Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Oct. 12 to Oct. 18

Good morning!

I have twelve stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post with more stories going live over the weekend.

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

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

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

And have a great Friday!

Event Updates

The BryonySeries Back-To-School display is up at The Book Market. And it's likely coming down sometime today and being replaced with our Halloween display with all-new Halloween Ribbit-Ribbits that Cindy left at my house yesterday. So please do check it out.

We are also participating in two more events (so far) this month

Oct. 25: The Book Market in Crest Hill from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. I'll know the date for sure on Monday since I'm now working on Oct. 22.

Oct. 30: Black Cat Curiosities in Joliet with WriteOn member Cean Magosky as part of the Joliet City Center Partnership's "Spirits with the Spirits" event.

BryonySeries books-in-progress

House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I now have a good working draft of the entire book, with six more chapters needing editing and a heavy editing weekend ahead of me. The plan is to submit a proof to KDP by the end of this weekend or early next week. We are still estimating a late 2024 release date for this book, with copies available for sale at WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party on Dec. 5.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: No updates here in a very long time, mostly because Timothy and Daniel are super busy with school on top of work (and plenty of work-related traveling). However, I outlined a "bonus" book that is intended for distribution at Bicentennial's "Ye Olde Mayfest" event in 2025. Here is a recap of the 2024 event.

Timothy said his concept for the next book in the actual series will be slightly dark ("slightly" because it's for kids, too) and will involve an old toy store. We are also working on the last book in the series (but it's not the final book, if that makes sense). Timothy is actually writing that one. In order to make progress on any of this, Timothy is hoping to schedule a "Cornell breakfast." But Timothy and Daniel are very busy with work and school right now. We've scheduled and broke several Cornell breakfasts in 2023 and 2024. Our last one was July 2022. So we are LONG, LONG, LONG overdue.

Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is outlined and the first chapter is written, hurray! Jennifer Wainwright, who welcomed her first child into the world in April, has already started working on the cover portrait. I've neglected this book for a few months and hope to revisit it soon. We wanted to release it in late 2024, but 2024 has been a challenging year. I'm shooting for early 2025.

Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "Julie and the Too-Hard Homework," "Katie and the Big Fear," "Summer Sisters." and "Karla Joins In," as well as the frontispiece for Lycanthropic Summer.

Rebekah is also slowly (very, very slowly) updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.

And finally...

The manuscript for Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara's third book in his Ruthless trilogy is submitted and will be my next editing project once "House on Top of the Hill" is complete. Ed

s first book is "Ruthless," his second is "The Fifth," and he is also the author of "Denise Unland's Irish Genealogy."

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

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 haven't posted anything on Twitter/X (except a daily Bible verse) since September I can no longer schedule posts in advance. I'm not sure yet how to manage the account without that option. But you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

BryonySeries stuff: I used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.

Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.

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

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 Pat Sullivan shares leadership lessons from decades of coaching

In new book, retired USF coach draws parallels between athletics and leadership

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/15/joliets-pat-sullivan-shares-leadership-lessons-from-decades-of-coaching/

The Clifton in Plainfield blends sophistication with ‘a little bit of everything’

Restaurant owner Dan Tacone: ‘We wanted to build with our community’

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/10/11/the-clifton-in-plainfield-blends-sophistication-with-a-little-bit-of-everything/

Men Who Cook benefits Will County Children’s Advocacy Center

The event will also feature a cash bar, raffles, kids activities and music

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/17/men-who-cook-benefits-will-county-childrens-advocacy-center/

Winners of Joliet City Center Partnership’s Halloween decorating contest

https://www.shawlocal.com/gallery/2024/10/17/winners-of-joliet-city-center-partnerships-halloween-decorating-contest/

Wednesday program in Joliet to address misinformation’s impact on elections

Community encouraged to attend League of Women Voters event

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/15/joliet-area-league-of-women-voters-hosting-program-on-misinformation-disinformation/

New distribution center coming to Elwood

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/15/new-distribution-center-coming-to-elwood/

Joliet furniture store opening 2nd location in Marycrest Shopping Center

Carlos Perez, owner and store manager: ‘We need a bigger location’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/14/joliet-furniture-store-opening-2nd-location-in-marycrest-shopping-center/

Furniture store coming to Joliet’s Marycrest Shopping Center

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/09/furniture-store-coming-to-joliets-marycrest-shopping-center/

Abri Credit Union in Will County announces new president and CEO

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/12/abri-credit-union-announces-new-president-and-ceo/

Lockport church hosting National Coming Out Day Resource Fair today

This is an ADA-compliant and COVID-conscious event

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/11/lockport-church-hosting-national-coming-out-day-resource-fair-today/

Pets of the Week: Oct. 14, 2024

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/10/14/pets-of-the-week-oct-14-2024/

5 Things to Do in Will County: Genesis, Phil Collins & David Bowie tribute bands

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/10/17/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-genesis-phil-collins-david-bowie-tribute-bands/

 

 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, March 3 through March 9

I capped a week of people being sick at my house with ramming a toe into a door jam yesterday morning in my hurry to leave the room.

But despite working from home so I could keep it elevated and iced, the toe started too look like someone smarter than me should look at it. So once deadlines were met, it was off to quick care! No breaks, hurray, but elevations and ice continue.

I still haven't cracked open the box of books that came last weekend or held an official copy of the first two Before the Blood books in my hands. But I'm hopeful for this weekend.

Of course, I still have to get past today. A bout of insomnia last night plus a very long day today equals a slow and steady approach for Denise.

Now, here's where to find information and after that, the stories. 

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:

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.


Memories of living in Marycrest in Joliet
Minooka resident commemorates letting go of the family homestead

Jean Tyrell said: "When going through our house, we came across items that generated other recollections. We had a lot to say and talk about and I wanted to capture it."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/03/02/0b0bc89913224aea966d12cef7a6e4e5/index.xml


An Extraordinary Life: Joliet woman served family and friends 

Rev. Larry V. Tyler, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Joliet said this about Willie Mae Thompson-Stokes: “She sacrificed herself to help others; that’s what stood out to me about her. She had great sensitivity to the needs of others.”

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/03/01/joliet-woman-served-family-and-friends/aq2eqnk/

Jewish missionary to speak at Lockport church

"It intrigues me because he's become a Christian out of a Jewish background and a Jewish home," John Billow, associate pastor at High Road Bible Church, said. "And he has a real heart for Jewish students."

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/03/05/jewish-missionary-to-speak-at-lockport-church/a2v5bmx/

Center for Disability Services in Joliet held annual Great Chefs tasting

In the theme of “Carnaval," more than 20 southwest Chicagoland chefs, restauranteurs and caterers provided food samples for attendees to enjoy. All proceeds benefit CDS's programs.

Check out this photo list!

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/03/05/445c83761f4142f48cab1a16857b7a74/index.xml


Waste not, want not? Maybe not.
Tips for cutting back on needless food waste and knowing when to toss

It's not worth a bout of food poisoning to eat food that is potentially unsafe or spoiled. And don't rely on the "sniff test."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/03/05/b10e69f6e2c7431183510066091cb81e/index.xml

No skiing due to snow? It's true

Snowstorm strands Joliet Ski Club to the lodge during week-long trip

Craig Lichtenwalter of New Lenox, a member since 1992, recalled a snowstorm during a ski trip to Montana, but nothing like the club experienced at Mammoth Mountain.

"It felt like Groundhog Day," Lichtenwalter said. "You'd wake up and it'd be the same thing: lots of snow and not being able to ski. We just stayed around the hotel rooms. There wasn't much to do.

https://www.theheraldnews.com/lists/2019/02/27/43b7560f18ad4393a8ebd520fb657061/index.xml?page=1

Elwood native living his dream as a full-time artist

"I don't know that I have a specific goal other than to take people away from reality for a few moments a day and let their minds wander and keep their imaginations alive because so much is fed to us these days.

https://www.theheraldnews.com/lists/2019/03/05/a5ec8068aa3c4a2c95263c4dfb827be1/index.xml?page=1

LocalLit author spotlight: Ken McGee of Plainfield

McGee said: "After listening to the works of more skillful authors, I realized I needed to learn the craft. I learned how to create worlds and spaces for my characters. I learned how to have my characters act and react to each other which gave them more dimension."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/02/28/e3c09585af824b94b8389e2279a48213/index.xml

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: Where Were You When You Wrote...?

Monday, January 31, 2011

Where Were You When you Wrote...?

Last week, on the twenty-fifth annivesary of The Challenger, I read and responded to several Facebook posts of, "What were doing when the space shuttle exploded?"

Certain memories for us are so vivid we can recall their ancillary details. With The Challenger, I remember hustling three kids under four through the grocery store (Eagle, in Crest Hill), so I could watch the take-off. I remember gaping in horror at what I was really watching and holding Joshua, who was four months old at the time and still dressed in a tan snowsuit my mother had bought him.

I have writing memories like that, too.

When you've pecked at your first novel as long I have, you'd think the particulars would be long buried under more important life moments, but some of them, for whatever reason, are as clear as they day I experienced them. For instance:

* One evening, near dusk, my oldest kids and their friends were modifying the backyard playhouse, so I threw some toys on the floor for my crawler (Timothy, now 20), shut the bedroom door, and wrote a scene where Melissa is alone at home (everyone else had gone to the movies) and searching near Simons Mansion for Snowbell (that scene never made it to the first draft).

* I was taking my daily power walk in Marcrest subdivision in Joliet (where we used to live) when I created a piece of dialogue for Henry that would be my unspoken tag line for many years. I also mentally wrote one of the scenes still featured in Bryony, although I later changed the location in the house. BTW, for anyone familiar with Marycrest, I was walking on St. Joseph, past Marmion and Madonna and around the bend to St. Francis. The sun was shining, too, and it was about 11:00 in the morning.

* The afternoon John Simons' hair lightened and came down, I was driving north on Infantry Lane in Joliet, past a paper carrier acquaintance's house, on my way to pick up a kid nicknamed "Doc." I was listening to Adia by Sarah McLachlan when the image popped into my head. I couldn't wait for a red light to mentally describe my vision of John playing a grand piano inside Simons Mansion, except it wasn't in the music room, but near the grand staircase. At the time, I was a new single parent and my teens had talked me into managing a crew of kids selling newspaper subscriptions. By then, I was writing for the paper and delivering it, too. Hardly the most opportune time in my life to work on a novel, but I always kept paper and pen in my van and jotted notes for Bryony whever I had a chance.

* I was pacing the floor with colicky newborn (Timothy, again) when I created the very ill Frank Marchellis. Three years later, I was pacing the floor with a colickly newborn (Rebekah) when I created two characters for Staked!, the third novel in the BryonySeries, although at the time, it was only one, yet unamed, book.

* The inspiration for a confrontation between Melissa and Henry--actually the character of Henry himself--a favorite with those who have read a Bryony draft (including two of my editors) came from a dream I had regarding an argument with a Henry-like character.

Does anyone else have memories like that?