The Vampire Fish | SPECIAL EPISODE | River Monsters

Dark Chocolate, Dark Roast Coffee, Purple Roses, and Patio Furniture

I woke up on Mother's Day realizing that, for the first time in a very long time, I had absolutely no plans.

I had nothing I had to do. I had nowhere I had to be.

I'm pretty sure I would get tired of nothing as a regular non-activity diet. 

But most days I'm already giving myself a mental run-down of the priorities of the day, so as to keep me from repeatedly hitting "snooze."

So on Mother's Day, with background of falling rain, it was a most delicious feeling to know I had absolutely no obligations in the moment.

I did eat way too much chocolate and drink a fair amount of dark roast coffee (incuding an Americano when Timothy surprised the whole family with their favorite beverages from Dunkin).

Here is a quick pictorial glance of the rest of the gifts. All have a BryonySeries theme, except for the chocolate from Rebekah. I didn't even know you could get Kit Kats in dark chocolate, mmm.

First up, two views of the bouquet of purple flowers (including purple roses) from Timothy:

And then two views of the real purple rose in water under the globe and pation furniture from Jasmine:

And finally an assortment of dark chocolate from Rebekah:

I'm sure you're wondering how Bertrand the Mouse feted me.

Well, that is a sad tale.

Bertrand is missing.

Yes, he is missing.

Four of us spent some very long hours searching the neighborhoods for him on Sunday. Even Jasmine offered to drive up from Morris to help.

When three adult children give up a chunk of their Sunday to look for a crocheted mouse on Mother's Day, you realize what kind of children you've raised.

When a fourth adult offers to travel more than half an hour one way to help look for a crocheted mouse, you'll understand the impact Bertrand has on people - and why he is more than just a crocheted mouse.

As of this writing (Tuesday morning), Bertrand is still gone.

Sue's Diner: Fish Salad

The following recipe appears in the cooknbook Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony."

Background on where this week's recipe falls in the BryonySeries novel Bryony:

Although Simons Mansion hosted most of Munsonville’s festivities, the villagers reciprocated one summer with a celebration in honor of John and Bryony Simons, with John providing the entertainment. A torn dress kept Melissa away from the refreshment table, but, except for the cake, we doubt she would have eaten anything from it, anyway.

This fish salad recipe is modified from the Bohemian-American Cookbook by Marie Rosicky, published by the Automatic Printing Company (www.autoprintomaha.com). 

The version of the cookbook I had was published more than one hundred years ago. The Automatic Publishing Company is still publishing it today.

Try this recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.

But try the fish salad recipe this week. It will be gone next week. A new recipe will take it's place. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

All proceeds from Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From "Bryony" benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties at bbbswillgrundy.org.

Order the cookbook at bryonyseries.com.

Rock Me To Sleep, Mother

Steward Setback Saturday: How to Talk Like Ed Calkins on Mother's Day

Here's a fun post from 2012 that links to another site with fun Gaelic phrases you can use for Mother's Day.

And Happy Mother's Day in advance to any moms reading this post - and to the moms of the rest of you reading this post.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

How to Talk Like Ed Calkins on Mother's Day

Although one may find it difficult to imagine, even Ed Calkins, the Steward of Tara, has a mother, and he remembers her on Mother's Day.

Now, Ed has never shared whether he brings her flowers or chocolates, but if you want to honor YOUR mother on Mother's Day with a Gaelic expression or two, check out this site.

http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Lessons8.html#Gael32

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, May 1 through May 7

 Good morning!

I have sixten stories to share with you this morning - with just three that haven't posted to The Herald-News website yet.

But I'm working tomorrow, so that will quick change, I'm certain.

Here's a quick summary of where I'm at, fiction-wise.

I'm still wrapping up the next book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer series (Cornell Dyer and the Whispering Wardrobe), but that should be ready for formatting within a week.

I'm finished editing the first proof copy of the first book in the new BryonySeries Limbo trilogy (The Phoenix). But I made so many changes that I'm sending for a second proof copy. Hopefully it's good to go this time.

I've done nothing substantial in the second book if the Limbo trilogy - Call of the Siren - but I'm planning to work on that book tonight and tomorrow night.

Now back to the fifteen feature (and one news) 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

No injuries in fire at commercial building in Plainfield: Plainfield Fire Protection District dispatched to 2-alarm fire Sunday night

An Extraordinary Life : ‘She knew how to light up a room’: HomerGlen woman exhibited great strength and love, in sickness and in health

Shorewood Lions honor Troy students for effort and attitude: Troy Community School District 30-C school board recognized the students at board meetings in February and March

Joliet, Plainfield students celebrate Arbor Day, Earth Day: Students planted, cleaned, and spread mulch and messages 

An outdoor, user-friendly, digitally-connected gym is coming to New Lenox: Park District hopes the Fitness Court will be ready for use by end of May

Joliet Central announces runners-up, finalists for its 2021 Mr. J and Miss J: 2 seniors selected to represent high school each year since 1958 

Pets of the Week: May 3: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

Lewis University in #Romeoville is offering a community conversation with students of color today

LocalLit preview: ‘Come to the well like the Samaritan woman and encounter Jesus’: Channahon woman writes book to help readers grow closer to God

And the actual review:

'If Dr. Fauci is getting it, then I’m getting it, too’: Plainfield woman said she had reaction to Pfizer shot - and encourages people to get vaccinated 

Disabled Joliet woman with breast cancer needs help with transportation expenses

Lockport Township HS Junior ROTC cadets clean debris from Fairmont senior’s yard: 'She would not have been able to clean this property without the support of these cadets’

Trinity Services, Valley View are offering mental health resources: Register now for a virtual tour of a virtual living room on Tuesday

'I am grateful for the opportunity to be serving’: Silver Cross, St. Joe’s chaplains discuss their ministry during COVID-19

When the weather fails, let music speak: Will County Inside/Outside Guide offers suggestions for enjoying your rainy weekend

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."

Writing Retreat Recap: Unforgettable Journey with Incredible Characters

A few weekends ago, I actually took a "real" writers retreat.

By this, I mean a retreat that I did not structure and one that included other writers - as opposed to my one-person, at-home writing retreats that I have taken in the past.

This was also a retreat that I paid to attend. When I participate in a "just me" at-home writing retreat, I don't charge myself - although I do draw up goals and task myself with attaining them. I just don't plunk down any cash. I don't even treat myself to coffee that's not already in the cabinet.

Anyway, I wanted to take a week or so to distance myself from the retreat, reflect on the experiences, and then share my thoughts in this blog.

For background on the retreat and why I signed up, read this post.

Note: Ralph Walker, our retreat master, is hoping to offer this retreat to other grouips. For that reason, I will be vague on the particulars.

But I will say we worked on characterization and plotting. 

Also, ee all had to be currently working on a novel. For me, that was Call of the Siren, the second novel in the new BryonySeries trilogy Limbo.

OK, here are my thoughts.

1) The retreat master was highly organized and invested into making this a fun and informative experience.

The weeks leading up to the retreat consisted of prompts and a few pieces of "homework" that needed to be completed in advance. This wasn't drudgery. It was more like passing the appetizer tray in the waiting room.

Ralph also asked us for our goals, so he could build the retreat around us being able to meet them. 

And he did not bite off more than he could manage. He capped the retreat at twenty or so and left it there. So if you wanted in, you had to commit in advance.

The price was reasonable for two days (Friday night into late Sunday afternon): around the $120 mark.

A week or so before the rereat, we received a box with the a large binder with all the Zoom links, topics, discussion questions, additional resources for characterization and plotting, index cards, graph paper, and quite a few DO NOT OPEN envelopes.

The box also contained a variety of swag: stickers, beads, candy, coffee, tea, coffee mug, all of which delighted Rebekah, who likes suprise boxes.

But even Rebekah respected the sanctity of the marked envelopes.

2) It was fun.

By "fun," I mean Ralph had the event so well-structiured I forgot I was on Zoom.

On Friday night, we met as one large group - and we did the same on Saturday night and at the closing. It was a mixture of information, sharing, and very casual networking. 

Alcohol was allowed Saturday night.

Except for me. Because I can't drink alcohol with the medication I take.

But I had so much fun, the dark roast coffee sufficed.

This sounds bland on paper (computer), ugh.

But we joked, laughed, did silly exercises to break the weird ice of  introverted writing strangers meeting other introverted writing strangers on Zoom.

It worked.

We got loud. We got animated.

We really, really, really had lots of fun.

3) I met some really awesome writers.

On Saturday and Sunday morning and afternoon, we'd meet in "homeroom" and then Ralph broke us into small groups.

We worked on exercises and applied various techniques to our writing.

We opened the mysterious envelopes and answered questions and pop prompts that put us on the spot and challenged us and stretched out abilities - and we did all this together.

We shared elements of our work and gave feedback on the work of others.

We exchanged emails and Twitter handles. (Note to self: I now need to be better at being more present on social media. So - I have some work to do).

4) I relearned some things.

I don't know everything there is to know about writing. But I do know a lot because I have studied craft and dilligently worked on my craft.

But before I sound like a Miss Smartypants, I also must stress that no writer can call up every technique at every time and apply it at the right time to every writing situation.

Also, hearing a certain tip in a new way forces writers to look at their work with fresh perspectives.

And this is what happened to me.

In random bursts, we were instructed to do "this" or "that" to our writing in terms of characters or plots. 

Now sometimes I had just written a scene that accomplished the goal.

But most of the time, I could apply the instruction somewhere else.

So before I "wrote off" the prompt, I examined my outline to see where the current instruction might fit.

This resulted in the creation of new scenes and the shifting of others as a result of Ralph's prompting. 

And it gets better than that.

Since the retreat, some of these prompts will pop up in my head. My mind then immediately asks, "Where can I apply this?" 

As a result, I've added even more new scenes and expanded still others in ways that really impact the structure of Call of the Siren in very satisying ways.

Side note: As Ralph walked us through one very simple plotting technique, I kept thinking, "I wish other members of WriteOn Joliet were here." No lie. 

Perhaps it's because I have read an impossible number of fiction in my life, I have an almost instinctive feel for structure. But "instinct" doens't go very far when a writer is looking for concrete direction.

I now know one way.

5) The Finale

Just before the retreat ended, we had one last DO NOT OPEN envelope to open. I won't tell you what it was.

But I will tell you, it was anything but random. And that was the one moment where I nearly cried.

Now any writer reading this blog post that attended this retreat might think that I blundered on the name of the retreat when I titled this recap blog post.

The name of the retreat was "Unforgettable Characters and Incredible Journeys." And the retreat delivered it.

But, for me, the retreat itself really was an "unforgettable journey with incredible characters."

Because I really did embark upon an unforgettable journey with some incredible characters - Ralph and the other writers who shared their works, their thoughts, their very valuable time, and some honest vulerability in order to perfect the common thread that tied us all together.

The telling of really good stories.

Preparing for Pascha

Marrying into the Byzantine Orthodox Church - and then later joining an Eastern Orthodox Church with Ukranian roots - changed the way I celebrate Easter forever, especially in regards to the food we prepare and eat.

Many of these foods are rich in milk, butter, cheese, eggs, and smoked meat, all foods given up in a traditional Lenten fast.

I learned these traditions and ways to prepare these foods forty years ago, so they would become the fabric of my six children's lives - and then they prepared them with me as they were growing up.

Now that half of them are workign or have worked in food service, they are more skilled in the kitchen than I am. So now I'm the one who assists them.

And someday, God willing, they will assist their children.

Rebekah squeezes out a ball of Easter cheese before she allows it to drip dry the rest of the way.

A quart of milk and a dozen eggs heats over a makeshift double boiler for another batch of Easter cheese.

A ball of Easter cheese drips dry.

Rebekah kneads a batch of Pascha or Easter bread. She made eleven loaves in all.

Rebekah cuts up butter for the Easter bread.

\

Rebekah braids bread dough for the Pascha.

Rebekah adds braids to the Pascha.

A batch of Pascha that we didn't braid cools on racks.

In thet meantime, Timothy made homemade ricotta and pierogies.

This is the potato filling Timothy made for his pierogies,

Timothy shows me how his pictures of pierogies are better than mine.

Rebekah's ham comes out of the oven.

Timothy cooked the sausages.

The sausages are now cooling.

And, of course, Bertrand joined in.

Did you find Bertrand in this pictcure?

Rebekah also made three kinds of candy. We posted the recipe for chocolate truffles on the BryonySeries Sue's Diner page yesterday.

She also bought Easter candy on sale and made individual bags for all of us, including the grandchildren.

Because everyone's work and homework schedules didn't line up, we didn't have the backyard gathering at Joshua's house we had originally planned.

But a spoiling of plans cannot dampen the joy of the resurrection or cut the common thread of tradition that runs through all of us.

We all partook of the same food and rejoiced, even if that partaking and rejoicing didn't happen in the same physical space.

Sue's Diner: Chocolate Truffles

Like the chocolate chip cookies, this week's recipe is featured in none of the BryonySeries cookbooks, so you can only get it here.

Rebekah actually adapted it from a Nancy Drew cookbook I received as a gift when I was growing up. It was a recipe I always wanted to try, so when she was looking for some Easter candy recipes, I suggested it these chocolate truffles.

And they were, no lie, the best chocolate truffles I have ever eaten.

Try this recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.

But try it this week. It will be gone next week. A new recipe will take it's place. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties at bbbswillgrundy.org.

Order the cookbook at bryonyseries.com.

"Bright" Morning Reflection

Easter Week in the Orthodox Church is called Bright Week.

And the "brightest" day of that week is Monday today.

When the kids were young, Bright Week was a vacation week for them (and me). As homeschoolers, we took the week off and just enjoyed the week.

I recall one Bright Monday where I spent most of the day reading in bed and nursing the baby (Daniel), surfacing long enough to grab some Easter food from the refrigerator.

We typically made enough Easter food to last several days. After all the work of preparing it and the time spent in extra services, we enjoyed the non-work of the resurrection.

Today, we are all at work, "bright" and early.

Today, we are no longer a homeschooling family, and we don't have the luxury of lounging for an entire week, much less a day

But "lounging" was never the point. It was to show the kids, in a tangible way, the "rest" of eternal life.

Although I'm not gonna lie. Lounging in bed reading was a wonderful way to pass a day.

Христос Воскрес! Christ is Risen!

In Christ Alone (tin whistle cover)

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, April 24 through April 30

 Good morning!

I have twenty-one stories to share with you this morning - with seven more that haven't posted to The Herald-News website yet.

So needless to say, it's been a busy post-writing retreat week.

And because I have so much features content to share this morning, I'll keep the fiction comments brief.

I'm still wrapping up the next book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer series (Cornell Dyer and the Whispering Wardrobe). 

I'm still working my way through the proof copy of the first book in the new BryonySeries Limbo trilogy (The Phoenix).

The writing retreat provided some good "moving forward" for the second book in the Limbo trilogy - Call of the Siren - and that inspiration has continued all week, with me jotting random notes as inspiration flares.

Writing/editing will most likely be confined to evenings this weekend. It's our Holy Week, so my focus is prayer and cooking/celebrating with my family.

Now back to the twenty-one feature (and news) 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

Teacher, youth minister charged with traveling to meet child, grooming: cops: Judge signed $100,000 warrant for arrest of Jeremy Hylka 

'There is an excitement about getting hugs again and seeing people’s faces again’: Still, houses of worship anticipate hybrid services are here to stay

Joliet, Plainfield student journalists headed to state competition: Students attend Joliet West High School, and all 4 District 202 high schools 

Minooka Community High School recognizes outstanding student performance

Stone City VFW Post 2199 in Joliet honors Elwood social studies teacher

An Extraordinary Life:‘She did the simple, little things with great love’: Former #Joliet resident Betty Joutras-Brewer lived by her Catholic faith 

Pets of the Week: April 26: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

LocalLit book review: Joliet author writes simple, profound book on economics for children

More than just faith, hope and love: Joliet students recognized for being virtuous in many different ways 

LocalLit book preview: ‘The Rocking Chair Exercise Book’: Joliet naprapath wrote unique exercise book for stretching and strengthening muscles

And the book review.

Minooka church to – finally – host groundbreaking on new church May 1: The Rev. Sarah Hong: ‘This is a leap of faith, seriously’

Forest preserve honors Joliet woman for 18 years of volunteer service

Childerguild donates $350,000 toward care of ‘the smallest and sickest newborns’  

Mystery Diner: Gustos serves up hearty portions with meats from local butcher: Crest Hill venue ‘pleasantly friendly, casual and animated’

Small pets die in house fire in unincorprated Joliet: Quick-thinking 17-year-old helps resident, dog escape

Barry Dean is retiring from Grand Prairie Elementary School in Plainfield: D-202 community, former students invited to send submissions for his memory book 

Troy students review newly released books for new online program: Biblionasium extended the information to Plainfield teacher Beth Kowalczyk 

Retired D-204 administrator receives community service award : Joliet’s Project Acclaim awards Edna Brass the Reverend James E. Allen Award for Service to the Community 

2 businesses celebrate their openings by giving back to their communities: Wags 2 Wishes in Plainfield is one of the recipients

New technology lets Lockport brewery create virtual food hall:The Porter platform allows customers to order from multiple venues in a single transaction

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."

The Monkees - Gonna Buy Me a Dog

AWW! CUTE AND FUNNY BABY HAMSTER 🐹 - Hamster Video Compilation | Super Dog

Leftovers

"Leftovers" is a word that often has negative connotations of not being as good as the original or not being good enough to make the first cut, as if only new and shiny have value.

"What are we having for dinner tonight?"

"Leftovers."

"Oh."

But leftovers can have great value, too. Spaghetti sauce, for instance, often tastes better the next day. So does lasagna and macaroni and cheese with bacon.

Doubling portions when cooking on Monday means having "leftovers" for Tuesday and extra time for other projects.

Cutting elements from a story and then putting those "leftovers" into a separate file means you have a fresh persepctive later. You can decided if they should go back in - or if they are better served in another story - or they are simply evidence you know where to cut (pat yourself on the back).

Stories that were "leftover" from my schedule last week means I don't have to go hunting for ideas this week.

Leftover materials from one craft project can be stored for another. I used to run a Sunday School at a church, and I saved everything and accepted donations from the church members of everything. I had a wonderful supply closet - and those leftovers were just the thing when I purchased large, trifold cardboard for every student to recreate the "John of the Ladder" icon. They could use every and any form of media stored in the closet. The kids loved it.

Memories of great experiences are another type of welcome leftovers, ones that stay fresh in our hearts long after the experience itself fades.

I have three boxes in my closet of "leftovers" from my attic office in Channahon - tangible memories of the "Ron" years, spent in the home his parents built, years that dementia robbed from him.

Circling back to food, Rebekah and I did not cook this weekend for the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.

This means that if you didn't try her chocolate chip cookie recipe from last week, you can still try it this week.

I love chocolate chip cookies fresh and warm from the oven.

But they also taste great the next day.

The "Stowaway" on this Weekend's Writing Retreat

This morning is super busy since I went straight from work on Friday into the 5am writers club retreat, hosted by Ralph Walker.

So a full retreat recap won't be today, since I want some time to reflect and then write a thoughtful piece. 

But I will share this.

When Ralph opened the retreat on Friday night, he emphasized that the next few days would  be a safe place, where all the writers (and he made certain everyone realized they were indeed writers, no matter where they were on their writing journeys) coud be free to be fully creative.

At that point, I wondered if I should introduce everyone to Bertrand, the only attendee who didn't pay.

Although Bertrand is not technically a writer in his own "write," he does have his own line of books, and he does want kids to love reading.

And since he and I hang out quite a bit, it was natural that he would hang out on this retreat. But the right time to mention the "elephant" in the room (well, crocheted mouse) never appeared, so I let Bertrand just absorb the wonderful weekend and hang out.

Plus, he was enjoying his dinner and the opening remarks, and it's impolite to pick up a crocheted mouse when he's pretending to eat just to show him off to all your new writing comrades.

But he did enjoy all of the fun exercises that Ralph had some mysteriously tucked inside the "Do Not Open" envelopes in the program binder he had sent all of us.

In fact, Bertrand had so much fun...

...he was extremely sad to see the weekend go...

What Bertrand doesn't yet realize, although I hope he will in the days to come, is that the end of the retreat was the beginning.

It was the beginning of new ways to assess our writing.

It was the beginning of new books to discover, for most, if not all, of these writers have published books.

And, most importantly, the retreat was the beginning of new connections that, hopefully, only continue to grow and strengthen as we support each other on our writing journeys.

I'm forever thankful for Ralph's invitation to join the group and his acceptance of me into the retreat.

Follow Bertrand the Mouse at bertrand_bryonyseries on Instagram.

Still on Retreat

I am one of just twenty writers from all over the United States (and Canada) participating in a virtual writing retreat, hosted by Ralph Walker of the #5amwritersclub.

I will recap this retreat next week when I have more time.as I'm dashing into a sessioin.

But I will say that I am having a wonderful time. I have also learned some valuable information to bring back to the writers at WriteOn Joliet.

The feedback has been terrific.

Oh, and Bertrand the Mouse is having a great time, too. 

And I didn't even have to pay for his spot.

On Retreat This Weekend

More specifically, I'm on a writing retreat this weekend.

Ralph Walker of the 5amwritersgroup on Twitter creater an entire program for Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday - and then opened it up to the first twenty writers that signed up. 

Yes, it's on Zoom (Did the photo fool you)? But the twenty of us are sitting in our homes all over the United States, and two of us are in Canada.

I'll share a recap early in the week.

In the meantime, I'll be working hard to make my words the best they can be.

The photo is my view from the plane from on the way to Raleigh to visit Sarah in 2017.

Here's hoping my muse soars to great heights these next few days, too.

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, April 17 through April 23

 Good morning!

I have twenty stories to share with you this morning - with seven more that haven't posted to The Herald-News website yet.

Just a brief commentary this morning. After deadlines today, I'm spending the rest of the weekend, through late Sunday afternoon, as a writing retreat, hosted by Ralph Walker of the 5amwritersclub Twitter group.

I'm hoping the exercises, workshops, fellowships and "free writing" time will help to move the second book of the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy, Call of the Siren, forward in a significant way.

Now back to the twenty feature 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

Plainfield Public Library held a short story contest and published the 9 winners: Read the works of these 4th, 5th and 6th grade students online 

They donated masks, distributed food and even shared their plasma: Many staff at Frankfort 157-C helped others where they could

All public summer activities at St. Joe’s Park in Joliet canceled for 2nd year in a row: Private events might still be a possibility but not guaranteed

Restaurants may need new recipe for success to survive in a post-pandemic world: Creativity, new business models and an entrepreneurial spirit may be key ingredients

Pets of the Week: April 19: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

An ExtraordinaryLife: ‘He was the most humble guy that I’ve ever known’: Joliet chiropractor volunteered at Will-Grundy Medical Clinic while battling lung cancer 

D. 202 lottery to its preschool program open through April 29: An online system is being used again this year

D. 202 announces new attendance zones for the 2021-2022 school year: Student registration open now for new students; returning students can register starting April 26

Family heirloom stolen from Joliet yard: ‘My dad died 4 years ago and this was really the only thing I wanted to have of his’

Good-bye winter – well, not quiteFlurries early Tuesday in Will County will become freezing temperatures overnight and more snow on Wednesday  

Minooka student says service ‘is what keeps the world spinning.’: Channahon-Minooka Rotary Club honors MCHS senior Morgan Moreno 

Joliet Catholic Academy recognizes its students of the month: Service clubs honor each student at a monthly luncheon or webinar 

BAM Clinic in Joliet not affected by FDA revoking emergency use authorization of bamlanivimab when used alone

2 cast members of ‘Chicago Fire’ received #COVIDVaccines at Joliet West: Fire department hopes that encourages more people to get vaccinated 

Joliet Township High School announces its students of the month for April: Service clubs based looked for ‘character, responsibility, and academic performance or improvement’

D. 86 in Joliet announces its students of the month for March: Students at eight elementary and junior high school buildings recognized

Crash shuts down Route 53 for 1 hour Thursday morning

Severe ‘flu’ in early 2020: Was it COVID?: These 3 Joliet-area residents think they had COVID – but testing wasn’t available at the time

‘I was almost hoping it would snow after the flowers bloomed’: Lockport senior spent an hour outside in an April snowfall, capturing and sharing the beauty

Will County libraries offer plenty of activities: Plus more tips for enjoying your weekend

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."

The Gift of Two Wolves

Crows Sitting in a Tree

Is "Boys Over Flowers" Dated?

That was the theme of several articles I read after I finished this 2009 Korean drama. The drama was based on a Japanese manga that ran from 1992 to 2004.

Considering the manga has been adapted more than a dozen times (the most recent is 2018, I think), I'm doubting Boys Over Flowers is dated, especially considering "bullying" and "antibullying" are strong themes in both the drama and the manga.

Why I watched it

Rebekah introduced me to Asian dramas a couple years ago (we are currently watching a Chinese historical drama), and she hand-picks the ones she thinks are the best.

But we are also working our way backwards to some of the early ones she had watched in high school, dramas that hooked her, dramas she still loves. For instance, we watched First Shop of Coffee Prince last fall. 

And if you check out that "Coffee Shop" clip, you should know that the grandmother in one of the scenes plays the best grandmothers. 

She was also a grandmotherly type in Netflix's King Eternal Monarch (a drama of two parallel worlds where THIS GUY stole the show (embellishments on the clips are fan-made and not part of the drama) and the grandmother in Boys over Flowers. 

That pretty much brings us to how I wound up watching Boys Over Flowers. The lead in that drama also played a very different lead in the King Eternal Monarch. He had also played the lead in Boys over Flowers, his breakout and critically acclaimed role.

And because Rebekah really liked the drama, I wanted to watch it, too.

Here's a quick synopsis: 

The main female lead, Geum Jan-di, lives with her parents and younger brother above her father's dry cleaning business. Her mother definitely "wears the pants" in the family and dreams of being rich, the father is whacky and financially irresponsible, and the younger brother is just plain adorable.

One day, Geum Jan-di makes a dry cleaning delivery by bicycle to the prestigious Shinhwa High School, a school for the richest of the richest. It's owned by South Korea's biggest conglomerate, the Shinhwa Group.

Now a group called F4 terrorizes the school. The leader's parents own the Shinhwa group. His name is Gu Jun-pyo, and he is flanked by three friends: the slighty autistic, brooding musician; the playboy artist/potter, and a third who is part of an organized crime family.

If F4 decides they don't like someone, and that decision can be nearly random, they will incite the entire school to also terrorize that student until the student either leaves or commit suicide.

Well, our heroine talks a student out of jumping off the school's roof (he's been that traumatized by F4) when she brings him his dry cleaning. Because her actions hits the media, the Shinhwa Group, to "prove" it doesn't support bullying, offers her a full scholarship to the school. 

Her family is ecstatic and, while Geum Jan-di is less so, it does give her a chance to participate in the school's swim team (she loves swimming, but even that will be taken away from her in this drama).

She winds up falling in love with the musician, who loves a famous model, who dumps him. But she is also terrorized in some really viscious and frightening ways when she stands up to F4's bullying of other students.

Eventually, Gu Jun-pyo becomes infatuated with her, except a mean, selfish young man doesn't make the best boyfriend. In short, he has a lot of growing to do. Fortunately, the drama gives him time to do that as the drama spans more than twenty episodes that take place over several years. 

In the meantime, he and Geum Jan-di argue A LOT. By the time Geum Jan-di starts to like him, the musician starts to fall for her, too. Of course by now, her crush on him has died out. He winds up being the really nice guy friend who helps her out when she is down. 

Yes, second lead syndrome where nice guys finish last. 

But the chemistry is lacking between Geum Jan-di and the musician dude, and he has his own demons to vanquish, as does the playboy. The organized crime character doesn't appear to have any. If he does, they're not addressed in this drama.

Geum Jan-di's best friend, the really pretty Ga Eul, falls for the playboy, which brings her plenty of heartache, too. 

If all this sounds sappy, it really isn't. The drama is full of very human subplots.

The playboy hits on the wrong woman, and one of that woman's protectors and his friends beat the living you know what out of him, crushing his hand and rendering it useless for making pottery, the one wholesome pasttime he has.

And the musician has been on the outs with his grandfather ever since the musician was a small child and his parents were killed in a car accident. The grandfather has a heart condition and runs a free clinic for low-income people. Geum Jan-di eventeually volunteers there and makes medicine her chosen career because the grandfather has inspired her so much.

The point of this post

What makes these dramas especially gratifying to watch is not "I can't wait to find out what happens next!" Knowing the next step doesn't erase the enjoyment of watching the story and watching the characters develop and mature.

So now I'll bring you to two clips and a third optional one.

One is a trailer (could not find one in English but you'll get the jist of it anyway), which gives a glimpse of the characters' personalities through a few select scenes. 

A fun moment in that trailer is when Geum Jan-di's father takes her to the rich school for the first time. He dresses like a chaueffer and gets locked out of his own van.

The other clip is one the final scenes of the final episode. It was at this moment that I realized how satisying this drama had been to watch.

In the trailer, you'll see clips from when Gu Jun-pyo and the rest of F4 trick Geum Jan-di and Ga Eul into going with them to the very gorgeous New Caledonia: these episodes were really filmed on location, as were these. 

During these clips, Gu Jun-pyo tires to bedazzle Geum Jan-di with romantic dinners on the beach, fireworks, and a gift of an ankle bracelet (which she accidentally loses), and she's not swayed by any of it (although she does enjoy the vacation overall).

This contrasts with the last scene when Geum Jan-di and the musician, both medical students, are working in an outdoor clinic at the fish market (with communal living for the workers) where her parents wound up after the congolmerate bulllied them out of their business and apartment.

If you think "love fixes all" that doesn't quite happen in this drama (alhough some might agree with me based on the ending). 

Even though Gu Jun-pyo tries really hard to fit into Geum Jan-di's world (he even takes a shower with her father and brother in a public bathhouse), eating at her home (where her mother literally picks the fish off his plate and breaks it up with her fingers) and sleeping side by side on the floor with them, and even though he mends his narcisstic ways, Geum Jan-di realizes he will still always be heir to a conglomerate, and she will be who she is: someone who struggles at everything she does (she's even struggling with medical school, even though her heart is deeply into it).

So the pair wind up going on their separate ways for several years to work on themselves and their goals before deciding if they can really make a go of their relationship.

Playboy does something similar.

I should also mention these K-dramas comes with their original soundtracks. So a number of theme songs, in clips and in full, are played during some scenes. You become so accustomed to the music that you stop paying attention to it.

That's why I'm sharing one of the final scenes in the last episode.

It starts with the musician walking into an office and picking up a stethoscope, which is in front of a photograph of him with his grandfathre. The implication is that his grandfather has died, and the grandson has reunited with him and decided to study medicine to carry on the clinic.

All that is said in one movement. As a writer, I'm in awe.

Then you see Geum Jan-di running to catch a bus to the fish market as one of the songs starts to play. And that's the moment that I realized the depth to Boys Over Flowers.

Yes, it has its silly moments, and its whimsical moments, and it's "true love" moments, and it's tender and heartbreaking moments.

Yet it's all of these moments as a whole that bring visceral layers to a story that took its time to unfold in a very organic, honest way - even when the drama offers plenty of "fan girl" moments and the cliche shower scene. 

Side note: in a rather sad twist of fate, one of the actresses who played one of the "mean girls" later committed suicide, due to abuse and exploitation.

For by the end of this drama, all of the flashy, exotic locations have fallen away. The movement of the breathtaking water scenes in magical locales are now movment to poor fish market scenes and a benevolent destiny that's bigger than each individual character's self-centered wants and desires.

But the ending also implies a future that may also fulfill the desires of their hearts, the desires that are good and true.

Watch the trailer first: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMN2rtQ5cQY

Optional: Gu Jun-pyo pays a spontaneous visit to Geum Jan-di's apartment, where the family is making kimchi. This includes the bathhouse scene and eating fish cakes from a vendor. What's sweet about this clips is you see that families don't have to be perfect (and this family is far from it) to be a good family.

But do watch this final clip 54:55 to the end of the song clip - or to the end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiW0pOmjT5o&t=3270s

Don't worry about spoilers if you do watch it to the end. Because, again, the ending is not the point of watching. The point is to learn how the story gets there. Even as the drama was winding down, I was having a hard time seeing how the "happy ending" could be possible. 

Now to circle back to his post's premise, maybe the absolute final scene of this drama feels a bit dated, and it definitely was cheesey.

But it showed the solidarity of a lifelong group of friends for good, now, instead of evil, before they scatter to their respective futures.

Above, Bertrand the Mouse enjoyed Boys Over Flowers with us.