MSI Press Blog

  Drawing by Uliana We recently learned that Sula, who is the parish cat at Old Mission (and listed as such on the Sunday Bulletins), is once again struggling with cancer. Sula, for those who follow her on Face Book and in person, has had quite a history of cancer. She was diagnosed with skin cancer a number of years ago, and beat it -- for a couple of years -- thanks to the tips of her ears being clipped. Then, it came back, and her ears had to be removed. Sula wrote a book her experience with cancer at that time.  For a few years, Sula continued cancer-free. Then, bang!, her vet found sarcoma in her hip. It was caused by a vaccination she had received earlier. He removed the sarcoma surgically. And Sula was fine for a while, but it came back, bigger and more scary. Sula was referred to Animal Cancer Center in Monterey, where Dr. Arteaga came up with a new treatment, using sonar to break up the tumor. And that worked -- for nearly a year. Then, bang!, the sarcoma reappeared, and Sul

Reaching near-native proficiency in a foreign language is considered the grail by some and impossible by others in the foreign language education field. The bottom line is that regularly, though rarely compared with the total number of individuals studying a foreign language, language learners do reach that level. Consider presidential-level interpreters (from any country), United Nations interpreters and translators, and graduate professors (especially those known as professors of the practice) -- without near-native proficiency, these individuals could not adequately do their jobs on a regular basis. Very few books have been published on the topic of achieving near native proficiency, labeled distinguished language proficiency by the American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages. The majority of them have been published by MSI Press LLC.  To see posts about these books, click HERE . The Journal for Distinguished Language Studies, shown here, accepts submissions on a rolling basis an

  Congratulations to Nanette Hucknall, whose book, How to Live from Your Heart , earned an honorable mention in the New York Book Festival.

  Beginning today and continuing through July 31, we will be offering a discount on Lamentations of the Heart through the Kindle Countdown program.  Find it HERE . Read more about Marti Wells-Smith and Lamentations of the Heart 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 focuses on what to do if a publisher tells you that your book needs work. Editors will rarely tell you this. It takes time for them to write back to you, and it takes time for them to give you specifics about your book's lack of merit for publication. How should you interpret their words when they actually communicate with you? If a publisher says that your book needs work (and nothing more), there are a few responses and interpretations: Generally, this is a kind (though it may not seem so) comment, helping you to understand why the book is being rejected rather than the typical "does not meet ou

  excerpt from Mommy Poisoned Our House Guest There's a Stranger in Mommy's Bed Sometimes Mommy gets really tired. She says that working mothers reach proportions of exhaustion that exceed the imagi­nation. In such cases, what they say and do has little resem­blance to commonsense. I guess that must be right if I judge by my mommy. For example, let me tell you what happened to her one week­end. Friday evening after a long and frustrating, to say nothing of exhausting, week at work, she fell asleep on the living room sofa. (She does that a lot. She says she is going to watch television, but she never does. She just stares at the screen for a few minutes and then topples over. I have never seen her watch a whole tele­vision show like my siblings and I do.) Anyway, she did her frequent act of screen staring and top­pling over on the Friday evening I am talking about. My daddy, of course, could not wake her up; he never can when she topples over asleep. So, my sister found her asle

  Listen to podcast with Dr. Fred Craigie, author of Weekly Soul , on Portland, Oregon's KBOO's Pathways Program HERE . To read more posts about about Fred and his book, click HERE .                   

Sula checking her book inventory; photo by Stacey Gentry Here are some of the comments that readers have made about Sula books. Surviving Cancer, Healing People:  One Cat’s Story Surviving Cancer, Healing People: One Cat’s Story is comprised of truly charming, heartwarming, endearing, and inspiring stories, shared by parishioners and told from the point of view of a lovable and amazingly insightful cat. [This] is one of those books that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after it is finished and set back upon the shelf. Heartwarming and thoughtful, Surviving Cancer, Healing People is a joy to browse and highly recommended. – Reviewers’ Choice/Small Press Bookwatch/Midwest Book Review Once you meet Sula through the pages of this book, you won’t soon forget her. While it’s Sula’s “meowmoir,” it’s also the story of those whose lives she’s impacted and an inside look at California’s Spanish mission. Whether you’re a religious person or not, the history is fascinating,

  An article worth reading....Click HERE to go there! For more blog posts about Arthur Yavelberg and his book, click HERE .

  Excerpt from Survival of the Caregiver A Treasury of ABC Self-Help Words that Give Encouragement and Support to the Caregiver  by Janice Hucknall Snyder: ABILITIES are unique and varied in each individual. I hope your parents let you become the person you were meant to be. Did they? If so, then you have developed your own interests. You have been given the opportunity of becoming a happy and well-adjusted person. In which case, you are now better prepared mentally to deal with your current role as caregiver. In fact, all the problems that face you during your lifetime will be more manageable. It is a tragedy when a child is expected to follow in his/her parent’s footsteps. Many times, it leads to failure, depression and even self-destruction. Ultimately, some of these people end up requiring a caregiver—sad but true. When you are comfortable with who you are, you are better able to respond in affirmative ways to all others. When your life is smothered in negative thought

Candace Sjogren is a corporate executive, entrepreneur, trainer and coach.   She is the Head of Emerging Sales at Marqeta and CEO at Boston Breakthrough Academy, a leadership development academy for adults looking to level up in life. Prior to this, Sjogren was the founder and CEO of two fintech companies and chief strategy officer at a number of lending platforms nationwide, and continues to serve as an angel investor.   She lives on Cape Cod with her husband, Andrew, son, Ivar and dog, Pan. Candance co-authored  Typhoon Honey: The Only Way Out Is Through , which is currently available on pre-order.

  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 deviates from our usual "conversation" topics of pragmatic and technical advice for authors and would-be authors, as well as those trying to be their own publishers. Instead, we want to bring to you information about a new MSI Press program that has the potential to help authors directly in significant ways: MSI Affiliates.  An MSI affiliate is an author whose book(s) the MSI Press editorial staff has accepted for inclusion in its webstore as a "friend" of the press. The high quality books of affiliates benefit in a number of ways: They are listed in the MSI Press webstore. While MSI

From the site: Julie Potter is a certified social worker who has experience in home care, hospice, nursing homes and hospitals. For 20 years, she turned her expertise toward coordinating a spousal bereavement program, as well as a hospital-based wellness program for people 60 and over. She has recently released the book “Harnessing the Power of Grief”. In this podcast we talk about being a social worker, burnout in the field, starting a spousal bereavement program, the death of her parents, her book, and grief dreams of her parents. Click HERE to listen to the podcast. For more posts about Julie and her book, Harnessing the Power of Grief , click HERE .  

  I wonder how many of us question our purpose, and wonder if we're fulfilling the will of God in our daily lives. When these thoughts enter my mind, I turn to specific scriptures to meditate upon their deeper meanings. Ecclesiastes 12:13 states: ...here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. The word fear often translates to love or revere, which takes me to Revelation 4:11.Thou are worthy O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. To read the rest of Marti's post, click HERE . For more posts about Marti and her book, Lamentations of the Heart, click HERE . To subscribe to the MSI Press newsletter-bulletin, visit our home page: www.msipress.com .

  (Sula in the arms of Fr. Ed at her godparents' house in Hollister, godparents on the left, friend on the right, and another MSI Press author, CB Leaver , in red in the front) Sula has been the parish cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista for 13 years and through four bouts of cancer (fourth just starting/reappearing). With Covid-19 and the shutdown of the Mission, along with the rest of the state of California, Sula retired to live with her godparents in Hollister, where she can be watched after and can even have a visit occasionally frnom a retired priest from the parish who lives neaby. She still works on Sundays, though -- and visitors are always delighted to find her in the pews at Mass, where she goes on her own and sits with whomever seems to need her at the moment even though she does have her own pew with her name on it, and between Masses at the Mimssion gift shop. Here is her bio: Sula is a very unusual cat. She is the parish cat for Old Mission San Juan Bautista and, b

  Have you ever sat by a waterfall in the forest, relaxed in a hammock on the beach, or watched an impressively colorful sunset and felt... nothing? Beauty and peace surround you, yet you're lost in your own troubles. Maybe you've even had that experience with helping professionals, going to therapists and bodyworkers and life coaches and doctors and still, you remain caught in the same struggle that brought you there. It's an awful feeling, like being handed a beautiful gift made just for you, only you can't reach out your hands to accept it. You might decide the gift is not right for you and continue your search for more and new and better gifts. But what will help you to receive them? As many of you know, I am a huge proponent of what I call “self-healing.” This phrase wasn’t super popular long ago, but much like “mindfulness" and "energy work," it’s becoming so commonplace, it’s losing all meaning. So let me clarify the essence and the hype, as I see

  Typhoon Honey: The Only Way Out Is Through is now available for pre-order. Release date is November 15, 2021. Complimentary copies are available for a guaranteed review. Inquire from editor@msipress.com. Short description of the book: Starting with a foundation of understanding how we, as physical and psychological beings actually function, Typhoon Honey lays out a path toward becoming the sole and undisputed author of one’s life – called “being the source.” The authors explain, with ample case examples and exercises, how to ·         release limiting self-concepts; ·         understand what reality is and isn’t; and ·         become totally and powerfully accountable in determining your future. A tour de force in transformational technologies, pulling back the curtain on how those techniques actually work, Typhoon Honey is a must read for anyone who desires to step up to a new level of life and living. And endorsements: Typhoon Honey blows your mind with gale force win

Kris Girrell is an author, speaker, and executive leadership coach on a global level. His education spans the disciplines of psychology, theology and coaching. Kris has lectured, presented and coached clients in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia/Pacific.  A father of three and grandfather of four, he lives with his wife Sarah and son Jesse in Andover MA. Kris co-authored Typhoon Honey: The Only Way Out Is Through , which is currently available on pre-order.

  (photo by Frank Perez) 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 questions the assumptions about book success. What makes a successful author? What makes a successful book? What results in being able to earn an income as an author? That last question is usually why the first two questions are asked. So, let's wrap these three together as "attributes of successful authors and their books." Attributes of a successful author:. Good writing Check out Elements of Style (Strunk & White); this is the minimum for good writing, and many authors do not pass this test. Clarity. Making complicated topics understandable takes talent, skill

  Julie Gentile, author of 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas and How to Stay Calm in Chaos was recently interviewed about her books and issues of self by the following: Relentless Pursuit Podcast "Everyday Self-Care" an Interview with Julie Gentile  (February 17, 2021) The Teaching and Learning  Podcast Self-Care for Teachers  (March 29, 2021)  To read more  posts about Julie and her books, click HERE .

  RECOMMENDED BY US REVIEW OF BOOKS With fresh, highly informative material on every page, Potter offers intelligent, sensitive guidelines meriting thoughtful study, along with pragmatic, readily accessible approaches from which anyone can benefit at any stage of the grief experience . -- so says Barbaara Bamberger Scott, reviewer for the US Review of Books. Read the entire review HERE . For more posts on Julie and her book, click HERE .

  (Sula and Deacon Van) Sula is sick again; her tumor has come back. In honor of her heroic struggles and in honor of Caturday, we are posting an exceprt from one of her many books, the one about cancer. Here we have the preface, written by Deacon Van.  Preface Letter to Sula from Deacon Van Dear Sula, I love your book. It rings so true—your stories, your humility, most of all your love of God and of the people of God here at Old Mission San Juan Bautista. The people who love you (there are hundreds, I’m sure) will cherish this book and love you all the more for your plainspoken faith and your mission of service at the Mission. Tell your amanuensis that she did a wonderful job of capturing your voice and incorporating the moving stories of Loryn and Cody. Thanks to her efforts, the book is not only an excellent fund-raising vehicle, it’s an inspirational call to Catholic faith and worship. She served you well, just as you have served all of us so well. Love, Deacon Van Read