“An Evening With WriteOn Joliet: Readings to Entertain and Inspire You”

Creative words flow from the page onto the stage! Eight members of WriteOn Joliet will present their original radio-style readings and poems in the theatre at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

Authors and performers are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Maureen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky and Duanne Walton.

Creative consultants are Nicki Blowers and Rachel Veres.

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For more information, visit www.bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761/ bipark@joliet.gov.

WriteOn Joliet is a welcoming, diverse group of writers of varied skills, interests and experience. The group includes professional journalists, fiction novelists, bloggers, screenwriters, musicians and poets. We promise a safe, comfortable and supportive atmosphere to share your work, and constructive feedback so that everyone can benefit from our shared knowledge.

WriteOn Joliet is a proud partner of the Joliet Public Library and The Book Market in Crest Hill.

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.

TICKETS $5
Available at the door and in advance online.
Click here to purchase online (no extra fees) through Ticket Tailor
Seating is general admission.

“ENJOY”
Author: Holly Coop
Readers: Denise M. Baran-Unland, Maureen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky and Duanne Walton

“ONE THING ALWAYS LEADS TO ANOTHER”
Author: Maureen Blevins
Reader: Maureen Blevins

“FOR SALE”
Author: Holy Coop
Readers: Denise M. Baran-Unland, Cean Magosky

“FINGER THE TUNE”
Author: Duanne Walton
Reader: Duanne Walton

“DOUBLE CROSS”
Author: Steve Cordin
Readers: Maureen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Steve Cordin, Duanne Walton, Denise Unland

“ON A DARK CHICAGO STREET”
Author: Holly Coop
Reader: Holly Coop

“GODDESS OF FALL”
Author: Diana Estell
Readers: Denise M. Baran-Unland, Maureen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky and Duanne Walton
 

INTERMISSION

“THE BEAST OF VENICE PIER”
Author:  Duanne Walton
Readers: Denise M. Baran-Unland, Duanne Walton

“PAWN SHOP GUY”
Author: Edward Calkins
Readers: Maureen Blevins, Steve Cordin, Holly Coop, Duanne Walton

“TRAVELING WITH THE MOON”
Author: Maureen Blevins
Reader: Holly Coop

“A LITTLE WINE FOR YOUR STOMACH”
Author: Denise M. Baran-Unland
Readers: Holly Coop, Diana Estell, Duanne Walton

“HOLIDAY MEETING”
Author: Cean Magosky
Readers: Cean Magosky, Anne Magosky (guest reader)

“A CHRISTMAS POEM”
Author: Cean Magosky
Reader: Edward Calkins

BIOGRAPHIES

Denise M. Baran-Unland is the author of the BryonySeries supernatural/literary trilogy for young and new adults, the Adventures of Cornell Dyer chapter book series for grade school children and the Bertrand the Mouse series for young children.

She has six adult children, three adult stepchildren, eighteen total grandchildren, six godchildren, and three cats.

She is the co-founder of WriteOn Joliet and previously taught features writing for a homeschool coop, with the students’ work published in the co-op magazine and The Herald-News in Joliet.

Denise blogs daily and is currently the features editor at The Herald-News. To read her feature stories, visit theherald-news.com.

For more information about Denise’s fiction and to follow her on social media, visit bryonyseries.com.

Mauverneen Blevins (or Maureen as she is generally called) has spent most of her life in the Midwest, although she loves to travel and does so at every opportunity.

Her interest in photography was sparked at an early age by a beloved uncle, and has developed into a passion over time, earning her a number of photography awards.

Following in her mother’s footsteps, who was also a published writer and author of four books, she began writing and has been published in various magazines and anthologies.

Her weekly blog, Positively Tuesday, is an ongoing attempt towards encouraging more positive thinking, one Tuesday at a time. She is the mother of three beautiful daughters and foster mom to her adorable dog, Bailey.

For more information, visit mauverneen.com.

Edward Calkins is a real, 60-something, proud of his Irish-heritage computer programmer and amateur writer who has also spent his entire life working in newspaper circulation. Years ago, Calkins invented a “ruthless dictator” alter ego, also known as “The Steward of Tara.”

With Calkins’ permission, BryonySeries author Denise M. Baran-Unland furthered altered him to create a minor character in “Bryony,” making Calkins the first Irish vampire of any significance. Of course, Calkins claims “Bryony” is really all about him, so he’s held his own book signings, which he is calls, “The Ed Calkins Tour.” There must be some truth in his sentiments, because Calkins’ plot importance does grow with each novel in the original BryonySeries trilogy.

Calkins is the author of “Ruthless” (his backstory) and “Denise M. Baran-Unland’s Irish Genealogy.” He also shares his writings on the BryonySeries blog. Email him at   bryonyseries@gmail.com.

Holly Coop has made touching hearts with words her life purpose.

Coop writes and publishes inspirational poetry, motivational quotes, and spiritual insights. As the author of five poetry collections, Coop hopes her words will stir hearts and inspire others in their purpose. Coop also enjoys sketching, creating photo notecards and art, featuring her poetry. (hollycoopcards.Etsy.com).

At hollycoopauthor.wordpress.com, Coop shares reflections, nuggets of wisdom, and anything that comes to mind.

Coop resides in Joliet, Illinois with her husband, children, and furry friends.

For more information, visit HollyCoopBooks.com.

Steven James Cordin usually lurks in the outskirts of Joliet, Illinois to pay the bills and bar tabs,

Cordin has worked in banking as a repo man, foreclosure guru, and fraud investigator.

He writes about fraud and crime as well as horror fiction.  Cordin is currently working on a collection of crime fiction short stories.

Email him at sjcordin@gmail.com.

Diana Estell feels that the joy and pains of Estell’s personal story, as well as her educational background, have shaped her writing style.  Estell has a Bachelor of Arts from Northern Illinois University, and it was there, while writing for her classes in anthropology, that her love of writing re-awoke.

Growing up, Estell had a book in her hand constantly.  Books like Little House on the Prairie, Little Women, and countless others.  The love of words is a deep passion of hers. She enjoyed reading the dictionary, taking words and changing them into new words.  Words were her imaginary playground, a veritable lush garden, springing out blossoms of creativity.

When Star Wars blasted into orbit, so too did Diana’s love for all things fantasy.  Dungeon and Dragons and Star Trek played a significant role in her private imaginary world.  Now the worded playground, with its abundant flora, sprung forth thorns of sharpened steel.  Planets and creatures emerged with ease.  This passion for fantasy has never left but has grown stronger.

Estell has traveled extensively, most recently to Paris, France.  Her love for history, martial arts and weapons is woven into her writings.  She has a black belt in a martial arts blend of Taekwondo and Jujitsu.

She had anticipated she would be going on archeological digs after graduating, but childhood dreams never die.  No matter how many layers of her past accumulated, nothing could stop a story from emerging in her mind.

Estell’s first novel, Abyss of the Fallen, was released by Brimstone Fiction.

Email her at inklings67@aol.com.

Cean Magosky is new to WriteOn Joliet but has been writing for quite a while as a member of the Downers Grove Writers Workshop.

First exploring poetry, he switched to mostly short story and historical fiction.

As surgical nurse, Magosky has presented on the regional and national level and was a member of Northwestern Medicine Nursing Ambassadors for the Fine Arts and contributed to their project Listening to Life.

His children’s story “Oatmeal Raisin Bear” was featured in The Herald-News’ LocalLit series.

For more information, visit historicimpressions.blogspot.com.

Duanne Walton said: “Writing is my gift from God and it’s been with me forever. It’s seen me through rough times and brought me to WriteOn Joliet where I’ve found support, encouragement and friends.

“I’ve also discovered other talents as an intrepid videographer, interpretive dancer or mime, and comic strip writer artist. I am blessed and thankful.”

For more information, visit youtube.com/@4thtroika.

ABOUT WRITEON JOLIET

WriteOn Joliet is a welcoming, diverse group of writers of varied skills, interests and experience. The group includes professional journalists, fiction novelists, bloggers, screenwriters, musicians and poets.

We promise a safe, comfortable and supportive atmosphere to share your work, and constructive feedback so that everyone can benefit from our shared knowledge.

WriteOn is a dues-paying organization. The first visit is free.

For more information, visit writeonJoliet.com.