MSI Press Blog

  Zhenya Yanovich If you live in the spina bifida world, it probably doesn’t feel rare at all. When it’s part of your daily life, your community, your routines — it feels everywhere. But statistically, spina bifida is classified as a rare disease , affecting about 1 in 2,700 births in the U.S. , and fewer in many other parts of the world. That disconnect — between lived experience and public awareness — matters. Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that occurs during early pregnancy, when the spine and spinal cord don’t fully form. It’s a lifelong condition, and like many rare diseases, no two experiences are the same . Some individuals walk independently; others use wheelchairs. Some have minimal medical needs; others require complex, ongoing care. Access to knowledgeable care can be a major challenge — especially outside major medical centers. Families in rural or remote areas may struggle to find providers experienced in spina bifida across adulthood, not just pediatrics....

New Year is that magical time of year when we get to look backward and forward at the same time. So, it was both a pleasant surprise and yet not completely unexpected when I found a video about  How My Cat Made Me a Better Man , Jeremy Feig's award-winning cat book ( Book of the Year finalist and Kops-Fetherling Legacy Award in humor ). It is indeed a great book - funny and yet insightful, humorously illustrated by the talented and respected late Russian artist Zhenya Yanovich . Watch Edify , which hosts the video had this to say: On July 1st, MSI Press published How My Cat Made Me a Better Man , the first book written by local comedy screenwriter and filmmaker Jeremy Feig. How My Cat Made Me a Better Man is a humorous self-help guide geared towards men, but with advice relevant to any demographic of reader. Shelly has also inspired Feig to appreciate having his basic needs met and to sometimes prioritize his own happiness, amongst other feline-centric behaviors. For posts about ...

  Excerpt from Easter at the Mission Zhenya with his daughter, Julie Photograph by his wife, Alla Yanovich MEMORIAL TO EVGENIY YANOVICH I want to dedicate this book to Evgeniy (Zhenya) Yanovich, the illustrator of my Christmas book. Even more, I want to share his exceptional story. Zhenya was born in Akademgorodok, a tiny town like San Juan Bautista, outside the large city of Novosibirsk in Siberia. Akademgorodok, situated on the Ob River, is home to the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which is about all that is there, but that is enough. The Academy of Sciences is a special institute of some of the most talented scientists and researchers in Russia. Zhenya was born with spina bifida. In 1979, Siberia had no access to antibiotics or the special treatments available to spina bifida children in some other parts of the world. Doctors held out no hope for Zhenya’s survival, but he lived. As he grew up, everyone in his town noticed his artwork and the immense talent...

Gewanda is the founder and CEO of Hope and Healing Corporation, serving the needs of the marginalized of society locally and abroad to orphanages in Haiti and Africa. In 2003, she started an organization to help young girls and teens suffering with self-esteem and identity issues. Gewanda is a featured concert soloist, and her natural talent in music and  praise and worship has offered her the opportunity to minister and travel singing throughout the US, Canada and Bahamas. Levitical Praise was birthed out of these true authentic worship experiences. Johnson holds a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. Gewanda has worked with multiple multicultural and diversity assemblage of both professionals and laity groups in various settings. Most notable, in 2003, she was asked to speak to the highly Militant Religious Divides between the Protestants and Catholics in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Gewanda hosted a weekly radio show called “Message of Hope,” which ...

People have been asking for -- IT ONLY HURTS WHEN I CAN'T RUN Gewanda Parker vividly describes  a tragic childhood, a triumphant emergence onto the adult stage, a promising future An empowering read for a challenging time, this book is nearly impossible to put down. Many, many favorable reviews, e.g., from MidWest Book Review: Critique: Impressively candid, exceptionally informative, and ultimately inspiring, "It Only Hurts When I Can't Run: One Girl's Story" is a compelling read from beginning to end. Very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library American Biography collections. Find more reviews HERE . The beautiful cover was painted by the late beloved and vaunted Russian illustrator, Zhenya Yanovich. who has also illustrated other MSI Press books. Gewanda Parker today is a pastor at a church in Florida.  And now, here is a short exceprt: He said...

  Zhenya illustrated several of MSI Press’s books. He has drawn covers, as well accomplished as inside illustrations. He illustrated Jeremy Feig’s book,  How My Cat Made Me a Better Man , which placed as finalist in the 2017 Book of the Year Awards. And right now, it is the season for another book he illustrated, Christmas at the Mission by Sula, Parish Cat at Old Mission. Unfortunately, Zhenya passed away at too young an age while already becoming a well-known artist in the US and Russia. Fortunately, his illustrations for MSI Press can be enjoyed in the books he illustrated for us. You can view information about them  HERE . MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hello, My name is Sula, and I am the parish cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista. My first book, Surviving Cancer, Healing People: One Cat's Story , came out a couple of years ago. I am very grateful for  everyone who read and reviewed my book. All five stars! That made me so happy. More recently I have written three more books, one after the other, on slightly different topics. Many people had written to me, especially om my Face Book page , and told me that they like my books, but no one has written reviews. Reviews really help to get the word out. So, if you would like to write a review in exchange for a free copy of one of my books, just contact my publisher: info@msipress.com . Here are the books that need to be reviewed: Christmas at the Mission: A Cat's View of Catholic Customs and Beliefs Sula the Cat does it again! Sula, parish cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista, is a cat with a special mission: to comfort people in need. Every morning, she spends time ...