"Read Local" This Winter

As you line up your "winter read" this month, be sure to pop into The Book Market in Crest Hill and pick up a WriteOn Joliet anthology (or two).

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.

And WriteOn Joliet has published an anthology of original poems, essays, and short stories since 2017.

We have copies of each edition of "Write Where We Are" currently for sale except for our two bonus anthologies: the "cheetah" anthology and the holiday anthology (we are currently out of copies).

But both are available on Amazon.

Not only is each anthology a uniquely wonderful read, each purchase supports local authors and a local small business.

And you might just discover a new favorite author, one that lives and writes in the community.

Happy Monday!

Tonight: WriteOn Joliet's 8th Anthology Release Party

If you live in the Will County area, consider popping into WriteOn Joliet's 8th Anthology Release Party tonight.

The open house-style event is from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Joliet Public Library, 3395 Black Road in Joliet, and will include FREE chef-created heavy appetizers and photos with Santa, along with one-stop checkout, courtesy of Jan Staley, owner of The Book Market in Crest Hill.

Read this post for ten reasons why you should attend.

Read this post for tonight's menu (and this post for more food photos).

Read this post for the purple music roses at the BryonySeries table - and how you can take one home.

The BryonySeries tables will also have some free giveaways - and Cindy has prepared "mystery boxes" for BryonySeries, which she can explain when you stop by our tables.

But wait - there's more!

And to find out what "more" is, you'll have to to attend the event.

Happy Thursday!

Cheesy Promotional Post: Five Ways to Make Readers Happy This Christmas

 Do you have friends or family who like to read?

Then buy them a WriteOn Joliet anthology (you thought I was going to recommend the BryonySeries books, didn't you)?

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.

A local writer approached me in 2011 and asked me to start this group with her. After telling her "non," multiple times, she found a core group of half a dozen writers and reapproached me with all of them.

She has since moved on (married, children, single mom, and now a nurse, yes during COVID - she's awesome), but Tom Hernandez stepped up, and we've continued to grow, although WriteOn has met on Zoom for most of the year.

Because of Tom's suggestion, WriteOn Joliet has published an anthology every years. This is the first year we were not able to host a release party (complete with free chef-created food), so I'm pushing a little harder to let people know about us.

The anthology is a fundraiser for WriteOn Joliet, and all proceeds stay within the group. We've used the money for speakers, workshops, and marketing our writers.

Except for the "baby cheetah" special edition anthology, all of our anthologies are called "Write Where We Are." That means all the pieces are where we, as writers, currently find ourselves in our respective writing journeys.

Readers will find poems, essays, short stories, novellas, novel excerpts of varying styles. Any reader should be able to find at least one piece to enjoy. Those who purchase the book can have the satisfaction of knowing they've helped writers become more effective in communication, whether they seek to inform, inspire or entertain.

And, yes, you will find excerpts from some of my books, too. 

The only anthology not yet on our website is the newest one, released in the last couple weeks. You can find it here.

For the other WriteOn Joliet anthologies, go here.

And if you want to buy all of them, message us writeonjolietgroup@gmail.com, and I'll work out a discount with you.

For Book Lovers

This Friday at The Book Market in Crest Hill, WriteOn Joliet will host its third anthology release party.

This drop-in, after-hours event will feature copies of the anthology (a fundraiser that supports literacy and the efforts of local writers), copies of books by individual members of our group, a chance to browse and buy from The Book Market, and FREE chef-created refreshments by my son Timothy (until all the food is gone).

In fact, Timothy is dedicated to this event, he plans the menu in advance and donates all the food and supplies (a cost of several hundred dollars, go Timothy!).

How does this menu grab you?

* Spiced Apple Pie Shooter

* White Chocolate Peppermint Bark 

*Vanilla Strawberry Cheesecake 

* Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies 

* Meat and Cheese Tray

* Savory Herbed Cheese Log

We'll also serve FREE coffee, hot chocolate, tea, and water.

The event is from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at The Book Market, 2365 Plainfield Road in Crest Hill.

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.

A Good Time Really Was Had By All

This past Friday night, WriteOn Joliet held its second anthology release party at The Book Market in Crest Hill.

Between writers, guests, and patrons who took advantage of the store's later hours due to the event, we had a steady stream of people from 6 to 8:30 p.m. - with the owner, Janet Staley still ringing up purchases long after 8:30 had passed.

People had fun and many left with a stack of books. These were combinations of WriteOn Joliet's first and second anthologies, titles by individual authors, and books from the store.

And the food...

The food was phenomenal, thanks to our chefs who created it: Timothy Baran, Jasmine Rosenboom, and Rebekah Baran. They are already planning next year's menu for next year's event, which will be held Nov. 15, 2019.

Even Bertrand had a great time!

The glorious weekend continued (for me) the next morning when I met with my editor for Before The Blood.

But that's a post for tomorrow.

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: Today at The Book Market

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Today at The Book Market

Today is an appreciation post. Monday's post will recap my impressions.

First of all, a huge THANK YOU to Sue Merrell for arrranging the event and inviting me to participate, The Book Market owner Jan Staley for hosting and promoting us; Allie Rios for handling the extras: promotional flyers, author one-sheets, frames, and a Facebook ad; Daniel Baran for transportation; and Rebekah Baran for her phenomenal "take charge" organizational and managerial skills.

I'm blessed to know and collaborate with some really outstanding people. God is truly good.

The venue:

The Book Market, an indie shop of new and used books, is located at 2366 Plainfield Road in Crest Hill. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/newandusedbooks/ and http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/04/13/crest-hill-bookstore-expands-across-the-street/atrjgyw/


My fellow WriteOn Joliet authors:

Sue Merrell writes crime fiction. The setting and incidents are based on similar ones in the Joliet area. For more information, visit suemerrellbooks.com.

Allie Rios writes inspirational fiction on the theme of healing. She also has a collection of stories about brain cancer battles (including the story of her mother) that benefits the American Brain Foundation at www.americanbrainfoundation.org. Find her on Facebook at Allison Rios, Author and at www.amijustmom.blogspot.com.

Ralph Carey, a recovering alcoholic, has an inspirational book about the recovery journey. Find him on Facebook at Life's Wisdom Overcoming Addiction.

From left: Ralph Carey, Jan Staley, Allie Rios, Denise M. Baran-Unland, Sue Merrell

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Nov. 5 through Nov. 10

It's been a busy week and even busier fall. But I'm nearly on the other side of the hecticness.

One more work week (and working weekend) and the I go on writer's retreat (a fancy way of saying I have vacation time to use up and will spending it working on book No. 5 of the Before the Blood).

This weekend, I'm wrapping up the stories in a three-part series I wrote, exploring how devastating illness impacts families. I also have some incomplete marketing projects to, well, complete.

But looking back, I've made nearly all my goals for this year. That, combined with the fact I finally got some decent sleep last night, makes for an overall satisfying feeling.

Overall because I lost an object important to me yesterday. Also, I wanted to run something timely in the newspaper but moved another, not as timely item on the page instead, again, the product of being tired, which is grating on my nerves this morning.

Before I move onward to features, I'd like to give a quick shout-out to WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party. Details below. Have a blessed Friday, all! :)

WriteOn Joliet Anthology Release Party

When: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 17

Where: The Book Market, 2365 Plainfield Road, Crest Hill

Etc.: Copies of "Write Where We Are" (WriteOn Joliet's first anthology) will be for sale. Information about WriteOn Joliet. A chance to meet and talk to some of WriteOn Joliet's members, as well as purchase books written by individual WriteOn Joliet authors as well as browse the store and purchase others books. Chef-created refreshments. BryonySeries raffles. Free admission.

Contact: bryonyseries@gmail.com

Visit: writeonJoliet.com or www.bryonyseries.com

Features, etc.:

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 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.

Micro pantries cropping up in Will and Grundy Counties

So far, people are jumping in where they can, and Jeff Eberhard is certain the project will keep snowballing.

 Eberhard is referring to Little Free Food Pantries.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/10/31/b58803cf92b24a0db77e773bcaafac35/index.xml

'Grandpa, you should write a book'

Joliet man took his passions and flew with them

Flying and hard work were mainstays of his entire life. But how Albert arrived there might make modern parents cringe.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/10/31/5bb6dda8d93e44d8bb8769f8deaf28b1/index.xml

'I prefer to live in the moment'

“At the time, we thought it to be good news," Krystal Bettega said of her daughter Madi Mumm's diagnosis. "We finally knew what was going on and there would be a cure or treatment that would help,:

And then Krystal learned the details of Madi’s disorder.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/11/05/1bfa5496936f4230b7440e7b11f249d2/index.xml

'You just deal with it'

“Day-to-day life is not predictable,” Rosemarie Melnik of Tinley Park said about her granddaughter Bella Brya. “Bella has no verbal communication. If something is bothering her, she is not able to tell you. She’s lost all her motor skills. She cannot move her arms and legs and cannot hold up her head. She cannot swallow. She has a feeding tube."

Bella's brother Liam Bella and father Bill Brya also have health challenges.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/11/05/ca68dfb07dec439b8f2d08499ce010ba/index.xml

Mystery Diner: Old Fashioned Pancake House: casual atmosphere, great value since 1986

Did we want breakfast, lunch or dinner? Despite the late hour, we could order any menu item.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/10/30/0bbe209f14e4487ab9d55fd6e050769e/index.xml?page=1

'Psalms of Paul' addresses life, love and faith

Two years ago, when Paul Oliver turned 50, he desired to leave a legacy for his grandchildren, so they might know he was more than a water treatment plant employee.

“Now you can ‘Google’ my name and see I’m a writer of poetry,” Oliver said. “[They can say] he had a mind and a soul and actually accomplished something.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/11/08/08b8b08707234ec187a0a7e54b28beb4/index.xml

WriteOn Joliet publishes first anthology

Writers don't have to look far for resources

WriteOn Joliet recently published its first anthology: "Write Where We Are" and will host a launch part on Nov. 17 at The Book Market in Crest Hill.

The anthology contains poems, short stories, essays, a novella and a novel excerpt by these local writers: Mauverneen (Maureen) Blevins, Holly Coop, Emily Duncan, Diana Estell, Joshua Henderson, Tom Hernandez, Beth Higgins, Sharon M.E. Houk, R. Michael Markley, Sue Mydliak, Colleen H Robbins, Jennifer Russ, Stephen T. Saporta and Duanne Walton, as well as Tom and me.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/11/08/dab119046d314c2ab2ac6e7a2a326845/index.xml?page=1

Some Upcoming Author Events, Some Giveaways

It's countdown time!

I've made a list and am obsessively checking it a gazillion times! Am I ready for the author fairs?

Well:

1) BryonySeries books for sale, six titles in all (so far). CHECK!

2) BryonySeries table decor. CHECK! (But what to choose? I've got so much...)

3) BryonySeries homemade soy candles (by Valerie's Heavenly Scents) in five scents (bryony, purple rose, Lake Munson, Simons Woods, Sue's Diner) to sell. CHECK!

4) Freebies for kids (stickers, erasers, etc.). CHECK!

5) BryonySeries trivia contest (correct answers get you discounts). CHECK-sih (where did I put those slips?)

6) Holiday edition of Visage to raffle off. CHECK!

7) Free chapter from the BryonySeries prequel Before the Blood (as gift for signing up for the upcoming BryonSeries newsletter). Almost check. Need to print out.

8) Discounts on select products. CHECK-ish (almost done)

9) Information on upcoming releases (Information, yes. Hand-out cards, not yet).

10) Raffle basket items. CHECK! (But you have to stop by my table to know what they are).


ANTHOLOGY RELEASE PARTY

WriteOn Joliet will release its first anthology Write Where We Are in approximately one month. The editing/formatting is done; the cover art is designed, and the whole was uploaded to Createspace (again) this weekend (had some shifting issues). Hopefully it's fixed this time and them, voila!

The anthology will contain essays, poetry, short stories, one novella, and one excerpt from my BryonSeries prequel in progress, Before the Blood.

Copies should be available online Nov. 1, but if you'd like autographed copies and an opportunity to meet the writers (along with checking out their other works), plan to attend this event:

WriteOn Joliet Anthology Release Party

When: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 17

Where: The Book Market, 2365 Plainfield Road in Crest Hill

Information: www.writeonjoliet.com.


AUTHOR FAIRS

A number of WriteOn Joliet authors (including moi) will be participating in the following events. I'll be raffling off a basket of BryonySeries stuff and giving away a chapter from Before the Blood as a thank you gift for signing up for my newsletter, which begins in 2018.

White Oak Author Fest:

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,

Where: White Oak Library, Crest Hill Branch, 20670 Len Kubinski Drive, Crest Hill

​

Etc: Local authors, talks (book preservation and Illinois Author Project), and bookish crafts. BryonySeries books and other merchandise for sale, giveaways and raffle baskets. Free to attend.

​

Contact: bryonyseries@gmail.com

​

Visit: whiteoakauthorfest.org.

Oswego Literary Festival

When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 7

Where: Oswego Public Library, 32 Jefferson St., Oswego

Etc: Local authors, BryonySeries books and other merchandise for sale, giveaways and raffle baskets. Free to attend.

​Contact: bryonyseries@gmail.com

Visit: www.oswegoil.org

Indie Author Day

What: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 14

Where: Plainfield Public Library, 15025 S. Illinois St., Plainfield

Etc: Local authors, BryonySeries books and other merchandise for sale, giveaways and raffle baskets. Free to attend.

Contact: bryonyseries@gmail.com

Visit: plainfieldpubliclibrary.org

WriteOn Joliet Open Night Mic

When: 6 p.m. Nov. 2

Where: Book and Bean Cafe, 3395 Black Road, Joliet (inside the Joliet Public Library)

Etc: WriteOn Joliet will read excerpts from their works and share information about the upcoming anthology and Nov. 17's anthology release party.

Contact: bryonyseries@gmail.com 

Visit: writeonJoliet.com or www.bryonyseries.com


Below, BryonySeries candles in all five scents. They come in four different sizes. Along with other projects, Rebekah and I are working on the BryonySeries store, where you can buy our various BryonySeries products, whose selection is growing all the time. :)

Anthology, Author Fairs, and Giveaways, Oh My!

Looking for some great autumn reading? Read on!

ANTHOLOGY

WriteOn Joliet will release its first anthology Write Where We Are in approximately six weeks. The editing/formatting is nearly done; the cover art is being designed, and the goal is to upload the manuscript to Createspace this weekend.

The anthology will contain essays, poetry, short stories, one novella, and one excerpt from my BryonSeries prequel in progress, Before the Blood.

Copies should be available online Nov. 1 with autographed copies on Nov. 17 at WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party, 6 p.m., at The Book Market, 2365 Plainfield Road in Crest Hill.

But you don't have to wait that long to score some great reads.

AUTHOR FAIRS

A number of WriteOn Joliet authors (including moi) will be participating in the following events. I'll be raffling off a basket of BryonySeries stuff and giving away a chapter from Before the Blood as a thank you gift for signing up for my newsletter, which begins in 2018.

White Oak Author Fest:

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,

Where: White Oak Library, Crest Hill Branch, 20670 Len Kubinski Drive, Crest Hill

​

Etc: Local authors, talks (book preservation and Illinois Author Project), and bookish crafts. BryonySeries books and other merchandise for sale, giveaways and raffle baskets. Free to attend.

​

Contact: bryonyseries@gmail.com

​

Visit: whiteoakauthorfest.org.

Oswego Literary Festival

When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 7

Where: Oswego Public Library, 32 Jefferson St., Oswego

Etc: Local authors, BryonySeries books and other merchandise for sale, giveaways and raffle baskets. Free to attend.

​Contact: bryonyseries@gmail.com

Visit: www.oswegoil.org

Indie Author Day

What: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 14

Where: Plainfield Public Library, 15025 S. Illinois St., Plainfield

Etc: Local authors, BryonySeries books and other merchandise for sale, giveaways and raffle baskets. Free to attend.

Contact: bryonyseries@gmail.com

Visit: plainfieldpubliclibrary.org

WriteOn Joliet Open Night Mic

When: 6 p.m. Nov. 2

Where: Book and Bean Cafe, 3395 Black Road, Joliet (inside the Joliet Public Library)

Etc: WriteOn Joliet will read excerpts from their works and share information about the upcoming anthology and Nov. 17's anthology release party.

Contact: bryonyseries@gmail.com 

Visit: writeonJoliet.com or www.bryonyseries.com

GIVEAWAYS

One item in the BryonySeries raffle basket are these Bryony-themed coffee holders, with two complimentary Keurig cups, one to drink and one to share. Here they are, ready to ship from their creator to me. Aren't they pretty?

Upcoming Events, Giveaways

This fall, in addition to writing, I, along with other members of WriteOn Joliet, will be participating in a number of events.

Three of those events is an author fair, and one is WriteOn Joliet's release party for its very first anthology. At all four of those events, I'll have a variety of BryonySeries product for sale, along with a raffle basket of BryonySeries products and some other small giveaways.

One new project for 2018 is a BryonySeries newsletter. As my appreciation for signing up, I'll share an excerpt from the yet-to-be-published Before the Blood.

Event details are HERE.

In case you're curious at to the raffle basket's contents, here's a photo of one of them: two Keurig cups of coffee (one to drink, one to share), presented in uniquely-themed packages. Here's two of the designs.

Laboring on Labor Day

Grabbed a quick bite to eat after the plane landed Wednesday, went straight into work to get a jump on Thursday, and pretty much didn't stop until Sunday night. And I'm glad of it.

Because while this week might be rather tight (coming off vacation and a holiday), I'm not behind and right on track. I was the weekend editor anyway, so totally, totally worth it.

Yesterday I wrote far less fiction than I intended. However, I did reread through those first chapters in the final book of Before the Blood and did some light editing. After running a few errands and calling my mother on her 82nd birthday, I did some light editing and formatting of WriteOn Joliet's first anthology. And I'm right on track with the schedule I've set for that, too.

I'm also getting caught back up on my regular exercise routine, a little at a time for this old bird, but getting there, too. 

Believe it or not and for various reasons, the entire household had a similar work schedule. But we are blessed with jobs we love. For this reason, using our various for the good of others was really a fantastic way to spend Labor Day.

Even though Rebekah and I still need to unpack and stepping over suitcases is getting old.

However, all this means little housework was done since Daniel cleaned on Wednesday, which probably means I'll be rolling a little late this morning as I catch up on some much-needed cleaning. Happy Tuesday!