BryonySeries

Monday, August 12, 2019

Community News: Aug. 10 and Aug. 11, 2019

Check out upcoming events and the awesome things people are doing.

If you live within the Herald-News' coverage area (most of Will and Grundy counties in Illinois), and you'd like to share your organization's news or upcoming events, email the information to new@theherald-news.com.

Pets of the Week: Aug. 11

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/08/05/33eb7a2f7e6443d2bdd0b2c5f066cc8d/index.xml

Volunteer groups come together for a special day in Channahon

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/08/09/64fa056f0bf3465fb74a29c03c749333/index.xml

Joliet Township Infant Childcare Center Infant Childcare Center receives Gold Circle of Quality designation

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/08/01/34e8c581a4c34ee4b5c5b739a9656eaa/index.xml

District 157-C in Frankfort welcomes first resource officer

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/09/district-157-c-in-frankfort-welcomes-first-resource-officer/api8nwu/

Will County had spelling bee on March 7

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/10/will-county-had-spelling-bee-on-march-7/an3cgzf/

Troy student receives angel investor award, check

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/10/troy-student-receives-angel-investor-award-check/ak8yg2a/

Minooka school holds assembly for scholastic bowl team

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/08/10/ce4ea4acad894295a3b09cb5205e66b1/index.xml

EVENTS

Local arts and entertainment: Aug.12 through Aug. 19

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/10/local-arts-and-entertainment-aug-12-through-aug-19/aixd84k/

Local faith events: Aug.12 through Aug. 19

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/10/local-faith-events-aug-12-through-aug-19/a4p54m9/

Gotta Do It: Aug. 12 through Aug. 19

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/10/gotta-do-it-aug-12-through-aug-19/ap6k045/

Local health events: Aug. 13 through Aug. 20

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/10/local-health-events-aug-13-through-aug-20/aa129r7/

Local pet events: Aug. 12 through Aug. 19

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/10/local-pet-events-aug-12-through-aug-19/a1hu9ms/

Local food events: Aug. 12 through Aug. 19

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/10/local-food-events-aug-12-through-aug-19/a9yp28h/

NEWSLETTERS

Sign up for the Will County Go Guide

http://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/will-county-go-guide/#//

Sign up for the LocalLit Short Story Newsletter

http://www.theherald-news.com/newsletter/locallit/

Sign up for The Munsonville Times

https://www.bryonyseries.com/munsonville-times

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff

Six Months of Reading Only Local Authors

When Before the Blood went into editing last year, I decided to spend 2019 reading only books written and published by local authors.

Six months into the process, a very enjoyable process, I'm rediscovering the joy of discovering new books and enjoying them.

Publishing, like other industries, undergoes its own trends. By reading only locally produced, self-published books, I'm bypassing those, and its making a richer reading experience.

When I was a child and stayed inside the house due to asthma, I read. When I ran out of books of my own to read, I turned to the books of my mother's childhood, which sat on a shelf.

These books, although some where mass-produced by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, didn't have flashy covers or hyped-up back text.

They had a title, a name, and perhaps a frontispiece. The only way to discover these books was to read them. And I did, flipping through the pages, reading snippets as one samples appetizers, and finally heading to the first chapter to savor the entire book.

Liken it to the difference between seeing a blockbuster movie versus an independently produced film, where a discussion with the director and actors follow the viewing.

So although the books I'm reading now do have back cover copy, and some do come with enthusiastic promotion on social media, the carefully-crafted, targeted campaign is, thankfully, missing, and I'm able to relish each book for its own merit.

The covers give me an idea of the words between the pages before plunging into the poems or stories, but other than that, the rest is a quiet adventure of setting aside the hats that say "writer" and "editor" to burrow into someone else's world for awhile, a world I had zero hand in creating.

Do I enjoy each book equally? No, of course not. But each book is read for its own entertainment or informative or inspirational merits.

Not because it's famous. Or well-reviewed. Or because I know the author.

But because each reading is a delicious adventure. And, perhaps, because I know the author has, in most cases, overseen each step of the book production and wrote it because he/she had to tell that story, or write that poem, or deliver that message.

There's love and passion and hard work in the process. And a desire on the part of the author to share all of that with those who will pick up that book.

For a reader like me, it's pure delight.

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Ed Calkins Discusses the Mystery of Slot Machines

Dear MOMI,

It’s with great reluctance that I put this question to the IVA for fear of compromising our secrecy, but I feel the question is just too large for one Irish vampire to research on his own.

The steaks (excuse the spelling, to spell it correctly would cause undo anxiety) are very high. If we of the IVA are able to put our minds together via the message broad on the "Bryony" website and find the answer to this baffling two-part question within a vampire life time then…well we would have proved we could answer a two-part question.

But what if, because of the magnitude of our collecting finding, we draw worshipful attention to our own personage and become media eye candy to the masses of grateful admirers? The IVA would never be the same.

Personally, I’m willing to risk it.

So, here is the question: What did Irish people ever do to slot machines, and, if we did something, are we sorry?

Look, it doesn’t take a genius to know they hold something against us. The Irish are stuff of legend with our luck, and yet the video wheels that turn do not spell fortune to our pockets.

I must quickly separate slot machines in general from the slot machines in casinos, lest casinos join in taking offense. We all know well before stepping into a casino, that they are built as a capital collection center, and every is not expected to make money.

The chief workhorse for this collection is the slot machine, which puts them under a lot of pressure. If they never pay out, no one will play, and no money shall rest in their collection buckets. If they pay too often, the same thing happens, and they find themselves an early retirement. (Or being sold to a Trump casino)

Early casino type machines had it made. Laws against gambling in most states made competition light and payouts slight and shady. These machines all had the words “for entertainment only” on them so the murky establishment that housed them had an ‘out’ if a player tried to cash out.

Then came gambling’s biggest ally; state budget deficits.

Once considered the scorch of virtuous American ethics, gambling now became the bread and butter of government budget balancing as well as job creation. Large casinos were built and larger expectation were attacked.

As the money started pouring in, those expectation increased as did taxes on casinos larger than more profitable casinos.

Still more money was needed and state laws relaxed even further. Slots, once the domain of shady bars and houses of ill repute where introduced in grocery stores, gas stations, florists, currency exchanges, churches, grammar schools, and prisons with the mandate for capital collection.

Then something unexpected happen. Gamblers ran out of money. Who would have thought? You can find a slot machine anywhere today, but try and find someone playing one.

Sometimes I do play one, they look so lonely and sad as do the grocery owners and such who have them. If you do win, they look at you disbelieving like ‘really? I’m trying to survive here, and you’re going to collect?’

Casino slots can’t be blamed for taking Irish people’s money, though they could be nicer about it. Couldn’t they say, "thanks for playing" or "better luck next time" instead of "game over" or "insert more money to keep playing?"

The whole signage around them is a taut; “win big” or ‘thousands won on this machine," is basically machine-speak for, "Everyone else wins, I don’t know what your problem is, loser."

But there is a true meanie to Irish slot play, and it’s found on personal computers. I’m not acquainted with on-line gambling slots because they remind me of that kid in grades school who hustled me out of lunch money with the game "guess what number I’m thinking, I’ll tell you if you’re right."

I’m talking about casino software that you can still buy on a CD Rom and install on your computer. This software is often written by the same companies that produce the casino version of the same slot machines that rob you.

Given the competitive nature of slot machines, companies would have great incentive to give a player of the computer version that such a game pays out all the time. You can still find such people.

If you do happen to see someone playing a cash slot, you might hear them mumbling, “I don’t understand, I always win at home.” Be assured such a person is not Ed Calkins who never wins at home.

In my informal poll, everyone wins big on the not-for-real-money slots except anyone truly Irish. (Everyone is a little Irish, of course.)

My three very Polish wives play all the time on their computers and have to crow, “I’ve got 6 billion on this game," “Oh, I only have 700 million on this one," "Gee, look I just got the bonus AGAIN, I hope this program counts beyond a trillion.”

I don’t think I have to tell you what happens when I play, and seeing that I’m the only truly Irish person I know that plays this kind of slot, you can understand my question.

I’m told I have no reason to be upset. I shouldn’t take it personally when the program tells me I have no money to play, and I need to delete myself and restart again to even be allowed inside the virtual walls of the virtual casino. I’m being treated like a computer virus!

They tell me, “Look, the money isn’t real, its not like you have to pay it back.” Do they not know who they’re talking to, or have they not discovered my loose connection to reality?

At my count, I owe my computer 6 trillion computer bucks which can only be earned by winning on the computer program that loves everyone else, but hates the truly Irish. With all the money I owe, it amazes me that I find time to go to work.

I really need your help, Denise. I know the IVA monitors every inch of your website, so my call for answers will be heard.

To ensure a response, I’m offering a bounty for the best answer that is posted on Denise’s site and is offered by an IVA member. To the best answer, I will compose a limerick that will make the member famous without confirming or denying membership to the IVA.

To the second best, I pledge a 10 pombec bill.

I realize that with such a prize in sight, many qualified, but unremembered, people are going to want to join the IVA (Irish Vampires Association) so I will review how to become a member.

1) You don’t have to believe you’re a vampire (I don’t believe I’m a vampire most of the time (even the sight of blood make me hungry (unless it’s my blood (in which case it makes me uncomfortable (however its more the feel of the wound that the sight of blood.)))) but you do have to believe you’re Irish (you are).

2) Be alone in a private place.

3) Coronet yourself in a way you image the IVA coronets.

4) Welcome yourself to the IVA.

5) Appoint yourself to an IVA office.

6) Pay yourself the dues you should receive for your office’s budget.

7) Do as you believe an IVA member should do.

8) Tell no one, not even yourself about this. Write yourself a membership card and burn it.

Once an IVA member, you are eligible for the prize. Compose you answer to: What did the Irish ever do to slot machines, and if we did something, are we sorry?

Then send it to Denise and tell her if you won.

Wait, that kid with the numbers in his head might be the president.

On second thought, Denise will decide who won.

Don’t worry, Denise will forget your name as soon as she picks a winner.

Ruthlessly yours,

Ed Calkins

Editor's note: The contest is inside Ed's head. You may send responses, but there are no winners.

Friday, August 9, 2019

Community News: Aug. 9, 2019

https://www.bryonyseries.com/munsonville-times

Illustration by Christopher Gleason for "Staked!" Follow him at artworkbytopher.com.

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Aug. 4 through Aug. 9

A bit of a crazy morning with lots to do.

So no commentary today, just straight to the information!

Below you will find where to find the information and then, below that, links to this weeks' features.

Have a great Friday readers, writers, and BryonySeries fans. :)

Non-bylined features:

Monday through Saturday I assembled my non-bylined works - brief posts and calendar listings - into one convenient file and posting them on Facebook in the evening, so readers can easily choose the ones they want to read.

One can also find those event listings, the Gotta Do It calendar, as well as the pets, health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars, under the sections tab on the left hand side of http://www.theherald-news.com/. Click on "features" and the topics drop down. Gotta Do It runs under "people."

Community news? Again, under the sections tab, under features, and by topic. Updates are posted on these days in print and web (and some only on web on other days as I have the time):

Social media:

Daily updates: I do post the briefs and calendars 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.

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to jon WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/writeonminooka/?ref=bookmarks. We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

Upcoming events:

Once Timothy Baran is done updating this page, these will listed here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/fetes-and-feasts.

Check out the progress he has made so far. Each square is hand-built. And be sure to "hover" your hand over the first square. Note: this only works (so far) with the desktop version.

But he's also made A LOT of changes to the website. So be sure to roam around a bit.

Books and Such

Information on my books (including where to buy) along with upcoming events is at www.bryonyseries.com. Again, Timothy is in the process of updating the website, so all titles may not appear. If you have any 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.

'You don't have to speak Spanish'
The 50-year-old Spanish Community Center in Joliet serves people in need

The center started to help the migrant community and gradually extended to the greater community. See the multitude of programs available today - and the person who is now directing the organization.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/30/1aed5f80fbe643dc864ab6dd1e60e27e/index.xml

The house that Jack Heavens built
Coal City bricklayer was a good role model for his family and friends

What made him such a great role model? A quality one family member said is rare to see today.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/30/the-house-that-jack-heavens-built/a2t16v2/

Fixing houses, building bonds with those in need
Joliet church's mission work reaches people on many levels
By Rachel Barks, Herald-News intern

And see the family tradition it's inspired.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/08/05/38b97b023d0e4e61aab4365b6339491e/index.xml

Joliet Junior college alum has global passion for food

Plus the photos of his food are stunning!

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/08/05/6d746358b7e44fff8132f615183710cd/index.xml

When Will County Boy Scouts carried the torch
This month marks the 60th anniversary

And then read on for a list of participants.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/08/06/0ebfd18e28db40f98e7f4a44f105f69d/index.xml

In the footsteps of Walt Disney

Plainfield college student completes unique pilgrimage

Why did this event attract Brianna Borger? And what has she learned?

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/08/06/b221d4fedafc444191ee26694ccd5bfb/index.xml

LocalLit spotlight: 'Locks of Love' by Holly Coop of Joliet

Book review coming Tuesday. See why.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/09/locallit-spotlight-locks-of-love-by-holly-coop-of-joliet/anj2166/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Community News: Aug. 7 and Aug. 8, 2019

https://www.bryonyseries.com/munsonville-times

Illustration by Christopher Gleason for "Staked!" Follow him at artworkbytopher.com.

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: The Hat's on the Other Head

Sunday, October 21, 2012

The Hat's on the Other Head

At today's signing at A Thin Line Tattoo, a writerly friend stopped to show support and to buy a "purple rose" Bryony soy candle,courtesty of Valerie's Heavenly Scents. Since we're both hat people, we like getting our picture taken together in our hats. She didn't wear a hat that day, but mine perfectly matched her shirt, so we shared!

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Open Mic Night 2019: Tom Hernandez (Round 2)

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Community News: Aug. 5 and Aug. 6, 2019

https://www.bryonyseries.com/munsonville-times

Human Motivation (and a Thoughtful Review)

I'm not even certain where to begin this post.

In fact, it's probably two posts.

As a writer writing to other writers, I could dedicate an entire post to the "whys" and "hows" of, when creating characters for a story, delving into their psyches and probing the motivation of all they do. That, to me, is part of the process to creating lifelike characters.

But when a reader writes to me and says students working on their doctorate in psychology could write a thesis based on the BryonySeries, because the characters are so well-crafted and complex, that means more to me than millions of copies sold.

Although millions of copies sold would be nice, too.

That same reader (at least on the summer side of things) is planning, once the cooler weather arrives, to re-read the Bryony trilogy and Before the Blood (eight books in all), making notes, and perhaps writing a thesis on it.

My response? I'll buy a copy!

The reason is less about being hungry for feedback on my work and more about learning the type of impact years of solitary work has made, on one person, at least.

That said, this same reader left a review on Amazon last night. I've posted it below.

I generally don't need motivation to write. But if I did, this review would do it.

Have a blessed Tuesday, readers, writers, and BryonySeries fans! :)

5.0 out of 5 stars

This prequel to the Bryony series solves some mysteries and creates even more

July 5, 2019

Format: Paperback

Verified Purchase

If you’ve read Denise Baran-Unland’s "Bryony" trilogy (Bryony, Visage and Staked!), you already know it’s a “vampire tale.”

If you’ve read it more than once, you realize it’s much more.

I’ve come to the conclusion that Unland’s series – in part - is a study of what motivates humans (and vampires) to do the things they do. Sounds pretty simple, right?

You may well ask, “Why did the author write eight books attempting to determine why people make bad decisions?"

Consider this: Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung spent decades of research attempting to understand why otherwise intelligent human beings make decisions that impact their lives so negatively. Unlike the aforementioned fellows, Unland has come scarily close to revealing exactly what drives human beings.

Before the Blood: Bryony Simons (BTB) is Unland’s fifth and final prequel. In the trilogy, Bryony Simons, nee Marseilles, has been dead for decades. Her spirit drives the characters, but we never get to know the real Bryony.

The prequels, BTB, Bryony Simons and BTB, Bryony Marseilles, give the reader the opportunity to know (and love) Bryony as a human being in the village of Munsonville.

(This last installment of ) BTB begins more like a fairy tale than Gothic horror. The girl on the brink of womanhood has no memory of her own long-dead mother. Her unrequited love for Owen Munson, her “cowboy,” ends tragically.

Her father preaches love, but is cold and absent. Bryony turns to beautiful Lake Munsonville for solace. She loves and identifies with the lake as she resigns herself to a life without true love.

Then, out of the blue, rich and renowned composer and concert pianist, John Simons, falls immediately and madly in love. At seventeen, Bryony knows little of love and is swept along in the current of his ardor. John Simons, a sophisticated man of the world, agrees to settle in the backwater village of Munsonville to make Bryony happy.

He builds her a mansion replete with servants and ladies in waiting. He dedicates a composition to her and has a hybrid flower named for her. He feeds her delicacies. He coddles and spoils her. John Simons’ entire universe revolves around the fragile young woman.

All is bliss and then it is not. The transition from joy to sorrow is gradual and insidious.

Those who haven’t read the trilogy may not immediately catch the underlying malignancy, but it’s there all the same. The choices all have made come back to haunt them.

There’s John Simons, who has made a deal with the devil.

And there’s the devil himself, Kellen Wechsler, who is ostensibly John Simons’ manager. In this tale, Wechsler is relatively low key and that’s not necessarily a good thing.

Henry Matthews - whose deal with the devil is pending - also appears. He lusts quietly for Bryony, sacrificing everything for the opportunity to possess her, even temporarily. His intentions are not evil, but that hardly matters in the scheme of things.

Of special note is Dr. Gothart, a nebulous character. The good doctor is always vaguely behind the scenes pulling strings and offering advice. The human condition seems to be a source of endless amusement to the good doctor. Whether he's a god, a demon or a fey creature, Dr. Gothart is terrifying.

Dr. Gothart’s “daughter,” Millicent, is far less subtle. Her jealousy of Bryony leads her to destroy the girl’s illusions of her beloved lake. As she sees her nurturing lake transformed, she's forced to reassess her own identity.

Unland’s Bryony trilogy and the prequels are cautionary tales. In each book, there are signs galore that read, “DANGER – DO NOT ENTER.” John Simons, Kellen Wechsler and Henry Matthews make conscious decisions to fly into the flames.

Bryony’s decision is more or less made for her. It may be argued that she never had a choice in the decision to marry John Simons. She was a hapless fly caught in a web of illusion.

The Bryony series is a masterpiece. These are not books to be read in an afternoon at the beach. Without a doubt, each book is entertaining - difficult to put down. However, the series is far more than the sum of its books.

I've read the trilogy four times. I've read each of the prequels at least twice. Still, I'm learning something new about the plot, the characters and the author.

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Monday, August 5, 2019

Community News: Aug. 1, Aug. 2, and Aug. 3, 2019

Check out the awesome things people are doing.

If you live within the Herald-News' coverage area (most of Will and Grundy counties in Illinois), and you'd like to share your organization's news or upcoming events, email the information to new@theherald-news.com.

PEOPLE

Troy students Skype with ABC7 meteorologist

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/01/troy-students-skype-with-abc7-meteorologist/a8zw8q8/

Changing of the guard at Visitation and Aid society in Joliet

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/26/changing-of-the-guard-at-visitation-and-aid-society-in-joliet/ahob7nl/

Edward Foundation charity golf tournament raises $447,000

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/31/dea93684736e4a6ead9ce275ea781eca/index.xml

Grundy County chamber golf outing brings in more than 80 golfers

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/31/0081b240999341b78eba4b6161a4fde6/index.xml

Joliet students receive scholarships during 8th grade graduation

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/31/6998e522ce0b48fc865f690447fd442f/index.xml

Frankfort school announces new principal

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/08/01/frankfort-school-announces-new-principal/a2iau3b/

WILDLIFE

How wind energy affects wildlife

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/19/how-wind-energy-affects-wildlife/aal39tf/

Minooka woman’s heron photo wins May portion of photo contest

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/03/minooka-womans-heron-photo-wins-may-portion-of-photo-contest/a3aultb/

https://www.bryonyseries.com/munsonville-times

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Where Were You When You Wrote...?

Writers: Do you have writing memories?

Meaning, can you remember the approximate time, place, and activity when inspiration struck, or a scene, or a piece of dialogue, or a character, or a plot twist mentally appeared?

I remember Henry Matthews' first bit of dialogue, which was in Bryony.

I was still living in Marycrest, out on my daily power walk (early afternoon when Richard was still home with the kids, before he left for Caterpillar on the afternoon shift). I was coming down Marmion Avenue and turning left onto St. Joseph. That line is older than my two last children, as my fourth was no more than two years old at the time.

I remember when I wrote the last line to a chapter in Before The Blood.

We were living in Channahon, toward the end of our time there, as Ron had already lost his job, but recently, so it must have been late 2019 or early 2011 (guessing the latter), because it was snowing outside. I remember how excited I was to get back to the story. Instead, I went back to work (inside my attic office), never to return fully to that chapter for another seven years.

I remember the first line I wrote in Visage.

I was sharing an attic bedroom with Rebekah. I was lying on my mattress, and she was working at her desktop, so it was night. I had finished Bryony and pitching agents, etc., and the kids had asked me when I would start the sequel.

Well, having written an entire book, a sequel was out of the question, for many years, I had assumed. Then a single, but key, sentence of John's appeared in my head, and my muse took off. I stayed in place, because we had to get up and start out day in a few hours (back in our newspaper-throwing days), but I started the draft Visage not long after that.

I remember the very first sentence I wrote for Before the Blood.

I was sitting at my computer in my attic office when it came to me. Up until that point, I wasn't certain if I wanted to write a prequel to Bryony. I remember opening a file and entering the line. Visage and Staked! weren't written yet, and I had no idea how to begin or construct the prequel, but I had that wonderful line, and it stuck with me for years. It was only a matter of time...

What are some of your memories?

Illustration by Kathleen Rose Van Pelt for "Bryony."

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Ed Calkins on Steampunk

Dear MOMI,

Thereis something else I need to sound out about. If I am a vampire then as IVA (Irish Vampire Association) spokesman, I should sound off about the trouble humanity caused by waiting till Queen Victoria for steampunk. I will explain.

With the invention of the steam engine eminent, there was a sense that any future advances in technology were possible with the right combinations of steam, helium, and gears. Science-fiction of that era literally took off like a helium balloon. Suddenly, anything seemed possible as gear-driven steam robots covered the earth as helium art craft ruled both sky and space. The machines that could be conceived of seemed limited only be imagination.

Naturally, the IVA saw steampunk coming and got copyrights to steam, helium, and gears as soon as steampunk seemed possible. Rushing to the Queen, the IVA convinced her that if a method of boiling water till it smoked out of a cup ever proved useful, the usefulness should be paid by coin to the IVA. The usefulness of a gas that caused high voices and little wheels that interlocked seemed unlikely to have the value that the IVA paid for in gold as well, so the Queen issued the first, second, and third patent in history.

If that Queen had been Victoria, we would be quite rich, but as always, what tripped us up was we were too wise too early. The patent was issued by Cleopatra, on a scroll in the language of Imperial Rome know as classical Latin. The IVA gleefully started counting future profit. Rome had reached the height of technology as seemed bound to take it to the next level. The Queen’s sexual advances on the most powerful man in Rome made her legacy and thus our patent to be enshrined into the largest empire the world had ever know.

Alas, it would never be. While Rome science decided that they already knew everything, Julius Caesar met daggers, Cleopatra met a snake, and steampunk was put on hold in favor or the Dark Ages. 1700 years would pass till steampunk would introduce itself. Naturally we still have the paperwork, and Latin was still taught, but by the time we could get to the palace, the combustion engine superseded anything steampunk could create.

Ruthlessly yours,

Ed Calkins

Friday, August 2, 2019

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, July 28 through Aug. 2

Extremely quick "hello" today as I have a very early morning meeting.

This weekend is mostly a working weekend of the fiction and side projects type: reformatting and re-diting WriteOn Joliet's third annual anthology (or fourth, if you include Cheetah Stories), getting a good working draft of Phyllis' memoir done, and being "on call" for Rebekah as she formats a book for a customer (with me doing the editing part) and some Kindles for me.

And that's the weekend!

Have a great Friday readers, writers, and BryonySeries fans. :)

Non-bylined features:

Community news? Again, under the sections tab, under features, and by topic. Updates are posted on these days in print and web (and some only on web on other days as I have the time):

Social media:

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

Upcoming events:

Once Timothy Baran is done updating this page, these will listed here: https://www.bryonyseries.com/fetes-and-feasts.

Books and Such

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.

Piecing together a bit of park history
Before Frisbee golf, Highland Park in #Joliet had a much different look

Apparently not a single photograph remains of the park of my childhood.

But with a little digging, I learned a lot about the park's early days.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/28/964c69a71715483994806840dad4d379/index.xml

An Extraordinary Life
Joliet woman's victories did not come easy to her

Find out why - and then see how she responded.

https://www.theherald-news.com/2019/07/23/an-extraordinary-life-joliet-womans-victories-did-not-come-easy-to-her/a3v6ek8/

Healthy, connected and up-to-date
2019 Annual Senior Resource Festival in Joliet keeps active seniors informed

Today's senior is not the senior of yesteryear, so this is not the typical health fair.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/29/df5b2c579140445e81bae2eede975b3c/index.xml

Cheryl's Candy N' Popcorn in Bolingbrook is a trip back into time

I even found a piece of my childhood there.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/30/c87367f23a0440a8adb6452311182318/index.xml

Great Blues Music planned for annual Joliet festival

Last year's inaugural event attracted over 1,000 people. See who's on the lineup for this year's event.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/08/01/0fc0e3f624db479fbdd87e00fb62d361/index.xml

Christian comedy team films web pilot in Lockport

Who says clean comedy can't be funny comedy? Read on for details.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/07/30/15b4867f36754bd8bb42042e5b84ea5b/index.xml?page=1

LocalLit book spotlight: 'The Adventure of a Lifetime' by Ravina Thakkar of Plainfield

This fantasy adventure book for middle school students was written by a young teen and traditionally published.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/08/01/5fe6ea12543d4422acaaef29c6a16807/index.xml

A different approach to dancing
Internationally acclaimed instructor brings techniques to Morris
By Marney Simon

Check out this in-depth story by our Morris Herald-News news editor.

https://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2019/08/01/23f62f5f55b84dacbed78bd009ce14fa/index.xml

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff or @MattCoundiff

Thursday, August 1, 2019

BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: That Lightening Bolt Moment

Monday, August 2, 2010

That Lightening Bolt Moment

Okay, maybe it was not that dramatic.

On one of the first days of 1985, I laid on the couch trying to combat pregnancy nausea with a book of classic vampire stories. My two year old and eight month old were napping at the same time, a highly unusual occurrence. I laid the book upside down on my chest and decided to write a gothicy-style vampire novel.

Now, I had never written a novel, only short stories and one novella. Nor had I even written much fiction since my junior high school days, thanks to a series of illnesses in high school and a killer schedule in college. Since becoming a parent, I had not even read much fiction. I preferred the Bible, as well as books on pregnancy, childbirth, Cesarean sections (I've had six total), home birth (I've had none), breastfeeding (infants, toddlers, through pregnancy, and tandem), Christian parenting, and homeschooling.

Yet, by the time the kiddies had awakened, and I was soaping washcloths for diaper changes (Yes, I used cloth diapers, by choice), I had the rudiments of s story--a teenage girl falls in love with a vampire she meets by a remote lake--flowing through my mind.

Of course, the main character would be Melissa. That had been my name of choice for numerous childhood stories. Finally, Melissa would star in her "official" story. I decided to set her story in 1972 (I later changed it to 1975 simply because I wanted Halloween on a Friday) to give expansion room to the story. It was a slow growth.

The raising of six, lively, breastfed, homeschooled children left little time for writing. Drafts attempted in locked, toddler-proofed rooms offered little concentration. Those adorable little people who shared the space were more interested in tapping typewriting keys than playing with all the lovely, educational toys strewn on the floor. Many, many deleted scenes found their home in some landfill.

Yet, while other stories ideas have come and gone, this particular one would not go away. Finally, in 2007, I decided to write it as a novella for the seventeenth birthday of one of my sons. I figured it could write it in a weekend. I was wrong.

Posted by Denise M. Baran-Unland at 12:19 AM