BryonySeries: WriteOn Joliet

And it's a packed month in my world: moving, work, events, doctors appointments (and likely more medical tests), family birthdays, a radio play...and debating if I should use more of my vacation days in August or wait until September.

Hmmm...

We will kick off the festivities this Saturday when WriteOn Joliet participates in Kidz Fest (sometimes seen as Kids Fest) for the third time this year - and we are excited!

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the City Square in Downtown Joliet

Activities include magic shows, magic show, pony rides, touch-a-truck, inflatable slide, and free entertainment by vendors, including WriteOn Joliet.

So please stop by the WriteOn Joliet booth where we are all about the words and sharing wonderful stories!

Here's what you'll find:

1. We will give way approximately 500-plus (I've lost count) locally authored books for children and adults (all ready to go in my new basement).

2. We will have FREE bookmarks to color on site or at home.

3. We will distribute copies of our FREE shoe anthology (while supplies last)

4. We will distribute information on our sponsors (more on these next week).

But the main event is...

Our word blocks!

Kids and adults alike can manipulate our double-sided blocks to create fun sentences and simple short stories.

Here are three examples.

Where did we buy them? We didn't. We invented them!

We took child-safe wood blocks, curated a list of words, and then added white backgrounds and each letter one at a time.

We've tried them out at home, and they are lots of fun. You might not want to stop at just one sentence.

WriteOn Joliet will also have information about the group as a whole and individual authors separately.

We hope you will leave our table more excited about reading and writing then before you arrived.

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com, bryonyseries.com, and jolietccp.com/kidz-fest.

Thursday, July 16, 2026

SAVE THE DATE: WriteOn Joliet Live: From Page To Stage on Aug. 28

Eight members of WriteOn Joliet present “Page to Stage,” original radio theater-style performance at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at ROXY Lockport.

Admission is free.

"Page to Stage" features curated stories and poems from four years of WriteOn Joliet live programs. All creations came from the minds of WriteOn members, who also became the actors, bringing their stories and poems to life in exciting, inspiring, and dramatic ways.

Authors and performers are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Cean Magosky, Jenny Russ and Duanne Walton.

A full bar and snacks are available for purchase and benefit Trinity Services, owner of ROXY Lockport.

Donations to Trinity Services welcome.

WriteOn Joliet anthologies – along with books and other merchandise by individual author/performers – will be available for purchase before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The first 10 attendees at each performance will receive a free copy of WriteOn Joliet’s anthology "Write Where We Are: Tales Our Soles Tell,” courtesy of Edward and Nancy Calkins.

And the first ten attendees at the BryonySeries table will receive a FREE booklet called "Angel or Demon" (source material for one of the show's pieces), courtesy of The Raven's House

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com, roxylockport.com, and trinityservices.org.

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

The Book Market's Two-Sided Movable Shelves

This post is a long time in the making.

Last year, Jan Staley, owner of The Book Market in Crest Hill, told me about some shelving another organization in town was planning to donate to her at some point.

Jan was super excited about the shelves because of their weight, their amount of space, and their versatility - the shelves are double-sided and moveable.

She promised one shelf for BryonySeries books (one side) and books by WriteOn Joliet authors (one side).

Earlier this year, Rebekah and I came into the store after work to help reorganize the entire local author section and move all BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet books to the shelves.

Timothy created all the signage templates for both sides - and for future use at other places and events.

Rebekah and I looked for the right cardholders and finished the setup in mid-June, right before yet another bout of diverticulitis for me.

The top of the shelves are reserved for WriteOn Joliet's "Author of the Month," whenever we're able to re-launch that program, either late 2026 or January 2027.

For now, the top has a bin for books, along with a sign asking patrons to purchase and donate any book by a WriteOn Joliet author (which includes books in the BryonySeries, since I have dual membership).

These books will be given away from the WriteOn Joliet booth at Kids Fest on Aug. 1, at he City Square in Downtown Joliet.

And when you're done checking out the books on this moveable shelf, be sure to browse the rest of the local author section and the other books The Book Market has to offer.

Founded in 1977, The Book Market offers used books, novels, children's literature, graphic novels, audiobooks, religious texts, sports books, and much, much more, all at very reasonable prices.

What can be more heavenly on a hot and humid July than a leisurely browse through a bookstore?

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Vampire Dinosaur

Jenny Russ, a charter member of WriteOn Joliet, gifted me with this dinosaur vampire back in the fall.

It's a slippery little sticker, not in texture but in the way it keeps disappearing - and then reappearing at the most random times and in the most random places.

I love this sticker because I think of so many fun "writerly" things when I look at it.

Obviously, the BryonySeries features vampires in many of its stories.

And the third installment of "Before The Blood" features the origin story of the jack-o-lantern.

Finally, some veteran WriteOn Joliet members will see this dinosaur and think "dinosaur porn."

And who can blame them? (If you know, you know).

Thursday, June 18, 2026

The Awkward, Awkward Ask

Well, I am glad I pre-wrote this post as I'm currently experiencing the worst bout of diverticulitis yet.

That's not to play the sympathy card (cliche, I know), but can you help an author out?

Side note: If you're a member of WriteOn Joliet, you can stop reading here. The ask if not for you.

UPDATE: All books are ordered, packed, and ready to go. But we do still need sponsors. Deadline is Thursday, July 23.

Interested? Email writeonjolietgroup@gmail.com. We do have a sponsorship letter, too.

And now - the details!

Here goes.

In 2024, WriteOn Joliet participated in Kidz Fest in downtown Joliet for the first time.

We gave away nearly 90 locally authored books for kids and adults, which I purchased with my manuscript editing funds.

In fact. those 90 books were gone in the first 90 minutes of a five-hour event.

We also gave away approximately one hundred bookmarks people could color at home.

We distributed eighty-five special subscription offers to The Herald-News in Joliet.

We gave away word finds and crossword puzzles based on some of the books.

In 2025, WriteOn Joliet gave away 300 books, as well as bookmarks and handmade "write-your-own poetry books from Holly Coop. Only 50 books remained three hours into the five-hour event.

Both years, our word blocks were hugely successful, especially after the books disappeared. Kids and adults enjoyed manipulating our 48 double-sided blocks (so 96 words in all) to create fun sentences and simple short stories.

On Aug. 1, WriteOn Joliet will participate in Kidz Fest again this year with the same activities.

So this year, WriteOn Joliet is planning to give away 500 books.

And this year, I have the books of nearly every WriteOn Joliet author sponsored (a few are still pending).

This is the "awkward ask" part.

Because of my role in the community, I'm not comfortable seeking sponsorships for my BryonySeries books, which we will also give away on Aug. 1.

In addition, the BryonySeries B.L.O.C.K.S. team will provide free kids games with prizes and free BryonySeries books at the Independence Day celebration on July 3 at Bicentennial Park in Joliet, for the fourth year in a row.

The first year, we gave away 33 books, the second year we gave away 82, and last year we gave away 135 BryonySeries books at the July 3 event.

Now, I'm not completely self-funding the books this year as one of my B.L.O.C.K.S. team members has actively solicited her contacts to help us out.

But we still have some BryonySeries books to go. Please see "How to help" below

Why are we doing this?

Because reading scores are low at both the high school and the grade school level.

Because not all families can afford new books.

Because even when families can afford new books, a free book is a no-risk way to explore the works of unfamiliar authors and books.

Because families should read together.

Because when kids see adults enthused about books, they will often naturally follow.

Because the level of our excitement at our table as familes scooped up the books was off the charts, and we wish to create that experience again, both for the families and the WriteOn Joliet authors.

How to help

1. Browse my list of BryonySeries books.

2. Purchase the book(s) you'd like to gift for the giveaway at Bicentennial Park on July 3 and Kidz Fest on Aug. 1.

We especially need more books in the Bertrand the Mouse and The Adventures of Cornell Dyer series. If you can believe it, ALL of the Girls of the BryonySeries books have been sponsored.

3. Mail to: Denise M. Unland, P.O. Box 2789, Joliet, IL, 60436.

4. My one non-BryonySeries book "Nine Months of Kindness" is also available for purchase or sponsorship.

Can I deduct my purchase at tax time?

Unfortunately, since neither WriteOn Joliet nor BryonySeries is a nonprofit, you will not be able to write off your purchase at tax time as a donation.

But that isn't necessarily true if you are sponsoring books. If you are interested in a true sponsorship, email me at dunland@bryonyseries.com.

Please know your purchases place locally authored books into the hands of readers and nonreaders alike.

For kids who struggle with reading or who aren't enthused about reading, simply taking home a book written by someone in their community can help strip the mystique sway from books.

Perhaps it may spark their own creativity, knowing writing a book is really, really possible.

And it can't hurt when reading and writing are presented in such a fun way.

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Take a Reading Journey with WriteOn Joliet this Summer

Several years ago, a member of WriteOn Joliet brought a photograph of a black pump in ditch to the meeting as a writing prompt.

That inspired shoe-themed stories of all kinds and many sugggestions that we compile a special WriteOn Joliet anthology based on "shoes" and "journey."

Well, we finally did it, and we had a good reason to pick this year, too.

"Write Where We Are: Tales Our Soles Tell" is now available for purchase on Amazon.

And Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara (BryonySeries author and character and WriteOn Joliet member) and his wife Nancy Calkins (an artist who designed this cover) generously offered to sponsor 100 copies of this book as their gift to the community.

We plan to offer limited copies of this book for free at the following events:

June 27: "Presentation 101: An Overview for Authors Entering the Industry" 1 p.m., Joliet Public Library, 150 N. Ottawa St. Joliet.

July 3: Joliet Eve of Independence: America 250 Fireworks and Celebration: 6 to 10 p.m., Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park & Theatre, 201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet. Live music, food vendors, and children’s activities by B.L.O.CK.S., the BryonySeries umbrella brand. B.L.O.C.K.S. will also have limited giveaways of BryonySeries books for all ages and WriteOn Joliet's upcoming "Shoe" anthology. The evening will conclude with a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free.

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.

WriteOn Joliet will also offer copies at a special "shoe" event for writers on Sept. 24 at the Joliet Public Library. Details to come later!

We also have a few events this summer where a few copies MAY be spontaneously gifted (depending on available supplies, of course).

Here is the book's synopsis:

For 150 years, Joliet Public Library has been a place where stories begin. For the last 14 years, the Joliet Public Library has given space to WriteOn Joliet, for writers to begin and refine their stories, too.

In that spirit, WriteOn Joliet presents this special shoe and journey-themed anthology to entertain, inspire, and connect with readers on their journeys.

As Judy Quilty Smith wrote in this anthology, we hope readers “remember their Shoes and Journey stories because we all have them. I hope they remember the shoes that hurt and the shoes that felt beautiful, the shoes that looked lovely, and the shoes they received as a gift from one of their loved ones.”

Enjoy!

Thursday, May 28, 2026

Few Will Read This Post (And That's The Point of This Post)

There is a part in the 2019 South Korena drama "Hotel de Luna" that has stuck with me in the six years since I watched the drama with Rebekah during COVID in early 2020.

In fact, I went down a rabbit hole looking for the exact passage online when I recently wrote this blog post and then decided it should be its own separate post.

"Hotel de Luna" is a hotel that caters to ghosts, a place for them to stay on their way to heaven or hell while they address unfinished business.

But the hotel must have one human manager - and young Goo Chang-Sung (for reasons of the plot) is recruited for the job by the owner Man-wol, who is also stuck between heavena and hell and has her own unfinished business.

Man-wol pursues Goo Chang-Sung for a while and gives him the ability to see ghosts, which terrifies him, enough for him to dodge her and the summons for as long as he's able.

My favorite scene in the entire drama is when he's standing in the lobby and wondering why he should stay. And he's told he will see things few will ever see.

And then his lights go on, and he's sees the lavishness of the venue, and the hundreds of souls milling around.

One can find posts galore on the internet about stepping outside of one's comfort zone. And I even added to the noise with this Faith-inspired post.

And it's true the view is often breathtaking outside of that zone.

That brings me to local authors.

And I am not talking about my BryonySeries books (although we could be). I'm talking about the many self-published novels I've read over the years (and the one I'm currently reading).

The products of local, independent, and/or self-published authors are often dismissed as amateurly-produced slush (at best).

But most of us will admit (even if only to ourselves) that plenty of badly crafted material is commerically published, too.

And yet...

By taking a chance on an unknown book and author, you will see (and read) something few will ever see and read and experience.

True, the road is uncharted.

You won't find thousands of starred reviews, social media reels, and buzz around town to guide you.

Rather, you will step off the noisy crowded reading road onto a quieter, dustier, perhaps lonelier path that leads into,,,where?

Could be a field of weeds and insects, which sends you scuttling back to the familiar, vowing never to pick up any book that isn't influencer-approved ever again.

But you might miss the rare wildflower beckoning you in the breeze.

Or you might embark on a reading adventure the likes of which you've never experienced.

Fortunately, you don't need to look far to find your first out-of-the-ordinary read.

Many libraries (including the Joliet Public Library) have local author sections.

Many independent bookstores (including The Book Market in Crest Hill) have local author sections,

In fact, The Book Market has one moving set of shelves dedicated to published authors belonging to WriteOn Joliet. Ask owner Janet Staley if you can't find it. She can also help you find just the right book to read, too.

Critical Grind Board Game Cafe in Shorewood is having a local author fair on Saturday.

So, again...

By taking a chance on an unknown book and author, you will see (and read) something few will ever see and read and experience.

Ever.

Thursday, May 7, 2026

WriteOn Joliet at The Timbers of Shorewood 2026 Part 2

On January 17, The Timbers of Shorewood retirement community held its fourth "Meet the Authors" event for the members of WriteOn Joliet who contributed to its 2024 and 2025 anthologies.

Amy Odell, activities director, created light bulb ornaments for each participant.

For details about the event, our sponsors, and some really nice photos, read "Seniors meet local authors at ‘WriteOn Joliet’ annual event at Timbers of Shorewood."

Please enjoy the second part of the video.

Thursday, April 30, 2026

WriteOn Joliet at The Timbers of Shorewood 2026 Part 1

On January 17, The Timbers of Shorewood retirement community held its fourth "Meet the Authors" event for the members of WriteOn Joliet who contributed to its 2024 and 2025 anthologies.

Amy Odell, activities director, created their light bulb ornaments for each participant.

For details about the event, our sponsors, and some really nice photos, read "Seniors meet local authors at ‘WriteOn Joliet’ annual event at Timbers of Shorewood."

And then watch part one of the event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pabKhtEB5d0&t=562s

Saturday, April 25, 2026

PHOTOS: Detective Ed and Denny in WriteOn Joliet's "Shades of Noir"

WriteOn Joliet presented “Shades of Noir,” an original radio theater production, on April 18 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre, 201 W. Jefferson St. Joliet.

"Shades of Noir" authors and performers were Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Ed Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Cean Magosky, Jenny Russ, and Duanne Walton.

Director was Jake Thomas.

Production assistant was Rebekah Baran.

The story revolved an aging detective (Ed Calkins, aka Detective Ed) preparing to turn his business over to his replacement (Denise M. Baran-Unland, aka "Denny.").

During the transition, the two detectives debated and argued over how cases should be approached, and they reviewed past, present, and future cases in the form of various original poems and stories written by the author/performers.

Janet Staley, owner of The Book Market in Crest Hill, thinks Ed and I should do some books signings and events together. Ed wants us to to a podcast. Cean writing an interstitial script for us certainly gave us a chance to see if either of those suggestions should be pursued.

For the entire "Ed Calkins" backstory of how he fits in my life and the BryonySeries, read Twenty Questions with Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara.

I said this about Ed in post-show comments: You not only go the extra miles by memorizing your pieces, you took a few trips to local shops and spend a few dollars to make sure key production people are recognized at both performances. You and Nancy (Ed's wife) are the heart and soul of this production.

Jenny said this about me: Ed has a big voice and stage presence and you managed to match and even sometimes surpass his energy as Denny. You made your character three dimensional and strong. Also, you were the perfect balance and support for Ed both in rehearsal and on stage. Not bad for an introvert. 😉

And now, enjoy these photos by Timothy!

Thursday, April 23, 2026

PHOTOS: WriteOn Joliet's "Shades of Noir"

WriteOn Joliet presented “Shades of Noir,” an original radio theater production, on April 18 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre, 201 W. Jefferson St. Joliet.

"Shades of Noir" authors and performers were Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Ed Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Cean Magosky, Jenny Russ, and Duanne Walton.

Director was Jake Thomas.

Production assistant was Rebekah Baran.

The story revolved an aging detective (Ed Calkins, aka Detective Ed) preparing to turn his business over to his replacement (Denise M. Baran-Unland, aka "Denny.").

During the transition, the two detectives debate and argue over how cases should be approached, and they reviewed past, present, and future cases in the form of various original poems and stories written by the author/performers.

Enjoy photos (mostly) by Timothy Baran of all the vignettes except mine for which no photo apparently exists, with more photos of Detective Ed and Denny to come on Saturday.

“CRIME SCENE”

Author: Cean Magosky

Readers: Edward Calkins (Ed) and Denise M. Baran-Unland (Denny)

“DARK ALLEYS”

Author: Mauverneen Blevins

Reader: Jenny Russ

“DENY”

Author: Holly Coop

Readers: Edward Calkins (Ed), Denise M. Baran-Unland (Denny), and Mauverneen Blevins (wife)

“THE GARBAGE MAN”

Author: Tom Hernandez

Readers: Duanne Walton (narrator), Ed Calkins (Ed), Cean Magosky (Nelson Edwards), Holly Coop (Helen Edwards)

“SLEIGHT OF HAND”

Author: Cean Magosky

Readers: Duanne Walton (narrator), Char (Steve Cordin), Marie (Jenny Russ), Mr. Montini (Mauverneen Blevins), Mrs. Montini (Denise M. Baran-Unland)

“MISSING PERSON”

Author: Denise M. Baran-Unland

Readers: Duanne Walton (narrator), Cean Magosky (Kellen Wechsler), Holly Coop (Margaret Vollbauer)

(We have no photo of "Missing Person," so I'm substituting this photo Timothy took, which captures the mood of the piece, I think).

“UNCOMFORTABLE SHOES FIT FOR TWO”

Author: Holly Coop

Readers: Jenny Russ and Steve Cordin

INTERMISSION

“MISSING MO”

Author: Duanne Walton

Reader: Duanne Walton

(Photo by Jenny Russ)

“THE FIRE PIT”

Author: Mauverneen Blevins

Readers: Cean Magosky (narrator), Jenny Russ (Ivy), Steve Cordin (Sheriff Bill), Duanne Walton (Jefferson)

“THE WRITE ON ZONE”

Author: Edward Calkins

Readers: Duanne Walton (narrator), Mauverneen Blevins (waitress), Denise M. Baran-Unland (newsboy), Cean Magosky (Kellen Wechsler), Kellen) Holly Coop (Trudy)

“A DAME TO STING FOR”

Author: Steve Cordin

Readers: Duanne Walton (Beeman), Queenie Wasp (Jenny Russ), Bumble (Edward Calkins), Holly Coop (Vanessa/Princess Mean Streak), Steve Cordin (Ultrabomber)

“BUMPED WITH A THUMP”

Author: Holly Coop

Readers: Cean Magosky (narrator) and Mauverneen Blevins (wife)

“ARTIFICIAL HUMANITY”

Author: Jenny Russ

Reader: Cean Magosky (Sam), Denise M. Baran-Unland (LEAH), Holly Coop (Carmen)

SPECIAL APPRECIATION:

Joliet Drama Guild for producing “Shades of Noir and managing concessions and ticket sales

Henry Scherrer, for sharing original songs (performed by The Black and Blue Hearts)

Mauverneen Blevins for designing marketing materials

Cean Magosky for writing the interstitial script

Coops Bowsmith and Holly Coop Books for donating cast T-shirts

Edward and Nancy Calkins for donating cast supplies

Rebekah Baran for providing one-stop checkout and overall behind-the-scenes support

The Raven's House for sponsoring twenty-five “Missing Person” booklets

B.L.O.C.K.S. for sponsoring twenty WriteOn Joliet 2026 anthologies and dinner for cast and crew

Paula Sanzenbacher of Garden Keepers, Chicago, for a generous donation to cast and crew’s dinner

Roc City Bar & Grill for generously discounting dinner for cast and crew

The City of Joliet and the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre staff and leadership for inviting us back for a fourth year in a row.

Joliet Public Library staff and leadership for its unwavering support of local authors and WriteOn Joliet in particular.

Janet Staley of The BookMarket in Crest Hill for providing an outlet for local authors and space for WriteOn Joliet to rehearse after-hours.

We thank our families for tolerating our oddities, the Zoom rehearsals, the late nights and early mornings in front of screens and typewriters and notebooks and for understanding that they can’t simply throw out a grocery list because we may or may not have been developing a storyline in the checkout line at Target.

Finally we, the writers, thank you for attending tonight and supporting local art. We are deeply grateful.

BIOGRAPHIES

Denise M. Baran-Unland is WriteOn Joliet’s co-founder and co-leader and author of the phantasmic BryonySeries, which includes the “drop of blood” vampire trilogy for young and new adults, a Gothic prequel for adults, the Limbo trilogy, a standalone werewolf novel, the Adventures of Cornell Dyer mystery series for grade and middle school students, the Girls of the BryonySeries series for tween girls, and the Bertrand the Mouse series for young children.

She has six adult children, three adult stepchildren, twenty total grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, six godchildren, two cats, and one corgi.

Denise blogs daily at bryonyseries.blogspot.com and is currently the features editor at The Herald-News.

To read her feature stories, visit theherald-news.com. For more information about BryonySeries, visit bryonyseries.com.

Mauverneen Blevins (or Maureen as she is generally called) has been interested in both writing and photography since she was quite young, never missing an opportunity to spend time in the Library or the Bookmobile when it came to school.

An award-winning photographer and published writer, she decided to combine both those passions into a children's book. Published in November of 2022, I KNOW That Bird! uses simple verse to identify each bird and is illustrated with her own photographs.

Blevins has been published in a diverse assortment of publications such as the Chicago Tribune, Woodshop News, Chicago Parent, A Cup of Comfort books, and several anthologies. She currently edits, writes and photographs for The Dashboard, a classic car magazine, and several other newsletters, publishes a blog, and travels whenever she can.

A Joliet native, she is the mother of three grown daughters and currently lives in New Lenox with her two dogs.

For more information, visit mauveonthemove.com and mauverneen.com.

Edward Calkins is a real, 60-something, proud of his Irish-heritage computer programmer and amateur writer who has also spent his entire life working in newspaper circulation. Years ago, Calkins invented a "ruthless dictator" alter ego, also known as "The Steward of Tara."

With Calkins' permission, BryonySeries author Denise M. Baran-Unland furthered altered him to create a minor character in "Bryony," making Calkins the first Irish vampire of any significance. Of course, Calkins claims "Bryony" is really all about him, so he’s held his own book signings, which he is calls, "The Ed Calkins Tour." There must be some truth in his sentiments, because Calkins' plot importance does grow with each novel in the original BryonySeries trilogy.

Calkins is the author of three books chronicling his fiction backstory: “The Fifth,” “Ruthless” and “Recovering Ruthless” and is also the author of “Denise M. Baran-Unland's Irish Genealogy.” He also shares his writings on the BryonySeries blog. Email him at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

Holly Coop has made touching hearts with words her life purpose.

Coop writes and publishes inspirational poetry, motivational quotes, and spiritual insights. As the author of five poetry collections, Coop hopes her words will stir hearts and inspire others in their purpose. Coop also enjoys sketching, creating photo notecards and art, featuring her poetry. (hollycoopcards.Etsy.com).

At hollycoopauthor.wordpress.com, Coop shares reflections, nuggets of wisdom, and anything that comes to mind.

Coop resides in Joliet, Illinois with her husband, children, and furry friends.

For more information, visit HollyCoopBooks.com.

Steven James Cordin is a native of the Chicago South Suburbs. Cordin works in the financial crimes prevention industry, which is how he became interested in writing crime fiction.

In addition to his writing, Cordin enjoys weightlifting and working on business projects with his brother. His crime and horror fiction can be found in several anthologies, Shotgun Honey, and The Yard, Crime Blog. He currently lives near Joliet, Illinois.

Cean Magosky is a surgical nurse, sometime musician, and history buff, He’s been a WriteOn Joliet member since 2020, contributing to multiple anthologies as well as the annual WriteOn Joliet radio theater event. He is also active in the story-teller community with Barbara Eberhard’s Stories-R-Us.

Drawing on experiences in theatre, musical performance and outdoor life, Cean’s writing focuses on sharply drawn images, diverse characters and a strong sense of place and time.

Jenny Russ writes fiction of all kinds ranging from general and serious to whimsical and peculiar. They are the author of “The Heart’s Bone,” a fictional account of Tibet’s youngest self-immolators, and “Whitewallsville: One Man’s Journey Through Tigers, Frozen Birds, and Suicide,” a story of grief and redemption set within the walls of a mental health treatment center. They also write for and perform in WriteOn Joliet’s annual Radio Play.

When Russ is not writing, they enjoy petting dogs, smelling old books, cosplay, and all things spooky, nerdy, or absurd.

Duanne Walton said: "Writing is my gift from God and it's been with me forever. It's seen me through rough times and brought me to WriteOn Joliet where I've found support, encouragement and friends.

"I've also discovered other talents as an intrepid videographer, interpretive dancer or mime, and comic strip writer artist. I am blessed and thankful."

Check out Duanne’s YouTube channel at 4thtroika (@4thtroika), where you'll see his recordings of WriteOn Joliet live events along with a wide assortment of Duanne's videos on varied topics.

For more information, visit youtube.com/@4thtroika.

ABOUT WRITEON JOLIET

WriteOn Joliet is a welcoming, diverse group of writers of varied skills, interests and experience. The group includes professional journalists, fiction novelists, bloggers, screenwriters, musicians and poets.

We promise a safe, comfortable and supportive atmosphere to share your work, and constructive feedback so that everyone can benefit from our shared knowledge.

WriteOn is a dues-paying organization. The first visit is free.

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.