Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Feb. 11 to Feb. 17

Good morning!

Today I have just ten features and news stories to share with you today with more to be posted over the weekend. I've also been working on stories for a new edition The Herald-News will begin in March and a new "Thank You, Teachers" edition in May.

So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

Also, here is a "save the date" event for people in the general Will County area:  WriteOn Joliet will host its first radio-style reading on April 22 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park in Joliet. 

I'll share details as they jell. But for now, read this post. 

We held our annual Calkins Day celebration on Feb. 13 at The Book Market in Crest Hill. If you don't know what Calkins Day is, read this post and then read this post.

This year, we built our celebration around the local authors and independent authors in order to help build up Ed's library of such authors and provide a little exposure for these authors.

Authors were invited to gift Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara with one of their books. In turn, they could take home any one of five books Ed either wrote or appeared in. Readers could talk Ed out of a book.

Tomorrow I will recap the event. And over the next few weeks, I'll dedicate separate posts to these authors and give them additional exposure on social media.

So please watch for these posts. They may just lead you to your next favorite book.

Fiction projects are coming along very slowly, but they are coming along. I'm also working simultaneously working on five books (and a new Bertrand book), a first for me.

So here's the latest update:

I now have completed rough drafts for the first seven chapters of the final book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy: House on Top of the Hill and hope to get another done this weekend.

I am in the process of writing the next book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer subseries: Cornell Dyer and the Hounds of Basketville and made some progress on that story on Monday. Sue Midlock sent all the interior art and it is stunning! Sue is currently working on the cover.

I have also completed two chapters for the fourth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries series.

You can find other titles in the series here. Timothy has not yet added our latest titles to the BryonySeries bookstore. But all titles are also on Amazon. 

I'm also working on a guide book to the series called: Welcome to Munsonville: the People, Places, and Things of the BryonySeries.

And I'm also working on a novella. I have written and edited a fourth of it. But that's all I'm sharing about it for now.

Rebekah is also slowly updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts, so watch for those.

Now back to the 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 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 page. We'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 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 on Twitter at @BryonySeries and 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.

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

‘Comedy for the Critters’ benefits animal rescues in Will, Cook counties

Traveling exhibit at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville shows how mobility shaped the U.S.: Sara Russell: ‘It’s so important to know where we came from.’

Illinois Native Plant Society seeking students for paid internship opportunity" The internship give students ‘ground level’ experience in plant science.

Joliet fire chief says today’s home fires are deadlier than 50 years ago: Top causes of fires are cooking, heating, electrical, smoking and candles

Get 15 free seed packets from the Will County extension office on Saturday.: The extension office has given away more than 75,000 packages of free seeds since 2016.

Wanted: Will County fish fries: The Herald-News invites churches and organizations to submit their fish fry information

Diocese of Joliet seeking organizations or parishes to apply for anti-poverty grants : The process is now open to parish-based projects.

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Wilmington seeking applicants for 2023 Youth Conservation Corps: Registration closes March 18.

Pets of the Week: Feb. 13, 2023: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

5 Things to do in Will County: Joliet theater to host performances of ‘She Kills Monsters’: Plus, local churches offering a chicken dinner, pancake breakfast

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Community News: March 16, March 17, March 18, 2020

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 the good your organization is doing, email the information to new@theherald-news.com.


D-202 students place at German competition 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/13/d-202-students-place-at-german-competition/an2794z/


Pets of the Week: March 16

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/10/pets-of-the-week-march-16/do3t9zg/


39 Providence Catholic students earn AP Scholar award

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/12/39-providence-catholic-students-earn-ap-scholar-award/al0g9f/


Troy school board names two new administrators

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/04/troy-school-board-names-two-new-administrators/aukz4pd/


'Link between abuse to animals and violence against humans is undisputed'
Glasgow has been named one of 'American’s Top Ten Animal Defenders' by the ALDF

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/11/link-between-abuse-to-animals-and-violence-against-humans-is-undisputed/dqyq2y9/


VVSD to provide Emergency Meals for Kids program in Romeoville, Bolingbrook 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/03/16/vvsd-to-provide-emergency-meals-for-kids-program-in-romeoville-bolingbrook/av2zb6u/


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

https://www.bryonyseries.com/munsonville-times

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Jan. 25 through Jan. 31

Last night got a little busy (test driving cars, an impromptu family party), so here is the promised story round-up now.

If you're new to my blog, what you'll find here today is a list of where else to find me on social media and waaaay below that, a list, with links, of the features stories I've written this week for The Herald-News, in case you've missed one, two, or all of them.

And now, I'm off to work on a couple novels before the day gets busy. Have a great weekend readers, writers, and BryonySeries fans. :)

Non-bylined features:

Monday through Saturday I assembled my non-bylined works - brief posts and calendar listings - into one convenient file and posting them on Facebook in the evening, so readers can easily choose the ones they want to read.

One can also find those event listings, the Gotta Do It calendar, as well as the pets, health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars, under the sections tab on the left hand side of http://www.theherald-news.com/. Click on "features" and the topics drop down.  Gotta Do It runs under "people."

Community news? Again, under the sections tab, under features, and by topic. Updates are posted on these days in print and web (and some only on web on other days as I have the time): 

 Social media:

Daily updates: I do post the briefs and calendars 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 www.facebook.com/BryonySeries. And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to jon WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/writeonminooka/?ref=bookmarks. We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

Upcoming events:

Once Timothy Baran is done updating this page, these will listed here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/fetes-and-feasts. 

Check out the progress he has made so far. Each square is hand-built. And be sure to "hover" your hand over the first square. Note: this only works (so far) with the desktop version.

But he's also made A LOT of changes to the website. So be sure to roam around a bit.

Books and Such

Information on my books (including where to buy) along with upcoming events is at www.bryonyseries.com. If you have any 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.

'I did everything on my own'
At nearly 103, Joliet woman is strong and resilient

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/01/24/i-did-everything-on-my-own/asvok0w/


‘They brought him back from the brink of death’
Plainfield rescue restores puppyhood to emaciated stray from Texas

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/01/24/they-brought-him-back-from-the-brink-of-death/dtubokd/


'They end up going to a shelter to be euthanized'
Plainfield rescue helps out with stray problem in Texas

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/01/24/they-end-up-going-to-a-shelter-to-be-euthanized/d3lgjj6/


An Extraordinary Life: 'He taught them how to be responsible'
Teaching physics was this Joliet professor's vocation

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/01/24/an-extraordinary-life-he-taught-them-how-to-be-responsible/ayfyigd/


Not everyone considers a job a calling. This man did - and Lewis University gave him an honorary doctorate for it.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/01/27/i-really-wanted-to-support-families/at5bsjh/


LocallLit book review: 'Aprons of Stone' by Irma Kump of Joliet

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/01/28/locallit-book-review-aprons-of-stone-by-irma-kump-of-joliet/a6bqxxs/


Joliet mom hosting 2-part financial literacy workshop for teens 

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/01/27/i-just-want-to-empower-kids/dg4bmh3/


Having a Super Bowl party? Try these 2 unusual recipes

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/01/27/having-a-super-bowl-party-try-these-2-unusual-recipes/dyol6k7/


For great Thai cuisine, you can't beat this Joliet restaurant

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/01/27/for-great-thai-cuisine-you-cant-beat-this-joliet-restaurant/doss4zr/


'One man can make it sound like an entire orchestra'
Historic organ at Joliet theater still plays, thanks to local nonprofit group 

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2020/01/27/93dc862e45cb484b856c66db32bc0df1/index.xml?page=1

'
Blacks are not monolithic'
Historian and musician to present programs about the Chicago black experience at Joliet,  Romeoville libraries

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/01/27/blacks-are-not-monolithic/dsymtd2/


Give student poetry a chance
PHS-CC African American Club to host inaugural poetry slam in Plainfield

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/01/27/give-student-poetry-a-chance/a8d241l/


LocalLit book spotlight: ‘Worship is More Than You Think’ by Jennifer Abbott of Channahon

https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/01/30/locallit-book-spotlight-worship-is-more-than-you-think-by-jennifer-abbott/av6sgxl/


VIDEO: The sound of theater history in Joliet

https://www.theherald-news.com/video/id/162cd861-81be-4532-97e1-e0e4993ebc42.html


VIDEO: Support for student organists 

https://www.theherald-news.com/video/id/459fa764-2025-4e46-8acb-e7d6d9d6ac1c.html

Illustration by Matt Coundiff by "Visage."

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Sept. 17 through Sept. 22

I did ZERO fiction-writing this week but only because I spent that time on marketing and finalizing formatting for a couple of my projects as well as the WriteOn inaugural anthology.

I made a little progress on The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz, but it's progress.

Except for work and working out (some), that was the week. I'm the weekend editor, so I'll be cooking this weekend with Rebekah instead of writing, although if I'm fortunate, I can sneak a little fiction in somewhere. Not anticipating it, though.

For the curious, what does cooking with Rebekah have to do with being the weekend editor?

For the past few months, she and I have been cooking recipes from the BryonySeries cookbook Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," and posting the results on the Sue's Diner page at www.bryonyseries.com and on this blog.

The only time we have to work on this project together is Saturday afternoons, of which time I'm usually still writing. So we decided to cook for a couple hours on weekend editor Saturdays. We can always pause while I address a work-related issue, and if I'm needed for more than a pause, she can continue cooking.

And there we are. And onward...

Where to find my non-bylined works?

Local events: Pets, health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars: where to find them? Under the sections tab on the left hand side of http://www.theherald-news.com/. Click on "features" and the topics drop down. Assembled by moi.

More local events: Gotta Do It, also by me, runs each Sunday in the People section.

Community news: Again, under the sections tab, under features, and by topic. Updates are posted on these days in print and web and in web on other days as I have the time: Monday (pets), Tuesday (health), Thursday (faith), Friday (arts and entertainment), and Sunday (people).

Daily updates: I do post the briefs and calendars 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 www.facebook.com/BryonySeries. And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. Your support is greatly appreciated.

He's a Joliet music man

"Kevin is an excellent musician," John Herder, Joliet American Legion Band president, said. "One of the things we liked about Kevin is that his needle points up. His future is very, very bright. We saw only the upside with Kevin and how he and the band can grow together."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/15/2c6e85b4e1a14d59b7a0c96d7d424bbb/index.xml

An Extraordinary Life: A stellar volunteer, a teacher at heart

After Irene Klindworth's death, her husband Carl said he learned Irene completed that degree in three years, instead of the typical four. But it didn’t surprise him.

“She was a very intelligent and strong-willed person. I don’t know [how] she put up with me,” Carl said. “But she would laugh with me.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/09/17/an-extraordinary-life-a-stellar-volunteer-a-teacher-at-heart/akp4y2p/

Joliet women help with pet rescue efforts following Hurricane Harvey

"We know how to talk to dogs, vet dogs and clean up after dogs," Peggy Grandahl said. "We saw what was going on and we knew how bad [Hurricane] Katrina was. Knowing the area was underserved and knowing there wasn't enough help, we thought, "Well, we can lend ourselves."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/17/5c943494a98746d79fb591bd84e57a83/index.xml?page=1

Pets of the Week: Sept. 18

Read the caption of each photo to find out about that pet, including where he or she can be adopted.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/11/6af9cdd5fda94b719e21c3e9c1fc81e8/index.xml

Rock for the babies, comfort the parents

Car seat, crib and bumpers, booties, diapers and hooded towels: typical items purchased by expecting parents.

They usually don't consider caskets and headstones. But The TEARS Foundation does.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/12/72191412acae4985bd552eff5f72334d/index.xml?page=1

Coal City chef prepping 'recipe for success'

The owners of Milkman Cafe in Coal City, a meal prep service that uses locally produced foods, are within a few hundred dollars of their $8,000 goal. It's an overall modest goal for the food industry, but the Larson have three big plans for the funds.

Their Kickstarter campaign ends tomorrow at 9:28 p.m.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/19/728e6b91fd1e49b38dce7e14c5562d09/index.xml

Channahon pastor didn't give up on God

Rev. Tim Casey often takes people aback.

Especially people who meet him for the first time to discuss challenges in their lives. Because that's when they find out he's a quadriplegic and ministers from a wheelchair.

"They say to me, 'I've come to talk to you about my problems and you have your own problems,' " Casey said.

As Tim looks back on 20 years, he feels life's "worked out pretty well." But not until he'd traversed some rocky spiritual terrain.

"I was suicidal, you know," Tim said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/20/1e9b00b17b794d0aaab842345e3532f2/index.xml?page=1

Why does Joliet Junior College own a brand-new harpsichord?

And not just any harpsichord. It's a custom-made, one-of-a-kind, hand decorated harpsichord, designed in the style of the 17th century Flemish Ruckers family, who were renowned for their harpsichords.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/21/ed249d87af5e4667a0ca1f355154702b/index.xml?page=2

Artworks: Catching up with Plainfield-based Marina City

Ryan Arghast of Plainfield was just 17 and a Plainfield North High School student when he launched his pop music career with Toxic Productions.

Arghast even filmed his music video "Forever 17" at the school. Watch it on YouTube.

Now in his mid-20s, Arghast is still performing music – as vocalist for his band Marina City – except the genre has somewhat changed. Recently, Arghast took a few moments to discuss where the band is now.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/21/218dbe70e907478b932c3d72b3940e64/index.xml