbook.

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. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year, well, except this 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 support in your writing, I highly recommend this Twitter group: #5amwritersclub. I  joined it last year. Writers support each other on Twitter and meet every three weeks at 5 a.m. (4 a.m. CST - needless to say, I am often late!) on Zoom.

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 Will County Go Guide and Sign up for the LocalLit Short Story and Book Review Newsletter at https://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/

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 at @BryonySeries. And assorted related content at facebook.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

Celebrate the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines with Mass on March 12: Bishop Ron Hicks will celebrate the anniversary Mass at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet.

32-page illustrated booklet lists bird species reported at Midewin: Booklet will help the Midewin staff manage and protect the grassland bird area

Morris Hospital honors Randy Kiefling as its Fire Starter of the Month for February: Randy Kiefling is known as the ‘go-to-guy’ at Morris Hospital

Register by March 14 for youth poetry slam at Joliet Historical Museum: Youth may win 1 of 2 $500 prizes at the poetry slam April 10 in Joliet.

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Wilmington invites community to virtual listening session: Midewin wants public input on the future of recreation at the prairie.  

CITGO Lemont Refinery donates $7,500 Greater Joliet Area YMCA: The donation will help support the YMCA’s Mission Strong Fund.

5 Things to do in Will County: Musical events, full moon hike, craft fair: Plus, Lewis University in Romeoville hosting 3rd generation printmaker Benjamin Calvert. 

Mystery Diner in Joliet: Great American Bagel goes green for St. Patrick’s: Specialty green bagel with Irish cheddar cheese served through March 17

Will County Humane Society to host annual Fur Ball on May 20: Individual, double seating and table pricing for the event at Harrah’s Joliet.

Pets of the Week: March 14: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption. 

An Extraordinary Life: Joliet man served 2 branches of military, raised 3 families: Merle Widner taught ‘morals and values’ and ‘how to have an open mind’

The Zonta Club of the Joliet Area will host a traveling film festival on March 29: Women wrote, directed and produced the 8 films in LUNAFEST. 

Channahon resident using his EMT training 3 feet from Ukraine border: Ryan Chocholek: ‘I quit my job to come here because this is where people needed help.’

Troy Township to host ‘Avoiding Home Repair Scams’ on April 21: Learn tips for making informed choices when hiring contractors 

New outpatient treatment center in Mokena offers traditional, alternative therapies: Mindset Transformations is licensed by the state of Illinois to offer outpatient substance abuse treatment.

Troy Township offering Mobile Driver Services Unit and I-Cash on April 12: Registration for the Rules of the Road Review course is required.

‘Luck of the Irish’ won’t save drunk drivers from DUIs: The Illinois State Police and local law enforcement are conducting roadside safety checks through March 18.

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"