MSI Press Blog

Cats & Their People: Stories from Conflict Zones — Luca and Ameen Ameen Aljbour is a pharmacy student in Gaza . He takes care of a cat named Luca. Many times, Luca has run out of food, once running away for two days in search of it. Ameen has shared pictures of her looking at an empty plate. On some occasions, this sweet kitty has gone a short while without food, but inexorably, pennies would again come in, thanks to people on Twitter and from elsewhere donating what they could and retweeting Luca's pictures and needs. We work at keeping Luca alive because as long as she stays alive, hope stays alive. Twitter users have also come to Ameen's rescue as he works his way through his doctor in pharmacy program. Sometimes, he has had to put off an exam for a day because he has not had the fee, but when that information has been shared, again, somehow last-minute donations come in. Currently, he still needs $937 USD to enroll in the next semester (four courses).  Here is Ameen...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  From Tuscany with Love   by Lauretta Avina, which reached  #150 in emigrants & immigrants biographies, #231 in emigration & immigration studies, and #325 in culinary biographies & memoirs. Book Description: From Tuscany with Love  is an emotional memoir capturing the heartfelt journey of a scared, little girl from the rolling hills of Lucca to the bustling life in America. Through evocative stories and cherished family recipes, the author pays tribute to the rich culture, love, and flavors that shaped her life. This memoir beautifully blends personal reflections on family, resilience, and the timeless traditions of Tuscan cuisine, offering readers a deeply personal and flavorful look at an immigrant's path to finding a home and a sense of belonging in a new world. A Reviewer's Comment: "a cookbook that brought a tear to my eye" I never had a cookbook that brought a tear to my eye, but this one did. [Lauretta's] s...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  From Tuscany with Love   by Lauretta Avina, which reached  #150 in emigrants & immigrants biographies, #231 in emigration & immigration studies, and #325 in culinary biographies & memoirs. Book Description: From Tuscany with Love  is an emotional memoir capturing the heartfelt journey of a scared, little girl from the rolling hills of Lucca to the bustling life in America. Through evocative stories and cherished family recipes, the author pays tribute to the rich culture, love, and flavors that shaped her life. This memoir beautifully blends personal reflections on family, resilience, and the timeless traditions of Tuscan cuisine, offering readers a deeply personal and flavorful look at an immigrant's path to finding a home and a sense of belonging in a new world. A Reviewer's Comment: "a cookbook that brought a tear to my eye" I never had a cookbook that brought a tear to my eye, but this one did. [Lauretta's] s...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  From Tuscany with Love  by Lauretta Avina, which reached  #150 in emigrants & immigrants biographies, #231 in emigration & immigration studies, and #325 in culinary biographies & memoirs. Book Description: From Tuscany with Love  is an emotional memoir capturing the heartfelt journey of a scared, little girl from the rolling hills of Lucca to the bustling life in America. Through evocative stories and cherished family recipes, the author pays tribute to the rich culture, love, and flavors that shaped her life. This memoir beautifully blends personal reflections on family, resilience, and the timeless traditions of Tuscan cuisine, offering readers a deeply personal and flavorful look at an immigrant's path to finding a home and a sense of belonging in a new world. A Reviewer's Comment: "a cookbook that brought a tear to my eye" I never had a cookbook that brought a tear to my eye, but this one did. [Lauretta's] st...