Good morning!
I have nine stories online to share with you today, with more stories likely going live over the weekend. So please check back at shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.
To see the stories that ran in print this week and aren't online yet, click on the e-edition option at the top of The Herald-News website.
On July 3, the BryonySeries/B.L.O.C.K.S. team hosted the children's games for the fourth year in a row at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet. Despite breaking down early due to lightning and approaching stores, we had a very successful night.
And 14 people (by my account) attended "Book Publishing 101 Saturday at the Joliet Public Library on June 27, and the library was very pleased. Thank you to all who attended. The feedback was very positive.
The library is planning to reschedule this presentation at a later date. So if you missed it, you will likely get another opporunity.
Before the stories, I also have a list of additional updates, resources, and information. Please check them out, too.
And if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.
And have a great Friday!
Calendar
The BryonySeries calendar offers links to games, crafts, music, activities, science experiments, and recipes that pick up themes to one or more of our books.
To participate, visit bryonyseries.com/ourcalendar.
Events (or where to find the BryonySeries) - so far:
Aug. 1: Kid Fest: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., City Square, Downtown Joliet. For the third year in a row, WriteOn Joliet will have a tent at the annual Kidz Fest celebration. Write your own story with our unique, one-of-a-kind, made-just-for-us story manipulable story blocks. And be sure to pick up one (or more) WriteOn Joliet-authored books (titles for all ages), which we will distribute for free.
Sept. 19: Fountaindale Public Library Author Fair: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fontaindale Public Library District, 300 Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook.
Oct. 17: Halloween Night Market: 3 to 8 p.m.., Channahon Tractor Supply, Channahon
In addition, please check out our books by popping into The Book Market in Crest Hill (if you live in the area) or bookshop.org or Amazon if you don't.
Also, many titles are available at the Joliet Public Library and the Downers Grove Public Library.
Please note: Bookshop and the libraries do not carry all of our books.
And if you missed it, please check out the "Shades of Noir" photos.
What is the BryonySeries?
BryonySeries books-in-progress
Bertrand the Mouse: We have plenty of Bertrand photos and ideas. Several are at the top of the list. At some point, we will assemble and release some more.
The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur.") is finally begun, although albeit very slowly. I'd like to get enough done over the next month or so to finally give Sue Midlock (our artist for The Adventures of Cornell Dyer) some ideas for the book's cover and chapter heading illustrations.
Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is nearly drafted with some partial editing already begun. We plan to release this book in 2026.
Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "Julie and the Too-Hard Homework," "Katie and the Big Fear," "Summer Sisters." and "Karla Joins In," as well as the frontispiece for "Lycanthropic Summer."
Other books: I am not writing a novel this year. But we plan to release a BryonySeries Christmas anthology around the holidays. This will be Christmas excerpts from existing BryonySeries novels along with a few bonus chapters only available in this anthology.
We also have a prologue/first chapter sampler of all the BryonySeries novels and an novel excerpt (so far) that's only available at certain events and another sampler cal;led "Angel or Demon" that is also only available at select events.
Rebekah is also slowly (very, very slowly) updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.
For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.
Each Wednesday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks, will be featured in an upcoming cookbook, or is just an "extra" we want to share with you.
Check out the weekly recipe here.
WRITERS
If you'd like to officially join WriteOn Joliet, we have two tiers of dues and two ways to attend meetings. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year. Check us out at writeonjoliet.com.
Daily updates: I haven't posted anything on Twitter/X (except a daily Bible verse) since September I can no longer schedule posts in advance. I'm not sure yet how to manage the account without that option. But you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.
BryonySeries stuff: I'm gradually reviving BryonySeries on Twitter/X at x.com/BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.
And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.
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
Joliet chef finds new calling in cooking meals for those in need at MorningStar Mission
‘We didn’t just want someone to come in, cook and punch out. We wanted someone to mentor the guys.’
New aromatherapy shop in Joliet inspired by owner’s
journey of healing
Romeoville business owner continues to invest in Valley
View District 365 STEM programs
K9s for Veterans outlet store reopening in Promenade
Bolingbrook
Chamber hosts ribbon-cutting for Joliet home-based bakery
African American Business Association of Will County
gives out Juneteenth awards
Riverfront Manor in Plainfield offers boutique
accommodations
Joliet Chamber seeking Athena nominations
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/07/05/joliet-chamber-seeking-athena-nominations/
Will County Pets of the Week: July 6, 2026
Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/07/06/will-county-pets-of-the-week-july-6-2026/
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"
