MSI Press Blog

  HEARTWARMING BLEND OF MEMOIR AND COOKBOOK Says Literary Titan:  From Tuscany with Love  is a heartwarming blend of memoir and cookbook, weaving together memories of an immigrant childhood with the rich, comforting flavors of Italian cuisine. Lauretta Avina takes us on a deeply personal journey from the sun-drenched hills of Tuscany to the bustling streets of Gilroy, California. Along the way, she captures the bittersweet reality of leaving behind one home to build another, tackling cultural clashes, language barriers, and the aching desire to belong. Sprinkled throughout the book are family recipes that act as emotional anchors, tying past and present together through food. Read the rest here: From Tuscany with Love 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...

  Here is another book review of  From Tuscany with Love  by Lauretta Avina, a newly released book that has been on the Amazon top 100 lists in several categories. It comes from a colleague of the author. 'Why you are the way you are' was beautiful. When reviewing  From Tuscany with Love , I really loved that it revealed to me even more about who you [the author] are and where you came from. 'Why you are the way you are' was beautiful. The weaving of a personal story with the nonfiction historical happenings and the family recipes are timeless. The strongest memories are those that involve the senses of smell, taste, and hearing. The recipes are a microcosm for what we all seek; comfort through family and friends 'breaking bread' with the deep roots of food passed down from generation to generation. ( Claire E. Grissom, Coordinator of College and Career Readiness,  San Benito High School District)  Book Description: From Tuscany with Lov...

  The MSI Press managing editor recently wrote a review of our affiliated book, Certainty : Certainty: How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive Innovation deserves reading—more than once. Here, Mike Mears, a highly experienced leader and leader-trainer with a unique and fascinating background, presents a clever, very well written, highly readable, and engaging mix of an imagined story of a prehistoric man along with anecdotes about real people from real life to deconstruct firmly held myths about how leadership works and what leaders should do—myths   resulting in practices that achieve the opposite of what they purport. The expansive diapason against which Mike sets his myth-busting suggestions (that really do work) ranges from years BC until years past today. Mike paints his picture with cartoons—simple, to the point, and eliciting a smile or ah-hah; tables and charts—clear and helpful; and appendices—useful for application to any leader’s work environment. What one disc...

Here is another book review of From Tuscany with Love by Lauretta Avina, a newly released book that has been on the Amazon top 100 lists in several categories. "I never had a cookbook that brought a tear to my eye, but this one did. I have known Lauretta for over 40 years. I grew up in Gilroy, and we met in theater at our high school. I was also a shy kid trying to fit in. Her story brought back my own bittersweet memories of finding my way. I did not realize the depth of her experience until I read her book. That is how her story is simultaneously unique and universal. Different from yours or mine, but also the same. Reaching out through the delightful aroma of fresh baked biscotti, weaving in world history, sharing happiness and heartache, and tapping into the place that makes us human. Lauretta is proudly passionate about life. About family, cooking, justice for the voiceless, and about her love for Italy. As I was reading, I could hear every word in Lauretta's own voice. ...