Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Nov. 5 to Nov.11, 2022

Good morning!

I have a thirteen features and news stories to share with you and a couple more not yet posted. So do check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news. 

Please send up good thoughts/prayers and so on for Rebekah. She's been seeing specialists and undergoing tests since August. Every abnormal test means more tests, which is really kicking up her anxiety. She's also working odd hours through all of us this, and she's already tired from not feeling well. We see another specialist today. Hopefully we are close to getting some answers.

Rebekah is the behind-the-scenes driver of the BryonySeries. She oversees its all its financial aspects, handles all book production, manages two social media accounts, and is the go-to person at events. Plus, she's a wonderful person. We need her to feel much better soon.

WriteOn Joliet's sixth anthology is live and you can buy it here on Amazon. Or you can purchase it on Dec. 8 at WriteOn Joliet's annual anthology release party, which will be held at the Joliet Public Library, one of our community partners. Details are here.

One the fiction side of things, two of the three books in the new "Girls of the BryonySeries" subseries I plan to officially release at WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party on December 8 are now available online on Amazon.

These are Julie and the Too-Hard Homework and Summer Sisters; I should have copies to sell by this weekend. A third, Katie and the Big Fear, is currently in review.

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

I'm also currently working on a new Adventures of Cornell Dyer story: Cornell Dyer and the Hounds of Basketville. You can find other titles in the series here. Timothy has not yet added our latest titles to the BryonySeries bookstore. But all titles are also on Amazon. 

Next up in the series: a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes), which has a solid outline. Sue Midlock is already working on the cover and the interior art: Sherman Homes and the Howls of Basketville.

And we also  released Call of the Siren (the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy, with gorgeous cover art by Nancy Calkins). It, too, is not available in the BryonySeries bookstore yet, or on Kindle yet,  but it is available on Amazon.

I'm currently outlining the final book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy: House on Top of the Hill. 

And I'm also working on a guide book to the series called: Welcome to Munsonville: the People, Places, and Things of the BryonySeries.

And I'm also working on a novella. But I'm not sharing any details yet. Well, I did share a few details with Ed last night. But only because he brought up a certain character.

Rebekah is also slowly updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts, so watch for those. 

Now back to the 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 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

Will County veterans’ organizations bring value to communities: Greg Roach: ‘We want people to realize we have a very strong love for our country.’

Veterans Day 2022: where to find observances in Will and Grundy counties: Here’s where to formally honor veterans.

Joliet woman on a mission to keep ‘king of the instruments’ alive: Retired music teacher rehomed several organs and is giving lessons for free.

Local artists will give real meaning to ‘home for the holidays’ at Joliet theater: Tickets for the Rialto Square Theatre’s holiday concert are available now. 

Voters in Will, Grundy counties wanted their voices heard: Women’s rights, inflation among the issues concerning voters

Joliet woman on a mission to keep ‘king of the instruments’ alive: Retired music teacher rehomed several #organs and is giving lessons for free.

Thursday was last day for summer-like weather in northern Illinois: Temperatures will start to fall Thursday night into Friday.

Joliet food mart sells winning lottery ticket: Sam Masood: ‘Hopefully, we can sell the big one.’

‘Shine a Light’ on lung cancer on Wednesday at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox: The event is free. Registration is required. 

Hooters in Joliet hosting inspirational purse and toiletries drive for women in need: The drive runs through Nov. 20.

Get your mobile passport and embark on the Joliet Taco Trail: The Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Joliet City Center Partnership launched the Joliet Taco Trail.

5 Things to do in Will County: live music, good food, ‘special tappings: Plus, the Annual St. Joseph Senior Christmas Bazaar has no admission fee.

Pets of the Week: Nov. 7, 2022: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

J.S Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D Minor - Best Version

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Oct. 23 through Oct. 28

A full day ahead followed by my monthly fiction writing workshop tonight and then a full Saturday of fiction writing, the first in over a month. Even so, it will be a day of deadlines, as I'm wrapping up details for the launch of my two children's series (The Adventures of Cornell Dyer and Bertrand the Mouse) next month. And I'll be doing some preparation on WriteOn Joliet's mic night in December.

Still, the goal is to get lost in Before the Blood for part of that time. So we shall see. And now, on to the "real" writing.

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 put together an extra calendar, a listing of area craft fairs for 2016: http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/09/13/area-craft-events/aei3pml/

Another option: I do post the briefs and calendars on Twitter during the week, so you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News.

Joliet teacher recognized for her mission of inspiring students to be their best

Patti Edwards guides her students into making the world a better place

“It’s a passion of mine to help people be the most they can be, that they have a purpose and make an impact on others by the words they say and their actions,” Edwards said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/10/20/joliet-teacher-recognized-for-her-mission-of-inspiring-students-to-be-their-best/awqecay/

An Extraordinary Life: Morris woman let God's grace shine through her cancer experience (VIDEO EXTRA)

Rene' Genau's prayers were answered

“Her primary concern was that she glorify God with her life,” Ed Genau, Rene’s husband, said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/10/14/an-extraordinary-life-morris-woman-let-gods-grace-shine-through-her-cancer-experience/aufp6ol/

Diocese of Joliet director of vocations is also the Catholic chaplain for the Chicago Cubs

The Rev. Burke Masters cares for the spiritual needs of the Cubs

“God doesn’t take away our passions. God doesn’t take away the things we’re good at,” Masters said. “Instead, he brings out the best possible use of our gifts and talents. In my wildest dreams I never imagined it, but in God’s plan, I think he planned this all along.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/10/25/diocese-of-joliet-director-of-vocations-is-also-the-catholic-chaplain-for-the-chicago-cubs/ajyej6k/

Plainfield church offers program to welcome fallen-away Catholics back to their faith (VIDEO EXTRA)

‘Catholics Returning Home’ welcomes non practicing Catholics

Kathy Marcucci enrolled in the program – and literally felt as if she’d come home. Marcucci credits the program’s leader, Deacon Tom O’Connell, for his safe, supportive, nonjudgmental compassion

“It was like sitting down and talking to your father about anything,” Marcucci said. “I left the cradle part of Catholic at the door that night and have been a practicing Catholic ever since.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/10/14/plainfield-church-offers-program-to-welcome-fallen-away-catholics-back-to-their-faith/a184m9f/

Lockport church showcases 50-year organ with a showing of 'The Bat' (VIDEO EXTRA)

See ‘The Bat’ to live organ accompaniment Saturday

Even if someone has seen “The Bat,” John Devona, the church's interim music director, feels the addition of Warren will make another viewing worthwhile.

“If you listen to any movie, like ‘Star Wars,’ it’s the music that gives cues to the viewer on what’s happening,” Devona said. “Because people don’t speak in silent movies, the music means so much more. It conveys emotions; it conveys suspense and special effects, like when a door opens or when something falls or when a doorbell rings.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/10/26/lockport-church-showcases-50-year-organ-with-a-showing-of-the-bat/ajpkhyu/