Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, April 30 to May 6

 Good morning!

I have twenty-three feature stories to share with you today and more yet posted. So do check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news. 

Over the last couple of months, I also wrote an additional nineteen stories for a special "Thank You, Teachers," edition that will ran in print and online on May 5. You can check out all those stories at this link: https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/thank-you/teachers/

On the fiction side of things, I'm working on the final development of the minor characters in Call of the Siren. My goal (from a Friday morning point of view) is to complete that process this weekend. 

Call of the Siren is the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy, with gorgeous cover art by Nancy Calkins.

Now that our slew of family emergencies (2022) is an adventure: here is one of our emergencies), Rebekah is planning to dedicate two days in May to catching up with BryonySeries projects she's had to let go for a while.

That includes formatting Call of the Siren and do the finishing production touches of Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones and Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical" Being, along with some other behind-the-scenes projects, such as updating the BryonySeries Pinterest and YouTube pages.

Both Rebekah and our artist Sue Midlock have gone through health issues this past year, which has caused publication delays (both books were written last year. But I'd rather have delays and healthy collaborators. Please send up good thoughts for them both.

Next up in the series: a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes). Timothy is ready for a Cornell breakfast to share his ideas.

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 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 twenty-three 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 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

Camp Fire Illinois Prairie has Crest Hill chapter, offering day camp in Bolingbrook: Camp Fire Illinois Prairie also offers the NASA Astro Camp Collaborative Partners Program. 

Baran-Unland: Please give this sweet cat a home: Larry’s siblings Moe and Curly are already adopted. Larry is eager for a forever home, too.

Families of Bolingbrook school planning peaceful protest on Friday in Romeoville: Families at St. Dominic Catholic School in Bolingbrook want to know why its school is closing.

Catholic Charities’ Senior Companion Program aims to dispel loneliness and isolation in seniors: Schweikart: ‘Our volunteers are just amazingly caring individuals’ 

What’s good for the kidney is good for the heart: Sound waves are often used for breaking up kidney stones. Now Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox is using them to remove calcifications from the arteries. 

Clothilde Ewing had trouble finding diverse books for her kids, so she wrote her own: Ewing: ‘There weren’t as many books as I would have liked to have seen with a child who happens to be Black’

Joliet hospice honors its 120 volunteers with yard signs and field calls: But more volunteers are needed. Here’s how you can help. 

Pets of the Week: May 2: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption.

Severe weather rolling into Will and Grundy counties Saturday afternoon

Dispose of medications, documents on May 7 at Troy Township: Needles properly contained inside an approved sharps container also will be accepted

Armed robber killed in bar stickup near Frankfort: cops

Providence Catholic H.S. in New Lenox names new principal for 2022: Paul Houston steps into the role on July 1.

Will County Progressives want ‘lame duck’ to replace Connor: Ibarra, Bright, said neither Deomcratic candidate for the 43rd District should be appointed in the interim 

Connor resigns from Illinois SenateConnor’s resignation was effective Saturday: Connor’s resignation was effective Saturday

D-204 in Joliet announces its students of the month for April 2022: Service clubs honored ‘character, responsibility, and academic performance or improvement’ 

Come out and golf May 19 and help adults and kids with disabilities and mental health needs: Trinity Services in New Lenox serves more than 5800 people in more than 30 Illinois communities 

Timbers of Shorewood names Jennifer Loughran as its Volunteer of the Year: Odell: ‘Jennifer has truly been a blessing with her contagious smile, positive attitude, and upbeat personality’ 

Troy 30-C school board recognizes March 2022 Students of the Month: Students selected for their consistent effort, productive citizenship, positive attitude and participation in class

Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers earns 11 awards of excellence: Professional Research Consultants Inc. recognized Morris Hospital with the awards.

Morris Hospital announces its Fire Starter of the Month for April : Carl Pohl, an environmental services associate, was recognized for excellence and friendliness.

5 Things to do in Will County: Get back to nature this weekend with a hike and planting kit: Plus, check out 3 ways to enjoy music or comedy, too.

Morris Hospital to host blood drive May 13: Face masks are required.

Will-Grundy Medical Clinic celebrating 34 years, remodeling 100-year-old building: RSVP for the May 19 celebration by May 5.

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Sept.25 through Sept.30

Last week I had a job shadower hang out with me for the day, a woman in her late 20s who wishes she had studied journalism in college like she wanted to do (instead of listening to naysayers) and who has ideas for her first novel.

I showed her my routine and worked on briefs while we chatted about different aspects of my writing life, from childhood fiction to freelance features writing to fiction again to my current role as a features editor. I gave her copies of both my business cards (my work one and my BryonySeries one) and then she blew me away by saying she was already reading my first book.

Well. Ahem.

Took in dinner and a play with a WriteOn Joliet comrade and will be doing the same tonight (same play, different friend). Saturday (I hope) will be spent wandering around an imaginary nineteenth century, while Sunday is Divine Liturgy, work, and hanging out with family.

I have two appearances coming up for anyone in the Joliet area who might be interested. Details are at: http://www.bryonyseries.com/Fetes_and_Feasts.html.

Here's the weekly recap:

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.

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 if you do peek at these stories, to quote our editor Kate Schott, "Thank you for reading The Herald-News." :)

Crest Hill business owner caters to Joliet area teachers

Jason Kuriger knows importance of giving back

To Kuriger, his Teacher Loyalty Program is really a teacher appreciation program. After his parents’ divorce, Kuriger said he attended 10 schools in Plainfield and Joliet during his school career and endured 13 moves. Kuriger credits teachers and school staff for his success today.

“The only people that made me feel part of something were teachers and faculty members,” Kuriger said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/09/21/crest-hill-business-owner-caters-to-joliet-area-teachers/auh3sa0/

An Extraordinary Life: Crest Hill beautician didn't let ALS stop her

Tana Anderson made everyone feel special

“God was a big part of her life,” Kara Anderson, Tana's daughter, said. “And she knew God wanted her to be nice and accepting of everyone.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/09/16/an-extraordinary-life-crest-hill-beautician-didnt-let-als-stop-her/a80rtcy/


Joliet church hopes to inspire grassroots activism through monthly social justice documentaries (VIDEO EXTRA)

Monthly social justice films inform, promote thoughtful discussion 

“People can’t become activists in all the areas we cover,” Paul Brumbaugh, coordinator, said. “But they need to pick their own topic and get out there and be active and do something good for the world.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/09/27/joliet-church-hopes-to-inspire-grassroots-activism-through-monthly-social-justice-documentaries/ajbdvo2/


Churches in Channahon and Minooka host 33rd CROP Hunger Walk (VIDEO EXTRA)

According to the CROP Hunger Walk website, CROP Hunger Walks support the grassroots efforts of Church World Service to combat hunger around the world. It provides water, seeds, tools, wells and water systems, technical training and micro-enterprise loans.

But groups that host a CROP Hunger Walk also have the option of keeping 25 percent of funds raised in their own communities. Harold Breen, one of the coordinator's of this year's walk, said last year’s walk raised a total of $5,425.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/09/26/churches-in-channahon-and-minooka-host-33rd-crop-hunger-walk/avsgldd/


Stamp collecting alive and well in Joliet, annual stamp show is Oct. 8 (VIDEO EXTRA)

Club members say stamp collecting still is a ‘vibrant hobby’

In some ways, the technology age has made it easier to collect.

“It used to be if you wanted to buy new stamps, you had to go to a dealer," Juell said. “Now you can get some very elusive stamps right on the internet.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2016/09/27/stamp-collecting-alive-and-well-in-joliet-annual-stamp-show-is-oct-8/au49yzb/