MSI Press Blog

  A teacher and administrator in public and private schools for close to 40 years, Arthur Yalevberg has dedicated his career to making complicated concepts and issues accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. While most of his students were middle schoolers, he has also been involved in teaching World History, American History, and Comparative Religion in high school and adult education programs around the country. Where many academicians seem to delight in abstruse jargon that confuses more than it explains, his goal has always been to present information in a manner that does not intimidate but instead helps the student understand and draw independent conclusions.  Besides his professional career in education, Arthur also had the opportunity to live and teach in Singapore for two years. A microcosm of all Asia--with temples, churches, synagogues, and mosques mere blocks from one another--Singapore is a wonderful place to delve into many different religious traditions...

(photo by Frank Perez) It is Tuesday. Time to talk turkey. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side. While every traditional publisher, such as MSI Press LLC, accomplishes promotion and marketing activities, no press can pay exclusive attention to any one book -- and once a book gets long in the tooth, it often becomes unprofitable for a press to dedicate significant resources to promoting it. So, the question frequently arises, even with traditional presses, as to whether an author should spend the money to hire a publicist. Or, can you, as author, handle the publicity on your own? Some of the MSI Press authors have hired publicists; others have decided to try to make it a go on their own. This is a...

  Autism Parenting Magazine has re-published an article by MSI Press author Colette McNeil on February 16, 2021: "Leading with Choice: Honoring and Empowering Autistic Children" The article originally appeared in the magazines October 2020 issue. Click the link above to read the article. For more posts on Colette and her books, click HERE .

(drawing by Uliana Yanovich) What is Palm Sunday? Palm Sunday is the Sixth Sunday of Lent and the Sunday before Easter. It is a moveable feast because the date changes every year, just like the moveable feast of Easter. Palm Sunday starts Holy Week, the last week of Lent. On Palm Sunday, the priest is allowed to wear a color other than purple—but can wear purple if he wishes to. Palm Sunday is a joyous interlude in the somber season of Lent. I can almost always feel the joy of the parishioners, the priest, and those who serve for the Mass—the cantors, lectors, and altar servers. I get much petting on Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus’s triumphant ride on a donkey into Jerusalem. Jesus sent his disciplines into town to bring to him a donkey and a colt, and to tell the owner of the animals that the Lord needed them. A large crowd followed Jesus into Jerusalem, and they laid palm branches in front of him along the way. Some even laid their cloaks in front of him, making a ...

  From US Review of Books: Feig’s conversational style is witty and disarming. His self-deprecating humor lends charm and vulnerability to his ideas and opinions on becoming a better individual. Rooted firmly in a young, often single man’s outlook, he nevertheless manages to address aspects of life relevant to people of all ages. If you enjoy humor and love cats—the former being a prerequisite for the latter—chances are you’ll also be attracted to this fun-filled homage to felines. Read the rest of the review by Joe Kilgore  HERE . About the book: Jeremy Feig was at rock bottom - broke, alone, and living in a shoebox-sized apartment. At the same time, his cat was perfectly content. What was her secret? She couldn't say it out loud, but it was clear she had all the answers to living a good life. How My Cat Made Me a Better Man is a hilarious self-help book for guys that gals like, too, based on the lessons of an edgy cat named Shelly. It's packed with useful advice on topics li...

  "AN ABSOLUTE MUST" We just received a wonderful review of Colette McNeil's book, Choice and Structure for Children with Autism from MidWest Book Review: Critique: An absolute 'must' as a coping resource for the parent of an autistic children in this pandemic restricted home environment, "Choice and Structure for Children with Autism: Getting through the Long Days of Quarantine" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library Disability Parenting collections in general, and Autistic Parenting reading lists in particular. Read the full review HERE . For more posts about Colette and her books, click HERE .

  Congratulations to Fred Craigie, whose book, Weekly Soul ,  has been selected as a Silver Medalist for the 2020 Reader Views Literary Awards in the mind/body/spirit category and also in the religion category.  To read more posts about Fred and his book, click  HERE .

  Congratulations to Colette McNeil, whose book, Choice and Structure for Children with Autism  has been selected as a Gold Medalist for the 2020 Reader Views Literary Awards in the education category. It was also selected for a silver award in the parenting category. This is the second of Colette's books to be selected for this distinction.  Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with Autism   earned a silver medal in the adult classics - nonfiction category.  To read more posts about Colette and her books, click  HERE .

  Congratulations to Colette McNeil, whose book,  Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with Autism   has the silver award for the classical non-fiction category in the 2020 Reader Views Literary Awards.  This is the second of Colette's books to be selected for this distinction.  Choice and Structure for Children with Autism  has also won awards -- stay tuned.  To read more posts about Colette and her books, click  HERE .

  It is Tuesday. Time to tall turkey. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side. Today's topic attempts to answer the questions, "Do giveaways help sell books?" You will find authors completely divided in belief and experience on this question. So, are giveaways worth it? Yes. If they go to good quality (active) readers, who are likely to tell others about the book or to write a good review. If the book is the first in a series and you want stir up a desire for the remainder of the series. (Sort of like a loss leader at a grocery store.) If you have other related books, though not in a series, that might attract readers' attention, having read your giveaway. Yes, if there will be eno...

Congratulations to Renyuan Dong, whose book, Rainstorm of Tomorrow , has been selected as a Silver Medalist for the 2020 Reader Views Literary Awards in the humanities category.  To read more posts about Renyuan and his book, click  HERE .

  Congratulations to Colette McNeil, whose book,  Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with Autism has been selected as a finalist for the 2020 Reader Views Literary Awards. We wish her success in the final competition. This is the second of Colette's books to be selected for this distinction. Choice and Structure for Children with Autism is also a finalist.  To read more posts about Colette and her books, click HERE .

  (drawing by Uliana Yanovich) What is Lent? One of the duties during Lent is to go to confession (reconciliation). Lent is one of two times in the Catholic Church when the Sacrament of Reconciliation is required. Can you guess the other? Yep, it is Christmas. I like to sit with people in the church as they take turns going to one of the priests—our Mission often brings in several priests on one evening during Lent to make it easy for people to go to confession. I notice that when they come back—maybe the priest has given them a penance of a prayer or something like that—they sometimes pray beside me. They always seem happy! That is why I think the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a good thing! Sometimes people seem nervous at first, but if anyone is willing to take advice from a cat, I say “go for it; don’t pass up any opportunity for reconciliation.” The Mission, like every Catholic church makes the opportunity for confession available at any time. Usually a few hours each week ...

  We congratulation our author, Joanna Charnas, for the selection of her excellently written book and compelling story, A Movie Lover's Search for Romance, as a Book Excellence Award Finalist. For more posts on Joanna and her book(s) click HERE .

  Released this week: Arthur Ravelberger's book, A Theology for Everyone Else . If God exists and is good, why is there evil?" Avoiding such questions underlies the spiritual emptiness and anxiety in today's world. A Theology for the Rest of Us explores how to approach the divine through Eastern and Western religious traditions--without dogma; challenging readers to "Be ye lamps unto yourselves." AVAILABLE AT THE MSI PRESS  WEBSTORE ! ALL PERTINENT DISCOUNTS APPLY! (USE COUPON CODE FF25 FOR 25% DISCOUNT) Also available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, other online sellers, and retailers.

  photo includes Princess Muna of Jordan (mother of King Abdullah) in the center and Dr. Betty Leaver, MSI Press editor, second from the right; others - members of a visiting delegation We are happy tp provide you with a taste of the Middle East. Each of the books below contains nuggets and insights that are hard to find elsewhere -- written by the residents of the Middle East. Follow the links to more information. Damascus amid the War by Muna Imady Written by popular author, Muna Imady, whose book, Syrian Folktales, has delighted an uncountable number of readers outside of Syria, Damascus amid the War tells the very human story of the devolution of a society. The book containts 29 pre-war poins, vibrant with imagery of daily life in a robust Damascus. The 100 war poems that follow show the devastating affect on the people who navigate a daily existence after war came. This is a posthumous publication, containing Muna’s very last works and an introduction by her mother,...

  photo by Frank Perez It is Tuesday. Time to talk turkey. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side. Yesterday, I received a book proposal in the mail. Well, a proposal of sorts. The author had not his homework; he thought he was writing to a literary agent! Without any more prefacing, let me quote word-for-honest-by-gosh word the first paragraph: "I know that you have a set fee for helping me to get this manuscript to any one of the many interested book publisher, and that the most standard fees for your work ranges between10% and 15% which is fine with me. However, I would like to make a suggestion for you to present to any of them you may find that are willing to take on these works; this opt...

  Marti's book has brought in all 5-star ratings on Amazon, with rave reviews. Here, take a look: Top reviews from the United States Christopher Smith 5.0 out of 5 stars   Beautifully written balm for the bereaved Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021 Verified Purchase Lamentations of the Heart, Mingled with Peace and Joy, is aptly named and provides an enormous fount of solace and inspiration from cover to cover. Ms. Wells-Smith writes a faith-driven, emotionally and intellectually intelligent book of poetry and prose, each piece interwoven with a scriptural citation, that delves into her own experience with becoming a member of a club none of us would ever want to apply for, those of us who have lost a beloved child and are left with putting our lives back together as best we can, one foot after another, as well as prose about events and people that have led her to the place in life that she can find peace and joy. It is deeply personal and because of that spoke to ...