Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Sept. 14 to Sept. 20

Good morning!

I have nine stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post with more stories going live over the weekend, since I am working through 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.

On Sept. 14, BryonySeries participated in its first Spooky Night Out at HellsGate in Lockport. I passed on the tour of the haunted house since I'd messed up my knee the previous evening (the knee gave way when I rose from a chair - go figure!).

Rebekah was still recovering from a cold and passed, too. But Timothy and Daniel went and loved it!

We sold three books that night, distributed quite a bit of cards, chatted with lots of attendees, and can't wait for next year!

Finally, 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 now up at The Book Market. So do check it out if you're in the area.

We are also participating in three more events in September.

Sept. 24: The Book Market in Crest Hill

Sept. 27: End-Of-Summer Open Mic at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet

Sept. 28: Local Author Fair at the Downers Grove Public Library

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 three chapters that are ready for final edits. I'm hoping that all three will be in good editing shape by Monday. 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...

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

For Joliet man, Omega Plumbing business a pipe dream come true

Bob Fox, owner: ‘It was a leap of faith’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/16/omega-plumbing-is-a-pipe-dream-come-true-for-joliet-man/

Why fall is the best time to plant trees

Experts: Tree roots get more time to settle in

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/15/this-is-why-you-should-plant-trees-in-the-fall/

Irish folk singer Aiofe Scott will perform concert in Joliet

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/14/irish-folk-singer-aiofe-scott-will-perform-concert-in-joliet/

Plainfield School District 202 launches student entrepreneurship program

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/14/plainfield-school-district-202-launches-student-entrepreneurship-program/

Spirit Halloween stores now open in Will County

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/04/spirit-halloween-stores-opening-up-in-will-county/

Joliet wine bar to reopen on Essington

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/13/joliet-wine-bar-to-re-open/

Pesciolino Oseteria in Channahon updates menu and remodels

https://www.shawlocal.com/morris-herald-news/2024/09/18/pesciolino-oseteria-in-channahon-updates-menu-and-remodels/

Will County Pets of the Week: Sept. 16, 2024

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/16/will-county-pets-of-the-week-sept-16-2024/

5 Things to Do in Will County: Joliet PrideFest

By 5 Things to Do in Joliet and Will County

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/09/19/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-joliet-pridefest/

 

 

 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, March 18 through March 23

Readers in the Joliet area: ready for some spring snow?

For my church, the timing couldn't be worse. Our only fundraiser for the year, our annual spaghetti dinner, which we've been hosting almost six decades now, is tomorrow. Our workers and patrons are mostly elderly people, and they tend to stay home in bad weather (can't say I blame them).

Today: all Sunday deadlines must be complete by noon because the afternoon is full of interviews. And I have to cover an event later today. Oh, and I have a high school student shadowing me for part of the day. Should be fun! :)

Still, hoping to get to bed early, so I can get up early and work on Before the Blood before I have to head up to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Homewood, where the spaghetti dinner will be held from 2 to 8 p.m.

So if you're looking for some great food, feel free to stop in tomorrow.

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.

Meeting new people a full-time job for Plainfield Area Chamber hire

She talks up local businesses and makes new residents feel welcome

“Basically, I get to meet and greet all the new residents that move into the area and I get to bring them goodies.”

That’s exactly what Alena “AJ” Sokoloski said she does all day long as the new public relations director/residential greeter for the Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/03/16/meeting-new-people-a-full-time-job-for-plainfield-area-chamber-hire/aegdn8o/

An Extraordinary Life: If a job was worth doing, Edward did it well

Joliet man lived patriotism and service to others 

 A newspaper article written when Edward Vercelli was 21 said that the success of the Army Air Forces’ B-29 Pacuson Dreamboat 9,500-mile nonstop flight from Hawaii to Cairo was partly because of Edward, then a navigator in the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron based in Meeks Field, Iceland.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/03/13/39e5e3c843ce44dc81aa1d88ef4ffe13/index.xml

Joliet woman finds home for cats, rats and dogs

The rescue is hosting a fundraiser March 24 to help with medical expenses and "for people to have a good time," Tana Labuda said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/03/17/fc71d30fffca4d2586232891a5ca900f/index.xml

'We're not the same on the inside'

Members of #Joliet support group discuss life with brain injuries 

“I didn’t realize how much I could do until I couldn’t,” Molly Snodgrass, founder, said. “Everything has changed. My hobbies have changed. My interests have changed. I’m almost a different person.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/03/18/4fd57c02efa3492da39629ed4466d574/index.xml

‘Like a blind man trying to race a car’

Joliet man gives insight into living with a traumatic brain injury 

“We get happy, sad, mad, etc., faster than others because we have dead parts in our brains where our brains are trying to rewire to try to figure things out faster and this turns into overload," Brian Zook wrote. 

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/03/19/like-a-blind-man-trying-to-race-a-car/a9xq4i9/

Mystery Diner: A.B. Gusto's food in Crest Hill is worth a stop

The pot roast, by the way, is a specialty there and worth your time. it's tender, flavorful and I would consider ordering it on its own or on those previously mentioned nachos in the future.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/03/19/0a60838f233241b5947a71592ac033f6/index.xml?page=3


Preparing the Lockport area community for the way of the Lord 

 “I think it’s got a great message about love and faith,” Jenni White said. “And I think it’s a good example of who we are as a church.”

The church will present “Godspell” on Friday and Saturday.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/03/21/ea61ac2a76dc47079ec0d011c7952eb4/index.xml?page=1


A home business so strong, even Amazon took note
Plainfield woman found sucess on Etsy and Amazon Homemade

 "I actually put four to six things on there thinking, 'If I sell one thing a month, I'll be happy. I'll have some extra pocket money,'" Nicky Scott said. "That's really all it was."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/03/22/bed57a429acf4305ab45f3fa989b0cb2/index.xml

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