Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, April 23 to April 29

Good morning!

I have fifteen feature stories to share with you today and more yet posted. So do check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news. 

However, I wrote eighteen stories for a special "Thank You, Teachers," edition that will run in print and online on May 5. So be sure to check it out. 

On the fiction side of things, I'm working on the final development of the minor characters in Call of the Siren, which I hope to complete this weekend and finish incorporating the following weekend. 

Call of the Siren is the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy, with gorgeous cover art by Nancy Calkins.

Now that our slew of family emergencies (2022) is an adventure: here is one of our emergencies), Rebekah is planning to dedicate two days in May to catching up with BryonySeries projects she's had to let go for a while.

That includes formatting Call of the Siren and do the finishing production touches of Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones and Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being, along with some other behind-the-scenes projects, such as updating the BryonySeries Pinterest and YouTube pages.

Both Rebekah and our artist Sue Midlock have gone through health issues this past year, which has caused publication delays (both books were written last year. But I'd rather have delays and healthy collaborators. Please send up good thoughts for them both.

Next up in the series: a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes). Timothy is ready for a Cornell breakfast to share his ideas.

Jennifer Wainright (frontispiece artist for Lycanthropic Summer) has completed two portraits for  "Girls of the BryonySeries" series for tween girls and is currently working on a third. The portraits are beautiful and it shows that artist Jennifer Wainright can draw anything from werewolves to portraits! 

Rebekah Baran has completed cover art for two of "Girls of the BryonySeries" books. They are beautiful! One book in this series of eight books is completely written, a second is halfway written, and the rest are outlined. 

Now back to the fifteen 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 Sunday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks or will be featured in an upcoming cookbook.

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. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year, well, except this 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 support in your writing, I highly recommend this Twitter group: #5amwritersclub. I  joined it last year. Writers support each other on Twitter and meet every three weeks at 5 a.m. (4 a.m. CST - needless to say, I am often late!) on Zoom.

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 Will County Go Guide and Sign up for the LocalLit Short Story and Book Review Newsletter at https://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/

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

Family nurse practitioner Amy Bohland now seeing patients in Braidwood and Dwight: Bohland is also certified in skin and wound management.

Baran-Unland: ‘New life’ is Easter’s hope and joy, no matter how or when you celebrate: Easter gives people hope that challenges are temporary.

Joliet West H.S. interp, journalism teams do well at IHSA competitions 

Help stop spread of bird flu – stop using bird feeders and birdbaths until May 31: IDNR offers tips for cleaning bird feeders and bird baths if they can’t be removed.

D. 202 in Plainfield announces new director for middle school curriculum and instruction: Michelle Imbordino is currently principal at Liberty Elementary School 

Sen. Michael Hastings tours future NICU at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox: Hastings: ‘This new NICU will give loved ones the option to stay close to home during this critical stage’ 

Providence Catholic High School NHS inducts new 121 new members: 5 new senior members also received NHS stoles 

Pets of the Week: May 25: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.

D-202 in Plainfield to host 30th annual Awards of Excellence on April 27: Community invited to attend.

Plainfield Park District hires 2 new managers 

Providence Catholic H.S. in New Lenox inducts members, directors of its Augustinian Youth Ministry: 64 students and 6 student directors were inducted into the service organization on April 5. 

Break the Ramadan fast with Muslims at Plainfield mosque on Tuesday: Ahmed: ‘They will find out that Islam is about justice, peace, unity and love.’

5 Things to do in Will County: Get back to nature with a plant sale, spring hike: Plus, meet local authors, see an art exhibit and enjoy ‘Baby Shark Live’

Morris Hospital receives a 3-year accreditation from Commission on Cancer: Morris Hospital is one of 63 cancer programs in Illinois,

7 providers from Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers recognized for excellent patient care

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Jan. 13 through Jan. 18

So I'm technically off until Tuesday because I work for a company that gives its employees vacation days for their work anniversary and for Martin Luther King Day.

However, I do have some work projects to finish up this morning, which is fine. Because Fridays are usually so long, the rest of the day will indeed feel like vacation.

And I must get done this morning because Bertrand the Mouse has a school visit early this afternoon. He is so excited!

And after that?

I have a list of household stuff for the rest of the day and then onward formatting the second book of Before the Blood, of course!

I have a very minor role in a play on Saturday night (details below in the second column). And I have a list of BryonySeries administrative tasks to complete.

All in all, a very full, but hopefully no pressure (after this morning) four days ahead.

Have a great weekend, readers, writers, and vampire fans!

Now, here's where to find information and after that, the stories. 

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): Monday (pets), Tuesday (health), Thursday (faith), Friday (arts and entertainment), and Sunday (people).

 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:

These are listed here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/fetes-and-feasts.

Books and Such

Information on my books (including where to buy) along with upcoming events is at www.bryonyseries.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.

Plainfield loan officer likes making people smile

Helping her community is a passion for Janine Iuliano

"It made sense to me," Iuliano said. "Giving back felt good. And it became a way to help other people and to get people involved who had never done it."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/01/11/35e8a9c7289b488caafc30eef2a9d7ac/index.xml


Equine therapy film comes to Frankfort for 3 days

John David Ware, the film’s director, said the story is neither bleak nor graphic. Rather, it’s an emotionally driven tale where the viewer follows Sarah, played by Tea McKay, from nightmare to jubilation.

And it’s a film the family can view, and then discuss, together.

“You can watch and laugh and cry without any of the graphic elements and then celebrate at the end and cheer her onto victory,” Ware said.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/01/14/cf8c0c75ed694d2389dd1e5085458acb/index.xml


An Extraordinary Life Joliet woman believed in education and wanted the best for everyone

All of these accomplishments reflected back to her belief in God, said her son James Courtland Irby of Carbondale.

"She was a strong woman of faith, particularly in the way she carried it out in the work she did," James said. "She wanted to make sure people had their GEDs. If they missed opportunities in high school, she wanted to be sure nothing kept them from reaching what they wanted in life."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/12/24/890a8dc32a5a4fd0911e466eaa90a132/index.xml


St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Joliet turns 90 

With information provided from St. George, here is a look back on its most significant events during its nine decades in the Joliet community.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/01/14/st-george-serbian-orthodox-church-i-joliet-turns-90/arny62j/

Try these chef-created recipes for beef curry, chili

With more snow forecast for this weekend, why not stay home and cook?

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/01/16/try-these-chef-created-recipes-for-beef-curry-chili/ayxmq7/

Column: It's a new year and it's a new look for features. 

What does this mean for you, the reader? Read on and see! :)

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/01/16/its-a-new-year-and-its-a-new-look-for-features/ankxqvr/

 Giving Joliet playwrights their 15 minutes of fame

"We want them to learn what it's like to put together a stage production," Kimberly Garrett said. "We want them to get the feel and experience for it. A lot of times people think they want to do certain things. They might think it looks glamorous, but once they get into it they realize it's work."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/01/17/c79d2e843e2d4dfcbd65697b82f15f04/index.xml

Column: Helping to bring to life the vision of other writers at Joliet festival

I've written stories through the years about various community productions. But this is theater at its most grassroots. There's plenty of talent in Joliet and even more emerging talent.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/01/17/25891010475740e0a854d082d928da8a/index.xml

Artworks: Joliet museum to host exhibit of prison art

Kayla Zigrossi: "This differs from the prison event in the summer in the fact that it will last six months. New Art pieces that were not in the event over the summer will also be in this exhibit, one specifically created by Sue Regis."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/01/16/44f52356473a4026aee2487ad50df1de/index.xml

LocalLit book spotlight: The Rosewood series by Sue Mydliak

As promised, the LocalLit short story newsletter is expanding to include reviews of books by local authors, as well as short stories submitted by local authors.

On Tuesday, I'll share my thoughts regarding the Rosewood vampire series by Sue Mydliak (pen name of Sue Midlock of Joliet). I read all three books ("Birthright," "The Legacy" and "Kane") last summer and fall.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/01/17/locallit-book-spotlight-the-rosewood-series-by-sue-mydliak/a9fv30h/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff