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'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.
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’
Will County schools stand by cellphone policies as trends
show districts tightening rules
By Jessie Molloy and Denise M. Baran-Unland
Get in the spirit: Joliet’s Rialto Square Theatre announces
holiday entertainment lineup
Holiday series kicks off with a tree lighting on Nov. 26
Joliet couple’s love story began at New Orleans North
festival
The 2024 New Orleans North event is Friday
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
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
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"
