Cinematic Tiny

As I previously wrote, Tiny and I have been living separately these last few weeks, as we transition from two townhomes to one - so I sometimes go days without seeing Tiny, the greatest Pembroke Welsh Corgi in the entire world.

The boys sent me this fun video the other night when they took Tiny for a walk.

It shows Tiny doing an abrupt about-face when the one dog he strongly dislikes (Simba) comes outside.

And then Tiny does a second abrupt-face when Bella (a husky he really likes) comes cruising past (with Tiny characterisically lifting his right paw when he's thinking).

Finally, Daniel and Tiny actualy walk off into the sunset together, first Daniel and then Tiny (very clued into Daniel) trotting to catch up from stage left, just like in a movie.

Enjoy!

A Small Move of the Needle

Good morning!

Last December (as you may recalls), the BryonySeries B.L.O.C.K.S. team organized two holiday children's book drives.

We had a donation box at The Book Market in Crest Hill (spearheaded by Rebekah) to collect BryonySeries children's books (Bertrand the Mouse series, The Adventures of Cornell Dyer series, and Girls of the BryonySeries series) for Santa Services, as we've done in the past.

But we also decided to collect BryonySeries books and other children's books for the Will County Children's Advocacy Center after learning they had a need for them throughout the year.

We finally have the results of our efforts.

We sent fifty Bertrand the Mouse to Santa Services for since Santa loves to give books away at his appearances for low-income families.

A few patrons at The Book Market bought BryonySeries and other children's books for the Will County Children's Advocacy Center. And Jan Staley, the store's owner, donated some, too.

And then Cindy piggybacked and expanded the book drive for the center at her work place, which provided most of the books we wound up donating.

So earlier in April, we brought nearly 250 books (230 from Cindy's workplace) to the Will County Children's Advocacy Center.

We waited this long because the donations at Cindy's workplace kept coming even after the holidays.

Of course, Cindy removed any book appeared damaged before donating them.

Cindy also received donations toward BryonySeries books for events B.L.O.C.K.S. will host or participate in during the year.

As you might recall, Timothy and Daniel participated in the Will County Children's Advocacy Center "Men Who Cook" fundraiser on October 11, 2025.

We remember the date because it was Daniel's thirtieth birthday.

And Daniel worked the event on this milestone birthday with a migraine.

The children's book drive (and other donation events we've hosted) was a lot of work, and we know we're not moving the needle of meeting the need in the world by very much.

We certainly don't have the time and resources of major corporations that can really make an impactful difference.

But we also believe small blessings can, when added up and in due time, yield big results.

Years ago I read it's always better to light one candle than curse the darkness.

So we try not to let our lamp go out at night.

Have a most blessed day!

Sue's Diner: Homemade Dye for Easter Eggs

Once again we are sharing our recipes for homemade food dye for Easer Eggs.

This recipe is not featured in any of the BryonySeries cookbooks, including Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties and features all the recipes referenced in the novel Bryony. 

However, we are sharing these recipes with you on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.

The recipes will remain on this page until after Orthodox Easter on April 12.

We do not have a good recipe for green dye. But Timothy came up with a work-around a few years ago, which we are also sharing at Sue's Diner.

For more photos, check out this story I wrote for The Herald-News in 2019 on the same topic (and a couple more at the bottom of this blog, which are showing up way better here than on the website). 

If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

And have fun! 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

B.L.O.C.K.S. Presentation at Critical Grind on Tuesday

Curious about the "B.L.O.C.K.S" initiatve some members of my BryonySeries team has created?

Timothy will give his first public presentation about B.L.O.CK.S. tomorrow night at "Presentation Night" at Critical Grind Board Game Cafe in Shorewood.

During "Presentation Night," which runs from 7 to 9 p.m., various presenters will deliver a five minute-ish presentation on just about any topic imaginable, which can be (according to Critical Grind), "funny, serious, or completely absurd."

So if you live in the area, consider coming out and becoming entertained, informed, and enjoying something deliciouis from the cafe.

BryonySeries: Meet B.L.O.C.K.S. (Again)

Ever since Timothy rolled out B.L.O.C.K.S. in August to help support the BryonySeries and related ventures, he's worked on constructing the teams "building blocks."

This means he's refined the logo into one everyone really likes, built presentation slides, and developed a shared workspace where everyone on the immediate team can access marketing materials, fonts, colors, etc.

In fact, that shared workspace was initially an under-recognized and under-appreciated benefit of finally having domain emails, which we've only softly rolled out so far.

While the advantages for growth and support seem obvious, another benefit of B.L.O.C.K.S. actually addresses conversations we've had with the team the last few challenging years: if something happens to me, what happens to all books and all the the projects in progress?

Side note: "Midnight Ink" is a placeholder name for mine and Rebekah's editing and formatting projects for clients. Rebekah built this website in 2020, since we were getting lots of requests and we needed a way to provide information without launching into long explanations with every request.

B.L.O.C.K.S. will ensure that those books and projects will remain less about me and more about them.

So here's the slightly modified logo and the informational cards with the original logo.

Thoughts?

And for more information about B.L.O.C.K.S. and the BryonySeries, visit bryonyseries.com.

Photos: Here's the Food You Missed at WriteOn Joliet's 2025 Anthology Release Party

Good morning!

WriteOn Joliet will hosted its 9th Annual Anthology Release Party from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa St. in Joliet.

The event was free to attend and open to the public. 

The chef-created heavy appetizers, coffee, water and hot chocolate, along with  photos with Santa, were also free. 

In fact, we had ten great reasons why we wished you could have attended.

Here's what Chef Tim of the BryonySeries B.L.O.C.K.S. team prepared for attendees last Thursday.

If you missed the party, you can at least feast your eyes on the photos.

And if you braved the bitter cold, parking challenges, respiratory illnesses, and scheduling challenges this time of year, you can visually relive the delectable experience.

Happy scrolling!

Beef Tenderloin Sliders

Marinated and roasted beef tenderloin, slow cooked onion, garlic aioli

Chicken Ceaser Salad

Applewood smoked chicken breast, lightly toasted croutons, creamy caesar dressing

Kale and Cranberry Salad

Peppered pulled pork, buttered crumbs, carrots, cabbage, and a creamy mustard dressing

Key Lime Bites

Lime Juice, lime zest, lime syrup, whipped cream

Cream & Berries

Fresh vanilla scented whipped cream, assorted berries, vanilla wafer, raspberry sauce

Cookies & Cream

Cocoa crisp, white chocolate, flake salt

(My year-old corgi is serving for a placeholder for this item, while Timothy looks for a photo).

Now, Timothy purchased all the food from his own pocket and prepared it fresh that day, too. He and Daniel (who worked all day in Chicago) set it everything up, did all the serving and replenishing, and took it all down, too, loading and unloading the entire setup from their vehicles multiples time that day.

So they do look understandably tired.

However...

It is my humble opinion that of all the competing events in Joliet last Thursday night, none had a spread quite so delicious or pleasing to the eye than we did.

Enjoy scrolling through the remaining photos!

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com and bryonyseries.com.

Menu for WriteOn Joliet's 9th Annual Anthology Release Party on Dec. 4

Good morning!

WriteOn Joliet will host its 9th Annual Anthology Release Party from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa St. in Joliet.

The event is free to attend and open to the public. 

The chef-created heavy appetizers, coffee and water (we might have hot chocolate, too) and photos with Santa are also free. 

In fact, we have ten great reasons why you should attend.

But today's blog is all about the food. Here's what Chef Tim has planned for you on Thursday.

Beef Tenderloin Sliders

Marinated and roasted beef tenderloin, slow cooked onion, garlic aioli

 

Chicken Ceaser Salad

Applewood smoked chicken breast, lightly toasted croutons, creamy caesar dressing

 

Kale and Cranberry Salad

Peppered pulled pork, buttered crumbs, carrots, cabbage, and a creamy mustard dressing

 

Key Lime Bites

Lime Juice, lime zest, lime syrup, whipped cream

 

Cream & Berries

Fresh vanilla scented whipped cream, assorted berries, vanilla wafer, raspberry sauce

 

Cookies & Cream

Cocoa crisp, white chocolate, flake salt

This pre-Calkins Day 2020 video Timothy created for the virtual event gives you an idea of his culinary skills.

Happy Tuesday!

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com. 

Don't Miss the 2025 "Men Who Cook"

On October 11, Daniel will turn 30.

On October 11, he and Timothy are also teaming up to serve 800 small bites to attendees at the 15th annual Men Who Cook, which benefits the Will County Children's Advocacy Center.

Since Daniel and Timothy are representing B.L.O.C.K.S. (umbrella group for the BryonySeries) in this endeavor, they are also hosting a giveaway of this BryonySeries cookbook, which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brother Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

That's because the "small bites" they will serve is adapted from a recipe in this cookbook.

So the winner can enjoy the recipe again and again at home.

But - what recipe, you may ask.

Ah, you have to attend to find out.

Details (time, date, place, ticket prices) are right here: willcountycac.org/menwhocook.

Hope to see you there - and Bon Appétit!

Sue's Diner: Tiger Brownies

This week's recipe is for Tiger Brownies, a family tradition instead of cake for Timothy's birthday on September 8.

Timothy's nickname as a baby was "Tiger Tim" and we even signed his name on greeting cards from the family by adding little paw print.

I stumbled upon this recipe years ago in one of those little cookbooks one could buy on the rack near the checkout line in groceries stories. 

Rebekah has since perfected the version by increasing the amount of cream cheese, and she makes them for Timothy every year instead of the more traditional birthday cake.

This recipe does not appear in any of the BryonySeries cookbooks.

But you may try this recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website. 

However, try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place. 

If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner.

All proceeds from "Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From 'Bryony'" benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties at bbbswillgrundy.org.

Order the cookbook at bryonyseries.com.

BryonySeries: Meet B.L.O.C.K.S.

When the world shut down in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rebekah suggested she and I use this time to really dig into the study of sales and marketing - and then apply our knowledge to the BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet.

We took some online classes and workshops AT THE SAME TIME as our morning walks (the only time available to watch the videos together), formed a business relationship with two mentors that has grown over time, and took baby steps in executing our newly-learned knowledge and skills.

And we've done this while continuing to create new products for the BryonySeries, WriteOn Joliet, and selected clients, working our day jobs, and navigating several very challenging years.

I'm not sharing this because we're so amazing. I'm sharing it because doing all this well is simply not possible, not if we wish to keep growing.

So as Timothy and Daniel were finishing their Master of Business degrees this spring, Timothy suggested I back off SOME of the sales and marketing for BryonySeries and let him and Daniel help, especially since I tend to prioritze the sales and marketing for WriteOn Joliet over BryonySeries.

Now Timothy and Daniel had heard about our mentors but hadn't actually interacted with them...yet. 

The first step was inviting Timothy and Daniel to join a pitch and idea session they were hosting - and the second step was a one-on-one meeting.

And, in Timothy's words, he and Daniel "failed" the elevator pitch during Meeting Two.

After some reflection, Timothy realized the problem. The BryonySeries brand and the BryonySeries products were two different "things," which needed separate identities.

They easily could discuss the products. But they couldn't easily summarize their spirit, i.e. their brand.

To succintly explain these products, Timothy needed to identify and then clearly communicate the brand. 

Back in 2010 when Sarah created the first BryonySeries website, Sarah wanted to create an author page, which I refused. Rather, I wanted a page that showcased the creative talents of everyone who contributed to the products in some way.

As Timothy analyzed the branding in the BryonySeries, from collaboration to result, he saw these six key areas, which we've manipulated in all our projects as one manipulates building blocks.

This led him to create three cards, which are at the bottom of this post.

The first shows our building blocks.

The second card has both elevator pitch and mission for B.L.O.C.K.S.

And the third card, which I don't have in shareable format yet, pulls out three distinct areas: Sue's Diner, BryonySeries books, and Midnight Ink, the platform where Rebekah and I edit and format books for select clients at more-than-afforable prices.

The fourth card is the BryonySeries logo, which you've likely seen.

Timothy and Daniel then remet with our mentors at the beginning of this month to test out the B.L.O.C.K.S. 

And BAM! They nailed it!

So Timothy worked with the wonderful Kent at Fast Printing in Joliet to create these three cards.

And then Timothy and Daniel softly rolled out B.L.O.C.K.S. this weekend at New Orleans North and the Porch & Park Music Fest to nearly one hundred total attendees.

We had a slight uptick in visitors both days on our website, which is encouraging.

Now, we obviously have more work to do before the rollout is completed. And the real sales and marketing work will begin anew and in earnest. 

Also everyone is still very busy.

But we now have a brand that explains our mission.

And that can lead into a deeper conversation about our products.

Happy Monday!

Before the Storm

On July 25, Timothy and I were standing on my porch for a a few brief moments before the storms began.

I'd had surgery the previous week and during a heat wave, so it felt good to stand outside and feel the breeze.

While we chatted, he snapped photos of flowers near the porch and the threatening skies.

I thought they were gorgeous, so I'm sharing the seven best images with you today.

Enjoy!

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's Diner: House Salad

This is my favorite side salad in the entire world, as served in the fictional Sue's Diner in the fictional Munsonville, Michigan of the BryonySeries world.

Timothy actually created it when he was a student at Joliet Junior College's culinary arts program.

This house salad delicious any time of the year, but especially this time of the year when temperatures are warmer and salads are even more welcomed.

Try the recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone next week. A new recipe will take it's place. 

This house salad recipe also appears in the BryonySeries cookbook Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner.

All proceeds from "Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From 'Bryony'" benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties at bbbswillgrundy.org.

Order the cookbook at bryonyseries.com.