Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Jan. 8 through Jan. 14

Good morning!

I have fifteen features stories to share with you today. a few more will be posted over the weekend, so do watch for them.

It's been a full week in terms of just about everything. I'm ready for a three-day weekend of rest and working on some fiction. At least, I hope that's how the weekend rolls.

Speaking of fiction, here is an update on those projects.

I have about half of Call of the Siren (the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy) ready for editing, a pleasant surprise to me this week, when I started scrolling through the manuscript. This book has a different "vibe" from some of the others in the BryonySeries (all of which have their own vibes, to), but I've struggled to get it where I wanted it. I'm anticipating a late spring publication date. 

That may still be an ambitious goal, but publishing the book at some point in 2022 seems very possible. Rebekah has the cover ready to go. Nancy Calkins created the gorgeous cover art.

Sue Midlock has completed the art for Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical Being" (cover looks great, by the way) and is touching up the art for Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones. Rebekah will format the release them as soon as she can make the time. She has been very busy lately with work and side projects. 

Timothy has nearly completed the outline for the next book in the series, a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes). We were hoping to make some time for a "Cornell Breakfast" over the holidays, but that didn't happen. Maybe January. Here's hoping!

Sarah also had a crazy dream that sounded perfect for An Adventure of Cornell Dyer mystery. But she wants time to draw some sketches, a map, and write the "rules." It's called Cornell Dyer and the House of Broken Portals.

Bertrand the Mouse has "returned," and you can read about it here, here, and here. 

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 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.

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-1.

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

Will Omicron really find everybody?: Probably. But that doesn’t mean everyone will become severely ill. Here’s how to mitigate that risk. 

Illinois Nurses Association files complaint against St. Joe’s in Joliet: The union wants the hospital’s union nurses paid in full immediately.

New procedure at St. Joe’s in Joliet is like ‘GPS for lungs’: Robotic technology can diagnose lung cancer less invasively, with greater accuracy 

JJC’s workforce development program helps get Grundy County residents back to work: Grant apportunities are available for Grundy County adults, dislocated workers, and young adults 

Pair of books may help kids feel comfortable in their own skin: Lemont mother and former school social worker said inspiration came from her biracial daughter’s struggle with identity

Kathy Scheiper brings her parks and recreation experience to Plainfield Park District: Scheiper is also a Plainfield resident 

16 Hispanic Catholics in the Diocese of Joliet are ‘pioneers’ in new leadership program: All 16 completed the Latino Pastoral Leaders Initiative, created by a national, Washington, D.C.-based Catholic nonprofit 

Are Will County schools heading back to remote learning?: Not yet - but getting there may be challenging

Mystery Diner in Shorewood: Don’t limit your order to just hot dogs at Portillo’s: Make sure to end your meal with a slice of Portillo’s ‘famous’ chocolate cake

Many nurses at St. Joe’s in Joliet only receiving partial paychecks: A ransomware attack on the hospital’s timekeeping and payroll has resulted in paychecks that are ‘grossly out of line.’

Veterans: learn more about VA benefits at these 2 events: Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital outreach team visiting Channahon and #Gardner in January 

Health care workers invited to pray, reflect today: Attend in-person or virtually

Catholic Charities hosting job and resource fair today: The fair will be held at Harrah’s Joliet

No school Friday at D. 86 in Joliet due to COVID-related staffing shortagesSchools are scheduled to reopen on Tuesday 

5 Things to do in Will County: Music, anime, family fun and a few laughs: Plus, walk safely inside during the cold weather Monday through Friday at the Dellwood Park Community Center

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Dec. 4 through Dec. Dec. 9

Here's an awesome thing: I made deadlines for the week by yesterday. That's always my goal, so I can spend Fridays with interviews and making briefs, but lately the goal has eluded me. Happy Friday!

Here's another awesome thing: Up until this week, my blog post with the most views was a link to a nineteenth century vampire story, The Vampire, by Jan Neruda. One of my story roundups has surpassed it,with 1244 views as of this morning. I'm not sure why this post received so many views, but here's the link: http://bryonyseries.blogspot.com/2016/11/story-round-up-features-in-herald-news_25.html.

The proof copy for Cornell Dyer and the Missing Tombstone arrived yesterday with random formatting errors and one cover error. So one of my projects for this weekend (among my weekend editor duties and working on Before the Blood) is to read through the book and note them.

Onto the real work:

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.

I also have a list of Santa Sightings in the Joliet area at https://goo.gl/Hq06Hr.

Also, a few weeks ago, The Herald-News began a weekly Mystery Diner feature, a goal of mine that was finally approved. I'll catch up on the links this Monday and begin posting these with the regular roundup.

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.

FYI: videos have not been attaching to stories, although they do run for a time on the home page. If you'd like to watch a video, and it's not showing up for you, message me, and I'll manually attach it.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News.


Channahon couple decorates for cancer research (VIDEO EXTRA)
Kris and Kristen Koppers light up their homes and the lives of others

“Last year, we gave out jingle bells from his sleigh,” Kristen said. “This year, we’re not sure what we’re doing, but we will have hot chocolate again.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/11/29/channahon-couple-decorates-for-cancer-research/awdvbrn/

An Extraordinary Life: Single mother of four inspired new hot dog venue in Joliet

Jeff Reid recently opened Jerrie’s Dogs & Fries in memory of his mother

Of course, the signature hot dog is the Jerrie dog, prepared the way Jerrie liked her hot dog – topped with mustard, tomato, relish, pickle, cucumber, sport peppers and celery salt.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/11/29/an-extraordinary-life-single-mother-of-four-inspired-new-hot-dog-venue-in-joliet/ajbjivg/?page=2

Pets of the Week: Dec. 5

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.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/11/27/pets-of-the-week-dec-5/a1q0zf0/

New Lenox church offers a drive-thru Living Nativity

United Methodist Church offers dramatic retelling of Jesus’ birth

“One of the nice things about this event is it’s calm,” Beth Darin, co-coordinator, said. “You drive through and listen to the story in this beautiful setting. It tells the story on a non-intrusive level and you get to enjoy it that way. ... You take away from it what you need to take away.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/12/03/new-lenox-church-offers-a-drive-thru-living-nativity/aw7m2gx/

Lincoln-Way Area Chorale performs at Carnegie Hall

Jackie Pletsch, a soprano, said the experience “took her breath away.”

“I started to cry and then thought, ‘I can’t cry. I have to sing,’ ” Pletsch said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/12/07/lincoln-way-area-chorale-performs-at-carnegie-hall/auvpo13/

"The Dog House," LaSalle, Illinois

 Back in November, when my oldest son Christopher and I headed out for Ottawa on an already impossibly tight day, at our appointment’s conclusion, Christopher detoured in the opposite direction for lunch and to say “Hi” to a couple of friends.

"It’s worth it,” Christopher said. “Robert has the best hot dogs.”

Hot dogs? When I have a stack of work at home and a box of editing on my lap? Why can’t Christopher make hot dogs at home?

It turned out that Robert and Jessica Donovan, owners of The Dog House in LaSalle, not only serve terrific food, they’re friendly and entertaining as well. They dish up their unique brand of banter  along with the fare.

"That’s because I make hot dogs faster than she does,” Robert said.

"Not true,” Jessica called back from the kitchen. “It takes me just twelve seconds.”

"I can top a dog in eleven seconds.” Robert paused. “Well, eleven point five seconds.”

In The Dog House’s forty-plus entree menu, nearly half are various hot dog combinations and all of them just $2.75, including tax (according to the website posting at this date), all bearing the names of major United States cities. The employee catering program includes a promise: if you want it, and it’s not on the menu, the owners will get it.

"All our fries are cooked fresh,” Robert said. “Everything is made-to-order.”

Of course, The Dog House’s most popular item is its Chicago-style dog, topped with mustard, onion, relish, tomato, pickle spear, peppers, and celery salt.

Robert won’t give away any secrets, but he did offer a few tips for perfect Chicago-style hot dogs: Vienna beef hot dogs and steamed poppy seed buns. If that doesn’t whet the taste buds, consider one of Donovan’s hot dog variations:

Boston: ketchup-mustard-onions-relish

Houston: chili

Green Bay: Cheddar sauce

Cincinnati: chili-Cheddar sauce

Detroit: chili-mustard-onions

Dallas: chili-shredded Cheddar-onion

New York: sauerkraut-brown mustard

Kansas City: melted mozzarella-sauerkraut-mustard

New Orleans: BBQ sauce-grilled onions-tomatoes

Santa Fe: salsa-onions-jalapenos

Westport: mustard-sauerkraut-relish-crumbled bacon

Tucson: Cheddar sauce-jalapenos-tortilla chips

Buffalo: buffalo sauce-ranch-celery salt

San Francisco: chili-ketchup-mustard-onions-relish-tomatoes-pickle spear-shredded cheddar-celery salt

Los Angeles: deep fried dog-grilled onions-ketchup-mustard-mayo-peppers-crumbled bacon

Baltimore: deep fried-Cheddar sauce-grilled onions

Philadelphia: Build your own

Since opening The Dog House in May of 2006, The Donovans have attracted hot dog fans from as far away as Princeton and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Still, despite promotions, commercials, and a consistent presence at festivals and other community events, many first-time customers will still walk through the door, amazed at their “find” and ask Robert when he opened for business. Many of them quickly become regulars.

“Our customers are not just customers,” Robert said. “They’re our friends.

The Dog House is located at 848 First Street in LaSalle, Illinois. Hours (to date) are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call 815-780-1333 or visit http://www.lasalledoghouse.com/welcome.html.