BryonySeries: The The Herald News

If you've read this blog, you know a little about me.

But if you're alsointerested in Joliet-based feature stories and events, writing, or in any of the topics revolving around the BryonySeries, here's where you'll fine me online and in social media:

The Herald-News: As the features editor/writer/calendar assembler for this publication, you will fid bylined and non-bylined information I've written, edited, or compiled here: http://www.theherald-news.com/

Twitter: @Denise_Unland61 and BryonySeries at @BryonySeries.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denise.unland www.facebook.com/BryonySeries.

I'm also the administrator for Joliet Connect at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1521908851451776/

And one of the founding members and administrators for WriteOn Joliet: 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.

Instagram: bertrand_bryonyseries. This account is solely devoted to Bertrand the Mouse.

BryonySeries books, events, recipes, and more: www.bryonyseries.com.

Upcoming BryonySeries newsletter: Information and signup at https://www.bryonyseries.com/munsonville-times.

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from 'Bryony.'" Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff or @MattCoundiff on Twitter.

(Because Matt wants to be friends, too).

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Community News: Jan. 26 and Jan. 27, 2018

Check out upcoming events in the Joliet area, as well as the awesome things people are doing.

Local arts and entertainment: Jan. 26 through Feb. 1

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/20/local-arts-and-entertainment-jan-26-through-feb-1/a78jtu6/

Romeoville student and family help with hurricane recovery efforts

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/21/romeoville-student-and-family-help-with-hurricane-recovery-efforts/ao7zpul/

Bolingbrook High School receives large donation

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/21/bolingbrook-high-school-receives-large-donation/ar0x76b/

Romeoville school adopts a Texas school affected by Hurricane Harvey

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/21/9e11a7805d654eef95f1c0e63320e4c3/index.xml

Lincoln-Way East students participate in annual Bridge Building Competition

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/17/588fcbef7ebe4314afbce3fcab62e43a/index.xml

Lockport teachers win awards

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/19/4589ba5b09cb

Joliet West High School JROTC brings home seven trophies

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/17/109229e2adcd445fb3824ce53016b662/index.xml

Bolingbrook students learn about butterflies

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/21/bolingbrook-students-learn-about-butterflies/ah5ul1d/

Dogs needed for Naperville hospital therapy program

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/20/dogs-needed-for-naperville-hospital-therapy-program/appbxwb/

Manhattan Catholic school to host open house on Jan. 28

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/12/manhattan-catholic-school-to-host-open-house-on-jan-28/ae3dgas/

St. Mary Nativity Catholic School in #Joliet to host open house Jan. 28 #CatholicSchoolsWeek

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/22/st-mary-nativity-catholic-school-in-joliet-to-host-open-house-jan-28/aheg500/

St. Mary Immaculate Parish School in #Plainfield to host open house Jan. 28

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/22/st-mary-immaculate-parish-school-in-plainfield-to-host-open-house-jan-28/ai1sugx/

I.C.S. in Morris celebrates Catholic Schools Week with open house and more

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/22/i-c-s-in-morris-celebrates-catholic-schools-week/an01khp/

Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic School in #Joliet to hold open house Jan. 28

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/17/saint-paul-the-apostle-catholic-school-in-joliet-to-hold-open-house-jan-28/ae6j1bw/

Trinity Christian School in #Shorewood will hold open house Jan. 28

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/22/trinity-christian-school-in-shorewood-will-hold-open-house-jan-28/a6tljgz/

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Friday, January 26, 2018

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Jan. 22 through Jan. 26

Quick week recap:

Saturday: Cornell Dyer meeting with Timothy Baran, the "idea guy" for the stories to plan the next book. Art ideas for cover and chapter heading illustrations sent to artist/writer Sue Midlock. First acting lesson, talked myself hoarse. A bit of Before the Blood. And "real" work.

Sunday: No fiction, just church and work.

Monday through Friday: No fiction. Have fallen out of my 30-minutes-a-day routine and need to slide back into it somehow. Pitched a new idea at work that has benefits of multiple platforms, and that seems to be a go. Will share when the kinks are worked out. Signed up for an open mic night for the end of Feb. 28 at the Plainfield Public Library. Figure I can practice my acting progress so far without boring members of WriteOn Joliet with a familiar reading. Teaching tonight. Acting lesson and covering a story later in the day tomorrow. Writing fiction for at least half of the day before it.

A reminder of an upcoming event:

Calkins Day Book Signing

WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 13, 2018

WHERE: Book and Bean Cafe, 3395 Black Road, Joliet

ETC: Meet BryonySeries' real Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara and first (and only) Irish vampire on Calkins Day. Buy signed copies of his yet untitled or released book about author Denise M. Baran-Unland's "Irish" genealogy. Refreshments and great coffee for sale. The evening will celebrate Ed's birthday, limericks, Celtic lore, and all things fun and creative. Irish garb (Irish apparel, dressing as leprechauns and other Celtic mythological characters) encouraged.

VISIT: www.bryonyseries.com

CONTACT: bryonyseries.com

And now, the stories....

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): Monday (pets), Tuesday (health), Thursday (faith), Friday (arts and entertainment), and Sunday (people).

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.

Books and Such

Information on my books (including where to buy) is at www.bryonyseries.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.

An Extraordinary Life: Love kept this Joliet woman going

Rev. James Loller James said being a Christian means accepting what Christ did on the cross and allowing His love to fill permeate one’s being in order to love others.

“That was true with Sharon,” James said of his wife. “She was a genuine Christian, a born-again believer. She had God in her life and God showed forth from that life because of that. She had a walk with the Lord and that manifested itself with herself and her relationship with others. Sharon was always positive, always upbeat, always thinking of others, always had a smile on her face.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/21/love-kept-this-joliet-woman-going/aqeqm0w/

Mystery Diner: Happy Place Cafe in Shorewood: great food and service in a family atmosphere

The venue is warm and inviting but in an airy, almost upscale way and yet sufficiently down-to-earth to display daily specials on a chalkboard.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/20/3be23a53f47a435692bc4915671e6846/index.xml

Channahon woman 'called' to write worship book

“I thought that if children, when they were young, could get into that [worship] mindset, when they’re old and adults, it would already be part of their psyches,” Jennifer Abbott said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/23/b581e6ec312546d693ef8833ca1c2024/index.xml?page=1

Not content with 40 percent

Joliet contestant on Netflix show now tackles the next challenge

How did this 23-year-old indie actor wind up on a television show?

It started in August 2015 when he began training to audition on "American Ninja Warrior.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/23/f322818cf27d449d9b917185b358bcf0/index.xml?page=1

Nights of mystery, magic and Anthony

Joliet teen is a working magician

This isn’t a cute kid who knows a few card tricks.

This is a young man serious about pursuing a career as a magician.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/23/nights-of-mystery-magic-and-anthony/ab8gbws/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff or @MattCoundiff on Twitter.

Monday, January 22, 2018

Community News: Jan. 22, 2018

Check out upcoming events in the Joliet area, as well as the awesome things people are doing.

Gotta Do It: Jan. 21 through Jan. 27

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/16/gotta-do-it-jan-21-through-jan-27/amqpe63/

Local pet events: Jan. 21 through Jan. 29

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/17/local-pet-events-jan-21-through-jan-29/aqzcbiq/

Pets of the Week: Jan. 22

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/17/1d939374fd314c9c8d2364f60027f1e0/index.xml

2nd-graders learn about adoptions from humane society

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/20/2nd-graders-learn-about-adoptions-from-humane-society/a5nergb/

Internationally renowned educator visits Joliet school

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/02/2d00e52b19a84557bf5b2bf616858e97/index.xml

USF librarian appointed to speakers bureau

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/17/usf-librarian-appointed-to-speakers-bureau/ayc0jpk/

Joliet talent search program has successful semester

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/17/joliet-talent-search-program-has-successful-semester/a8czcmm/

Lockport man honored for work with veterans

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/17/lockport-man-honored-for-work-with-veterans/a5jz8zt/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff or @MattCoundiff on Twitter.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Community News: Jan. 17, 2018

Check out upcoming events in the Joliet area, as well as the awesome things people are doing.

Need help? Want to help? Here's a roundup of area food pantries

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/11/need-help-want-to-help-heres-a-roundup-of-area-food-pantries/ah0zjoo/

Drone delivers admission letters to Romeoville university

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/12/0efdfeeb3f0e4a7091ef2a991160e036/index.xml

Joliet student athletes recognized

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/11/0d222a835eae4f09ba4633a103e8e5fb/index.xml

Joliet high school students recognized

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/11/joliet-high-school-students-recognized/aj1xnu3/

Joliet student selected as a 2017 Student Laureate

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/11/joliet-student-selected-as-a-2017-student-laureate/ael89gt/

Joliet Junior College awarded grant for STEM education

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/02/joliet-junior-college-awarded-grant-for-stem-education/ago0n3c/

Shorewood Lions Club names Troy Students of the Month for October

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/02/shorewood-lions-club-names-troy-students-of-the-month-for-october/agtw9mg/

Lemont resident earns national Lasallian educator award

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/02/lemont-resident-earns-national-lasallian-educator-award/a7qpc68/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff or @MattCoundiff on Twitter.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Community News: Jan. 16, 2017

Check out upcoming events in the Joliet area, as well as the awesome things people are doing.

Gotta Do It: Jan. 14 through Jan. 20

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/07/gotta-do-it-jan-14-through-jan-20/aohive4/

Local pet events: Jan. 15 through Jan. 21

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/08/local-pet-events-jan-15-through-jan-21/afkjhea/

Local health events: Jan. 16 through Jan 23

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/12/local-health-events-jan-16-through-jan-23/ahc1ejf/

Pets of the Week: Jan. 15

Read the caption of each photo to find out about that pet, including where he or she can be adopted.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/04/8dbb53debc86424da6f57a6e66f53c94/index.xml

Pretty Penny beats warrior Xena in Forest Preserve python-naming effort

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/11/b794c0d448294392a54584f8ed895c5d/index.xml

‘Be a Beekeeper’ with help from the Forest Preserve District of Will County

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/11/be-a-beekeeper-with-help-from-the-forest-preserve-district-of-will-county/ajtvblc/

Lincoln-Way students participate in Voice of Democracy essay contest

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/01/12/8021af23ca624d00887a9416ccac1c31/index.xml

Romeoville raises flag celebrating Illinois’ 200th birthday

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/01/11/romeoville-raises-flag-celebrating-illinois-200th-birthday/a8w373b/

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."