Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, July 29 through Aug. 3

Last night's WriteOn Joliet meeting: what an inspiration for a packed Friday!

The last few weeks have brought quite a few new faces and talent to our meetings. It's humbling and encouraging to see. I only hope they're muse is fed half as much as mine is.

WriteOn Joliet is also ahead of publication schedule for our second anthology. This is good because we noticed some errors last night while flipping through the proof copy. Still, it's looking good, and the process is smoother than last year, all good things.

On the calendar for the next couple days: work (today, tomorrow, and probably a bit on Sunday, too), three meetings tomorrow (The Book Market, a marketing meeting, and WriteOn Joliet's Gothic Book Club), a ghostwriting project, and some work on Before the Blood, because I am definitely adhering to a schedule.

And bringing this post back to WriteOn Joliet: some exciting developments in the works. Looking forward to sharing!

And circling once again to Before the Blood: I may go off radar again in a month or so and use more vacation time to really sink my teeth into that last novel. August is turning out to be busier than I anticipated, and with no money in the budget for a Raleigh trip, I might as well spin words into story.

Or so the old fairy tale sorta says.

And now onto other information.

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.

NAACP - Joliet Branch #3018 serves the community in many ways

"It's important for people to have a say in what goes on in their community," Mike said. "Too often we sit back and let other people decided for us. We wait until something negative happens and then we want our voices heard. It's always better to be proactive. We can do much more to fix problems or improve things that are already going well before problems occur."

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/07/24/naacp-joliet-branch-3018-serves-the-community-in-many-ways/a142ika/

Joliet cafe features artsy ‘zoo’

Check out these whimsical animals...and then stop by the cafe to see more!

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/07/29/bc27f450bf344e43934518862fd37696/index.xml

Cystic fibrosis won't get her last word
Plainfield teen is off to college to study creative writing

“College is the big independent moment, for me, even more so,” Thakkar said. “For the first time, I’ll be taking care of my health in all its entirety. I’ll be living in a dorm and having a bunch of new experiences. I love what I’m going to major in and I get the chance to study it.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/07/30/18c8072eeae74822a14480990928ed07/index.xml?page=1


Mystery Diner: Lucano's in Crest Hill offers quality and quantity

Our first item was a 16-inch traditional sausage thin crust pizza. Our pizza came hot out of the oven. Lucano's was generous with the ingredients, and the pizza was covered with sausage!

The sausage was tasty and somewhat sweet. The pizza crust was golden brown and crispy, all covered with delicious mozzarella cheese. We had plenty of pizza to take home and enjoy later on, and it reheated well.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/07/31/101a1aba6f114eaeb919ce27c425293d/index.xml

A 100-year-old sax sparks a special event for youth-based church orchestra

Lockport church makes a joyful noise 

Tuba player Antonio Gonzalez, 17, of Joliet, said, "I have always been met with appreciation and kindness which has made playing at church one of the highlights of my week."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/07/31/0476ecfea3144aa3965967910f3f3180/index.xml


It's all fun and games in New Lenox
Escapement Mobile LTD brings escape rooms to right your door

"We can bring the experience to you whatever you have going on," Carla Erdey, one of the four partners, said. "A corporate meeting or team-building meeting? We can add on and be part of it. Or if you're having a birthday party, it can be the hip new thing."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/07/31/93af8efccf514ddc8b00f07c819bf430/index.xml


Artworks: Making people happy with her music
Crest Hill teen sings, writes her own music, plans to teach and release first EP

"I love empowerment songs," Mikayla Ahern said. "I love to bring people's spirits up."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/08/02/91eb2cf6899a4c8fb2f0e4b8bb608de8/index.xml


LocalLit author spotlight: Denise Issert of Wilmington

Denise Issert said: My interest was truly awakened in high school when my college prep English teacher, Mrs. Diane Stacy, allowed me to design an independent creative writing class that gave me the freedom to write my heart out.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/05/08/76b5f2e8ff0049989180ec18f08844d3/index.xml

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

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Jan 15 through Jan. 20

Super tired and behind this morning, so a very quick recap of this week and a peek into the weekend.

A short week of sleep, a long week of extra work and activities, and a packed day: Phone interviews at 9:30 and 11, and in-person interviews at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. today. Plus Sunday pages to budget, etc. Fortunately, all deadline stories are filed.

All on minimal sleep the last couple of days. And teaching tonight and weekend editor this weekend. WHEW!

The sweetener: I love what I do. Still fiddling with fiction for thirty minutes each morning, thoroughly enjoyed WriteOn Joliet last night and am looking forward to tonight's fiction writing workshop.

First, the non-bylined work: the health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars. Three of them can be found at the link below. http://www.theherald-news.com/lifestyle/ Gotta Do It, runs each Sunday and often stays on the home page throughout the week.

Feature briefs for Tuesday (health), Thursday (faith), Friday (Arts and Entertainment), and Sunday (People) are also edited (texted and photos) by the lady of this blog, but only the stories have bylines.

Another option: I do post the briefs and calendars on Twitter during the week, so you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61. And of course, I post curated content relating to the BryonySeries at @BryonySeries.

Just an FYI: On free days, holidays, and Sundays I'm not on call, I only post the blog to my "real" Twitter account, as my company insists we do take time off. I'm less reasonable, so unless I'm on a real vacation, I still post to the BryonySeries accounts. I won't be posting to my personal Twitter account this weekend, only to BryonySeries.

FYI: videos have not been attaching to my Herald-News stories, although they do run for a time on the home page. You may also find them under the "videos" tab.

If you'd like to watch a video, and it's not showing up for you, message me, and I'll manually attach it. No worries for this week, though, although I will have videos for Sunday.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News.


Joliet pastor and former housing authority resident honored to give back   (VIDEO EXTRA)

Rev. Glenda McCullum appointed to housing authority’s board of commissioners

Mayor Bob O’Dekirk did it for two reasons: McCullum asked to be considered when a position opened, and O’Dekirk, who’s known McCullum for years, said he has much respect for her – as a leader and as a former resident of the authority’s recently demolished Des Plaines Garden Homes apartments.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/01/11/joliet-pastor-and-former-housing-authority-resident-honored-to-give-back/axzpb3k/

An Extraordinary Life: Mokena girl never let cystic fibrosis limit her

Rachel Sweet took her double lung transplant and ran with it

“I don’t know if I want to work for someone or have my own business,” Rachel had said, “but I don’t want to be low on the totem pole of accounting. I want to be up there, to be important.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/01/10/an-extraordinary-life-mokena-girl-never-let-cystic-fibrosis-limit-her/ayx90tm/

Pets of the Week: Jan. 16

The Herald-News presents this week's Pets of the Week. Click on the caption of each photo to find out about that pet, including where he or she can be adopted.

Email "Pet of the Week" submissions to news@theheraldnews.com. Photos should be in jpg file format, 200 dpi and sent as email attachments. Submissions are subject to editing for length, style, grammar and run as space is available.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/01/08/pets-of-the-week-jan-16/ar9ukil/

Mystery Diner: Fox’s Restaurant and Pub in Plainfield hits the spot

For starters, however, I had to try the Reuben rolls, something the menu touts as a “Fox’s invention.” I only say it that way because I’ve seen them on other menus and have no way to confirm the originator. But they seem confident enough, putting it in print for all to see.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/12/09/mystery-diner-foxs-restaurant-and-pub-in-plainfield-hits-the-spot/amja8l0/

Lockport Sunday school teacher proves his faith by the way he lives (VIDEO EXTRA)

At 95, Donald Horschler teaches Sunday school, distributes Bibles at Stateville

“There’s no verse in the Bible that says I can retire,” Horschler said. “So I’m going to do this until I die. Who knows? That may be closer than I think.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/01/16/lockport-sunday-school-teacher-proves-his-faith-by-the-way-he-lives/as0z7ul/

Joliet theater to present musical comedy with religious themes

Joliet resident to present play about five people locked in a church

“It is my heart’s great desire to touch the ears and tickle the funny bones of good people,” Kimberly D. Garrett said. “It is absolutely 100 percent possible to have a great time and still not be offended. It’s possible to have fun and still be saved.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/01/17/joliet-theater-to-present-musical-comedy-with-religious-themes/a3573r4/


Three local members of the U.S. Navy to participate in the presidential inauguration

Jon Agazzi wanted to play the bassoon, but his father had a clarinet in the attic and told Agazzi, “If you’re going to play anything, it’s going to be the clarinet,” Agazzi said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/01/18/three-local-members-of-the-u-s-navy-to-participate-in-the-presidential-inauguration/a2tll4i/