Snow Falling on Lake for 8 Hours (No Music)

First Snowfall by Melody Bober (Played by Sophia Lee)

Let It Snow - Christmas Ragtime Piano Cover

A Snowy Day at The Book Market in Crest Hill

As part of my commitment to "keeping it real" in terms of sales expectations, I like to share how many books I sell at any particular event.

I think authors, as well as other artists, sometimes have unrealistic (or uncertain) expectations regarding sales volume at bookstores, vendor fairs, craft shows, etc.

So on January 27, Rebekah and I hung out at The Book Market in Crest Hill for a few hours.

It was a snowy day and store traffic was light.

We sold seven books, which was more than we anticipated, actually, considering the weather.

So we were pleased.

And we had a great time meeting and talking with customers.

øneheart x reidenshi - Snowfall (Piano Cover)

Bertrand's Shades of Snow

On Sunday, Rebekah, Uncle Barty, Bertrand  the Mouse, and I drove to Barnes and Noble in Joliet to meet a friend for coffee.

Snowflakes fell thick and fast during our drive, and Bertrand gazed happily out the window, looking forward to finally play in the snow when we returned.

Well, the snow had stopped by the time we left, and Bertrand was super disappointed.

So far, the winter of 2022-2023 is a mild one, in terms of snow. 

That's why Bertrand asked me to share some of his favorite photos from past years, hoping it might encourage the Midwest winter to do its job.

Enjoy!

Before COVID and remote working, I lived close enough to The Herald-News office to walk back and forth to work with Bertrand, even in winter. He loved it!

And some days, he skipped ahead of me.

Even crocheted mice get cold in the snow, so Bertrand makes sure to bundle up!

We;;, he bundles up most of the time...

But sometimes Bertrand would be so excited to play in the snow, he dashed out the door without his winter wraps ("extra" mittens that lost its mate).

Although on sunny days, Bertrand didn't mind the cold at all.

But snow does get Bertrand's yarn all wet. When you're a crocheted mouse, you not only need to warm up when you come inside, you need to dry out. So it's best to be proactive.

But thinking ahead doesn't always happen when you're an impetuous pretend mouse that can't resist adventure.

Because for Bertrand, adventure is everywhere and always calling him.

    This was one of our easier winter walks to The Herald-News.

But some days are too bitter cold for me to chase a crocheted mouse in the snow. So Bertrand has to content himself with living his nonlife from the inside and patiently waiting for better days.

Soap bubbles in the snow? Makes sense to Bertrand!

Snow by day, snow by night: it makes no difference to Bertrand. All snow is fun snow.

Yes, he walked across all of it. No, I did not follow him.

As much as Bertrand loves snow, he enjoys a good whiff of spring air like many other creatures, real or pretend.

And sometimes Bertrand even persuades his Uncle Barty to join him in the snow, when Uncle Barty isn't too busy reading, which is Uncle Barty's favorite activity.

Reading is Bertrand's favorite activity, too. His reason for being is to share the joys of reading with children. But when adventures calls...

...sometimes Bertrand just can't resist.

Snow Medley: The First Snow Fall/ Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

The Real Story Behind This Woodland Snow Photo

This is lovely, isn't it?

I took this picture in January 2021 when I needed a snow scene for a teaser photo on social media.

What this photo doesn't show is context.

Because this day was actually brutally cold, and I had no intention of venturing farther from my front door.

These are the bushes right out side the front door of my townhome at the time.

I simply opened the door and snapped the photo without stepping even one foot onto the porch.

Beyond this photo is a road, more appartment units, and even a traffic light.

So what's the lesson here? 

Don't believe everything you see?

Look beyond what's in front of you?

Appreciate the beauty that is in front you?

Don't overlook the subtle blessings?

Thoughts?

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Feb. 12 through Feb. 18

Good morning!

I have just ten feature stories to share with you today, with a quite a bit more that should go live this weekend. That includes those waiting to be posted and others I'll write on Saturday and Sunday since I'm working for The Herald-News for the next two days.

On the fiction front, I'm still making nice progress on Call of the Siren. I have all but six chapters edited, and I hope to have at least one more in good shape by the end of next weekend.

Call of the Siren is the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy). I'm anticipating a late spring publication date, with gorgeous cover art by Nancy Calkins.

Sue Midlock has completed the art for Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones, and Rebekah should have the book formatted soon. The proof copy of Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being is here, and Rebekah has already read through it and marked changes. Hopefully, I will finish reading through it this weekend. I'm also currently reediting Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones, since I felt some of the sentence structures were too complicated for the age range.

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 next weekend? However, he did finish the bulk of his overhaul of the BryonySeries website. You can read more about that here.

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 ten 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 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.

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

A new app helps deaf and hard of hearing children watch movies: Plainfield East High School senior Brooke Scott helped raise funds for it.

Plainfield man builds igloo in front yard for the 5th time: 'As a kid, I used to make them with my dad and my sister’

An Extraordinary Life: Former Shorewood man was frugal, faith-filled and witty: But Robert “Bob” Gutierrez was known for his kindness and strength.

Pets of the Week: Feb. 14: Will County Rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.

How do I love thee? Let me count the pounds lost: Bolingbrook couple embark on massive weight loss journey together

Pursuing an education in health care? This scholarship opportunity is for you.: Morris Hospital Foundation offers scholarships to students in health care-related fields

Herald-News seeking ‘Women of the Year’ submissions: Entry deadline is April 8

Will County Trail Riders hosting blood drive – but leave the horses at home: No horse photo ops at this event, just plenty of good will

Shoveling your own snow? Silver Cross has 4 safety tips for you: Even pushing a snow blower can significantly raise one’s heart rate and blood pressure 

5 Things to do in Will County: Celebrate the arts this weekend.: And enjoy all-levels yoga and a winter hike on Sunday

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Where There's Smoke, There's Fire?

 I don't know if it's journalistic instinct or the fact my in-laws had a scanner in their house and chased fires, but I'm pretty quick to act if I see something off.

That "off" this morning was thick black smoke in the distance when I paused at my bedroom window to admire the sunrise.

So I put my oversized slip-ons over my broken toe, slid my coat on over my flannels, grabbed a mask and press pass, and headed out into the tall snow. I got as far as I could get on foot, took some photos just in case, and then plodded back to the house.

Did you know how cold ankles can get without socks in this weather? Brrr....just saying.

By now, one of my sons (Timothy) were awake, so we drove in the direction of a nearby hospital. Lots of smoke, which was already diminishing. Furnaces, perhaps?

At any rate, Timothy turned to me and said, "Coffee?"

To which I replied, "I have coffee at my computer."

But he wanted to treat everybody. So I texted Daniel not to leave for work yet as Timothy had coffee for him (Daniel leaves early to stop for coffee).

And we brought back tea for Rebekah.

So I'm a little behind this morning, but I got outside (my first baby walk since we had all this snow), spent a little quality time with one of my sons, and wound up with a nice Americano to boot (well, no boots, Slip-ons).

Mostly, I was glad to know buildings and people were safe.

Nothing was reduced to ashes on a day people are observing Ash Wednesday.

Stay warm, stay safe, be blessed.

"White Christmas" as sung by Jim Chuporak

Whirlwind

That's how I'd describe this past weekend.

I left work at nine o'clock on Friday night and came home to a huge mess in my kitchen, which made me very happy.

Timothy had turned it into a test kitchen and prepared prototypes of four recipes I want to highlight in Thursday's Herald-News. And he was experimenting with the different techniques for photographing food, which he wants to use at his own job and for the return of the BryonySeries "Sue's Diner" recipe of the week, which went by the wayside this year during the redesign of the BryonySeries website.

After helping Timothy cleanup, and after working out and showering, it was Saturday, which brought chores, errands, the last edits on a side project, and a trip to Chicago to Del Seoul in Chicago for bipimbap for dinner.

Sunday brought an early services, Panera for breakfast and coffee, some work to complete, a meeting with Phyllis and Rebekah to sift through hundreds of photos to decide placement in the memoir, the traditional feast day dinner with Rebekah at Cracker Barrel, a dance recital for two of my grandchildren, the shooting of photos and videos for work, all of which was followed by a brisk walk, shower, and episode 16 of I Hear Your Voice with Rebekah before I fell asleep.

How can it be Monday already?

But it's a serene morning.

I hear the gentle woosh of cars through the snow outside my window.

My office/bedroom has a miniature Christmas tree (thank you, Joshua and Timothy) and my living room has a larger one (thank you, Rebekah and Daniel).

A fake fireplace softly crackles and glows (thank you, Timothy) and an globe snowflake ornament with a tealight candle (thank you, Sarah) sits by my computer (the one Christopher built for me as a surprise Christmas present a few years ago) with the coffee while the John Gary Christmas album (one of the Christmas records of my youth), very quietly emanates through my speakers, so as not to wake anyone else (thank you, modern technology).

I have not yet looked at my Monday to-do list, although I know it's full, and yet, I also know not one task is unpleasant.

Whether it's a "work" day or a "free" day or a "fiction" day, I like this early part of the morning, th slow wake up while I browse email, news, and social media, sip a nice dark roast coffee, and revel in the quiet while the rest of the house is dark.

Have a most blessed day.

Christmas in Munsonville, 1893

Very early yesterday morning, way before dawn, when we were driving in the falling snow and throwing newsapers (I say newspaper carriers are modern shepherds), my mind stepped back in time to December 25, 1893, in make-believe Munsonville, Michigan.

The view spread before me certainly had much to do with it. We deliver a wooded area near the I & M Canal, where we do occasionally see mist rising off the water before the sun rises, so that, mixed with the snowfall, the colored lights adorning old-fashioned homes, and James Onohan's "John Simons sounding" piano music breaking the stillness stirred my imagination, and I savored it.

Because while Bryony absolutely contains scenes from Christmas Eve, Christmas DAY is still locked away in my mind, waiting its turn to become part of the story in Bryony's yet-to-be-written prequel.

Someday, others--one, five, ten-whoever has an interest--will read that prequel. Yesterday morning, however, the enchantment was all mine. Cool, cool, cool.