The official blog of Denise M. Baran-Unland, author. Discover her books for all ages at bryonyseries.com.
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 final part of the video.
On September 25, WriteOn Joliet held its first (and only) open mic at event for 2025 at Critical Grind Board Game Cafe in Shorewood.
It was also our first mic event since 2023 - and we held two that fall, shortly before the Book and Bean Cafe in Joliet closed - and we're thrilled to have found a new cafe home.
Critical Grind hosts a writer meetup on alternating Saturdays called Inkwells and Espresso, which WriteOn members have attended from the event's inception in early 2024.
WriteOn Joliet Charter Member Duanne Walton served as emcee at this first open mic at Critical Find and read some of his stream of consciousness works.
Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, gave a dramatic recitation of his original poem.
Steve Cordin read an original crime thriller short story.
Holly Coop read her inspirational poetry.
Danny read some of his micro fiction.
Guest Nancy Calkins shared intriguing stories from her career as an art teacher.
Diana Estell gave a dramatic performance of original poetry.
Mauverneen Blevins read original poetry.
Our guest Chloe shared original poetry.
Barbara Eberhard, organizer of "Stories R Us" read original poetry.
"Stories R Us" takes place at 6:30 p.m. every third Wednesday at Nik & Ivy Brewing in Lockport.
And Duanne and I reprised his piece (from the same radio play): "The Beast of Venice Pier."
And somewhere in the mix, I read part of "A Little Wine for Your Stomach, Part Two" from the BryonySeries novel "The Phoenix."
But alas, no photo exists of that reading since I was the one (overall) taking the photos (Timothy caught this one of Duanne and me).
So here's a glass of wine instead, one of my "teaser" photos for "The Phoenix."
Happy Thursday!
The Joliet Public Library's Digital Media Studio is hosting its first FAME event on Saturday.
This artist market and showcase will feature a wide array of art and artists, along with live performances and demonstrations throughout the day on all three levels of the library.
I'll be there representing both BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet (WriteOn Joliet has been a library partner since 2013) and will be selling both BryonySeries books and WriteOn Joliet anthologies, as well as books authored by my former co-leader Tom Hernandez, who died from brain cancer in 2024.
I'll also be hosting a comic book panel from 12:30 to 1 p.m.
And then I'll be chatting and reading some readings from 3:30 to 4 p.m.
Finally, my booth will also have information about the BryonySeries, WriteOn Joliet, and B.L.O.C.K.S., which is the new umbrella group of BryonySeries.
Stop out, pop in, and be entertained!
FAME will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Joliet Publcio Library, 150 N. Ottawa St. in Joliet.
Good morning!
It's been a busy, busy, busy week of work and physical therapy - and this blog will be the shortest and the simplest of nearly all the blogs since I began it on Aug. 1, 2010.
I am looking forward to a lowkey, fun-filled party on Saturday.
Details are on the flyer and on our "pumpkin patch" blog.
Pleaaw join us!
WriteOn Joliet started offering its open mic nights in the fall of 2013, when my former co-leader Tom Hernandez (who passed from brain cancer in 2024) decided we should be sharing our works publicly with the community.
We typically held them twice a year at the former Book and Bean Cafe inside the Joliet Public Cafe, with WriteOn Joliet's last open mic in 2023, because the Book and Bean Cafe closed at the end of the year.
With the closing of Book and Bean, WriteOn (along with many other groups) lost a wonderful community gathering space.
But approximately six months later, Critical Grind Board Game Cafe in Shoreood started hosting a twice monthly writers meetup called Inkwells and Espresso.
I was working for the first one but popped in to show support. The owner told me I was the only one who attended.
So I started sharing the information with WriteOn. And our writers started coming out, which attracted more writers, a few who also starated coming to WriteOn Joliet meetings for added support.
And now, WriteOn Joliet will host its first open mic at Critcal Grind from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 25. Local writers will read short pieces (three to five minutes) of original works in all genres.
WriteOn members will have an opportunity to signup in advance.
The community may sign up on a first come, first serve basis starting at 5:30 p.m.
We will give away a 2024 WriteOn Joliet anthology and have additional anthologies (2017 to present plus the "cheetah" anthology) for sale.
We will also have information about WriteOn Joliet's annual anthology release party on Dec. 4.
We will have information about WriteOn, along with individual WriteOn authors.
Admission is the price of any drink or snack from the cafe.
Come out to read, come out to be entertained.
Questions?
Email us at writeonjolietgroup.com.
Hope to see you there!
If you missed WriteOn Joliet's radio play on Saturday, WriteOn Joliet has another entertaining option for you.
Members of WriteOn Joliet will present a mic night on September 14 at the Book and Bean Cafe, right inside the Black Road branch of the Joliet Public Library, 3395 Black Road in Joliet.
We will share short excerpts of their original fiction, essays and poems. The event is free to attend.
The event will be from 6 to 8 p.m...although you may arrive as early as you like.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the Book and Bean Cafe.
For more information about WriteOn Joliet, visit writeonjoliet.com.
We hope to see you there!
Gift cards are not limited to one per customer.
But for each additional gift card, you must still purchase one of these four
combinations.
1) One "regular" young adult or adult
BryonySeries book (choices include any book in the "drop of blood"
trilogy, Lycanthropic Summer, The Phoenix, Call of the Siren, Ruthless by Ed Calkins Steward of
Tara or any of the Before the Blood books) or Nine Months of Kindness.
2) Any two books in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer
series.
3) Any three books in the Bertrand the Mouse series.
4) All three of our BryonySeries cookbooks.
To check out our books, visit
bryonyseries.com/general-store.
Hope to see you there!
