Book Lovers and Other Creatives: Why You Should Come Out to New Orleans North

For the second year in a four WriteOn Joliet authors will be part of the Artists Row at New Orleans North. 

They are Mauverneen Blevins, Cean Magosky, Sue Midlock, and me, displaying and selling BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet books and other related products, such as BryonySeries baseball caps and water bottles.

Under our portion of the tent, you'll find original poetry and photography (Mauverneen), local history (books and postcards, Cean), paranormal romance and Southern humor (Sue), and phantasmic books for all ages (BryonySeries).

Organizers have offered once again to place the four of us together. So in keeping with the spirit of the event, I'm dubbing that section the "WriteOn Joliet Quarter."

BryonySeries also participated in the 2022 New Orleans North event and the 2023 New Orleans North Event. So we are thrilled to return again this year.

Now, you might not see me as I'm still recovering from surgery. Although I'm hoping to pop out for a small bit, other members of the BryonySeries team will be handling BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet products and keeping an eye on Uncle Barty and Bertrand the Mouse, as well as WriteOn Joliet's very special mascot.

Oh - wait! You haven't met WriteOn Joliet's special mascot? Well, you will Friday night!

Timothy and Daniel will also be unveiling information on B.L.O.C.K.S. Don't know what that is? Stop by the BryonySeries booth and see!

New Orleans North will take place 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 at the Joliet Slammers Stadium, 1 Art Schultz Drive in Joliet.

For a festival guide, a map, and overall information about the event, visit jolietchamber.com/new-orleans-north. 

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Aug. 17 to Aug. 23

Good morning!

I have eight 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.

Simply click on the link of the story that looks interesting to you. But before the stories, I have a list of additional updates, 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!

Event Updates

Tomorrow we're hosting Bertrand's Back-To-School Birthday Bash at The Book Market in Crest Hill.

Don't live nearby? Can't make it? Send Bertrand your best birthday wishes to bryonyseries@gmail.com.

And since Bertrand's main role in "life" is to bring the joy of reading to children (and adults!), the best way to celebrate is to buy a book...any book. It doesn't have to be a BryonySeries book.

Or pop into your local library and borrow a book. 

And then, most importantly, READ that book. 

But...

If you'd like to share BryonySeries books with someone you know, message us at the above email. We'll work out a special discount just for you (and extra-special bulk rates if you purchase more than one Bertrand the Mouse book). That offer is good through Aug. 31, in honor of reading, back-to-school, and, of course, Bertrand's birthday.

Last Friday night, five WriteOn Joliet authors (which includes the BryonySeries) showcased our work at New Orleans North in Joliet. And on then Saturday morning, BryonySeries made bargain-based deals with our booth attendees at Stuff on Bluff."

Well, both days turned out to be adventurous. I recapped both in "A Rainy, Successful Weekend."

A full month of BryonySeries-related activities can be found at bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events.

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 all but eight chapters that are ready for final edits. I should be able to finish the eight at the next at-home writing retreat in early September. 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. 6.

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'd like to release it in late 2024, but 2024 has been a challenging year. We shall see.

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...

Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, has sent me twenty-one chapters to edit for his third book in his Ruthless trilogy. His 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

Plainfield North senior achieves perfect ACT on 1st try

Plainfield District 202: ‘Less than half of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earn the top score’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/17/plainfield-north-senior-achieves-perfect-act-on-1st-try/

Will County schools stand by cellphone policies as trends show districts tightening rules

By Jessie Molloy and Denise M. Baran-Unland

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/15/will-county-schools-reminding-students-parents-of-cell-phone-policies/

Get in the spirit: Joliet’s Rialto Square Theatre announces holiday entertainment lineup

Holiday series kicks off with a tree lighting on Nov. 26

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/18/joliet-rialto-announces-2024-holiday-entertainment/

Joliet couple’s love story began at New Orleans North festival

The 2024 New Orleans North event is Friday

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/16/joliet-couples-love-story-began-at-new-orleans-north-festival/

Will County Fair opens Wednesday in Peotone

The Will County Fair is located along Peotone Wilmington Road

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/20/will-county-fair-opens-wednesday-in-peotone/

Northern Illinois Food Bank recognized for OrderAhead platform

Giving people food choices cuts down on food waste and preserves dignity

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/19/northern-illinois-food-bank-recognized-for-orderahead-platform/

Will County Pets of the Week: Aug. 18, 2024

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/08/19/will-county-pets-of-the-week-aug-18-2024/

5 Things to Do in Will County: 3rd Annual Wine, Jazz, & Art Fest

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/08/22/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-3rd-annual-wine-jazz-art-fest/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

A Rainy, Successful Weekend

"Into each life some rain must fall, some days must be dark and dreary."

This poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is very BryonySeries since the mother of Henry Matthews loved Longfellow and often quoted the above line.

But although the artists row at New Orleans North was rained out three hours into the event due to a sudden and turbulent storm, and although rain periodically fell hard during Stuff on Bluff the following day with sparse foot traffic, neither event was "dark and dreary," only the skies.

We experienced plenty of kindness, from the organizers to our fellow artists, who worked together on Friday night to ensure everyone's safety and minimal loss of product.

We experienced plenty of smiles. Not one person left our booth without feeling good about stopping there, our main goal - always.

This isn't a compensatory attitude for poor sales. Because sales were good (twenty books, twenty-five mystery quotes, three shirts), and - for the first time - we sold across all subgenres in the BryonySeries over the two events. 

We also sold one "Nine Months of Kindness."

Because of the rain, we packed up most items in Jasmine's nylon backpacks with out logo as our gift to our customers.

And this Saturday, the weather will not matter for Bertrand's Back-To-School Birthday Bash, since the event will be inside. Doesn't the thought of singing "Happy Birthday" to a crocheted mouse make you smile?

Happy Tuesday!

WriteOn Joliet "Quarter" at New Orleans North

For the very first time, five WriteOn Joliet authors will be part of the Artists Row at New Orleans North. 

They are Mauverneen Blevins, Ryan Francis, Cean Magosky, Sue Midlock, and me, displaying and selling BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet books and other products.

Organizers have offered to place the five of us together. So in keeping with the spirit of the event, I'm dubbing that section the "WriteOn Quarter."

BryonySeries also participated in the 2022 New Orleans North event and the 2023 New Orleans North Event. So we are thrilled to return again this year.

New Orleans North will take place 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 at the Joliet Slammers Stadium, 1 Art Schultz Drive in Joliet.

For a festival guide, a map, and overall information about the event, visit jolietchamber.com/new-orleans-north. 

Three Young Adults of Fine Character

So the scene you see here is the last batch of "stuff" from the tearing down of the BryonySeries tent from its presence at New Orleans North in downtown Joliet on Friday night.

The heat index was probably close to 100 degrees when we set up. And the streets were closed off early, so we parked several blocks away. It took three trips and four people to haul all of it to our spot.

When the event ended (11 p.m.) and after we tore it down, Timothy, Rebekah, and Daniel insisted that I sit with our gear while they walked back and forth to the parking deck to load it into our vehicles.

This photo is from the very last trip. I carried a small cooler over my shoulder, the most they allowed me to carry. It was the end of a long, hot day, and yet tempers weren't flaring, and these three young adults were generous and gracious in their helping.

Just so you know, their helping spirit isn't limited to me. If someone really needs help and they can help, they jump right in.

I just wanted you to see the fine character of these three young adults.

BryonySeries at New Orleans North

For the second year in a row, members of the BryonySeries team will be hanging out with the other local artists at New Orleans North in downtown Joliet.

We had a wonderful time last year, despite a wet beginning (I clearly recall helping Timothy put up our large tent in the rain while talking on the phone with The Herald-News interim editor who had great ideas for stories the following week and wanted to discuss them in that moment).

But the rain cleared up, we had a lovely night walking around, talking to passersby, and even selling some books. So we are looking forward to another great, hopefully drier, event. 

If you come out, please stop by our tables and say, "Hi."

For event details, read this Herald-News story by Bob Okon:

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/news/2023/04/26/new-orleans-north-will-be-first-joliet-summer-festival/

Fourteen

People often evaluate the success of a vendor fair in terms of "How much did you sell?" as if selling was the only goal of a a vendor fair.

A couple weeks ago when my three youngest and I were packing up from "Shakespeare and Art in the Park," I received an invitation to join the vendors at New Orleans North on June 10 in Joliet.

So I did.

I did not go to sell. I went to market.

I assumed that an outdoor, Mardi Gras-type of event was not a good place to sell books.

But since it would attract thousands of people, I could distribute BryonySeries cards.

At first, the fates appeared to be against any success.

I had structured my day knowing I had to be set up by five o'clock. Unfortunately, an unexpected work meeting that ran nearly two hours derailed my structure, and I finished the last story an hour past my own deadline.

By that afternoon, it was raining - hard. And during the time I was helping Timothy (and not very well), set up the tent in the rain, I took a work call.

Still, we were set up and ready to go by five-thirty, around the time that the rain had nearly stopped and the revelers were arriving.

I have to stop this post here to give a huge "THANK YOU to Timothy, Rebekah, and Daniel, who did most of the heavy lifting of setting up and taking down. Rebekah also handles all sales and the trio stayed for the entire event - which they enjoyed,. But that is beside the point.

Now, I was really suprised when I made my first two sales shortly after that.

I wound up selling fourteen books, including two to a man who took a card at the beginning of the event and came back at the end, shortly before we packed up.

Granted, fourteen books is nothing earth-shattering.

But I was pleasantly surprised considering I had expected to sell zero.

No one book in the BryonySeries outshone the rest, also The Adventures of Cornell Dyer and Bertrand the Mouse has a slight edge. Mostly, though, I sold books across the spectrum of titles.

So what did you learn, Dorothy?

Basically, not to pre-judge an opportunity.

The current advice for book marketing is very targeted: imagine your ideal readers and be available where they show up because your books won't appeal to everyone.

Now that's very true. My books won't appeal to everyone. No product does.

But my books do appeal to a wide variety of someones.

And those someones often show up in places where I'd never imagined to find them.

BryonySeries at New Orleans North - a First for Us

For the first time, BryonySeries will have a table at New Orleans North.

The event will take place from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday in dowtown Joliet.

One of the vendor organizers actually asked me why I wasn't attending. And I told her that I didn't think it was the type of event that paired well with books. 

But she said all types of artists set up and encouraged us to come out. So - BryonySeries will be there, too.

If you live in the area, if you're planning to attend, we will be set up somewhere between the Rialto Square Theatre and Cheesecakes by James (I'm told).

For more information, visit this story senior reporter Bob Okon wrote for The Herald-News: Star Wars Day, New Orleans North set to start summer fun in Joliet – Shaw Local.

For more information about the BryonySeries (and our books), visit Greetings | bryonyseries.

Photo is from our participation in "Shakespeare and Art in the Park" event at the Billie Limahcer Bicentennial Park and Theatre a few weeks ago.

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, June 2 through June 7

Joliet area readers: could you do me a favor?

Tonight I lead a monthly fiction workshop so I won't be able to attend the New Orleans North event in downtown Joliet.

Not only does a portion of the proceeds benefit local charities, BryonySeries artist Matt Coundiff (Visage, Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony") will there with his art.

Since I can't stop and see him, please do so for me. He'd be thrilled to meet you! (and most likely would rather see a new friendly face than my old one).

Post a photo of you with Matt on the Bryony Facebook page (link below), and you just might receive a copy of one of the books he illustrated.

This weekend, after getting some work done, I hope to spend some time with my new werewolf novel, finish working on the outline of Cornell Dyer and the Never Robbers with Timothy AND (if luck is on my side), persuade Rebekah (who's worked A LOT of extra hours this week) to assemble the cover of Before the Blood: Bryony Simons so I can upload it and order a proof.

Of course, I also plan to walk and drink coffee. But that's a given.

Have a great weekend readers, writers, and BryonySeries 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): 

 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.

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.

An Extraordinary Life: 'She'd be proud of what we've done'
New Lenox teacher and his sister raise money each year for lupus research

 "Our mom was the most selfless person even when she needed things more than us," Jennifer Finley of Greenup wrote about Gayla Rakoczy. "She always made sure we still had things before she did.  She was never one to complain. She really was a kid at heart."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/05/28/11a0a3928efd42e69169407b4fed0425/index.xml?page=1


Coal City man has been on both sides of organ donation
By Kevin Solari

Rob Hicks had one thing going for him, though. Because he was a previous donor, he would be put on a priority list.

It was not an easy road. He received one kidney but, due to an infection, it had to be taken out again, and he had to go back on dialysis.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/06/03/coal-city-man-has-been-on-both-sides-of-organ-donation/a9z5yqg/


'It's really a great gift'
Joliet churches: plotting new ways to feed the hungry

"I haven't done anything in years that has gotten this much positive support,"  

Eileen H. Gutierrez, director of development at the Cathedral of St. Raymond, said.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/06/04/605531415a0d4561ae7aeda50267caa9/index.xml


Plenty of summer festivals scheduled in Will, Grundy counties for 2019

The return of warm weather brings outside fun – like these festivals – with plenty of events continuing into early fall.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/06/03/plenty-of-summer-festivals-scheduled-in-will-grundy-counties-for-2019/a5zf4wo/


Artworks: 'Those days are pretty much gone'
Restored midget racing car at Joliet museum is part of location history 

The car once belonged to Bob Steffes, 100, of Elwood. Bob's son Rex Steffes of Manhattan, an owner of Route 66 Raceway until 2007, he said, created an information booklet to accompany it.

Rex donated the car to the museum in 2012 and the museum was happy to have it, he said.

That was the easy part.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/06/04/688de7e1212e47b2a74084ae9d3b9f63/index.xml?page=1


LocalLit book spotlight: 'Fifteen Years' by Allison Rios of Joliet

Here is the book's Amazon description: "How many lies can be undone? The remainder of Rae Pinemore’s heart broke the day she said goodbye to her baby. To be fair, her heart hadn’t been whole since she left home after graduation in search of greener pastures.

"With her high school sweetheart, James Preston, comfortable in his new life with a new wife, Rae builds a future far from her small hometown of Jessup in hopes the distance will help her forget all the lies she’d told; lies that could destroy every friendship she has. But then she returns home for her fifteen-year reunion. Is it too late to apologize?"

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/06/06/2cfcfecffbcc453db106f9fea33ceae6/index.xml

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

A Special Opportunity for a Special Artist

Matt Coundiff, who the cover artist for Visage and the illustrator for both Visage and Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from Bryony, will be showing and selling his art this Friday (June 7) from 5 to 11 p.m. in Downtown Joliet.

The invitation to participate in this event is a result of being a part of The Art of the BryonySeries exhibit, which ran last fall at The Book and Bean Cafe in Joliet.

Matt is very talented and works very hard. I'm very excited about this opportunity for him.

If you live in the area, plan to stop out and support him.

If you don't live in the area, check out some of his artwork here.

Congratulations, Matt! :)

Photo courtesy of Timothy Baran