Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, May 5 through May 10

A BryonySeries weekend awaits me!

I woke up this morning to a message from Amazon that the proof copy for the fourth installment of Before the Blood has shipped and should arrive tomorrow.

If deadlines weren't enough to keep me motivated today, this was!

Timothy has scheduled a planning breakfast tomorrow morning for the fourth book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer chapter book series.

After that, I'll stop at The Book Market to replenish my books and chat with WriteOn Joliet member Jennifer Russ, who will be selling and signing books from noon to 2 p.m.

By then, "Henry" should be on my doorstep. If not, I'll get to work on the memoir.

Basically my plans for the next two days are to alternate copy editing BTB with finishing up (I hope) the first draft of the memoir.

Cannot wait!!!

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:

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.

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.

Impacting the people she serves
Antoinette Morris recognized for her work at Trinity Services in New Lenox

Antoinette Morris said:"Knowing I make an impact on the people I serve on an everyday basis so they can eventually do everyday things independently is enough of a reward for me."

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/05/01/impacting-the-people-she-serves/a5c6tkf/


Help keep someone else's light on
Minooka woman hosting Zumba event in #Joliet to raise money for suicide awareness

"This is a Christian family, a solid Christian family," Sonya Dejirolami said. "They adopted a girl from China. You'd think they're an All-American family. But this hit them and it hit them hard. It was just shocking to the community. Sometimes mental health can be disguised as something else and people give up on these people."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/05/01/983faa5b4b3b456bb5fd7fcffd704b6b/index.xml


Joliet hospice chaplain writes guide for living life to the end

"We all have challenges," Rev. Jim McGuire said. "How do we remain calm in the midst of them? In the book, I will give you some ideas on how to maintain calmness."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/04/30/809c5c5b645248ffaf2048fce98d0a92/index.xml


One of the girls
Special needs girl joins Brownie troop and volunteers at Joliet thrift store

Thanks to Vicki Gacki, a volunteer at the St. Vincent de Paul thirft store on Jefferson Street in Joliet and former co-leader of New Lenox Girl Scout Troop 75208, a special needs girl became a Brownie and a helper all in the same day.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/05/07/380d255a4dbb48e7ac55df3c33141753/index.xml


VIDEO: Helpers for a Day

Ron Moore, store manager at a St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Joliet, explains the store's mission to New Lenox Girl Scout Troop 75208.

https://www.theherald-news.com/video/id/8b5a0091-0465-476f-ade2-cb9fa6de4181.html


VIDEO: Welcoming Abigail

New Lenox Girl Scout Troop 75208, along with honorary Girl Scout Ron Moore, store manager of St. Vincent de Paul thrift store on Jefferson Street in Joliet, welcome a special needs girl into the troop.

https://www.theherald-news.com/video/id/0d7bd795-42a0-4830-b789-339e0d1cbfc2.html


The many shades of David Gray
He's managed food services, transportation services and much more for D. 204 in 
Joliet 

As Gray prepares to retire, check out the many roles he's assumed, many of them simultaneously.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/05/07/27d0cfc9d4634e899ad7d0646f06ec00/index.xml


Joliet area artisans offer ideas for Mother's Day gifts

About half a dozen suggestions for you.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/05/09/2fdf23d6ea014aca94fa895f6d82e23b/index.xml


Artworks: quilts that break traditional quilting rules
Darcy Berg is exhibiting her art quilts at Joliet cafe

Where traditional quilts must meet perfectly; art quilts are praised for their perfect imperfection.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/05/08/642b86ebe7ae406499a9914695d10f01/index.xml

LocalLit book spotlight: 'Fang Face' by Norm Cowie of Chicago

So knowing I'm a fan of good vampire stories, Chicago author Norm Cowie sent me a copy of his young adult novel "Fang Face." Last week, I finally had a chance to read it. In this Tuesday's LocalLit newsletter, I'll review it.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/05/09/d74886909e2c46dba11bebfc33703b55/index.xml?page=1

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

Smidgens of Stuff

Despite working most of Saturday (event coverage, a rather intense story I saved for uninterrupted time, some leftover editing) and Sunday morning before church, the weekend was both productive and relaxing.

Yes, that baffles me, too. Here are the highlights:

Saturday:

Covered a really sweet story Saturday afternoon about a New Lenox Girl brownie troop's volunteer activities at at local St. Vincent de Paul. Normally I would have asked for submitted art and a news release, but this troop also welcomed a severely disable girl into their troop at the store during the event, so I went out and took my own photos and a few videos. The story is running in Wednesday's Herald-News.

Oh, and they sent me home with flowers, their appreciation for my coming out. :)

Then I went for a nice long walk with one of my sons, came home and cleaned the house, and spent the rest of the day working on my standalone werewolf novel (yes, a standalone) Lycanthropic Summer.

Sunday:

Work, coffee and a walk with one of my daughters and then Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Homewood. This was followed a dinner and a conversation with some really dear people. 

The day was the second anniversary of the death of one friend's husband (I was good friends with them both), so the time together had especial meaning. 

Once home again, I read half of "Fang Face" (a humorous vampire story) by Chicago author Norm Cowie. I'll finish the book this week, run a pre-review in this Friday's Herald-News, and a full review in this Tuesday's LocalLit newsletter.

Then Rebekah and I did some miscellaneous BryonySeries chores.

1) Order fulfillments.

2) Addressing some KDP concerns.

3) Ordering a proof copy for Before the Blood: Henry Matthews (fourth installment of the BryonySeries prequel)

4) Fixing KDP concerns for WriteOn Joliet's KDP special "cheetah" anthology and resubmitting to KDP for review.

5) Reviewing our "chore" list. Rebekah asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day. I told her a few hours whittling down that list. She was game. But now she was to work. Easy come, easy go...

6) Hanging out while she played with different website companies. She's had several offers to format books and design websites, so she was experimenting with different sites.

I spent the evening cleaning house (I'm a daily-ish housekeeper) and then taking a long walk while talking to my oldest daughter on the phone.

Yoga.

Hearing the kids' analysis of the movie.

See? A truly great weekend. 

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, April 22 through April 27

For those of you following Bertrand on Instagram (and if you haven't met Bertrand, you can find him by scrolling down to "social media"), I apologize for the scarcity of posts lately.

Systems and processes are being changed up at work, so things have been a little topsy-turvy. For once, Bertrand has been patient and understanding about my lack of photos (which proves even a pretend mouse can learn), but we should be back in business shortly. Stay tuned!

Also, I'm back in the features-writing saddle, so please check out my stories (links at the bottom of this post).

Upcoming:

Tomorrow: A post by Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara. Topic: beer.

This week: The first BryonySeries blog tour. A blog tour is just like a regular tour, except the "venues" are all virtual. In this case, they are mainly blogs, but I'll also be a guest on one YouTube channel and one LinkedIn page.

I have seven stops in May with posts to reflect the themes of the host blogs. Tour schedule and post themes should be up on the website this weekend. Be sure to check it out! (Yes, I will post a link).

Also this week: WriteOn Joliet will host an open mic from 6 to 8 p.m. May 3 at the Book and Bean Cafe in Joliet. If you live in the area, come out for some great coffee and some Chicago-style, poetry-room type entertainment. And if you write, come to read, too!

Have a great Friday, readers, writers, and 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.

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.

An Extraordinary Life: Joliet woman was a living sermon 

“She probably had a fourth-grade reading level,” Warren Dorris Jr., Margaret Dorris' son, said. “But she taught herself how to read and be a student of the Bible. Back then, people had very few things they could put their faith in. They couldn’t have faith in their jobs or the economy. But people have to have faith in something, and she chose to put her faith in God.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/04/22/joliet-woman-was-a-living-sermon/aaacp5g/

MysteryDiner: Plainfield's Front Street Cantina offers affordable Mexican cuisines 

 As you would expect, I had chips and salsa before ordering my meal. While the salsa seemed to have a lot of tomatoes, it was deceptively spicy. You can also order guacamole, nachos grande, pizza and stuffed jalapeño peppers for appetizers.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/04/24/92d485ddaa164014b133f6bd0cba6d5a/index.xml

The last we'll see of Victorian Tea

Joliet women 'put their heart and soul' into annual event 

"Somehow, word got around," Marlene Jones, food committee chairman, said. "It seems like there is a lot of women who like to get dressed up in their finest and come to something that is elegant. And some women came year after year."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/04/25/88a41be43b43449a8bfe1b1dd94fdb4d/index.xml


A legacy of great music

Joliet American Legion Band to play spring concert May 5

Lois Henning, the band’s first woman president (Henning was elected in August), is hoping to fill all 850 seats.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/04/24/a-legacy-of-great-music/ascmz68/

Lockport's Roxy theater gets vintage marquee, upgrades

The goal was to return the sign to a 1960s facade, or as Joe Osborne, president of Image360 Signs in Mokena, said, “We had this crazy idea of restoring it to its former glory.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/04/26/6be87a270815452aabb63b6e31d0f235/index.xml

LocalLit author spotlight: Norm Cowie of Chicago

The written story always fascinated me, and then about a dozen years ago I got my first laptop, and I realized I could finally put my mad typing skills to the test. It took me two years to write my first manuscript – a horror story that I couldn’t get publishers interested in. Then I wrote a thriller, and it didn’t sell, either.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/04/16/8f006d67d1c24ff682d57f8ae00fc65f/index.xml

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff or @MattCoundiff on Twitter.