MSI Press Blog

  War and natural disasters create atrocious living circumstances not only for the people caught in the vortex but also for their pets, who are not used to foraging for themselves, have not built up the skills for survival, and are met with austere conditions too frequently too overwhelming to support their efforts to stay alive. Ukrainians are devoted to their pets; having to leave them behind may look like desertion but in a blitzkrieg style war can be the only option to helping ensure a fleeing family itself survives -- and is likely gut-wrenching. Many families are scooping up their pets. Some cannot, and their pets are now on the streets. Network for Animals is stepping in and doing the best it can to take care of animals left behind. It needs help. Help = money. Any amount; US dollars stretch farther there than here. Network for Animals is registered in a number of countries, including Brazil, the USA, and UK, as a reputable charity, and contributions are considered tax deductibl

  Many people spend money on Black Friday -- savings and all, you. Some people spend a lot. We are suggesting that this Black Friday you spend a little to help a lot with the little creatures of life. Cats and dogs in shelters need support for payment of dire medical needs, as well as fostering and adopting. Consider helping out a local shelter this Black Friday. And/or help out an organization that feeds stray cats and provides them a home. Here are two that we follow:   Ernesto's Sanctuary for Syrian Cats  in Aleppo   Chachi's Haven in Israel

  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, Elaine Imady,

  Maktoub  Arabs say that from the day of your birth the name of your beloved is invisibly engraved on your forehead. Perhaps this is true and explains the mysterious flicker of recognition I felt the day we met.  December 15, 1955 was a cold, overcast Thursday, and snowflakes were swirling down from dark skies, blown by gusts of biting, cold wind. I took the earliest bus into the city, and, as I hurried up the steps of the Main Building of New York University, I glanced at my watch. Eight o’clock. Good, I thought, three hours to review for my Russian exam at eleven. I had to do well because the possibility of a full scholarship hung on my grades this semester.  Looking back, I know it was actually fate that propelled me out of bed before dawn that day. Fate, destiny–the Arabs have a better word for it. They would say our meeting was maktoub or “written”. Omar Khayyam put it nicely: “The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,/ Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit/ Shall lure it back to

If you have read this book and have enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review as a comment on this post (and sharing it as well at whatever sites work for you -- Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Lirbary Thing, your own blog, or any site that seems pertinent). We know you have many choices of books; we appreciate your choosing Muna's book. Unfortunately, since this book has been published posthumously, we cannot put you in touch with Muna, but if you would like to communicate with her mother, sister, or son, all of whom helped with the preparation of this book, send a request to info@msipress.com, and we will make the connection for you. (This book was released in July.)

Released today, Damascus amid the War by Muna Imady, author of Syrian Folktales .    For more information about Muna and her books, click HERE .

Colorin' Colorado features Syrian Folktales as a n excellent way to gain better English language skills and learn a lot about Syria in the process. Muna Imady, the author, was a teacher, so Colorin' Colorado, you made a good call! The book is on sale at a big discount on Amazon . Learn more about the book HERE . See posts about Muna Imady and her book HERE .

Daybreak Press has published Kan Ya Ma Kan , a new book Muna Imady. Kan Ya Ma Kan is a labor of love and fidelity to the ancient tradition of oral storytelling in Muna Imady’s beloved Syria.  This collection of stories, recipes, games, songs and wisdom meticulously and fervently collected is a gift of love from Muna.  Muna persevered through illness to ensure that these stories and traditions would be preserved despite the war that has scattered Syria’s peoples like seeds throughout the world. Elaine and Susan birthed Muna’s words into the world  to ensure that present and future generations will hear the stories that Muna learned at the feet of her Tete, and collected from the generous people of Syria.     The stories depict clever, resilient and resourceful characters written in a style that lends itself to read alouds in a classroom or library setting.  The bold illustrations are reminiscent of Ed Emberly’s early wood-cuts.  These stories are not whitewashed or sanitized - true

Poems and stories from before the war in Syria and during the war by a Damascene experiencing the war first-hand. The pre-war poetry reflects the rich and joyful life that exsited then, and the poems and stories written later reflect the starkness and fearfullness of life that now surrounds Damascus and its inhabitants. Muna is also author of the beloeved book, Syrian Folktales (available at our webstore and other stores).   Damascus amid the War is available now on pre-order from: Amazon MSI Press (use code FF25 for a 25% discount)

Just learned about this article, written in honor of Muna Imady soon after she died of complications from heart surgery and published in Wild River Review (now defunct). She had contributed many articles herself to WWR. This memorial article is very touching: "Lady of the Largest Heart: Remembering Muna Imady." Muna authored Syrian Folktales , which MSI Press published several years ago, and right before she died, she had finished writing a collection of stories and poems about Damascus, which will be published soon, posthumously, as Damascus Amid the War .

Read Omar Imady's new article, "The Weaponization of Syria's Reconstruction" in the latest issue of " Syria Studies ":  Find Omar's MSI Press books at our webstore: