Good morning!
I have twenty-two stories to share with you today at the bottom of this post.
Why so many? Because I paused "story roundup" last Friday to celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas on this blog instead.
And I also have five stories that were part of The Herald-News' second "Thank You, Veterans" edition, also at the bottom of this post, the last week I will share those. So now is this time to read them - or bookmark them for a later date.
And more stories will go live this weekend. 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.
And if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.
And have a great Friday!
Event Updates
The BryonySeries Christmas Display is now up at The Book Market in Crest Hill. Along with eleven curated BryonySeries books for you to browse and buy, the display features Ribbit-Ribbits from Cindy and free purple music roses with select purchases while supplies last.
And ByronySeries is hosting one last event this year. I will be hanging out at The Book Market in Crest Hill from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 17.
BryonySeries books-in-progress
House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy, and the book is now live on Amazon. Copies are also available at The Book Market.
The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Timothy and Daniel are super busy with school on top of work (and plenty of work-related traveling). But Sue Midlock is already hard at work with the cover for the next book that involves a toymaker: "Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur."). Timothy and I have tentatively agreed to a "Cornell" breakfast when he's off school and work during the holidays. Here's hoping! (we are looooong over due).
I also 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.
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, is nearly done with the cover portrait. I let this book slide for other BryonySeries projects. But I'll return to this book in 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...
I am working on the hard edits for Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara's third book in his Ruthless trilogy: "Recovering Ruthless."
Ed's 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'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 used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @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.
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
Be a Herald Angel: Help Will County United Way meet high community need
Sarah Oprzedek, United Way of Will County: ‘One hundred percent of those dollars go right back into the community’
Will Country Trail Riders will ring bells for Salvation
Army this weekend
Free photos with local horses
Lockport H.S. to host 10th annual Veterans Night on
Friday
Cookie Store in Plainfield goes for out-of-this-world
flavor
Space-themed bakery selling 500 to 1,000 cookies a day
X-Golf Shorewood golf simulator and sports bar now open
Jeff Bass, owner: ‘And we have gift cards for the holiday
season’
Earn rewards for supporting downtown Joliet businesses
The Winter Rewards Program has 3 tiers of rewards
Troy Township offering residents mental health care
services
Thriveworks provides in-person and online therapy and
psychiatry services
How to help Will County people, pets in need this holiday
season
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie office closing until
January
Silver Cross New Lenox auxiliary donates $100,000-plus in
support of hospital
The Advisory Board had made a 2-year pledge to support the
Homer Glen Emergency Department expansion
Crest Hill church will celebrate Lucia Fest
Lucia Fest will include fellowship, coffee and Swedish
pastries
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/11/crest-hill-church-will-celebrate-lucia-fest/
Joliet American Legion Band to host Christmas concert
Sunday
The ‘Sounds of Christmas’ concert began in 1982 to support
the community
Joliet church to host ‘Behold Your King’ Christmas
concert
The concert is free and open to the public
Integrity Fire Equipment in Joliet gets Community First
Accelerate Grant
Diamond and jewelry store opens in Shorewood
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/08/diamond-and-jewelry-store-opens-in-shorewood/
Lockport real estate company donates to Honor Flight
Chicago
Scooter’s Coffee opens New Lenox location
Smoothie King opens Crest Hill location
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/11/29/smoothie-king-opens-crest-hill-location/
Will County Pets of the Week: Dec. 9, 2024
Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/09/will-county-pets-of-the-week-dec-9-2024/
Will County Pets of the Week: Dec. 2, 2024
Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption
https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2024/12/02/will-county-pets-of-the-week-dec-2-2024/
5 Things to Do in Will County: A Merry MAR-y Christmas
2024
5 Things to Do in Will County: 48th Festival of Gnomes at
Bicentennial Park Joliet
THANK YOU, VETERANS
Collins said he always tried to ‘make the right decisions’
Service is paramount to New Lenox physician and veteran
Dr. Joseph Hindo, Silver Cross: ‘Everyone should try to be of service to others.’
Joliet veteran ‘can’t do enough for veterans’
Dan Miller can’t imagine not serving in some way
Cancer leads Joliet Army veteran to service twice over
Skip Hoechbauer: ‘I love helping veterans and making them feel they’re not forgotten’
New Lenox veteran gives back through craftsmanship
Regina Lattuca, vice president of K9s for Veterans: ‘He really wants to help his fellow veterans.’
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"
