MSI Press Blog

Today's back story is about the book, Of God, Rattlesnakes, and Okra by J Bennett Easterling . From the publisher Years ago, I received a book proposal through the mail (yeah, pre-email). It was a memoir by a first-time author without much of a name recognition and a modest platform. It did not fit into what we typically published at that time, so I sent a letter informing him of that.  Somewhere, he initiated a phone call to learn more -- he wanted to know how decisions are made, where he could look, how he should search for a publisher, and the like. He was eager to learn -- and very personable. I wished we did publish in this genre, but we did not. Apparently, Bennett formed some sort of instant trust in me. Six months later, he excitedly sent me a contract for a self-publish contract. It was not a good contract, but he did not realize that. This time, I called him. I pointed out the bad provisions in the contract. Not only had he not realized how much the contract skewed towar

  Today's book back story is about the book, Jesus Is Still Passing By ,  by J Bennett Easterling. From the publisher: This is one of my favorite books. Usually, I pass along books for copyediting to one of or our copyeditors, and if a book is in need of actual editing, I recommend that the author take on external editor. This book was different. It was well written, but the miracles reached out to me.  In this book, the author provided a modern-day miracle for each Bible miracle. Thanks to the author's willingness to let a publisher have input, I found some interesting, dramatic examples of miracles that we were able to sew into the text.  Beyond that, we shared something that publisher and author rarely do: faith and discussion of faith. Needless to say, publishing this book was an unusually rewarding spiritual experience on a number of levels. For more posts about Bennett and his books, click HERE . Award This book won a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for religion Paperback

  Today's book back story is about Bennettt Easterling's book,   God Speaks into Darkness . From the publisher --  This book was one of 12 produced during the pandemic in answer to a call from the publisher to authors to produce a series of books to provide support to readers during the pandemic. They were to be very reasonably priced and also available in e-book versions to make them accessible to as many readers as possible. Each author who accepted the call was asked to write a pandemic-oriented book in their own specialty/genre. Easterling had written two award-winning spiritual books, Of God, Rattlesnakes, and Okra and Jesus Is Still Passing By . Bennett's paperback book can also be purchased at the  MSI Press webstore  at discount. (Use FF25 for 25% discount.) Pinnacle Book Achievement Award American Book Fest Best Books FinalistA For more posts about Bennett and his book, click HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book

  Review of GodSway from J Bennett Easterling (author of award-winning books, Of God, Rattlesnakes, and Okra , God Speaks into Darkness , and  Jesus Is still Passy By ): GODSWAY , My Anecdotes with God , by Diana Skidmore Keathley This is a vivid and inspiring journey into the spiritual life of a charming lady. Diane’s memoir is filled with heart-warming stories of kindness, sacrifices, and an ever-growing faith in the goodness of God. It is a story you will long remember, as she takes baby steps in faith because he keeps dong strange and wonderful things in her life, proving beyond all doubt that he loves us personally and passionately. You will thrill as she tells of so many “co-incidences” happening to her—prayers answered even when she dared to pray in great detail for specific provisions. She began to realize that God is involved in every detail of our lives, willing and able to bless and guide us, providing for our every need. What surprised her even more were the many ways God

  Excerpt from Of God, Rattlesnakes, and Okra (Easterling) - ATTACKED BY AN EAGLE About a baby-snatching eagle, beloved bulldog, killer rattlesnakes, dumb turkeys, angry sisters, and hard times.   What chance would a kid with a penknife have against a starving eagle? The Hattiesburg American , our daily newspaper, reported that a huge eagle had seized a baby and flew off with it. The baby’s mother had placed her infant in a cradle to be near as she hand-washed its clothes in an outside tub. The hungry bird was apparently watching the baby. When Mom turned her back, she swooped down without warning. The baby’s attacker was thought to be a mother eagle feeding her young. She likely had a nest nearby. As the paper went to press, the baby was still missing. The story made a deep impression on mothers of our rural area. It was a call to arms, the hot topic at Sunday schools and ladies socials. “Our babies must be protected!” The episode etched itself deep into my gizzard. Search parties la

                                                   MAKING CHRISTMAS PERSONAL   A teenager in our little country church many years ago had a self-image problem. So convinced was he of his “unworthiness” he refused to take Holy Communion. Nothing we or the minister said could convince him otherwise. I shall never forget the sadness of seeing him sitting alone and forlorn in one of the rear pews as the rest of us joined together in joyful Christmas communion. Sadly, many still struggle with the idea that we are not “good enough” to please God. Maybe that’s why the Holy Spirit gave the prophet Isaiah this all-inclusive vision some 700 years before the birth of Jesus:                “Unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. And the government will be on his shoulders.                And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. “