BryonySeries "Before The Blood" Prequel

I was still in the drafting and editing phases for the BryonySeries original trilogy (2009 to 2010) when I began to seriously consider writing a prequel.

Because the prequel is mostly historical fiction with supernatural undercurrents, the initial research alone took several years.

At the time, I saw the prequel as one novel (which it is). But I struggled to find the best protagonist for the story, since no one character possessed the overarching "best perspective."

I finally decided to tell the story from the point of view from four main characters (each character would have his or her own section) with the storylines weaving and crisscrossing - until all four appeared together in the final section like a 1970s disaster movie.

I was well into the writing when Rebekah suggested publishing each section as a separate installment, since each section was really five incomplete novels that comprised one larger (and also incomplete) novel.

The initial research continued several years until I finally began any serious writing in January 2014. More research continued throughout the writing and initial editing process until the end of 2018.

I had entire the novel ready to go before publishing the first volume in January 2019. And then released each installment in two-month segments, working on each segment in those quiet spaces.

We called it "Before The Blood" because the action tells the back story before the three main BryonySeries vampires became vampires (although one is actually turned in BTB) and the events that led to the vampirism in the first place. 

The fourth character is Bryony herself, who only appears in the prequel, despite the entire series bearing her name.

Sue Midlock, who creates all The Adventures of Cornell Dyer art, worked with me to create a cover concept with a nineteenth century feel.

Christopher Gleason, cover artist for "Staked!" and "Snowbell," created five frontispieces for each volume. The colors are stunning; and we considered publishing them in color, but the cost was prohibitive.

However, you may enjoy them on the BryonySeries Facebook page.

And Colleen H. Robbins shared her editorial skills to find areas to polish that my own editing missed.

Here is the description for each book.

Browse - and enjoy!

Before The Blood

"Before The Blood" is a five installment prequel to the original "drop of blood" trilogy. It's part historical fiction, part gothic fiction, and part tragedy as it centers on four key characters and how they ruin their lives.

Its tagline reads: "Step into the past when dreams were still bright and the future was unwritten."

Before The Blood: John Simons

In Book One, read how nineteenth century pianist/composer John Simons goes from riches to rags to riches, and the price he pays along the way.

Before The Blood: Kellen Wechsler

In Book Two, read how Kellen Wechsler goes from rags to riches, and the lives he discards along the way.

Before The Blood: Bryony Marseilles

In Book Three, read how little Bryony Marseilles, spoiled sheltered, and sickly, uses her introversion and imagination to make sense of her Utopia.

Before The Blood: Henry Matthews

In Book Four, read how Henry Matthews goes from rags to riches and what he sacrifices to serve the riches.

Before The Blood: Bryony Simons

In Book Five, read how Bryony Simons and those she loves destroy their dreams.

Before the Blood 

Get all five installments in one volume for a lower overall price. Just be aware the paper is white as opposed to cream and the print is very, very small.

BryonySeries: The Adventures of Cornell Dyer

The BryonySeries world of phantasmic books has several subseries, one of them being The Adventures of Cornell Dyer.

These are short chapter books for ages eight and up about a supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer, who travels around the country in his motor home solving supernatural mysteries. He also really likes food (especially junk food), is good at "persuading" clients to clean his motor home and wash his backed-up laundry, and insists people call him "Professor."

The series has two taglines, invented by Timothy. 

"Join the incredible, impossible, and marvelous Cornell Dyer as he unravels mysteries, untangles myths, and decides what to have for lunch."

Or "the greater the mystery, the bigger the lunch."

But how did Cornell Dyer come to be?

Cornell first appeared as a man in his fifties in the latter part of of his sleuthing career in "Visage," the second book in the BryonySeries youing adult vampire trilogy.

The reader's first impression of Cornell comes from his wife Katie's description of him in a conversation with her former high school friend Melissa, who has just graduated from college.

“Believe it or not, my parents are letting us keep the motor home in the back yard.”

“You’re kidding!”

“Nope. They seemed pretty upset about it at first, but they changed their minds when they saw how happy I am.”

“Are you happy?”

“Of course, silly. I can’t wait for you guys to meet my husband. I’m sure he will have lots in common with John. Cornell’s a professor, too.”

“He is?” Melissa wondered if Julie had not given her prejudiced information about Katie’s situation. “What kind of professor?”

“He’s a professor of the esoteric.”

“The what!”

“The esoteric. You know, the occult.”

“I know what esoteric means,” Melissa said, losing patience with her old friend. “Katie, you can’t be serious.”

Katie giggled. “I sure am. Not only is he smart, he’s very compassionate, which is why we travel around the country. That’s all Cornell does is help people, kind of like an old-fashioned medicine man. He goes from place to place teaching people about the mystical world they can’t see and fixing their problems.”

This last statement did it for Melissa. “He solves their problems? For free?”

“Big problems, little problems; it doesn’t matter to Cornell. He just likes doing good for people. Sometimes all a person needs is a charm to get that job promotion, but other times the problem is more serious, like when an evil spirit haunts a house. Cornell will go in there and get rid of it.”

And Cornell advertises his business directly on the motor home:

Amateurish paintings of astrologic symbols, hexagrams, and magic wands covered the motor home’s white exterior. A sign painted across one side read: The Thaumaturgical World of Professor Cornell Dyer: Amulets, Fortune-Telling (with and without cards), Ghost-Hunting, Horoscopes, Numerology, Palm-Reading, Potions, Séances, Spells, and Vampire-Slaying.

Cornell Dyer was such a fun character that I partnered with Timothy and Sue Midlock to respectively create stories concepts and art (cover art, chapter heading art, and branding logo) for the BryonySeries subseries The Adventures of Cornell Dyer.

These short chapter books for ages eight and up share some of Cornell's adventures as he solves one mystery at a time (all before Cornell's time in "Visage").

Although Timothy is the storytelling consultant, Rebekah stepped into that role for one book ("Mistical" Being), which was actually the prototype for the rest of this subseries.

Here are the published titles (so far). Timothy presented me with a list of fifty or so a few years ago, so we won't run out of ideas anytime soon.

Cornell Dyer and the Missing Tombstone

A tombstone with a Viking helmet engraving vanishes. Mysterious brown-outs plague a seacoast village. Supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer is certain the historical society leader knows more than he is telling. 

Will Cornell learn the secrets and stop the curse?

Cornell Dyer and the Necklace of Forgetfulness

A heartbroken lover wants to forget. Supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer desperately tries to solve a mystery as his memory vanishes. Meanwhile, he keeps showing up at places he's certain are clues but can't recall how or why he arrived. 

In this "back to front" story, Cornell races his fading mind to save the day - but which will win?

Cornell Dyer and the Eerie Lake

A cry for help. A glowing green ball. An old tired town with a mysterious old dump. A tale of heartbreak. Before supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer can figure out the questions, one man disappears and another dies. 

To find the answers, Cornell must cross the lake - but all who tried never came back. Will Cornell survive and solve the mystery?

Cornell Dyer and the Never Robbers

 After a band of robbers steal the motor home of supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer, time becomes strange and unpredictable. Events replay themselves with variations. Watches and light sources can’t be trusted. People disappear, and a man who claims to know everything suddenly appears. 

Cornell is certain soot, a tire swing, and his first unsolved case are somehow connected. But will he solve the mystery before he fades from memory?

Cornell Dyer and the Flu

It’s Christmas Eve and a very sick Cornell Dyer is stuck in the hospital, frustrated because he can’t find the vending machine and because he’s too sick to solve his latest supernatural mystery. 

Another patient tries to help Cornell, not with food and medicine, but with a journey into realms Cornell doesn’t want to go.

Cornell Dyer and the Whispering Wardrobe

While investigating a home with mysterious whispers, supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer stumbles upon its source: an antique wardrobe in a room all by itself. But when Cornell steps inside, he discovers the wardrobe is more than a wardrobe and a whisper is more than a whisper. 

Even if Cornell solves the mystery, will he ever go home?

Cornell Dyer and the Old Folks Home

Cornell Dyer needs a break from solving supernatural mysteries. So he heads to Paradise Falls for a well-deserved vacation at a beach resort, where he meets another sleuth as skilled as he. But dark secrets can lurk even in a sunny paradise, secrets the tanned and energetic natives don’t want him to know. 

It takes two to solve the mystery – but will the sleuthing team live that long?

Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being

When asked to banish ghosts in a backyard lake, supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer encounters one mystery after another: a ghostly mist with eyes, a ghost town, and a town that keeps changing its name. 

Delving into each one will change Cornell's life. Is he ready?

Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones

When supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer finds himself between sleuthing jobs, he fills the time by teaching science while the real teacher is ill. But in a school that’s supposedly getting remodeled, Cornell encounters one mystery after another: vanishing classroom skeletons, plants that come and go, and a piano for every student. 

Cornell is certain his classroom holds the answer – and that he is one of the clues.

Cornell Dyer and the Howls of Basketville

Howls. Shadows. Disappearances.

Something is roaming the run-down town of Basketville, Michigan, and Detective Sherman Homes is struggling to connect the dots. So he asks supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer for help - but the mystery bites back. 

Brains or beast: which will win?

Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur (Available late 2025 or early 2026.

For more information about other books in the BryonySeries, visit Books of the BryonySeries: A Quick Overview.

Sue Midlock (Mydliak) at True North

Open Mic Night 2023: Sue Midlock

Now available: "Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones"

The book publishing process can be a slow one, even when one is self-publishing.

"Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones," the latest release in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer series, is actually not that new.

Timothy and I met for a "Cornell" breakast to map out the story a year ago this month.

Most of the book was written by the end of September.

But then both Sue Midlock (our official illustrator for the series) and Rebekah Baran (formatter) hae health issues on and off.

So the art wasn't ready until January. And the book wasn't formatted for a while after that.

Then we had to re-edit the proof copy.

Then we had to re-format the book.

But we can finally release it today for your enjoyment.

When supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer finds himself between sleuthing jobs, he fills the
time by teaching science while the real teacher is ill. But in a school that’s supposedly getting
remodeled, Cornell encounters one mystery after another: vanishing classroom skeletons, plants
that come and go, and a piano for every student. Cornell is certain his classroom holds the
answer – and that he is one of the clues.

"Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones" isn't available on the BryonySeries store yet.

Nor is it available on Kindle yet.

But you may purchase the paperback on Amazon.

Happy reading!

Now available: Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being

Although "Cornell Dyer and the 'Mistical' Being sounds like a new book in the Adventures of Cornell dyer sries, it's really the first book.

Not the first book in the series.

But the first book written for the series.

Waaaay back in 2009 when I was writing the first draft for "Visage" (the second book in the "drop of blood" trilogy), I thought a spin-off series for kids on up with the Cornell Dyer character might be fun.

So Rebekah wrote one.

She was around fifteen and struggling with her dyslexia, so writing was difficult for her.

After she wrote the book, her computer crashed.

We had forgotten that she had emailed the book to me and that the book was saved on an old hard drive.

So during the pandemic, we went hunting for it.

And found it.

I read it aloud, and we laughed through a lot of it, in some very good ways.

So we talked about my expanding it. We changed a few pieces of it.

Yes, Timothy is my official collaborator for the series.

But Rebekah's story was too wonderful to pass up.

We release it today for your enjoyment, with fun artwork by Sue Midlock, our official illustrator for the series. 

When asked to banish ghosts in a backyard lake, supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer encounters one mystery after another: a ghostly mist with eyes, a ghost town, and a town that keeps changing its name. Delving into each one will change Cornell's life. Is he ready?

"Cornell Dyer and the 'Mistical' Being isn't available on the BryonySeries store yet.

Nor is it available on Kindle yet.

But you may purchase the paperback on Amazon.

Happy reading!

\

Perfect Timing

One common theme I often hear when I write my "An Extraordinary Life" features for The Herald-News is that the subject of the story "never complained" when fighting cancer or other devastating illnesses.

No one willl ever say that about me.

Nothing kicks up anxiety for me and for some of my children like illness. Maybe that's because we've been blessed/cursed with some of the most unusual maladies out there: pheochromocytoma, Steven Johnson Syndrome, refractory diseases.

For those of us who complain (I'm raising my hand over here), the complaining is not whining. The complaining serves as a reality check as to what is and is not typical and whether or not someone should act, whether the guard should go up or down.

Too much of the time, getting sick for us is not a simple thing. Too much of the time, going to the doctor is fraught with stress because the only reason we are seeking medical help is because we either couldn't figure out the issue or the issue is too great for us to fix on our own. Too much of the time, the doctor can't get it right on the first try, either.

Two weekends ago I worked. It was a quiet weekend and accomplished a lot. So I was really looking forward to tackling some fiction this weekend.

But on Friday, both Rebekah and I came down with some sort of viral bug.

So on Saturday, we did the responsible thing: we broke open our first home COVID test. Both test results were negative.

On Sunday, we did the next responsible thing: we went for PCR testing. We got the results back yesterday, actually immediately after I told my supervisor I was sick. Both results were negative.

This morning, we are starting to feel better. And the timing was perfect, really.

Daniel has wanted to carve some time out to watch The Haunting of Hill House. Well, since I didn't feel up to anything else, we blew through it this weekend. We're also halfway through The Haunting of Bly Manor. See what happens when you don't have the energy to work out or clean house?

On Sunday, I was starting to feel better and wound up finishing the last two chapters of Call of the Siren after all. Hurray! I'm on the right side of getting well.

But Sunday night, the virus showed its teeth and kept me up half the night.

On Sunday night, I fretted about a big project at work - which I finished on Monday.

On Sunday night, I fretted about some "life" things coming up that this virus might take out only to wake up at 4 a.m. and realize the virus was barely whimpering.

This morning, I'm feeling more assured that some bugs are simply some bugs, and we do get over most of them. The timing of this one was perfect, really, with COVID cases at an all-time low.

I'm a planner, and it's good to plan. I'd never get much accomplished without planning.

I also like protecting my health. I spent the first two decades of my life not feeling well most of the time. And my efforts at wellness have served me well for most of my adult life.

But when plans go sideways, it opens the door for other opportunities.

When the timing is perfect.

Illustration by Sue Midlock for "Cornell Dyer and the Flu"

Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being

Good morning!

Here is a "sneak peek" at a new book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer chapter book series, which is part of the overall BryonySeries series.

Got that?

This "new" book is actually an "old" book that's been given an expanded and edited new life.

Back when I first had the idea to write a Cornell Dyer subseries for the BryonySeries, Rebekah, who was in high school at the time, actually wrote the first story for it.

Her computer later crashed, and she thought it was gone forever. What Rebekah did not remeber (and quite frankly, neither had I) was that she had sent me a copy of it.

I stumbled upon it one day, all 5,600 words of it, and read it aloud to her. We had a good laugh over some of her mistaken word choices (she is very dyslexic) and actually decided to incorporate one of them into the title because her mistake turned out to be genius and key to the story.

The title of the book is Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being.

The best part is that ger writing, overall, stood up very well - and even Rebekah was surprised, since she is not a writer.

So I took her original story, expanded it, edited it, and tweaked it a bit for a seamless read, and then sent it back to her.

She approved it, and Sue Midlock, our Cornell Dyer artist, began working on the cover and chapter heading illustrations.

Sue ran into some health issues this summer, but she is feeling better and finished the artwork last week - and we love it! Sue is currently editing her second "Elspeth" book and then she will begin work on the art for Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones.

Here is the back cover copy and cover for the new book. We hope to release the book before 2022.

When asked to banish ghosts in a backyard lake, supernatural super sleuth Cornell Dyer encounters one mystery after another: a ghostly mist with eyes, a ghost town, and a town that keeps changing its name. Delving into each one will change Cornell’s life. Is he ready?

For more books in the Cornell Dyer series (and other BryonySeries books), visit bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Artists For Hire

From the very beginning of the BryonySeries, the art has been a very important part of the story concept.

To execute it, I always use local and/or independent artists.

Like local and indie authors, visual and musical artists struggle to to share their talents with the wider world.

All of these artists (except one) are taking commissions. 

So feel free to check out their work and the style of their works. And reach out to them if you'd like to collaborate.

Rebekah Baran

My youngest daughter designs custom websites, formats books for print and Kindle, and can design covers.

She's currently working on a separate website for me, a cover for my first non-fiction book, and recently designed the cover for Lycanthropic Summer.

Message her at dmbaranunland@gmail.com.

Matt Coundiff

This former Will County Illinois resident did the cover art and interior illustrations for Visage.

He also created the interior art for Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony."

Matt is also a tattoo artist.

Message him at mattcoundiff on Instagram.

Terri Ellinger

This Will County resident sketched illustrations of Bryony and Anna for several of the Bertrand the Mouse books.

To see more of her work and to message her, visit sites.google.com/view/terriellingerfineart.

Topher Gleason

This Will County, Illinois resident created the cover art for Snowbell, the cover art and interior illustrations for Staked! and the frontispieces for all five installments of Before The Blood: John Simons, Kellen Wechsler, Bryony Marseilles, Henry Matthews, and Bryony Simons.

To see more of his work, visit imagekind.com/artists/Artworkbytopher/all/fine-art-prints.

To message him, email Topher@ArtWorkbyTopher.com.

Sue Midlock 

This Will County, Illinois resident is a local author. She also does photography and works in several mediums.

Sue has created all of the cover and interior artwork for The Adventures of Cornell Dyer series.

To see more of her work and to message her, visit suemydliak.wordpress.com.

James Onohan

An Indiana police officer, James writes romantic piano music and plays live music (covers and original) at events.

James also created all the music for the BryonySeries CD: "The Best-Loved Compositions of John Simons," which includes the Bryony theme song referenced through many of the books.

To hear more of his music, to buy individual songs or entire CDs, and to message him, jamesonohan.com.

Jennifer Wainwright

A former Illinois resident, Jennifer created the frontispiece for Lycanthropic Summer and the illustration of Main Street for the BryonySeries website.

Message her at jenniboom94@gmail.com.

Bryony Spool Journal

This past summer, local author and BryonySeries artist Sue Midlock had an idea for an art project related to our books.

Sue had seen examples of spool art, wanted to make one for her book Elspeth, and invited Rebekah and I to make one, too, focusing on Bryony.

She had all the supplies except for the basic wooden spool, which her husband, a woodworker, made for us.

Basically, we paint a strip of paper (in our case, we painted two and connected them with ribbon that "spoke" of our respective books, in order to make a longer scroll) and then we added prose and decor, the last supplied by Sue's large collection of art supplies.

It reminded me of a major project I did with my teen Sunday school class at St. Nicholas, where I brought out everything from the art cabinets and let their imagination free.

Sue wrote and illustrated vignettes that summarized Elspeth. I used quotes from both Bryony and the fifth installment of Before The Blood, which focuses on Bryony Simons.

In Bryony, Melissa trades her blood with a Victorian vampire (John Simons) to go back into time to "be" Bryony.

On the other hand, the fifth installment of Before The Blood, is the real adult Bryony and her marriage to John, before he was dead and undead.

So one side of the scroll are Melissa quotes. The others are Bryony's, bound together by a ribbon and with the whole decorated with the specially bred bryony vines in the series and other subtle elements contained therein.

The ends are also decorated with themes that appear in both Bryony...

...and Before The Blood: Bryony Simons

Even the "tags" at the end related to Before The Blood: If you've read the book, you'll recognize them.

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Nov. 10 through Nov. 15

Good Friday morning! Is everyone ready for the weekend?

It's a bit of working weekend for me.

I'll have the calendars to finish up for Monday's publication, and I have the last bit of Phyllis' memoir to type up. I'm also working on the first round of edits for an author in WriteOn Joliet.

Speaking of WriteOn Joliet, the group (of which I co-lead) is hosting its third anthology release party tonight from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at The Book Market, 2365 Plainfield Road in Crest Hill.

The latest anthology will, of course, be for sale (and so will the previous releases), along with works by members in the group, including all BryonySeries titles.

I don't have copies of Cornell Dyer and the Flu yet (KDP just approved it yesterday, but it's available online, and I'l be taking orders at a special sale price tonight.

If you can't make it out tonight, and you still want a copy of the anthology, you can purchase it here.

Have a wonderful day, 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. And be sure to "hover" your hand over the first square. Note: this only works (so far) with the desktop version.

But he's also made A LOT of changes to the website. So be sure to roam around a bit.

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.

Joliet veteran reflects on his service

A very practical view of military service.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/10/10/joliet-veteran-reflects-on-his-service/d5ej087/


VIDEO: Another reason this Joliet #veteran served

It wasn't all about being lofty.

https://www.theherald-news.com/video/id/8632e808-c790-4f8b-9a35-185a914b5ebb.html


A look back at the faithful service of Joliet area veterans 

Daniel Bush said this of his father Carl, "He was able to live his life the way he wanted to – taking care of his wife and his children. America gave him that opportunity and he never forgot it.”

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/10/16/a-look-back-at-the-faithful-service-of-joliet-area-veterans/dfuwfot/


LocalLit author spotlight: Granddaughter honors Lockport veteran

This newsletter this story references went out on Friday - but if you'd like to read it, I'll send you mine. Message me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/11/07/locallit-author-spotlight-granddaughter-honors-lockport-veteran/dqpfk5h/


Not the typical library book group
Romeoville library's over 21 book discussion program still going strong 

Find out how you can join - and why you should

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/11/12/not-the-typical-library-book-group/aep3ghs/


Crest Hill book store to host after-hours event on Friday 

The menu is amazing. Click on the link and read for yourself.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/11/12/crest-hill-book-store-to-host-after-hours-event-on-friday/al5nf76/


'Everyone is a part of the show'
Former music director of Joliet diocese brings choir for Rialto concert 

An immersive holiday experience for all ages.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/11/12/everyone-is-a-part-of-the-show/dwll2ri


Rialto's Christmas concert to feature Joliet organist

“First of all, even the look of it is very impressive,” Beverly Holt said. “It’s a theater organ and very few places have an organ like that, the size of it. “

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/11/12/rialtos-christmas-concert-to-feature-joliet-organist/ajauygn/


LocalLit book spotlight: 'Elspeth' by Sue Mydliak of Joliet 

Preview of Tuesday's book review about a Scottish witch

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/11/14/locallit-book-spotlight-elspeth-by-sue-mydliak-of-joliet/d7bwohb/


This past week, I was asked to share my faith and writing. Listen now. 

https://www.spreaker.com/user/gifts4glorypodcast/denise-m-baran-unland-author?fbclid=IwAR0VKqxjZlJQ5MOy77rxuQhGp7QGtsDSpHsYYpmXZ-NklCLokr4DkvP_OIM

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."

Collaborative Art

Earlier this year, WriteOn Joliet hosted a display of collaborative pieces at the downtown branch of the Joliet Public Library.

I wound up collaborating with two different photographers as well as BryonySeries artist Sue Midlock.

Sue is currently working on a novel based on a real-life seventeenth century Scottish witch, so I suggested we create something with a witch them.

So Sue came up with the title "The Witch's Spell." She did the art, asked me to write the text, and then she added the words and embellishing touches.

It had three panels. This is the result.

Scroll Journals: A Project in Progress

This weekend, Rebekah, BryonySeries artist and local author Sue Midlock, and me gathered at Sue's house to start making scroll journals, art pieces that reflect our books.

Basically you attach a long piece of paper and affix it to a wooden spool. But first, you decorate it and write on it.

Here are some of the supplies Sue gathered for us to use. Her husband Bruce made the spools for us.

Next, we painted long strips of paper with watercolors. Sue chose autumn colors to reflect the witch story she is writing. We chose pale yellows and tans to create an aged parchment look.

Then we began embellishing and writing on the scrolls. Ours have "bryony" vines and tiny pink flowers, of course.

We spent about three hours on the project and hope to return to it this weekend.

Unwinding Some Fun

A couple weeks ago, BryonySeries artist Sue Midlock pitched an intriguing idea.

She sent me some pictures of giant wooden spools where artists had wound long paper around it (like a giant scroll), and then wrote on the scroll and decorated it.

Sue was planning to make one of these giant scrolls as a companion piece of art to one of her books and asked if I'd like to make one with a BryonySeries theme. Naturally, I agreed, even though I don't have a clue how this works.

I'm also not very creative. So this should be interesting.

Fortunately, Sue also invited Rebekah to join is. So now I can play artist understudy to Rebekah and Sue simply follow their directions. We are planning to make the scrolls this weekend.

This is the spool Sue's husband, a woodworker, made for her. His making one for me, too, she said.

Next week, I'll update with the completed projects. I'm sure with Sue's guidance and Rebekah's talent, mine will turn out all right.

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, May 26 through May 31

WOW! What a great night last night!

Write Joliet held a meet and greet last night in the lobby of the downtown branch of the Joliet Public Library, and it was phenomenal.

Writers, readers, patrons, and guessed stop to browse books, buy books, and to talk about books and writing.

Bertrand the Mouse did run off at one point, causing a slight bit of panic (in me), but Daniel had captured him before I'd even realized he'd gone missing and sulkily spent the rest of the event in Daniel's sweatshirt pocket.

Author Sue Midlock suggested a wrist leash for the adventurous bit of crocheted yarn. I think that's a great idea!

If you haven't seen WriteOn Joliet's display at the library, you still have time. Program director Dawn Ritter asked if we could leave it up through this Star Wars Day this weekend. It's in the double case in the lobby.

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.

'No one wants to help anymore'
Wilmington couple open their doors to ex-addict who needed a home

Tom Arambasich and his wife April discussed it. They had a spare bedroom. Therese Raymond needed a home. Tom and April needed help with housework and April's care.

"She'd never had a break before," Tom said. "So why not?"

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/05/21/ed22f7ff015a43559cdc3be91f3aeba9/index.xml?page=1

Memories of the former Joliet Beach Club 

Our neighbor Dale O'Connell Sr. (deceased) managed the club. Periodically he would call out someone's name, with a stern instruction to come to the office. My father said those were the swimmers who were not obeying the rules.

One day, "Mr. O'Connell" boomed over the loudspeaker: "Denise and Karen Schonbachler: Come to the office." Quaking with fear and wondering what rule I broke,  I splashed out of the water and huddled on our blanket.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/05/19/82d365a5cfc14785bd6e87c398e1e7cd/index.xml


'Quite astonishing and beautiful'
Joliet cathedral to host an afternoon of organ and saxophone music

"I think when people questions aesthetics, we need to also be really careful how we do that," James Grzadzinski said. "One person's taste is not another's. But only when you open your hearts to the experience of the music, can you begin to let the music live."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/05/28/e6cea8efc49a440299875a26a91aa336/index.xml


Artworks: Exactly where she's meant to be
Joliet Junior College's Nicki Blowers is branching into community theater

"When you're the director, you're the visionary," Blowers said. "And you want to make a great experience for the audience. You're the end all and be all. You make all the decision about creative choices."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/05/28/17def5529f3444e5824c40419e382bb9/index.xml?page=1


LocalLit local author spotlight: Maureen Blevins of New Lenox 

Blevins said, "Writing about people is always interesting - some of their stories are fascinating. And I always have fictional scenarios going on in my head.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/05/09/locallit-author-spotlight-maureen-blevins-of-new-lenox/aity5sn/

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