Showing posts with label Visitation and Aid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Visitation and Aid. Show all posts

Friday, September 13, 2024

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Sept. 7 to Sept. 13

Good morning!

I have eleven stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post with more stories going live over the weekend.

Yes, I have eleven stories on a week I was on a writing retreat for the BryonySeries. That's because I wrote all eleven last week (and few more that haven't run yet). So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

But before the stories, I have a list of additional updates, resources, and information. Please check them out, too.

Also, if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.

And have a great Friday!

Event Updates

The BryonySeries Back-To-School display is now up at The Book Market. So do check it out if you're in the area.

Also, we recently held Bertrand's Back-To-School Birthday Bash at The Book Market.

We are also participating in four events in September (so far):

Sept. 14: Spooky Night Out at HellsGate in Lockport

Sept. 24: The Book Market in Crest Hill

Sept. 27: End-Of-Summer Open Mic at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet

Sept. 28: Local Author Fair at the Downers Grove Public Library

BryonySeries books-in-progress

House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I now have a good working draft of the entire book, with all but three chapters that are ready for final edits. I'm hoping that all three will be in good editing shape by Monday. We are still estimating a late 2024 release date for this book, with copies available for sale at WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party on Dec. 5.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: No updates here in a very long time, mostly because Timothy and Daniel are super busy with school on top of work (and plenty of work-related traveling). However, I outlined a "bonus" book that is intended for distribution at Bicentennial's "Ye Olde Mayfest" event in 2025. Here is a recap of the 2024 event.

Timothy said his concept for the next book in the actual series will be slightly dark ("slightly" because it's for kids, too) and will involve an old toy store. We are also working on the last book in the series (but it's not the final book, if that makes sense). Timothy is actually writing that one. In order to make progress on any of this, Timothy is hoping to schedule a "Cornell breakfast." But Timothy and Daniel are very busy with work and school right now. We've scheduled and broke several Cornell breakfasts in 2023 and 2024. Our last one was July 2022. So we are LONG, LONG, LONG overdue.

Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is outlined and the first chapter is written, hurray! Jennifer Wainwright, who welcomed her first child into the world in April, has already started working on the cover portrait. I've neglected this book for a few months and hope to revisit it soon. We wanted to release it in late 2024, but 2024 has been a challenging year. I'm shooting for early 2025.

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.

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.

And finally...

Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, has sent me twenty-one chapters to edit for his third book in his Ruthless trilogy. His first book is "Ruthless," his second is "The Fifth," and he is also the author of "Denise Unland's Irish Genealogy."

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 recipe here.

WRITERS

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook pageWe'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 and two ways to attend meetings. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year. Check us out at writeonjoliet.com.

I also suggest this book: Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers. It's exactly as it says. Each page some with one suggestion for revision. The rest of the page is blank, so you can add your own notes. All proceeds benefit WriteOn Joliet.

If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out dmbaranunland.com.

ARTISTS

If you need an artist for a project, I offer these recommendations.

NEWSLETTERS

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 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 used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeriesyoutube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.

Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.

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 Visitation and Aid Society ‘quietly’ helping residents for 135 years

Member Fran Naal of Joliet: ‘That is how we were set up: to do good works and in a really fast way’

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/10/joliet-visitation-and-aid-society-quietly-helping-residents-for-135-years/

Joliet Rotary raffle proceeds support community nonprofits

Club’s efforts raise about $60,000 each year

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/09/joliet-rotary-raffle-to-support-community-nonprofits/

Joliet school to host drive-thru back-to-school health fair

Students who attend will receive a free book bag

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/08/joliet-school-to-host-drive-thru-back-to-school-health-fair/

Volunteers welcome at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood on 9/11

Adults must accompany all children younger than 14

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/08/volunteers-needed-at-abraham-lincoln-national-cemetery-in-elwood-on-911/

Spirit Halloween stores open in Will County

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/04/spirit-halloween-stores-opening-up-in-will-county/

Urban Kitchen in Crest Hill part of dining program for seniors

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/12/urban-kitchen-in-crest-hill-part-of-dining-program-for-seniors/

Garage damaged in Plainfield house fire

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/06/garage-damaged-in-plainfield-house-fire/

Joliet police catch teen with ‘modified’ automatic handgun

17-year-old arrested after fleeing scene of traffic stop

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/06/teen-nabbed-with-handgun-cops/

Bolingbrook burglary leads to firearm recovery

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/06/bolingbrook-burglary-leads-to-firearm-recovery/

Will County Pets of the Week: Sept. 9, 2024

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/09/09/will-county-pets-of-the-week-sept-9-2024/

5 Things to Do in Will County: Fiesta en el Bicentennial Park

https://www.shawlocal.com/thescene/2024/09/12/5-things-to-do-in-will-county-fiesta-en-el-bicentennial-park/

 

 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Friday, April 22, 2022

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, April 16 to April 22

Good morning!

I have just nine feature stories to share with you today and more yet posted. So do check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news

It's been a busy week of of finishing up some large projects on the features side and turning the challenges of last week into blessings on the personal side. Our family is Eastern Orthodox and this is our Holy Week, so the timing for everything is perfect, wouldn't you agree?

On the fiction side of things, the drafts and initial edits of the remaining chapters of Call of the Siren are complete as are the first round of edits for a client. I'll be busy on Saturday with some of my kids preparing traditional Easter food and I have a dentist appointment (routine), but I plan to slip in some time on the novel in pockets of time, especially since I work next weekend and fiction time will be minimal.

Call of the Siren is the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I'm anticipating a late spring publication date, with gorgeous cover art by Nancy Calkins.

We plan to release Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones and Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being very soon. Both Rebekah and our artist Sue Midlock have gone through health issues this past year, which has caused publication delays. But I'd rather have delays and healthy collaborators. Please send up good thoughts for them both.

Next up in the series: a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes). Timothy is ready for a Cornell breakfast to share his ideas. He and I just need our time off schedules to sync. But that won't be this week as he is leaving this morning for a week-long business trip out of state. 

Jennifer Wainright (frontispiece artist for Lycanthropic Summer) has completed two portraits for  "Girls of the BryonySeries" series for tween girls and is currently working on a third. The portraits are beautiful and it shows that artist Jennifer Wainright can draw anything from werewolves to portraits! 

Rebekah Baran has completed cover art for two of "Girls of the BryonySeries" books. They are beautiful! One book in this series of eight books is completely written, a second is halfway written, and the rest are outlined. 

Now back to the twelve stories. Simply click on the link of the story that looks interesting to you. Happy scrolling!

But before the stories, I have a list of additional resources and information. Please check them out, too -

Finally, if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.

And have a great Friday!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.

Each Sunday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks or will be featured in an upcoming cookbook.

Check out the recipe here.

WRITERS

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook pageWe'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.

I also suggest this book: Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers. It's exactly as it says. Each page some with one suggestion for revision. The rest of the page is blank, so you can add your own notes. All proceeds benefit WriteOn Joliet.

If you need support in your writing, I highly recommend this Twitter group: #5amwritersclub. I  joined it last year. Writers support each other on Twitter and meet every three weeks at 5 a.m. (4 a.m. CST - needless to say, I am often late!) on Zoom.

If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out dmbaranunland.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 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.

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

5 Things to do in Will County: Earth Day, ‘Forest Fitness’ and music: Plus, St. Mary Immaculate Parish in Plainfield will host an Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit Saturday and Sunday

Sen. Dick Durbin toured future NICU at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox Wednesday: During a press conference, Durbin shared his affinity for newborns who need care 

Roger ‘Zeke’ Gates’ 20-year Easter basket ministry is still hopping: Gates gave up his partying ways in 1985 when he found God. And the community supports Gates’ efforts to help others.

Will County residents turn expired surgical drapes into waterproof sleeping bags for Ukranian refugees: Greg Aimaro: ‘They’re waterproof and also good at containing heat’

Pets of the Week: April 18: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.

New Lenox resident hopes he can safely return to the Ukraine next month: Greg Aimaro has plans for giving back to the people of Ukraine.

Visitation and Aid Society in Joliet hosting Spring Elegance Brunch on May 1: Deadline to purchase tickets is April 25

Karen Pastell receives Woman of the Year award from Zonta Club of Joliet Area: Pastell has belonged to the club 14 years

7 providers from Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers recognized for excellent patient care: Awards based on patient experience surveys from 2021






Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"




Monday, August 5, 2019

Community News: Aug. 1, Aug. 2, and Aug. 3, 2019

Check out the awesome things people are doing.

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.



PEOPLE

Troy students Skype with ABC7 meteorologist 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/01/troy-students-skype-with-abc7-meteorologist/a8zw8q8/


Changing of the guard at Visitation and Aid society in Joliet

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/26/changing-of-the-guard-at-visitation-and-aid-society-in-joliet/ahob7nl/


Edward Foundation charity golf tournament raises $447,000 

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/31/dea93684736e4a6ead9ce275ea781eca/index.xml


Grundy County chamber golf outing brings in more than 80 golfers

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/31/0081b240999341b78eba4b6161a4fde6/index.xml


Joliet students receive scholarships during 8th grade graduation 

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/31/6998e522ce0b48fc865f690447fd442f/index.xml


Frankfort school announces new principal

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/01/frankfort-school-announces-new-principal/a2iau3b/



WILDLIFE

How wind energy affects wildlife

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/19/how-wind-energy-affects-wildlife/aal39tf/




Red-tailed hawk photo snares June Forest Preserve photo contest win for Lemont man 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/31/red-tailed-hawk-photo-snares-june-forest-preserve-photo-contest-win-for-lemont-man/aogrhno/


Rusty patched bumble bee spottings on the rise at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/02/rusty-patched-bumble-bee-spottings-on-the-rise-at-midewin-national-tallgrass-prairie/ax4xju3/



RECIPES

For this roasted salmon, skip the butter and go for relish

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/31/for-this-roasted-salmon-skip-the-butter-and-go-for-relish/ah22pev/


A burger that could transport you to the Greek islands

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/30/a-burger-that-could-transport-you-to-the-greek-islands/a46b0yf/


Make your stuffed tomatoes next level with this recipe

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/30/make-your-stuffed-tomatoes-next-level-with-this-recipe/aj7nf7d/


A summer tomato gratin with bright flavor and no mush

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/30/a-summer-tomato-gratin-with-bright-flavor-and-no-mush/a5eh6i7/


How to a make a moist, chunky shrimp burger without the mush

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/30/how-to-a-make-a-moist-chunky-shrimp-burger-without-the-mush/a2c2bxx/



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


Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."



Monday, September 24, 2018

Community News: Sept. 22 and Sept. 24, 2018

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


L-W Central counselor attends college in Britain


Bolingbrook teacher to retire 

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/09/12/bolingbrook-teacher-to-retire/a2on0d9/


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."