Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Nov. 28 through Dec. 5

Today I'm honoring the memory of author Ravina Thakkar of Plainfield, who died in 2019 from complications of her cystic fibrosis, because it's her birthday.

Thakkar was just fourteen when Sourcebooks published her middle grade novel. The publishing company has since created an internship program in her honor.

Her career/life goal was writing and editor. I hope that generations of children will find her book and enjoy it, so her words and goal live on for many years.

For more on her book, read this.

For anyone new to my blog: each Friday I post a roundup of my feature stories for The Herald-News. It's been a tradition ever since I started the blog more than a decade ago.

This week, I have a dozen to share (not bad for a first week back), along with another six or so that haven't posted it.

I also include links to other places of interest, such as social media, writer resources, and where to find my books, such as those you will find directly under here.

Have a terrific Friday!

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.

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

LocalLit book spotlight: 'Abyss of the Fallen' by Diana Estell of Romeoville

And its review

Joliet Walmart is transitioning to curbside pickup of self-administered collection kits: Mobile testing sites also available in Will and Grundy counties

Pets of the Week: Nov. 30

An ExtraordinaryLife: 'I guess you would say helping #Channahon is my only hobby': Stephen M. Rittof's efforts endure 25 years later

New outpatient protocol for COVID-19? DuPage Medical Group uses aspirin, supplements for COVID-19 treatment

LocalLit book review: Images of America - Joliet

'The need is very large. And we don’t see it going away any time soon': Spanish Community Center in #Joliet available to help all people in need

COVID AT WILL COUNTY HOSPITALS

Here's the COVID situation at Will County hospitals after Thanksgiving weekend

COVID cases drop slightly at Will County Hospitals on Tuesday: Only AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center Bolingbrook has seen a small increase in cases

COVID cases at Will County hospitals holding fairly steady 

Will County hospitals see slight dip in COVID cases over past 24 hours: But Region 7, which includes Will County, is still under 20% threshold for medical/surgical bed availability

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."

A Real Loss

Almost without fail, the first words I type each morning are a Bible verse, wishes for a good morning with a cup of coffee, and birthday greetings to Facebook friends who have a birthday.

That's when I found out that an incredibly talented young writer had died in August.

Fall is a busy time for me, work-wise, so I don't keep up with everyone on social media. However, before I reviewed Ravina Thakkar's book for the LocalLit newsletter back in August, I did hop onto her page to make sure all was well with her - and i appeared to be.

She passed later that month.

Ravina had spoken to WriteOn Joliet, an adult critique group I co-lead, back in January. She spoke about writing and the process of becoming a traditionally published author in her early teens, even as she battled cystic fibrosis.

It was Ravina's mother who told me off to the side how sick Ravina was that night, but she was so honored at being invited to speak, she wanted to power through it.

I had interviewed Ravina for The Herald-News several times over the years, the last before she set off for college as a creative writing major, full of hopes for publishing more books and launching a career as an editor.

The story was called "Cystic fibrosis won't get her last word."

You might think it did.

But that's the great thing about writing.

The words last forever.

Ironically, Ravina's novel for middle-schoolers was called "The Adventure of a Lifetime."

You can buy it here.

And while Ravina won't write another book, her determination will now help other young writers.

Sourcebooks, you're a real class act.