Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Jan. 20 through Jan. 25

First of all, I hope everyone is staying warm this morning and bundling up well if they are venturing outside.

Second of all, my WriteOn Joliet co-leader Tom Hernandez will sell and sign books tomorrow from 2 to 3 p.m. at The Book Market, 2365 Plainfield Road in Crest Hill. I'm planning to pop in, too, so if you haven't met Tom and checked out his books (and even if you have), this is a great opportunity!

The atmosphere will be low-key, and the bookstore has plenty of used books to to keep one browsing for a long time. If you like essays, short stories, and poems about issues relating to family and social justice, I encourage you to come out.

Speaking of WriteOn Joliet, we have some great events planned this year for readers and for writers. Learn more about us at www.writeonjoliet.com.

Finally, details about Calkins Day on Feb. 13 will be posted tomorrow. Watch for it!

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.

Get into God's game this Super Bowl weekend at Joliet church

JC Afternoon Inspiration: Pastor Lonnie Posley Jr said: "We're talking about 'getting into the game' just to let people know it's time to get off the sidelines and be accountable,"

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/01/22/eaca8f9450184ad7882f060b437f187e/index.xml


Getting the conversation started

C.A.R.E. to host presentation about plastic consumption on Jan. 29 environment 

"We all feel we want something tangible to do," Diane Jennings, C.A.R.E. program director, said. "And right now, those actions seem to be kind of limited."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/01/23/337050c209654f6aa530c1b2dfba5932/index.xml


Yes, these treats are really dessert
Tips and recipes for baking with cauliflower and gluten-free flour

For the holidays this year, I created baked goods and desserts for two family members using two ingredients not typical (for me) for baking: gluten-free flour and cauliflower.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/01/22/yes-these-treats-are-really-dessert/ar98wi8/

Try this gluten-free, cinnamon-flavored banana bread made with cauliflower

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/01/24/5810d56846dd4897aeb99a14a2e7646a/index.xml

These gluten-free, dark chocolate brownies start with finely grated cauliflower 

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/01/24/2bc82d67feaa45a6a4e6fa4fabebbf79/index.xml

This gluten-free, cauliflower and avocado cake bursts with lemon flavor 

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/01/24/b66fdaacf93c45b5bc4c1b0e7338331e/index.xml

For a healthy, gluten-fry snack, mix up these raspberry-cauliflower muffins  

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/01/24/33b92dfc8e0b4f2f8f5f79ac300e2a16/index.xml


Finally making a dream come true
Herald-News story helps connect Joliet man with 2 #dollhouse builders

After reading the Herald-News story in November, VanMeter wondered if Earl Walker and Dick Sievers would finish his daughter's dollhouse for him.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/01/24/066f154719944b61ae50cc1ce03004ba/index.xml

LocalLit author spotlight: Kevin Trusty of Joliet returns

Trusty said: "Coming up with an angle to develop an idea can be tricky. I'd love to improve there, but that can't really be forced and seems to come from nowhere."

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/01/15/d06b496f6e9e498691968723161eaa1e/index.xml

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

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Sept. 17 through Sept. 22

I did ZERO fiction-writing this week but only because I spent that time on marketing and finalizing formatting for a couple of my projects as well as the WriteOn inaugural anthology.

I made a little progress on The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz, but it's progress.

Except for work and working out (some), that was the week. I'm the weekend editor, so I'll be cooking this weekend with Rebekah instead of writing, although if I'm fortunate, I can sneak a little fiction in somewhere. Not anticipating it, though.

For the curious, what does cooking with Rebekah have to do with being the weekend editor?

For the past few months, she and I have been cooking recipes from the BryonySeries cookbook Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," and posting the results on the Sue's Diner page at www.bryonyseries.com and on this blog.

The only time we have to work on this project together is Saturday afternoons, of which time I'm usually still writing. So we decided to cook for a couple hours on weekend editor Saturdays. We can always pause while I address a work-related issue, and if I'm needed for more than a pause, she can continue cooking.

And there we are. And onward...

Where to find my non-bylined works?

Local events: Pets, health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars: where to find them? Under the sections tab on the left hand side of http://www.theherald-news.com/. Click on "features" and the topics drop down. Assembled by moi.

More local events: Gotta Do It, also by me, runs each Sunday in the People section.

Community news: Again, under the sections tab, under features, and by topic. Updates are posted on these days in print and web and in web on other days as I have the time: Monday (pets), Tuesday (health), Thursday (faith), Friday (arts and entertainment), and Sunday (people).

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.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. Your support is greatly appreciated.

He's a Joliet music man

"Kevin is an excellent musician," John Herder, Joliet American Legion Band president, said. "One of the things we liked about Kevin is that his needle points up. His future is very, very bright. We saw only the upside with Kevin and how he and the band can grow together."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/15/2c6e85b4e1a14d59b7a0c96d7d424bbb/index.xml

An Extraordinary Life: A stellar volunteer, a teacher at heart

After Irene Klindworth's death, her husband Carl said he learned Irene completed that degree in three years, instead of the typical four. But it didn’t surprise him.

“She was a very intelligent and strong-willed person. I don’t know [how] she put up with me,” Carl said. “But she would laugh with me.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/09/17/an-extraordinary-life-a-stellar-volunteer-a-teacher-at-heart/akp4y2p/

Joliet women help with pet rescue efforts following Hurricane Harvey

"We know how to talk to dogs, vet dogs and clean up after dogs," Peggy Grandahl said. "We saw what was going on and we knew how bad [Hurricane] Katrina was. Knowing the area was underserved and knowing there wasn't enough help, we thought, "Well, we can lend ourselves."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/17/5c943494a98746d79fb591bd84e57a83/index.xml?page=1

Pets of the Week: Sept. 18

Read the caption of each photo to find out about that pet, including where he or she can be adopted.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/11/6af9cdd5fda94b719e21c3e9c1fc81e8/index.xml

Rock for the babies, comfort the parents

Car seat, crib and bumpers, booties, diapers and hooded towels: typical items purchased by expecting parents.

They usually don't consider caskets and headstones. But The TEARS Foundation does.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/12/72191412acae4985bd552eff5f72334d/index.xml?page=1

Coal City chef prepping 'recipe for success'

The owners of Milkman Cafe in Coal City, a meal prep service that uses locally produced foods, are within a few hundred dollars of their $8,000 goal. It's an overall modest goal for the food industry, but the Larson have three big plans for the funds.

Their Kickstarter campaign ends tomorrow at 9:28 p.m.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/19/728e6b91fd1e49b38dce7e14c5562d09/index.xml

Channahon pastor didn't give up on God

Rev. Tim Casey often takes people aback.

Especially people who meet him for the first time to discuss challenges in their lives. Because that's when they find out he's a quadriplegic and ministers from a wheelchair.

"They say to me, 'I've come to talk to you about my problems and you have your own problems,' " Casey said.

As Tim looks back on 20 years, he feels life's "worked out pretty well." But not until he'd traversed some rocky spiritual terrain.

"I was suicidal, you know," Tim said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/20/1e9b00b17b794d0aaab842345e3532f2/index.xml?page=1

Why does Joliet Junior College own a brand-new harpsichord?

And not just any harpsichord. It's a custom-made, one-of-a-kind, hand decorated harpsichord, designed in the style of the 17th century Flemish Ruckers family, who were renowned for their harpsichords.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/21/ed249d87af5e4667a0ca1f355154702b/index.xml?page=2

Artworks: Catching up with Plainfield-based Marina City

Ryan Arghast of Plainfield was just 17 and a Plainfield North High School student when he launched his pop music career with Toxic Productions.

Arghast even filmed his music video "Forever 17" at the school. Watch it on YouTube.

Now in his mid-20s, Arghast is still performing music – as vocalist for his band Marina City – except the genre has somewhat changed. Recently, Arghast took a few moments to discuss where the band is now.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/21/218dbe70e907478b932c3d72b3940e64/index.xml