Collaboration

So Kids Fest on Aug. 1 in downtown Joliet was postponed to September 19 due to weather.

So might you be interested in helping WriteOn Joliet's literacy efforts at this event?

The absolutely final, final deadline to help out is noon Monday, September 14.

Because that's my deadline for getting the remaining logos to the printer for the second sign for Saturday.

Since 2024, WriteOn Joliet has distributed books authored by WriteOn Joliet authors at the annual Kidz Fest in Joliet.

In 2024, we gave away nearly 100 books in the event’s first 90 minutes. In 2025, we gave away 300 books, mostly in the first half of the event.

The books were funded by WriteOn Joliet’s leader and co-founder along with members of the B.L.O.C.K.S creative team in 2024 and 2025.

I currently have more than 500 books with titles for all ages packed up and ready for distribution in my bastment. (And we are not just giving away books at our booth!)

And the title of this post is more than you collaborating with us.

One of our sponsors made this really awesome graphic for us on Friday afternoon.

And Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, and his wife Nancy Calkins sponsored 100 copies of WriteOn Joliet's special "shoe" anthology, that we've been gifting in the community (including Kids Fest) and also as a "thank you" gift to our sponsors.

But sponsorship helps YOU, too!

Reach out this weekend to find out how!

 

BryonySeries at FAME this Saturday

BryonySeries will be part of the Joliet Public Library's FAME (Fandom, Arts, and Music Expo) this Saturday - and I am super thrilled.

You can see Rebekah and I in the far left corner of this photo as proof we were there in 2025!

I don't know yet where my table will be set up or if I'll be participating in anything other than the table this year (last year, Cindy, Rebekah, and I did two, three-part readings,,,

...and I moderated a comic book panel of three talented and delightful comic book artists - Bret Juliano of Dust Bunny Mafia, Rafael Nieves, aka Unca Raffy, and Ashley Esper of Skulls & Sketches - who talked more about each other than they did themselves.

I'll know more about the lineup and expectations later this week.

The free, family-friendly mini-convention will feature nearly 50 Chicagoland artists, along with cosplay content, cosplay karaoke, artist panels, charactermeet-and-greets, games, contests and other pop culture fun.

And FAME will also feature some fun, exclusive-to-the-FAME event suprises at the BryonySeries table.

FAME will take place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at downtown branch, 150 N. Ottawa St. in Joliet.

Parking is available in the Ottawa Street parking deck.

Registration for the event is not required.

For more information, call the library's digital media studio at 815-846-3116 or vist jolietlibrary.org.

Hope to see you there!

Plants, Paws and Pages

BryonySeries was invited to participate in this event on Sunday as one of us several authors among other plant and pet-related vendors.

So in addition to our books, we will offer a variety of free and "gifts with select purchases" items that highlight the unique plants and pets in the BryonySeries.

Curious?

Then pop into the event, which will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 133 W. 13th St. in Lockport and is presented by Chicago Street Markets and the City of Lockport.

We look forward to meeting you!

RECAP: Bertrand's Back-To-School Birthday Bash

Bertrand the Mouse' was super happy with his Back-To-School Birthday Bash Aug. 22 at The Book Market in Crest Hill.

We had refreshments, party hats, birthday games-to-go, and back-to-school ribbits with the purchase of any BryonySeries children's book.

And Bertrand sold twelve books on Saturday (ten to one very generous customer) for him to give away from the WriteOn Joliet booth at Kids Fest on September 19 at ther City Square in Downtown Joliet, which made him very, very happy.

Because all Bertrand wants is for people of all ages to experience the joys of reading. 

That brings me to the next point...

We are still seeking sponsorships for WriteOn Joliet's book give away.

The sign below showcases some of our sponsors so far. And, yes, we are making a second sign (we already have two more). 

Bertrand, too, would really, really like if you could help.

For details, email writeonjolietgroup@gmail.com (because we are doing more for our sponsors than adding a name to the sign).

However,that sign is going everywhere with me until the end of 2026 (at least).

Now, here's how Bertrand concluded his birthday celebration (and it has nothing to do with books).

Bertrand (and his Uncle Barty) attended their very first Porch & Park Music Fest.

And they had a great time (so did Rebekah and I).

Bertrand the Mouse Needs Your Help

So Kids Fest on Aug. 1 in downtown Joliet, which was was postponed due to weather, is now the Kids Fall Fest and will be held Sept. 19 at the City Square in Downtown Joliet, according to the Joliet City Center Partnership, which hosts the event.

For the third year in a row, WriteOn Joliet will host reading and writing activities at its booth, which includes a storymaking game and a giveaway of 500-plus books, with titles for kids, tweens, teens, and adults.

This year, we are fortunate to have quite a few sponsors who are supporting this literacy effort.

But Bertrand the Mouse wants you to know even small purchases will help in a very big way.

That's why he's hoping you'll pop into his Back-To-School Birthday Bash this Saturday before heading off to the Porch & Park Music Fest.

Each year, Bertrand hopes people will come out to wish him a happy birthday and buy one (or more) of his books to help kids of all ages love reading as much as he does.

This year, he's hoping you'll buy an extra book (or two) that he can give away to a child at Kids Fest.

Bertrand's Back-To-School Birthday Bash will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Book Market in Crest Hill.

He and Cindy are giving away back-to-school ribbits with purchases (while supplies last).

And Bertrand wants you to know each purchase also supports a longtime independent bookstore.

So in anticipation of Saturday, Bertrand spent all weekend signing books.

Yes, each book is hand-signed by Bertrand.

Can't make it to the party?

Order one (or more books from Bertrand).

Bulk rates available.

Message him at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

Can You Help This Literacy Effort?

So Kids Fest on Aug. 1 in downtown Joliet was postponed due to weather - and the Joliet City Center Partnership, which hosts the event, said it will announce the new date this week.

So might you be interested in helping WriteOn Joliet's literacy efforts at this event?

Since 2024, WriteOn Joliet has distributed books authored by WriteOn Joliet authors at the annual Kidz Fest in Joliet.

In 2024, we gave away nearly 100 books in the event’s first 90 minutes. In 2025, we gave away 300 books, mostly in the first half of the event.

The books were funded by WriteOn Joliet’s leader and co-founder along with members of the B.L.O.C.K.S creative team in 2024 and 2025.

I currently have more than 500 books with titles for all ages packed up and ready for distribution in my bastment. (And we are not just giving away books at our booth!)

And (so far) 18 people,businesses, and organizations have helped fund this literacy effort.

According to the World Literacy Foundation, home libraries “are fabulous tools for improving academic performance, sparking a love for education, and equipping children for success.”

Books are also  “wonderful tools for fostering empathy and promoting positive mental health,” the foundation said.

Your sponsorship of any dollar amount will help provide locally written books to local readers for the 2026-2027 school year.

In return, we will distribute up to 200 pieces of your information with the books to increase your brand exposure. 

We will also display sponsor’s names at our booth and on the main page of WriteOn Joliet’s for the remainder of 2026 (actually, we're providing a link, since all the names didn't fit!).

Speaking of displays, here is our current sign, designed by Fast Printing of Joliet, and I'm taking that sign with me to every event (currently that's seven) I'm participating in for the remainder of 2026.

More sponsors means I'll need another two-foot by three-foot sign.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, email writeonjolietgroup@gmail.com.

For more information about WriteOn Joliet, visit writeonjoliet.com.

Meet the Sponsors for WriteOn Joliet's Book Giveaway

On Aug. 1, WriteOn Joliet will host a booth for the third year in a row at Kids Fest in downtown Joliet.

For the third year in a row, attendees may pick up new, free, WriteOn Joliet authored books for all ages at our booth.

The following people and organizations have contribued to our efforts to support literacy in Will County this past year.

This is an amazing and very diverse group of people, businesses, and organizations.

But they all have two things in common.

They are passionate about supporting literacy.

And I know firsthand of their missions.

Please take a moment to check them out.'

And the photo at the bottom of this post?

This is our handmade, storymaking game that anyone can play for free at our booth.

Hope to see you Saturday!

 

B.L.O.C.K.S

bryonyseries.com/blocks

Ribbit-Ribbits

Visit Ribbit Ribbits on Facebook

New Covenant Worship Center

newcovncwc.com

Shorewood HUGS

shorewoodhugs.org

Brian Bessler, Karges Realty

brianbessler.kargesrealty.com

Harvest Deli at Fit Foundation

facebook.com/fitfoundation4u

Universalist Unitarian Church of Joliet

huujoliet.org

Blue Heron Bagels

blueheronbagels.shop

Porch & Park Music Fest

porchandparkmusicfest.com

Will County Audubon Society

willcountyaudubon.illinoisaudubon.org

Greg DuBois

illinoisaudubon.org/speaker/greg-dubois

White Stag Wares

whitestagwares.com

Dr. Daniele De Girolami

doctors.silvercross.org/provider/daniele-paolo-de-girolami/2120379

Greg’s Auto Body

815-741-4244

Saporta Law Offices

saportalawoffices.com

Holly Coop Books

hollycoopbooks.com

Coops Bowsmith

coopsbowsmith.com

Edward and Nancy Calkins

Donors of 100 special "shoe" anthologies

Visit the WriteOn Joliet Booth at Kidz Fest on Aug. 1

Can you believe it's August already? 

And it's a packed month in my world: moving, work, events, doctors appointments (and likely more medical tests), family birthdays, a radio play...and debating if I should use more of my vacation days in August or wait until September.

Hmmm...

We will kick off the festivities this Saturday when WriteOn Joliet participates in Kidz Fest (sometimes seen as Kids Fest) for the third time this year - and we are excited!

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the City Square in Downtown Joliet

Activities include magic shows, magic show, pony rides, touch-a-truck, inflatable slide, and free entertainment by vendors, including WriteOn Joliet.

So please stop by the WriteOn Joliet booth where we are all about the words and sharing wonderful stories!

Here's what you'll find:

1. We will give way approximately 500-plus (I've lost count) locally authored books for children and adults (all ready to go in my new basement).

2. We will have FREE bookmarks to color on site or at home.

3. We will distribute copies of our FREE shoe anthology (while supplies last)

4. We will distribute information on our sponsors (more on these next week).

But the main event is...

Our word blocks!

Kids and adults alike can manipulate our double-sided blocks to create fun sentences and simple short stories.

Here are three examples.

Where did we buy them? We didn't. We invented them!

We took child-safe wood blocks, curated a list of words, and then added white backgrounds and each letter one at a time.

We've tried them out at home, and they are lots of fun. You might not want to stop at just one sentence.

WriteOn Joliet will also have information about the group as a whole and individual authors separately.

We hope you will leave our table more excited about reading and writing then before you arrived.

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com, bryonyseries.com, and jolietccp.com/kidz-fest.

Happy 250th, United States of America!

So because the 250tyh birthday of the United States landed on a Saturday, I'd asked Ed Calkins, Stewarf of Tara to write a special blog for today.

That's because Saturdays in the BryonySeries world are dedicated to Ed and all things Irish.

However, the storms knocked out Ed's power anbd he couldn't send the blog.

That left me with the very rare occasion of having no blog ready to publish - and readers having to wait for Ed's words for another week at least.

For once, I'm short on words, since I'm still tired (physically and mentally) from hustling in the heat yesterday, despite frequent breaks into air-conditioned cars and building and staying very hydrated (the BryonySeries B.L.O.C.K.S. team ran all the games at the Joliet Eve of Independence: America 250 Fireworks and Celebration at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre in Joliet.

So although I won't post a full recap on last night's very successful event (I know everyone says their events are successful. But this one really was), I will say this.

Last night was amazing, a really wonderful way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country.

Because two very important things happened last night.

Entire families played games together.

And we saw a level of excitement for books and reading than we've never experienced at any event we've hosted in the fifteen years we've hosted events.

I don't have all the numbers yet.

But I believe you (and I) will be very, very surprised.

And those two very important things are, I believe, a very good way to celebrate American independence.

Happy 250th, United States of America!

BryonySeries at Bicentennial Park's Independence Celebration on July 3, 2026

Come celebrate Independence Day with us!

BryonySeries powered by B.L.O.C.K.S. returns to the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre on July 3 as part of the park's celebration.

Joliet Eve of Independence: America 250 Fireworks and Celebration will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. July 3 at 201 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet.

Here are TEN ways you can have fun at our tent.

1. Spin for a free BryonySeries children's book (while supplies last).

2. Play five other carnival-style games with free prizes (while prizes last).

3. Take home a free hand-dyed and stenciled BryonySeries shirt (must be present to find out how) OR buy one.

4. Take home a free BryonySeries baseball cap (must be present to find out how) OR buy one.

5. Take home a free BryonySeries beverage container (must be present to find out how) OR buy one.

6. Teens and adults: Take this book home for free! (one book per family) while supplies last!

7. Teens and adults: Take this book home for free! (one book per family) while supplies last! 

8. Adopt a patriotic Bertrand the Mouse friend (while friends last).

9. Get your photo taken with Bertrand the Mouse.

10. Wind down with our coloring and sticker station.

The Bicentennial Park's Independence Celebration will also include live entertainment, food trucks, and fireworks over the water.

For more information, visit bryonyseries.com, writeonjoliet.com, and joliet.gov.

The Awkward, Awkward Ask

Well, I am glad I pre-wrote this post as I'm currently experiencing the worst bout of diverticulitis yet.

That's not to play the sympathy card (cliche, I know), but can you help an author out?

Side note: If you're a member of WriteOn Joliet, you can stop reading here. The ask if not for you.

UPDATE: All books are ordered, packed, and ready to go. But we do still need sponsors. Deadline is Thursday, July 23.

Interested? Email writeonjolietgroup@gmail.com. We do have a sponsorship letter, too.

And now - the details!

Here goes.

In 2024, WriteOn Joliet participated in Kidz Fest in downtown Joliet for the first time.

We gave away nearly 90 locally authored books for kids and adults, which I purchased with my manuscript editing funds.

In fact. those 90 books were gone in the first 90 minutes of a five-hour event.

We also gave away approximately one hundred bookmarks people could color at home.

We distributed eighty-five special subscription offers to The Herald-News in Joliet.

We gave away word finds and crossword puzzles based on some of the books.

In 2025, WriteOn Joliet gave away 300 books, as well as bookmarks and handmade "write-your-own poetry books from Holly Coop. Only 50 books remained three hours into the five-hour event.

Both years, our word blocks were hugely successful, especially after the books disappeared. Kids and adults enjoyed manipulating our 48 double-sided blocks (so 96 words in all) to create fun sentences and simple short stories.

On Aug. 1, WriteOn Joliet will participate in Kidz Fest again this year with the same activities.

So this year, WriteOn Joliet is planning to give away 500 books.

And this year, I have the books of nearly every WriteOn Joliet author sponsored (a few are still pending).

This is the "awkward ask" part.

Because of my role in the community, I'm not comfortable seeking sponsorships for my BryonySeries books, which we will also give away on Aug. 1.

In addition, the BryonySeries B.L.O.C.K.S. team will provide free kids games with prizes and free  BryonySeries books at the Independence Day celebration on  July 3 at Bicentennial Park in Joliet, for the fourth year in a row.

The first year, we gave away 33 books, the second year we gave away 82, and last year we gave away 135 BryonySeries books at the July 3 event.

Now, I'm not completely self-funding the books this year as one of my B.L.O.C.K.S. team members has actively solicited her contacts to help us out.

But we still have some BryonySeries books to go. Please see "How to help" below 

Why are we doing this?

Because reading scores are low at both the high school and the grade school level.

Because not all families can afford new books.

Because even when families can afford new books, a free book is a no-risk way to explore the works of unfamiliar authors and books.

Because families should read together.

Because when kids see adults enthused about books, they will often naturally follow.

Because the level of our excitement at our table as familes scooped up the books was off the charts, and we wish to create that experience again, both for the families and the WriteOn Joliet authors.

How to help

1. Browse my list of BryonySeries books.

2. Purchase the book(s) you'd like to gift for the giveaway at Bicentennial Park on July 3 and Kidz Fest on Aug. 1.

 We especially need more books in the Bertrand the Mouse and The Adventures of Cornell Dyer series. If you can believe it, ALL of the Girls of the BryonySeries books have been sponsored.

3. Mail to: Denise M. Unland, P.O. Box 2789, Joliet, IL, 60436.

4. My one non-BryonySeries book "Nine Months of Kindness" is also available for purchase or sponsorship.

Can I deduct my purchase at tax time?

Unfortunately, since neither WriteOn Joliet nor BryonySeries is a nonprofit, you will not be able to write off your purchase at tax time as a donation.

But that isn't necessarily true if you are sponsoring books. If you are interested in a true sponsorship, email me at dunland@bryonyseries.com. 

Please know your purchases place locally authored books into the hands of readers and nonreaders alike.

For kids who struggle with reading or who aren't enthused about reading, simply taking home a book written by someone in their community can help strip the mystique sway from books.

Perhaps it may spark their own creativity, knowing writing a book is really, really possible.

And it can't hurt when reading and writing are presented in such a fun way.

About the BryonySeries: Incognito

Three legendary females travel incogito between the pages of several BryonySeries novels.

But can you spot them?

From now until June 30, I will ship one free BryonySeries book (limited to places Amazon ships) to anyone who can tell me in which BryonySeries characters each of these three notorious women are possibly hiding.

The offers expires at 11:59 p.m. CST June 30.

Here are the three women:

Elizabeth Bathory

Circe

Lamia

Simply send their names and their alter ego names to bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

If you are correct, we will ask which book you'd like and where to ship it.

Remember, only the reader can decide if these woman are actually lurking in the pages or if they only embody certain characteristics of their mythic counterparts.

Either way - have fun!

Angel or Demon? (Again)

"Angel or Demon?" is the name of the sixth chapter in the second installment of the BryonySeries prequel Before the Blood.

And that sixth chapter is the source material for "Missing Person," one of the sketches in WriteOn Joliet's “Shades of Noir" original radio theater production, with show times at 2 and 7 p.m. April 18 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

That chapter is featured in WriteOn Joliet's first anthology, which will be available for sale that day.

However, the first thirteen attendees at the BryonySeries before the 2 p.m.performance and the first twelve attendees at the BryonySeries table before the 7 p.m. performance will receive a FREE booklet called "Angel or Demon" (source material for "Missing Person"), courtesy of The Raven's House, who will also be selling select noir pieces at the BryonySeries table.

The Raven's House is also creating some extra-special "noir" pieces for sale that day. More on that later!

WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

For more information or to purchase tickets (very affordable at $5) visit eventbrite.com.

WriteOn Joliet Anthology Release Party: Books and Six Small Businesses

By now, you have read Ten Reasons Why You Should Attend WriteOn Joliet's 2025 Anthology Release Party on Thursday - and you may also have read the post with the menu for all the free chef-created heavy appetizers.

But new this year (and not in any of the previous posts) is each guest receives one FREE raffle ticket for a $10 voucher to one of five local business, which will be randomly drawn at the end of the party.

Most winners will be notified by email with a virtual voucher attached and instructions for redeeming it.

Because most of the vouchers are virtual, store owners will be provided the name of the winner.

The businesses are:

Any of the five restaurants in the Arkas Restaurant Group (winner must be present for this voucher)

Audiophils Records

Black Cat Curiosities

Blue Heron Bagels

Internode Greenery & Home 

PLUS, the first fifty customers  will leave with a bookmark to The Book Market in Crest Hill featuring a ten percent discount regular books at The Book Market through January 31 2026.

So attendees: Be sure to see Carter tomorrow night! He will be walking around with raffle tickets and a very cool hat.

And maybe when you leave the party Thursday night (very full from all the delicious food and balancing stacks of books) will have $10 off toward your next shopping or dining experience.

Happy Thursday!

RECAP: Bertrand's Back-To-School Birthday Bash 2025

Ever since Bertrand the Mouse leaped out of the BryonySeries young adult vampire novel "Staked!" and into his own books in 2013, we wanted to host a "Bertrand's Back-To-School Birthday Bash" to help get people (children especially, even if through adults) excited about reading.

At first, I thought a Facebook party might be fun (remember those)?

But for one reason after another, we delayed the party's execution year after year. 

Finally we held our birthday party for Bertrand in 2023 (in person, complete with Santa and ice cream) which I missed because I was in the ER.

I made the 2024 birthday party for Bertrand, which was quiet, lowkey, and very nice.

But this year on August 30 at The Book Market in Crest Hill was the best (so far) - and not just because I wore normal clothes for the first time since surgery.

And that's really funny, too (not the clothes), because we experienced so many behind-the-schenes glitches.

First, Bertrand thought he packed his birthday hat - but it was his frog hat. 

Then, we had a mixup with the submarine sandwiches, so Timothy and Daniel ran out for snacks.

We couldn't find Bertrand's birthday games-to-go, so we had to print more...around the time we needed to leave the house to set up.

But Cindy made pencil Ribbit-Ribbits, and gave a discount to a repeat customer, whom we met at last's year's birthday bash.

He came out this year on purpose - and bought a copy of "Bertrand Spends the Night."

We gave away most of Bertrand's chef-made birthday kibbles, which are featured in the BryonySeries "Squeak" cookbook.

An author putting her book on consigment at The Book Market bought a copy of the "Grrr" cookbook.

A couple from out of town brought their fourteen-year-old grandson to The Book Market in honor of the grandson's birthday, also on that day. We let the grandson pick out any book he liked. He chose "Lycanthropic Summer."

Grandpa kept wanting to buy Bertrand.

We also shared information about B.L.O.C.K.S.

 And after the event, we sold one copy each of "Bertrand's First Book of Adventures" and "Bertrand's Second Book of Adventures."

Is it wonderful to know that good things can still happen, even if we make mistakes?

Happy Monday! 

Bertrand's Back-To-School Birthday Bash is Saturday

Ever sing Happy Birthday to a crocheted mouse? Here's your chance!

Bertrand the Mouse's Back-To-School Birthday Bash will be from 11a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30 at The Book Market in Crest Hill.

We will have refreshments, party hats, BryonySeries books for sale, birthday games-to-go, and crocheted mice for adoption (while supplies last) with the purchase of any Bertrand the Mouse book.

We will also have complimentary BryonySeries tumblers with the purchase of any BryonySeries book, perfect for fun, back-to-school reading on the go.

And Timothy and Daniel will also be there, chatting to guests about B.L.O.C.K.S.

Now, here's what Bertrand wants for his birthday.

For those who don't know Bertrand (yet), Bertrand's always on the go and happy to lend a helping…paw…to bring the joys of reading to children.

All Bertrand wants is for people of all ages to experience the joys of reading. 

So the best birthday present you can give Bertrand is to bring home a book (or two) to read and enjoy.

Even better - buy a book (or two or more) and leave them with us. We will slip them into a Little Free Library in a low-income neighborhood.

So he's inviting YOU and all your friends and family to his Back-To-School Birthday Bash.

Hoping this post makes you smile on this first day of the new week.

Happy Monday!