Sue Midlock (Mydliak) at True North

Community News: March 26 and March 27, 2019

Check out upcoming events and the awesome things people are doing.

And then scroll down for links to page of local authors.

If you live within the Herald-News' coverage area (most of Will and Grundy counties in Illinois), and you'd like to share your organization's news or upcoming events, email the information to new@theherald-news.com.


Local students make dean’s lists for fall 2018

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/03/26/local-students-make-deans-lists-for-fall-2018/ausjavi/

New study shows marijuana legalization has impacted road safety 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/03/24/new-study-shows-marijuana-legalization-has-impacted-road-safety/ascsl7w/


Childerguild gives $315,000 for women’s and children’s services at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/03/24/childerguild-gives-315-000-for-womens-and-childrens-services-at-silver-cross-hospital-in-new-lenox/apofx39/


Silver Cross in New Lenox to host Diabetes Alert March 26 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/03/25/silver-cross-in-new-lenox-to-host-diabetes-alert-march-26/aazbzle/


Morris Hospital Foundation offers health care scholarships

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/03/25/morris-hospital-foundation-offers-health-care-scholarships/ajh2eqo/


LOCAL AUTHORS


"Books for the whole family."

Kenneth Lee McGee and his wife of forty-five years live in the Plainfield, Illinois, area, are active in their local church and spend many hours indulging their grandchildren.

https://kennethleemcgee.com/


R. Michael Markley Books and Blog

Mike lives in the Chicago area with his wife, Kristine, on four acres of land. He is a former member of the Christian Writer's Guild and a publisher of his own newsletter.

http://rmichaelmarkley.com/


Writing and "The Process"

James is a career analyst who has lived a double-life for the past two decades as a creative writer, exploring the world beyond facts and figures.

http://www.writingandtheprocess.com/


Tom Hernandez Books and Blog

Tom Hernandez's writing explores marriage, family, relationships, identity, aging, parenting, faith, social justice and politics.

https://tomhernandezbooks.com/


"Holly Coop Books"

Holly Coop resides in the Midwest with her family. She is an author and an artist. She enjoys writing spiritual and inspirational poetry and motivational quotes @writerbeeme @writerbeeme

https://hollycoopbooks.com/


Check out Duanne Walton's many vidoes: from Svengoolie to "cons" to "openmicnights

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDHYqoo9Fgvf95CkGFpf7Sg


Glascoe Writes Poetry

"I am writer, poet (I feel the need to separate the two), and a massive nerd."

https://glascoewritespoetry.com/?fbclid=IwAR1IgH6Sw0YJmg9sjuVSFoUm45hsyKSvMKcMwd95t3h0_wY93FCjQfhwRjI


Sue Mydliak (Sue Midlock)

Sue has been writing for over ten years. She's published nine books: for children, about vampires, southern short stories, and is working on a story about a green witch.

https://suemydliak.wordpress.com/


"Positively Tuesday"

Photos and inspiration from writer/photographer Maureen Blevins @mauverneen

http://maureenblevins.blogspot.com/


"Boomhood—A Baby Boomer’s Free-Range Childhood" 

This is a flash-back, whimsical and fun account of Robert Hafey of Joliet baby-boomer’s childhood.

http://boomhood.com/


Sharon M.E. Houk

Sharon M.E. Houk is an author of children's books, short stories, essays, articles, poetry and plays. She lives in Joliet, Illinois with her imaginary Irish wolfhounds.

https://sharonhouk.blogspot.com/

Life In The Middle

Vanessa Stephens is an aspiring writer who spends much of her time writing flash fiction, short stories, working on her debut novel, or spending time with her family.
She lives in Joliet, IL with her husband and daughter.

https://www.vanessajcstephens.com/


NEWSLETTERS

Sign up for the Will County Go Guide

http://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/will-county-go-guide/#//


Sign up for the LocalLit Short Story Newsletter

http://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/locallit/


Sign up for The Munsonville Times

https://www.bryonyseries.com/munsonville-times

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

One Nearly Done, Four More to Go

On Saturday I met with my editor Colleen Robbins to review her notes on the BryonySeries prequel Before the Blood.

The novel is unfinished on purpose and consists of five parts, also unfinished on purpose, that will be published in 2019 in five separate installments.

She had typed up her comments on each of the five parts, which we reviewed. She had also edited the first manuscript, which she felt only needed a light copyedit.

You know the meeting will go well when the open line is, "First of all: well done," and the last one is "an excellent read."

So I spent Saturday making the changes, formatting the manuscript,and then sending it Rebekah to scroll through my formatting.

Sue Midlock had already made and sent the covers.

Topher Gleason has created three of the five frontispieces.

Once Rebekah assembles the cover pieces, she can upload the manuscript to KDP and order a proof.

The goal is to release the volumes one every two months starting in January.

None of this will shake up the world, I know. Nor will these books have tremendous readership.

But to see the most complicated writing project I've undertaken finally come together after eight years of work is, well, satisfying.

And the books will always be there, just waiting for the right readers to discover them.

I hope they do.

Cover by Sue Mydliak. For more information, visit theunbeatenheart.blogspot.com.

If You Missed Parts of the Blog Tour...

...you can catch up right here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/2018-bryonyseries-blog-tour.

Rebekah and I spent a day whittling down various BryonySeries chores we let slide in favor of more pressing obligations.

We probably need one more Sunday (yet to be scheduled) to catch up, but we made a huge dent. Going forward, we'll be more on top of it (now that we know basically what we're doing with some of them), but it did feel good to cross items off the list.

The first four books of Before the Blood are at the print shop, and my editor will have them this week. I am looking forward to hearing the first bits of real feedback, making the corrections, and then finally sharing them with those who'd like to read them.

Back in the office today. Sooooo glad I kept up with email while I was gone.

Have a great Monday, readers, writers, and vampire fans! :)

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Where is Ed Calkins?

The Steward of Tara has been silent too long, methinks. Contemplating sending a telegram if he doesn't reach out by the end of today.

In the meantime, I have three appointments to keep: all related to books and writing. 

If you see Limerick Master, please ask him to step into his imagination and send a few amusing words.

Oh, and if you love the Gothic genre, stop by the Book and Bean today at 12:30 p.m. We're discussing Sue Mydliak's first vampire book, Birthright. Copies are available in the cafe.

Have a great Saturday! :)

Gothic Book Club: First Meeting

Several members of the critique group WriteOn Joliet write in a genre one might describe as "Gothic."

Not a popular genre in the 21st century. Nor do we care.

But we did want a forum where we could gather with the like-minded and discuss out works. No such entity exists in the area.

So we made our own: WriteOn Joliet Gothic Book Club. We had three attendees, enough for a thoughtful discussion, with questions moderated by the author.

And yes, the woman on the right is playing with Bertrand. He couldn't pass up cheese and crackers.

The club is open to anyone who enjoys Gothic fiction. One need not be a member of WriteOn Joliet. We aren't charging dues.

 However, keep in mind we will be reading books written by WriteOn Joliet members, and reading the book is a requirement. We are currently reading Birthright by Sue Mydliak. Today we discussed the first seven chapters. 

Our next meeting is from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. July 7. We will discuss chapters eight through fourteen. \

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/2094850277406343/.

Awesome meeting space, huh?

TurnAbout Tour: Sue Mydliak

The BryonySeries' first TurnAbout Tour continues today with Sue Mydliak.

What is a TurnAbout Tour?

Well, it's something I made up, as my "thank you" to the writers who graciously and generously hosted the BryonySeries on their blogs last month.

During the Mondays and Tuesdays in June, I'm sharing links to three pieces I especially liked by these writers, giving them additional exposure without them have to write additional pieces. We're on stop No. three today, so if you missed the first two, please scroll back and catch up.

Today's stop: fellow vampire writer Sue Mydliak.

According to her blog, Sue Mydliak was born in Flint, Michigan. She came to Illinois when she was a little girl and graduated from Downers Grove South.

It wasn't until the book Twilight came out did she develop her interest in writing. She published her first book, Birthright,  2011, which led to Sue developing the story into a trilogy.

She has written two other books, Night Games and an anniversary book, Forever, which is Birthright's story, but whose story line is different and geared more for adults. She is currently writing two other books, Eternal and Secrets and has finished illustrating a new children's book, JellyBean Turns Three (see her children's book website, http://susiebbooks.strikingly.com/)

Not mentioned on Mydliak's blog are anthologies and her hilarious southern shorts, which Sue recently released.

Sue is also a poet, and it's three of her poems I'm sharing with you today. What I like best about Sue's poetry are her great, slight of hand, O. Henry-type surprise endings.


Alone

A bleak poem that takes the reader to a place the words don't suggest.

http://theunbeatenheart.blogspot.com/2013/10/alone.html


My Days Woe

The last line will stay with you. It has with me.

http://theunbeatenheart.blogspot.com/2016/11/my-days-woes.html


Wickedness

One wouldn't think a poem with this title ends on a positive, triumphant note.

But it does.

http://theunbeatenheart.blogspot.com/2017/04/wickedness.html

"BryonySeries Vampires" Tour Host: Sue Mydliak

No blog post yesterday? Nope!

After a Saturday of part work, part errands, and part family, I gave myself a little Mother's Day present and worked on "Before the Blood." I had every intention of eventually posting a blog, but, well, times flies when, you know.

So if you haven't tried last week's recipe on Sue's Diner, you have another week to do so.

Third stop of the BryonySeries Blog Tour is the blog of fellow vampire writer Sue Mydliak.

According to her blog, Sue Mydliak was born in Flint, Michigan. Came to Illinois when she was a little girl and graduated from Downers Grove South.

It wasn't until the book Twilight came out did she develop her interest in writing. It was then in 2011, that her first book, Birthright, was published and made bestseller the first week it was out. This lead her to make Birthright into a trilogy.

She has written two other books, Night Games and an anniversary book, Forever, which is Birthright's story, but whose story line is different and geared more for adults. She is currently writing two other books, Eternal and Secrets and has finished illustrating a new children's book, JellyBean Turns Three (see her children's book website, http://susiebbooks.strikingly.com/)

Not mentioned on Mydliak's blog are anthologies and her hilarious southern shorts, a compilation of which Mydliak will release soon.

To read about the BryonySeries take on vampires, check out my answers to Mydliak's 10 thoughtful questions at https://theunbeatenheart.blogspot.com/2018/05/byony-series-first-blog-tour-denise.html.