MSI Press Blog

  This week's book back story features I Love My Kids, But I Don't Always Like Them by Franki Bagdade . From the author --  I can't spell. Truly, I'm terrible at it. When I got my first job, teaching children with learning disabilities in a private elementary school they sent me for specialized training in phonics, a program called Orton Gillingham created for those who struggle with traditional ways of learning to read. It was eye-opening. For the first time, I understood the spelling patterns and realized there was something I could rely on besides, just memorization when trying to spell all of those darn words. For the first time in my life, I started to enjoy Wheel of Fortune. I knew which letter Vanna White was gonna unveil before she turned around those famous white cubes. Fast forward a few years later into my teaching career which was also a few years of intense exposure to many misspelled Words, that’s what happens when you teach students who also struggle wit

  This week's book back story features Intrepid: Fearless Immigrant from Jordan to America by Carl and Betty Lou Leaver from the publisher -- When Carl Leaver's beloved cat -- with quite a unique personality -- died from cancer, he found one way to deal with his grief was to compile the pictures he had made over the 11 years of Intrepid's life into a story. For sure, Intrepid did have a story. Ironically, Carl died from cancer three years ago. Intrepid is buried with him. Purchase the paperback at 25% discount with coupon code FF25  at the  MSI Press webstore . For more posts about Carl Leaver and his books, click  HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our  author au pair  services will mentor you through the process. Interested in receiving a

  This week's book back story features Individualized Study Plans for Very Advanced Students of Foreign Language s by Betty Lou Leaver,  from the author -- Ironically, given the popularity of this book, it was the fastest and easiest I have ever written. Based on years of experience working with highly proficient language students, in 2003 I put together a conference presentation to share "what works" with other teachers. Many of those in attendance wanted a copy of the power point slides, but my slides are nearly always just prompts for more in-depth information. I decided to write up the information behind the slides instead of just sending the slides. It took the better part of a week, but when I was done, I discovered I actually had a book! Purchase the paperback at 25% discount with coupon code FF25  at the  MSI Press webstore . For more posts about Betty Lou Leaver and her books, click HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter , 

  This week's book back story features How to Live from Your Heart by Nanette V. Hucknall.  from the editor -- her original summary of the book while in its planning stage: OVERVIEW Imagine yourself in a deeply loving and completely fulfilling relationship, excited by each new day. Imagine you awake to intellectually stimulating work that matters in the world. Picture the deepest longings in your heart blooming into real, tangible manifestations of your creativity. You can have all of this. You already have the road map and the knowledge to create this beautiful life, and all that wisdom resides in your heart. Your heart knows: Right from wrong Creativity from procrastination Love from lust Joy from mania Honesty from falsehoods And more. And here’s the best news. Tapping into your heart communications skills will: Bring you a deeper perspective on events in your own life and in the world Help you attain and retain emotional balanc

  This week's book back story features How to Stay Calm in Chaos by Julie Gentile. from the author -- Growing up, one of my dreams was to become an author. That dream came true on February 1, 2019, when my first book, 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas , was published. I didn’t know just 18 months later my second book would be born. Inspired by working full-time from home with young children logging into school online during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, I wrote How to Stay Calm in Chaos: An Everyday Self-Care Guide . Writing has always been a way for me to organize my thoughts and process my experiences. Accepting that we were living in a pandemic was no different. With the world on lockdown, I continued to persevere for myself and my children, and I did it all with the self-care foundation I built over the last several years. A daily yoga and meditation practice, journaling, and walks in nature were the reasons I was able to support myself mentally and

  This week's book back story features How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately   by Boris Shekhtman. from the editor -- Boris died several years ago from cancer , but his book lives on because it is unique and useful. Boris himself was unique. He won awards for his teaching; more important, he made lifelong fans from his students for his teaching. As one of the few teachers capable of bringing learners to the near-native level of foreign language proficienc y, he developed a number of techniques -- or tools -- that he found to work with nearly all students quickly and effectively. They worked with his diplomat students, journalist students, students with special needs, and just everyday students. After decades of success with these tools. he elucidated seven of them in a book, How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately, a slim volume with powerful suggestions. RIP, Boris. Purchase the paperback 25% discount with coupon code FF25 at the  MSI Press webstore . For more

  This week's book back story features How to Get Happy and Stay That Way by Joanna Romer -- a perfect Christmas theme! from the editor -- I will have to tell this story since Joanna, alas, is no longer with us. She passed away suddenly from a heart attack a few years ago. Still, her books are loved and still sell.  This particular book proposal caught my attention immediately. Happy is the name of my cat, and here was an author wanting to tell the world how to get him. Oh, right, she meant joy, happiness, peace -- not my cat! At the time, Joanna was exploring some of the happier, kinder, and kind-to-self themes, writing several books in that vein. Maybe she was looking for joy. Maybe she had found it and wanted to share it. In either event, the book is certain to help others find the joy in their lives. Purchase the paperback 25% discount with coupon code FF25 at the  MSI Press webstore . For more posts about Joanna and her books, several of which have won awards, click HERE . Si

  This week's book back story features How to Be a Good Mommy When You're Sick by Emily Graves. from the editor -- Unfortunately, the author has been incommunicado for several years, so all I have is a few notes from correspondence with her. It seems that she had some significance first-hand experience in chronic illness, in her case, rheumatoid arthritis at a young age. As she strove to maintain her professorial position and raise her son in a "normal" environment, she learned many useful things that could help others in similar circumstances -- not necessarily suffering from rheumatoid arthritis but from any debilitating illness. Library Journal was impressed with her book and provided an excellent review. And the book was off and running.  Purchase the paperback 25% discount with coupon code FF25 at the  MSI Press webstore . For more posts about this book, click HERE . For more book back stories, click HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Pr