The official blog of Denise M. Baran-Unland, author. Discover her books for all ages at bryonyseries.com.
Saturday, December 25, 2021
Friday, December 24, 2021
Thursday, December 23, 2021
Wednesday, December 22, 2021
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Monday, December 20, 2021
Sue's Diner: Easy Santa Cookies
This week's recipe is a favorite in our family, an easy way for even the youngest child to help prepare holiday treats.
This recipe isn't featured any BryonySeries cookbook. But we have made this recipe almost every year since my own children were young,
And, pre-COVID, my grandchildren made them, too. In fact, the cookies in the photo were made by grandchildren.
However, the cookbook Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," is a permament fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties and features all the recipes
You can try the recipe Easy Santa Cookies on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.
But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.
Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).
For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.
Sunday, December 19, 2021
Saturday, December 18, 2021
Updating the Ed Calkins Santa Photos
The Christmas season is a busy time for Ed Calkins, the Steward of Tara, since he dons a read suit, lugs a pack of presents, and replaces limericks with a steady stream of "ho, ho, hos!" while making the circuit of children's Christmas parties.
The beard, however, is real.
And you can read more on Ed's Christmas activities on this post.
And you can learn the entire back story of how a real person became a character in the BryonySeries "drop of blood" trilogy - and then an author in his own "write" for the same series by watching this video.
Now the only Ed Calkins "Santa" photos I had for many years were from a 2012 book signing in the former newspaper distribution center in Rockdale, where we both had worked.
Yes, I am going to share them with you. And then I will share the updated photos (and a little story) from WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party at the Joliet Public Library.
Oh, and you can buy the fifth anthology here.
And you can buy all the back issues here.
Ed Calkins, again, prepares to sign a copy of holiday Visage for a customer.
Ed Calkins signs another copy of Bryony for a customer.
Ed Calkins poses with my oldest son Christopher.
Ed Calkins posts with Prime Minister Dan. (Remember, the distribution center was Ed's kingdom).
A bucket of Ed Calkins candy canes, which he always distributed in December to the newspaper carriers.
And here is a closeup, just in case you've never actually seen any Ed Calkins candy canes.
Ed Calkins, check in hand, is ready to distribute candy canes.
Ed Calkins is persuading me (the photo bomb in the corner) to recreate our former "here are your customer changes for the day" pose, back when I was a carrier and worked for him.
So Ed Calkins hands me a candy cane, on his knees, since my nickname was Paper Goddess, later shortened to simply "Goddess." Ed bestowed that name on me because I took out the most newspapers out of that center every single night (with kids to help me).
I've accepted the candy canes, but Ed is still on his knees because I'm too busy laughing and forgot to give him permission to stand.
And here is the now-famous photo that became the book cover of the first book I published for Ed, in honor of Calkins Day 2018. You can buy it here.
And now for the (drum roll), updated photos...with a quick story to go with them.
Here is Ed Calkins posing with Rebekah who was only fourteen when we first met him. Time flies!
Now, as you can see from that photo, Ed insisted we take pictures with the facemasks off. But it's still a pandemic, so I held my breath the photo.
But then, Ed decides we should get one more. I'm still smiling, and still holding my breath, and thinking, "What? Is he kidding me???"
But the asthmatic lungs held out. So here I am, still not breathing.
Well, I am the Goddess.
Or as Ed writes in Ruthless.
Then, the Goddess walks in with her teen son and
daughter. The Goddess, so named when she did me a favor, and so called over the
phone where her teens could hear as her phone was on speaker, does lots of
favors. Someday, I should compose her myth. Myth-making is a duty of mine as
I’m of Irish descent. She would be the goddess of favors, eternal energy, the
written word, and newspapers. In this realm, however, she simply has no time as
she is both carrier and freelance reporter for the same paper.
The "goddess of favors, eternal energy, the written word, and newspapers." Wow...
Finally, Ed Calkins autographs a copy of Ruthless in the parking lot of the Joliet Public Library before heading home. Timothy caught this great shot!
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from all of us on the BryonySeries team.
Friday, December 17, 2021
Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Dec. 11 through Dec. 17
Good morning!
I have eighteen features stories to share with you today. More will be posted over the weekend, so do watch for them.
If you live locally: Tomorrow My WriteonJoliet co-leader Tom Hernandez and I will be at The Book Market in Crest Hill. The owner had to close the store for a couple of weeks, so we'd like to make the day profitable for her.
Tom will be selling and signing his books from noon to 2 p.m.
I will be selling and signing my books from 2 to 4:30 p.m. I have titles for all ages. Some of the books are just the right size to fit into a stocking, too. You will find a list of the BryonySeries books here.
I will also have WriteOn Joliet anthologies for sale (including our 2021 release), Nine Months of Kindness and the Little Book of Revision, which is perfect for writers of memoirs and fiction.
I will also have FREE hot chocolate bombs with select purchases, so please stop out.
And now, an update on my fiction projects.
I am currently re-reading my scribbled first draft for Call of the Siren (the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy) and starting to color in the lines. I'm anticipating a late spring publication date, especially since I finall broke through the "word block" wall last weekend.
Rebekah has the cover ready to go. Nancy Calkins created the gorgeous cover art.
Sue Midlock has completed the art for Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical Being" (cover looks great, by the way) and has begun the art for Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones.
Timothy has nearly completed the outline for the next book in the series, a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes).
Sarah also had a crazy dream that sounded perfect for An Adventure of Cornell Dyer mystery. But she wants time to draw some sketches, a map, and write the "rules." It's called Cornell Dyer and the House of Broken Portals.
Bertrand the Mouse has "returned," and you can read about it here, here, and here.
Jennifer Wainright (frontispiece artist for Lycanthropic Summer) has completed two portraits for "Girls of the BryonySeries" series for tween girls and is currently working on a third. The portraits are beautiful and it shows that artist Jennifer Wainright can draw anything from werewolves to portraits!
Rebekah Baran has completed cover art for two of "Girls of the BryonySeries" books. They are beautiful! One book in this series of eight books is completely written, a second is halfway written, and the rest are outlined.
Now back to the eighteen 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'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.
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
Pets of the Week: Dec. 13: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."
Thursday, December 16, 2021
What Writing a Novel Taught Me About Breast Cancer
Sometimes I feel too much attention is given to breast cancer over other deadly cancers.
Then while researching the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of breast cancer for Call of the Siren, I came upon this paper from 2000: Breast Cancer in the 20th Century: Quest for the Ideal Therapy.
As I scanned the research looking for particular information, I read this. The statistic for 1990 was sobering to say the least:
"Medical history will record that breast cancer was one of the most significant health threats facing women in the 20th century.
"In the 1990s alone, more American women died of the disease than all the U.S. lives lost in war from the Civil War to Vietnam.
"It has been (conservatively) estimated that 1,000,000 women died of breast cancer in this country between 1950 and 1990 (21).
"From 1930 to 1990 there was NO improvement in cure rates; however, in the mid-1990s a clear trend towards better survival was noted."
To read the entire study, visit https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3117557/
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Monday, December 13, 2021
Sue's Diner: In Advance French Toast
This week's recipe for In Advance French Toast was submitted by Sarah Stegall, the BryonySeries web administrator emeritus.
This recipe is also featured in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permament fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.
Neither Melissa nor
Brian felt at ease during the unfamiliar church services in memory of their
grandmother. The array of delicious food at the potluck luncheon that followed
was more appealing. This was especially true for Brian, who had heaped his
plate high with the following dishes.
You can try the recipe for In Advance French Toast on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.
But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.
Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).
For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.
Sunday, December 12, 2021
Saturday, December 11, 2021
Friday, December 10, 2021
Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Dec. 4 through Dec. 10
Good morning!
I have just eighteen features stories to share with you today, another eight that will be posted over the weekend, and another six in progress, so do watch for them.
Last night WriteOn Joliet held its fourth anthology release party to celebrate the release of its fifth anthology (we released an anthology last year but didn't hold an event, due to rising COVID cases).
It was the first time most of us have gathered in one room in nearly two years and what a night it was!
We laughed, hugged with masks on, sold quite a few books, raised money for the group, gave away two copies of "Holiday Visage" and our first Bertrand the Mouse gift set, and as for the chocolate bombs - well, they were the bomb!
I left work a little bit early yesterday for this event. So today will be a longer (and more tired) day, but the mood is still up, so hoping that (and coffee) will carry me through it.
For those who couldn't make the party and who live in other parts of the world, you may order the anthology here. All proceeds stay in the group to support local writers.
And now, an update on my fiction projects.
I am currently re-reading my scribbled first draft for Call of the Siren (the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy) and starting to color in the lines. I'm anticipating a late spring publication date, but progress is slow, so we shall see.
Barring the unforeseen, we do plan to publish the book in 2022. Rebekah has the cover ready to go.
Sue Midlock has completed the art for Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical Being" (cover looks great, by the way) and has begun the art for Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones.
Timothy has nearly completed the outline for the next book in the series, a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes).
Sarah also had a crazy dream that sounded perfect for An Adventure of Cornell Dyer mystery. But she wants time to draw some sketches, a map, and write the "rules." It's called Cornell Dyer and the House of Broken Portals.
Bertrand the Mouse has "returned," and you can read about it here, here, and here.
Jennifer Wainright (frontispiece artist for Lycanthropic Summer) has completed two portraits for "Girls of the BryonySeries" series for tween girls and is currently working on a third. The portraits are beautiful and it shows that artist Jennifer Wainright can draw anything from werewolves to portraits!
Rebekah Baran has completed cover art for two of "Girls of the BryonySeries" books. They are beautiful! One book in this series of eight books is completely written, a second is halfway written, and the rest are outlined.
Now back to the eighteen 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'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.
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
Pets of the Week: Dec. 6: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption
Joliet photographer hosting party for release of 1st CD on Thursday: Admission and food is free.
Support The Herald-News' annual Herald Angels campaign: Here's why - and how.
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage."
Thursday, December 9, 2021
The BryonySeries Year-Round Advent-Type Calendar...
...and a last minute pitch for WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party TONIGHT!
Do you like books?
Do you like chocolate bombs?
Well, BryonySeries will have BOTH at the party tonight - along with some great giveaways.
Read the details HERE.
And the be sure to check out the BryonySeries year-round advent-type calendar.
Each day has an activity of some kind that is tied into one of the books.
Most activities are family friendly, even if the book is for teens through adults.
Some activities can be paired with a child.
Any activity can be done on any day. Any book offer is valid on any day.
Here's a summary of what we've offered so far.
Dec. 1: Find out how to receive a free Bertrand the Mouse book.
Dec. 2: An invitation to a WriteOn Joliet meeting
Dec. 3: Make shiny Christmas tree ornaments from aluminum foil.
Dec. 4: Make fluffy, candy cane slime.
Dec. 5: Make gilded walnut Christmas tree ornaments.
Dec. 6: Combine magnet fun with holiday decor.
Dec. 7: Make a frozen Santa hand filled with little gifts.
Dec. 8: Try your skill at a holiday word play.
Marry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Sue's Diner: Spiced Hot Chocolate
The weeks' recipe for Spiced Hot Chocolate is adapted from Miss Beecher’s domestic receiptbook: designed as a supplement to her Treatise on domestic economy,
This recipe is also featured in the BryonySeries cookbook: Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permament fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.
Melissa, as Bryony,
had a close relationship with the housemaid’s little daughter, Anna, much to
John’s chagrin. They shared spiced hot chocolate at bedtime, and Melissa looked
the other way when Anna sneaked candied orange peels.
You can try the recipe for Spiced Hot Chocolate on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.
But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.
Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).
For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.
Monday, December 6, 2021
A BryonySeries Gift For You
Today is the feast day of St. Nicholas.
St. Nicholas is the patron saint of giving gifts, especially giving gifts to children.
We at the BryonySeries wish to continue that tradition.
Although Christmas happens in many of the BryonySeries books, we currently have two books completely devoted to Christmas.
Email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com and tell us which book you'd like to receive. Include your address, and we will send it to you. This offer is good through Dec. 31, 2021.
You might also enjoy reading these Christmas excerpts from some of the other BryonySeries novels.
Here are the books:
Bertrand and the Christmas Surprise
It's Bertrand's first Christmas, and he can't wait to meet Santa. But instead of the man in the red suit, Bertrand comes face to face with a bit of Christmas magic.
It’s Christmas Eve and a very sick Cornell Dyer is stuck in the hospital, frustrated because he can’t find the vending machine and because he’s too sick to solve his latest supernatural mystery. Another patient tries to help Cornell, not with food and medicine, but with a journey into realms Cornell doesn’t want to go.
Enjoy the day!
Sunday, December 5, 2021
Saturday, December 4, 2021
Six Irish Sayings to Promote Thankfulness
Has the memory of Thanksgiving Day faded with the turkey and dressing leftovers and the long holiday shopping lists?
Or are you still counting blessings and basking in gratitude?
Maybe you're somewhere in between, grateful but busy and preoocupied?
Regardless of your place in the thankfulness chain, here are six Irish sayings to help increase feelings of appreciation in your own life. Maybe one (or more) will resonate with you.
"It's easy to be pleasant when life flows by like a song. But the man worthwhile is the one who can smile when everything goes dead wrong."
"Praise the good day at the close of it."
"A kind word never broke anyone's mouth."
"Get on your knees and thank the Lord you're on your feet."
"Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel."
"May the blessing of each day be the blessing you need most."
Have a great day!
Friday, December 3, 2021
Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Nov. 27 through Dec. 3
Good morning!
I have just eighteen features stories to share with you today and quite a bit more that will be posted over the weekend (I'm working through the weekend), so do watch for them.
Also, if you haven't read the post on "Books and Bombs," now is a good time - especially if you like books, gifts, chocolate, free stuff, etc.
And now, an update on my fiction projects.
I am currently re-reading my scribbled first draft for Call of the Siren (the second book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy) and starting to color in the lines. I'm anticipating a late spring publication date, but progress is slow, so we shall see.
Barring the unforeseen, we do plan to publish the book in 2022. Rebekah already has the cover ready to go.
Sue Midlock has completed the art for Cornell Dyer and the "Mistical Being" (cover looks great, by the way) and I'm hoping she can begin art soon for Cornell Dyer and the Calcium Deficient Bones.
Timothy has also scheduled (and canceled) a couple of "Cornell" breakfasts to start working on the next book, a Sherlock Holmes parody (the main character is Sherman Homes) as life has gotten in the way for us. But we will get to it soon - before Christmas, as he promises.
Sarah also had a crazy dream that sounded perfect for An Adventure of Cornell Dyer mystery. But she wants time to draw some sketches, a map, and write the "rules." It's called Cornell Dyer and the House of Broken Portals.
Bertrand the Mouse has returned, and you can read about it here, here, and here.
Jennifer Wainright (frontispiece artist for Lycanthropic Summer) has completed two portraits for "Girls of the BryonySeries" series for tween girls and is currently working on a third. The portraits are beautiful and it shows that artist Jennifer Wainright can draw anything from werewolves to portraits!
And Rebekah Baran is working on cover art for two of "Girls of the BryonySeries" books. They are beautiful!
I currently have one book in the series completed, and I am working on the second, which I'll revisit this weekend when I'm off work. The rest of the books are outlined. The goal is to have three of the eight done before I release any of them.
Now back to the eighteen 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'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.
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
Pets of the Week: Nov. 29: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption
Blood donations still down, donors still needed: Here’s how to donate blood in December
Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"
Thursday, December 2, 2021
Books and Bombs
