Showing posts with label Route 66. Show all posts

Friday, July 17, 2026

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, July 11 through July 17

Good morning!

I have ten stories online to share with you today, with more stories likely going live over the weekend. So please check back at shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

To see the stories that ran in print this week and aren't online yet, click on the e-edition option at the top of The Herald-News website.

On July 3, the BryonySeries/B.L.O.C.K.S. team hosted the children's games for the fourth year in a row at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet. Despite breaking down early due to lightning and approaching stores, we had a very successful night.

And 14 people (by my account) attended "Book Publishing 101 Saturday at the Joliet Public Library on June 27, and the library was very pleased. Thank you to all who attended. The feedback was very positive.

The library is planning to reschedule this presentation at a later date. So if you missed it, you will likely get another opporunity.

Before the stories, I also 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!

Calendar

The BryonySeries calendar offers links to games, crafts, music, activities, science experiments, and recipes that pick up themes to one or more of our books.

To participate, visit bryonyseries.com/ourcalendar.

Events (or where to find the BryonySeries) - so far:

Aug. 1: Kid Fest: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., City Square, Downtown Joliet. For the third year in a row, WriteOn Joliet will have a tent at the annual Kidz Fest celebration. Write your own story with our unique, one-of-a-kind, made-just-for-us story manipulable story blocks. And be sure to pick up one (or more) WriteOn Joliet-authored books (titles for all ages), which we will distribute for free.

Sept. 19: Fountaindale Public Library Author Fair: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fontaindale Public Library District, 300 Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook.

Oct. 17: Halloween Night Market: 3 to 8 p.m.., Channahon Tractor Supply, Channahon

In addition, please check out our books by popping into The Book Market in Crest Hill (if you live in the area) or bookshop.org or Amazon if you don't.

Also, many titles are available at the Joliet Public Library and the Downers Grove Public Library.

Please note: Bookshop and the libraries do not carry all of our books.

And if you missed it, please check out the "Shades of Noir" photos.

What is the BryonySeries?

Please read "Books of the BryonySeries: A Quick Overview"

For more information on the developing "parent brand" that is removing some of the heavy marketing lifting from me, visit bryonyseries.com/blocks.

BryonySeries books-in-progress

Bertrand the Mouse: We have plenty of Bertrand photos and ideas. Several are at the top of the list. At some point, we will assemble and release some more.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur.") is finally begun, although albeit very slowly. I'd like to get enough done over the next month or so to finally give Sue Midlock (our artist for The Adventures of Cornell Dyer) some ideas for the book's cover and chapter heading illustrations.

Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is nearly drafted with some partial editing already begun. We plan to release this book in 2026.

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."

Other books: I am not writing a novel this year. But we plan to release a BryonySeries Christmas anthology around the holidays. This will be Christmas excerpts from existing BryonySeries novels along with a few bonus chapters only available in this anthology.

We also have a prologue/first chapter sampler of all the BryonySeries novels and an novel excerpt (so far) that's only available at certain events and another sampler cal;led "Angel or Demon" that is also only available at select events.

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.

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 weekly 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'm gradually reviving BryonySeries on Twitter/X at x.com/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.
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
From ducks to dogs, Minooka couple builds sanctuary for
abused, neglected animals
‘They all have stories, some worse than others’
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/07/14/from-ducks-to-dogs-minooka-couple-builds-sanctuary-for-abused-neglected-animals/
2 businesses near City Square in downtown Joliet shut
their doors
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/07/14/2-businesses-near-city-square-in-downtown-joliet-shut-their-doors/
Rooted Goods Grazing opens in Lockport with hand-crafted
charcuterie boards, ready-to-eat meals
JJC culinary graduate creates healthy, edible artwork

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/07/16/rooted-goods-grazing-opens-in-lockport-with-hand-crafted-charcuterie-boards-ready-to-eat-meals/
Shorewood man donates $100,000 to Will County Humane
Society in wife’s memory
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/07/07/shorewood-man-donates-100000-to-will-county-humane-society-in-wifes-memory/
Unique motels and hotels were part of the attraction for
taking a Route 66 road trip
https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/07/11/motels-and-hotels-were-part-of-the-attraction-for-taking-a-route-66-road-trip/
Cornerstone Services in Joliet held grand opening on new
behavioral health center
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/07/12/cornerstone-services-in-joliet-to-host-grand-opening-on-new-behavioral-health-center/
Joliet bank to hold free shred event on Saturday
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/07/16/joliet-bank-to-hold-free-shred-event-on-saturday/
Joliet caterer Bella Cucina launches dirty soda pop-up
bar
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/07/15/joliet-caterer-bella-cucina-launches-dirty-soda-pop-up-bar/
New Mexican cuisine restaurant comes to Shorewood
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/07/11/new-mexican-cuisine-restaurant-comes-to-shorewood/
Will County Pets of the Week: July 13, 2026
Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/07/13/will-county-pets-of-the-week-july-13-2026/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Friday, August 20, 2021

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Aug. 14 through Aug. 20

Good morning!

I have fifteen stories (features and news) to share with you today and another ten not yet posted, so watch for them over the weekend.

Nothing has changed, fiction-wise, in the last couple of weeks, but I'll quickly recap.

We have another book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer series to share (Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being, co-written by Rebekah, who also needs surgery now). Our artist Sue Midlock is currently working on the chapter. Thank you for the good thoughts. She is recovering nicely now from that surgery but may have another issue, ugh! So please keep the good thoughts coming.

Timothy has Cornell Dyer and the Calcium-Deficient Bones mentally worked out. We just need our schedules to sync up and the boxes to be unpacked.We have acutally scheduled half a dozen "Cornell" breakfasts this summer, which kept gettting pushed out due to work, moving, medical issues, conflicting schedules. We have one scheduled for tomorrow, but the weekend is already full, so we shall see.

And then, for down the road, Sarah had a crazy dream that sounded perfect for An Adventure of Cornell Dyer mystery. But she wants time to draw some sketches, a map, and write the "rules." It's called Cornell Dyer and the House of Broken Portals.

Bertrand the Mouse is still missing, but Bertrand's Uncle Bartie is in town to help find his mischievous little nephew.

I'm currently working on tons of character outlines for all the new characters (and returning minor characters who now have secnodary or major role) in the second book of the Limbo trilogy: Call of the Siren. Last weekend, I also wrote the first and last line for every chapter.

This weekend, I'm hoping to get a little more granular on the outlines. Since I'm not going to Raleigh this year AGAIN (I'm so bummed), I'm planning two at-home writing retreats with my vacation time and want to make good use of that time as we'd like to release the book in 2022.

I also have in my possession the first piece of completed cover art for the "Girls of the BryonySeries" series for tween girls. It's beautiful and it shows that artist Jennifer Wainright can draw anything from werewolves to portraits! She's working on art for the next two books (I have eight planned in all).

I have one book ready for editing, a second in progress, and some really skeletal outlines for the rest. So I'm not lacking in projects, just time. And coffee.

Now back to the fifteen stories. Simply click on the link of the story that looks interesting to you. Happy scrolling!

But before the stories, I have a list of additional 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!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.

Each Sunday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks or will be featured in an upcoming cookbook.

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. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year, well, except this 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 support in your writing, I highly recommend this Twitter group: #5amwritersclub. I joined it last year. Writers support each other on Twitter and meet every three weeks at 5 a.m. (4 a.m. CST - needless to say, I am often late!) on Zoom.

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 Will County Go Guide and Sign up for the LocalLit Short Story and Book Review Newsletter at https://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/

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 do post the briefs 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.

BRYONYSERIES BOOKS

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

BRYONYSERIES EVENTS

A full month of virtual events can be found at bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events-1.

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 church celebrated 25 years of faithfulness to the vision: Harvest Church began in pastor’s ‘field of dreams’

Pets of the Week: Aug. 16: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

Free screening helps prevent sudden cardiac death in teens: Morris Hospital’s free Rhythm of Our Youth cardiac screening seeking volunteers

St. Rose in Wilmington to host traveling exhibit of Eucharistic miracles: Gargol: ‘We invite everyone to take this opportunity and see with their own eyes’

JJC completes $1.75M renovation project for new respiratory care therapy program: Police station renovations and landscape modifications are next

Crest Hill gated community celebrates 20th anniversary with mayoral proclamation: Singles club at Carillon Lakes also collected school supplies for Chaney-Monge and Richland schools

LocalLit book preview: ‘Eva’s Heart’ encourages people to hold fast to their dreams: Illinois author based picture book on her experiences with adopting a rescue dog

An Extraordinary Life: Joliet real estate appraiser, teacher received Senate proclamation: Nanette O’Hara earned two masters degrees, began 2nd career in her 50s

Forest fire management officer in Wilmington fought forest fire in Oregon: Chris Lundgren part of emergency team that brought the fire under control

Joliet pub closed its doors on Tuesday after 40 years of ‘great memories’: Patrons reminisce about their experiences at O’Charley’s Irish Pub

Troy 30-C to dedicate Troy Middle School gym in Plainfield to former board member on Friday: J. Terry McFadden was ‘the voice of everyone who needed to be heard’