Good morning!
I have seventeen stories to share with you today and a few not yet posted, so watch for them over the long weekend.
How can that be since I was all off week? Well, one six-part series about the finding of the remains of a World War II Army veteran and bringing them home for burial more than seven decades after he went missing is the result of work done over several weeks. I also worked last weekend and, of course, wrote some stories.
Finally, some stories didn't run until this week.
On the fiction front, how is the at-home writing retreat progressing? Actually, I'm almost right on schedule.
The goal is to write a good working draft of half of Call of the Siren (the second book in the Limbo trilogy) during this retreat and then write a good working draft of the second half.
I'm currently ahead by one chapter, although the chapters are less developed than I'd wished, which was probably a little too ambitious for a two-chapter-per-day plan.
However, the future work in these chapters is clearly and directly marked, which will make the follow-ups easier than the process up until now.
And I've done some additional side notes and work on these chapters that I hadn't anticipated happening. So keep the good thoughts coming, because it's a very successful writing retreat so far - and it doesn't end until later Monday afternoon.
We have two books in progress for The Adventures of Cornell Dyer series to share (Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being, co-written by Rebekah, who had surgery yesterday) and Cornell Dyer and the Calcium-Deficient Bones (co-written by Timothy), which is almost ready for editing.
Our artist Sue Midlock is nearly done with the chapter heading illustrations for "Mistical Being." Sue is recovering nicely now from her own surgery at the start of summer but may have another issue, ugh! So please keep the good thoughts coming.
Timothy is currently outlining another Cornell Dyer story. This one is another parody and features a character named Sherman Homes.
A few weeks back, Sarah 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. It's beautiful and it shows that artist Jennifer Wainright can draw anything from werewolves to portraits!
She was working on art for the third book (I have eight planned in all and two in progress). Jennifer is also recovering from a motorcyle accident, so please send up good thoughts for her, too!
Now back to the seventeen 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.
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.
ARTISTS
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 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
'We stood in the streets, we stood next to each other. And whatever divided us before, vanished’: Joliet-area residents share memories of 9/11
Boil order in effect for village of #Plainfield until further notice: Presence of E. coli was detected Wednesday
E. coli detected in village of Plainfield water on Wednesday, staff unaware until Friday: 21 samples taken on Friday were negative, more samples taken Saturday
Will County remembers the 2,977 people who were killed in the 9/11 attacks: 20th anniversary ceremony was held in front of the Will County courthouse on Saturday
An Extraordinary Life: Will County judge was a ‘strong voice for justice and civil rights’: Despite humble beginnings, Raymond Bolden was a ‘powerful force’ for equality and championed the oppressed
Man dies of apparent gunshot wound: Autopsy scheduled for Sunday
Pets of the Week: Sept. 13: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption
Joliet pharmacist will be honored for securing COVID vaccines for people with disabilities: Trinity Services will honor Chad Kodiak at its dinner dance on Sept. 18, tickets available now
Will-Grundy Medical Clinic to host 33rd Annual Celebration on Sept. 16: Funds raised will provide COVID testing and vaccines, primary and mental health services and housing support for those in need
5 Things to Do in Will County: 9/11 commemoration, living military history, bird hike, Woofstock: Plus, Skip Griparis will perform his inaugural tribute to The Beatles
5 Things to do in Will County: Celebrate potato rocks on Saturday and aircraft on SundayOther area highlights include karaoke, petting zoo, Latino fest
Foster, Newman visit Will-Grundy Medical Clinic: Visits included tour of facility, reception
Corn Fest 5K Run is now a virtual event: Morris Hospital says the change is due to the increase of COVID in the community
Religious education program in Crest Hill welcoming new families: Registration will be held Saturday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church
D. 202 in Plainfield announces 2021 AP Scholars: The 252 AP Scholars includes graduates and current students
The first three parts of a six-part story:
'Never in our lives did we expect to bring home Grandpa’: WWII Army veteran laid to rest in Plainfield 77 years after he’s killed
Arthur Countryman had a ‘wandering spirit’ and yearned to be a soldier: WWII Army veteran laid to rest in Plainfield 77 years after he’s killed
Arthur Countryman’s daughters, now 85 and 90, share their childhood memories: WWII Army veteran laid to rest in Plainfield 77 years after he’s killed
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."
