Authors and Aspiring Authors: Come to Downers Grove Public Library on Saturday

On Saturday, November 8, the Downers Grove Public Library will host an event for authors and aspiring authors.

The event is called: "Local Author Panels: Tips and Tricks to Getting Your Book Published."

These panels will run from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at 1050 Curtiss Street in Downers Grove and will include a number of topics.

I was invited to participate in the "Promoting Your Book" panel, which runs from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

If you are an author, a writer, or an aspiring author or writer, come out and glean some tips about the writing, illustrating, publishing, and marketing process.

A full list of topics and times are here: downersgrove.libnet.info/event/14801662.

The panels are free to attend, and no author will be selling books at this event.

However, many of the authors will be available to chat and answer questions after the panels have ended.

I will also have information on B.L.O.C.K.S., BryonySeries, and WriteOn Joliet.

Maybe I will see you there.

Happy Monday! 

BryonySeries: Meet B.L.O.C.K.S.

When the world shut down in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rebekah suggested she and I use this time to really dig into the study of sales and marketing - and then apply our knowledge to the BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet.

We took some online classes and workshops AT THE SAME TIME as our morning walks (the only time available to watch the videos together), formed a business relationship with two mentors that has grown over time, and took baby steps in executing our newly-learned knowledge and skills.

And we've done this while continuing to create new products for the BryonySeries, WriteOn Joliet, and selected clients, working our day jobs, and navigating several very challenging years.

I'm not sharing this because we're so amazing. I'm sharing it because doing all this well is simply not possible, not if we wish to keep growing.

So as Timothy and Daniel were finishing their Master of Business degrees this spring, Timothy suggested I back off SOME of the sales and marketing for BryonySeries and let him and Daniel help, especially since I tend to prioritze the sales and marketing for WriteOn Joliet over BryonySeries.

Now Timothy and Daniel had heard about our mentors but hadn't actually interacted with them...yet. 

The first step was inviting Timothy and Daniel to join a pitch and idea session they were hosting - and the second step was a one-on-one meeting.

And, in Timothy's words, he and Daniel "failed" the elevator pitch during Meeting Two.

After some reflection, Timothy realized the problem. The BryonySeries brand and the BryonySeries products were two different "things," which needed separate identities.

They easily could discuss the products. But they couldn't easily summarize their spirit, i.e. their brand.

To succintly explain these products, Timothy needed to identify and then clearly communicate the brand. 

Back in 2010 when Sarah created the first BryonySeries website, Sarah wanted to create an author page, which I refused. Rather, I wanted a page that showcased the creative talents of everyone who contributed to the products in some way.

As Timothy analyzed the branding in the BryonySeries, from collaboration to result, he saw these six key areas, which we've manipulated in all our projects as one manipulates building blocks.

This led him to create three cards, which are at the bottom of this post.

The first shows our building blocks.

The second card has both elevator pitch and mission for B.L.O.C.K.S.

And the third card, which I don't have in shareable format yet, pulls out three distinct areas: Sue's Diner, BryonySeries books, and Midnight Ink, the platform where Rebekah and I edit and format books for select clients at more-than-afforable prices.

The fourth card is the BryonySeries logo, which you've likely seen.

Timothy and Daniel then remet with our mentors at the beginning of this month to test out the B.L.O.C.K.S. 

And BAM! They nailed it!

So Timothy worked with the wonderful Kent at Fast Printing in Joliet to create these three cards.

And then Timothy and Daniel softly rolled out B.L.O.C.K.S. this weekend at New Orleans North and the Porch & Park Music Fest to nearly one hundred total attendees.

We had a slight uptick in visitors both days on our website, which is encouraging.

Now, we obviously have more work to do before the rollout is completed. And the real sales and marketing work will begin anew and in earnest. 

Also everyone is still very busy.

But we now have a brand that explains our mission.

And that can lead into a deeper conversation about our products.

Happy Monday!

Two Boys and a Sign

To paraphrase a popular saying, with great opportunity comes great responsibility.

Meaning, Jan Staley, owner of The Book Market in Crest Hill, has been wonderfully generous in giving BryonySeries a display space inside her store.

And the collaboration has been wonderful, including ways to draw people's attention top the display and giving them basic information about special offers, gifts, etc.

So that has led to an ever-changing array of homemade signs.

You should know I'm completely useless in that regard.

Daniel, however, is amazing. And for every display except one, he's made the signs, often collaborating with Rebekah.

For 2025, we're seeking ways to make signage easier, such as a felt board or magnetic board. This will save us sign time, for time is an especially precious resource in our family.

So naturally the final sign of 2024 gave us trouble, so much so that the BryonySeries Christmas display went up last week without the sign.

The fault lay within the paper. The letters simply wouldn't stick to it, even after throwing our best solutions at it.

So Daniel began anew last night. And Timothy joined him.

The project took several hours, which is a wealth of time when these young men working very full-time jobs and are taking master level classes.

Now anyone who walks into The Book Market for the rest of the year, they will see a festive sign and the information.

But the subtext of that sign shows a few other things, too: a commitment to help out with a task I can't properly executive, the willingness to give up their time and give of themselves for a project that doesn't directly benefit them,  and the ability to collaborate to get the job done.

And today, I'll be sitting across that sign from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with full knowledge that the sign is more than paper, stickers, and bows.

The sign represents the characters of two fine young men,

Happy Tuesday!

A Whole Lotta Event Recapping

Whenever I participated in local events, I typically promote them on this blog - and then provide a short recap a few days later.

Well, 2024 has been filled with as many challenges as 2023 and 2022, and I fell of my recapping. But the recaps are important, I think.

Organizers might like to know I'm thankful for the opportunities they provide.

Artists might like to know my definition of a successful event.

Anyone who's enjoyed a BryonySeries book (or two) might like to know I'm still getting out there.

And anyone who's curious might simply just like to know.

So here are the events I will  briefly (very briefly) recap:

Sept. 14: Spooky Night Out at HellsGate in Lockport

Sept. 24: The Book Market in Crest Hill

Sept. 27: End-Of-Summer Open Mic at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet

Sept. 28: Local Author Fair at the Downers Grove Public Library

Oct. 12: Panic at the Plaza in downtown Joliet.

Oct. 22: The Book Market in Crest Hill

Oct. 30: Spirits with the Spirits at Black Cat Curiosities in Joliet with WriteOn member Cean Magosky as part of the Joliet City Center Partnership's "Spirits with the Spirits" event.

Read on for a couple-line summary of the event, number of books sold, and my overall impressions.

Sept. 14: Spooky Night Out at HellsGate in Lockport

Event: Fundraiser for local charities.

Books sold: Three.

One large "Before The Blood" (contains all five installments)

"Cornell Dyer and the Eerie Lake"

"Cornell Dyer and the Old Folks Home"

Impressions: Super fun night, despite the fact I'd sprained my knee BIG TIME the previous night. Talked to lots of people and distributed lots of BryonySeries cards. Sold the large BTB to a history buff who talked to us about why he doesn't like fiction. Rebekah came up with a GREAT promotions idea for next year (if we're invited back, of course).

Sept. 24: The Book Market in Crest Hill

Event: We try to get into The Book Market once a month and hang out for four hours.

Books sold: Five

"Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from 'Bryony" 

"Snowbell" 

"Bertrand's First Book of Numbers" 

"Bertrand's Silly ABC Book"

 "Lycanthropic Summer"

Impressions: We always have a good time at The Book Market - and so do Bertrand the Mouse and Uncle Barty, even if they have to watch our table by themselves for awhile.

Sept. 27: End-Of-Summer Open Mic at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet

Event: The second open mic of 2024 hosted by Joliet's first poet laureate Uxmar Torres.

Books sold: Zero

Impressions: Book sales aren't everything! Six WriteOners attended the event. I read an excerpt from "A Year of Shadows and Moonlight, Of Gathering Blooms in the Woods," which was probably the most unusual and least understood piece read that night (not necessarily a good thing), but it gave me five minutes onstage, which always makes me a little nervous. So it's good practice for me to get back in front of the mic from time to time.

I always had at least one person at my table most of the night chatting (including one person who previously bought four BryonySeries books and wanted to talk about them). So it was a super fun night, and I'd participate again if accepted.

Sept. 28: Local Author Fair at the Downers Grove Public Library

And also a photo of Rebekah:

Event: Library event featuring authors local to the Downer's Grove area.

Books sold: One

"Katie and the Big Fear"

Impressions: Wonderful gathering of amazing writers. Grabbed plenty of bookmarks to share at future BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet events. And I reached out to some of my contacts on behalf of two authors who are really trying to make differences in children's lives.

So in that spirit, please check out annieandfriendsadventures.com and bkstrength.com/walked-on.

Oct. 12: Panic at the Plaza in downtown Joliet.

Event: A scaled-down "crawl" event at local businesses due to construction in the city plaza. I was one of just two vendors.

Books sold: Three.

"Bryony"

"Visage"

"Bertrand's Day at the Lake"

Impressions: Well, after getting on my high horse about NEVER leaving an event early...we left early. The businesses near us had closed, the temperatures had dropped, the wind picked up, our product was blowing into the construction one, and Rebekah (who has multiple heath issues) was cold to her bones, despite layers of clothes. The vendor next to us was lovely and had beautiful jewelry. Rebekah bought earrings and this necklace for me.

Oct. 22: The Book Market in Crest Hill from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Event: Again, we try to get into The Book Market once a month.

Books sold: Two

"Year of Shadows and Moonlight, Of Gathering Blooms in the Woods"

I actually don't recall the second one.

Impressions: We always have a good time at The Book Market. If foot traffic is slow that day (and it was on this particular day), the owner Jan Staley and I spend part of the time chatting about all kinds of things. 

Oct. 30: Spirits with the Spirits at Black Cat Curiosities in Joliet with WriteOn Joliet member Cean Magosky as part of the Joliet City Center Partnership's "Spirits with the Spirits" event.

Event: A Halloween-themed event in downtown Joliet, where participating businesses host different forms of entertainment. Cean and I came prepared to read original ghost stories. One person was interested in local ghost lore, so Cean shared his story, since that was exactly what that person wanted to hear.

Books sold: One book:  "Lycanthropic Summer" And we sold one mystery gift card.

Impressions: Cean and I distributed a great deal of cards: his cards, WriteOn Joliet, cards, BryonySeries cards, and double-sided cards about WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party on Dec. 5 and our 2025 radio style performance.

We also distributed maps of the other locations (we ran out, too), which people really loved.

This was only the third year for this event, so it's still catching on. Even so, people were enthusiastic, and I finally got the chance to browse Black Cat Curiosities (can't wait to go back).

Tomorrow I'll share my last few events for 2024 and a REALLY special gift with purchase, compliments of a very crafty lady.

Happy Monday!

Alan Hines: Winner of 2024 Calkins Day Painting

Good morning! 

In between assignments last Saturday, I popped into The Book Market in Crest Hill where Chicago poet Alan Hines was having a book signing.

Alan is super supportive of the BryonySeries ever since we first met him at our 2023 Calkins Day celebration. 

Calkins Day (Feb. 13) is the BryonySeries' official holiday. It's a day to celebrate laughter, imagination, and generosity, and it just so happens to land on the birthday of Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, BryonySeries author and character. 

Ed is a ruthless dictator/Irish vampire in this book, this book, and this book in the BryonySeries, is also an author in the series. After he published his first novel, he joined WriteOn Joliet. So on Calkins Day 2024, we were celebrating the release of "The Fifth" (Ed's latest book).

I was thrilled to learn Alan had won a beautiful painting that painter and retired art teacher Nancy Calkins (Ed's wife) created and gave away just for Calkins Day.

Alan found out when he was setting up for his book signing. So, of course, I had to get a photo of him holding it.

To check out his many, many titles, here is the Alan Hines Amazon author page.

And for those who don't know (yet), here is why we celebrate Calkins Day.

Here is how to celebrate Calkins Day.

And here is a twenty-question interview with the real Ed Calkins.

An Idea Came to Me at the Downers Grove Public Library

So I've promised a recap of the Downer's Grove Public Library author fair for a few weeks now. 

The fair was very well-organized, offered a wide variety of genres to the community, and provided a platform (time at the podium) for us to speak or read from our pieces.

However, the author fair itself followed a format common to many author fairs: Traffic and sales are lighter than what we secretly hope; the other authors are friendlier than we ever imagined; and few gather when it's time for us to speak.

But sales is not the entire point of the fair. Authors fairs are really an opportunity to showcase your wares before a new audience. Think of the reason why industries spend tens of thousands fora  booth at a major convention. Think of sales at author fairs as getting paid to market. 

At this particular author fair, I sold some books, met new people, and read an except to about half a dozen who gathered near the podium. We forgot some of our materials at home (we always forget something), and I got to hang out with Timothy and Rebekah. I wasn't nervous speaking, the result of participating in WriteOn Joliet's radio play in April and September, a real win for me and one on which I can keep building for future events.

As I made the rounds of the other tables and chatted with authors eager to talk about their books, I started collecting bookmarks with the goal of passing them along to friends who read those particular genres.

Then I had a better idea...and a bit of a resolution.

In 2024, I'm going to collect bookmarks from other authors and other artists when I'm at various events. Then when someone purchases a book from me at other events, I'll add a couple cards to the bag, to give the customer the opportunity to discover someone new.

That sends the authors/artists even farther into the universe with zero addition effort on their parts. And by letting them talk, I'll learn valuable information about them and their books, so the right cards go to the right customers (I typically talk to my customers about what they like to read). 

Maybe you even see something in this photo right now that interests you. If you can't make out the information. message me at bryonyseries@gmail.com and I'll send a larger image of the card or bookmark.

Have a great Tuesday!

BryonySeries Word Music is Just $1 Each

We are launching a new product at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

The product is called "Word Music."

BryonySeries Word Music is a random quote from a BryonySeries book to inspire you, encourage you, or kindle your imagination.

Each quote is printed on quality linen paper and includes the title of the book in which it appears.

All quotes are contained in a premium golden rose envelope. They cost $1 each.

Buy one or more for yourself or to slip into a book or greeting card as an extra special gift for another.

At this point, BryonySeries Word Music is only available at in-person events.

But if someone wanted to order them in bulk, we would consider shipping them.

For more information, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

BryonySeries at Bicentennial Park on July 3: Free Gift With Select Purchases

If you come out to the Fourth of July celebration party on July 3 at  the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet, be sure to stop by the BryonySeries table.

You can check out our books, play some games, take home a free (and homemade) tie-dyed shirt with select book purchases, and purchase a piece of BryonySeries Word Music for $1.

You want details about this, right? Sure you do!

And here we go!

Books and Tie Dye Shirts:

Every person who buys one (or more) of these combinations will receive a free, locally tie dyed shirt per combination - while tie dyed shirts last.

Tie dyed shirts are not limited to one per customer. But for each additional shirt, 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 two books in the Girls of the BryonySeries series.

4) Any three books in the Bertrand the Mouse series.

5) All three of our BryonySeries cookbooks.

To check out details of most of those books, visit bryonyseries.com/general-store.

To be clear, you cannot buy one of these shirts. They are strictly gifts for select purchases.

I know, I know. You want to know if the items sparkle? Well, yes. Some DO sparkle...a bit. A few might have glow.

But you'll have to stop by our table at Bicentennial Park on July 3 to know for sure.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is located at 201 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet.

For more information on the event, visit bicentennialpark.org.

For more information on the BryonySeries, visit bryonyseries.com.

If You Need Some Really Amazing Cookies or Cakes for An Event...

 ...check out Sugar 'N Spice And Everything Nice, a small in-home scratch bakery in Grundy County.

The owner, Jasmine Rosenboom, has created a variety of sweet treats for the BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet.

Scroll through these photos to see her talents...

...these WriteOn Joliet cookies in the shape of pencils for one of our first anthology release parties. (Bertrand the Mouse photo bomb not included with orders).

...like these hot chocolate bombs she created for the BryonySeries to give away with select purchases at the 2021 WriteOn Joliet anthology release party.

Here are a few unboxed  bombs.

...like this cookie with Ed Calkins' likeness on it for Calkins Day 2023:

... this edible vampire slaying kit she created for the the BryonySeries to give away with select purchases at the 2022 WriteOn Joliet anthology release party.

...like this BryonySeries-themed cake she created for my birthday in 2020.

...like unicorn cake she made for my granddaughter Jessica's birthday in 2019.

like cake with homemade macaroons she made for Rebekah's birthday in 2021.

Jasmine actually makes amazing macaroons in a variety of colors and flavors. She's done wedding cakes, too. 

For more photos and to message her with questions, visit facebook.com/sugarnspiceandeverything.

Calkins Day 2023: A Few Photos

The BryonySeries held its annual Calkins Day celebration on Feb. 13 at The Book Market in Crest Hill.

We even had the parade to prove it (and we will prove it, as soon as Rebekah uploads the video to the BryonySeries YouTube page).

 If you don't know what Calkins Day is, read this post and then read this post. And here are three good reasons why you should celebrate Calkins Day next year, too, read this post.

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

You see, Ed is a real person and a ruthless dictator/Irish vampire in this book, this book, and this book in the BryonySeries, is also an author in the series. After he published his first novel, he joined WriteOn Joliet and was/is overjoyed to meet so many authors on the local level and buy and read their books.

So 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 (anyone else who hadn't written a book) could talk Ed out of a book. One woman, who hadn't written a book yet, gifted Ed with her one large writing project: her dissertation. And it turned out Ed had some interest and knowledge on the topic and was thrilled to receive it.

Over the next few week, I will spotlight all authors who gifted their books to Ed in separate blogs, along with links to their books (if applicable) and on social media. So do watch for them. You just might find your new favorite book.

I am also working on a Calkins Day 2023 on the Bryony Facebook page. But the program kept freezing. At 10:30 last night, I gave up for the night.

But I am not getting up. I'm going to be "ruthless" about it.

When Ed Calkins distributes candy to the guests at The Book Market. When Ed held is parade in a warehouse in Joliet that distributed newspapers, he would have another worker pull his around on a pallet jack "float" while Ed tossed candy to the other workers.

Also pictured are WriteOn Joliet members Duanne Walton, Colleen Robbins, and Janet Staley, owner of The Book Market.

Helen Hicks, who is gradually branching into creative writing, gifted Ed with a copy of her dissertation.

After learning about Calkins Day from a Yorkville writers group, author C.D. White drove down from Kendall County with her husband to gift Ed with a copy of one of her children's books and take home a BryonySeries book.

As C.D. White chats with Ed, Janet Staley and Ed's wife Nancy Calkins chat in the background. It was Nancy's first trip to The Book Market and Ed was eager for her to see it and meet Janet.

Colleen and Janet take some time to catch up. Colleen is a founding member of WriteOn Joliet and author of quite a few books, which are for sale on Amazon.

Author Lindsay Lake publishes most of her books on Kindle only. And Ed has gifted friends and family with the one book she published in print (although I'm not find the print version online, but it does exist) because he loved it so much.

So Lindsay could only do one thing...

...gift Ed with a hard copy from one of her novels, complete with comments from one of her friends.

Sue Midlock found a fun "read" at The Book Market on Calkins Day: a parody cookbook called 50 Shades of Chicken.

Ed Calkins poses with author Dale Hansen, who gifted Ed with his devotional on living with Parkinson's. The photo where Ed turned the book around to see the cover is for another post about Dale and his books.

Nancy and Rebekah also spent some time catching up, since they had not seen each other since WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party in December.

Ed Calkins, who's first writing love is poetry, peruses a book by Chicago poet Alan Hines, who drove down from Chicago to gift TWO copies of his book (one to Ed, one to me), after learning about Calkins Day from a flyer at The Book Market.

Alan not only took home a free book, he actually bought a copy of this one.

I will share more about Alan Hines and his few dozen poetry books he's published on another post.

Timothy sets out the cheese and crackers he brought for the event while Daniel looks on. Rebekah made Irish soda bread and cookies. 

We also served some very special "Ed Calkins" cookies, which I will share on another post.

The captions are center aligned because Blogger is defaulting to that. Just so you know.

Duanne and Ed share a hug in honor of the day.

Ed and local author/photographer Mauverneen post for a photo. Ed already had a copy of Mauverneen's first book. So she just came out for the fun.

I also bought a nearly complete set of the books written and published by Tom Hernandez, WriteOn Joliet's co-leader, who is battling cancer. Janet rings up the sale and Rebekah waits to pay.

Author Diana Estell poses with Ed before she leaves. Diana gifted Ed with a copy of her book, too.

And then Ed gave Diana a big "goodbye" hug while Colleen and Nancy look on.

Nancy and Lindsay give each other goodbye hugs, too. Calkins Day is a day to celebrate laughter, imagination, and generosity. We certainly hit those notes, I think.

And, finally, no Calkins Day celebration would be complete without updating our Ed Cakins/Bertrand the Mouse photo. I'm adding the caption here because Blogger won't let me add it below the photo.

More photos and author information to come!