MSI Press Blog

  Today's publisher's pride is Travels with Elly by Larry MacDonald, which reached #145 in travel with pets books. Book description: Discover Canada like never before -- from a personal perspective, similar to John Steinbeck's view of America in his 1960 book Travels with Charley . The author travels from coast to coast in a trailer with his wife and pets, including their Standard Poodle, Elly, in order to gain a better understanding of his adopted country. Interspersed between descriptions of history, cultures, places, and icons are the author's reflections on various things such as Elly's antics, signage, ferries, political injustice, environmental issues, and animal instincts. To provide a canine's perspective, Elly reflects on things of interest to her, including cats, cows, and other critters...but especially cats! Where was Canada's first settlement? What is its prettiest town? When and where was its most devastating shipwreck? And who was its greatest ...

  The late spiritual director, Carmella Dautoff, once described joy as “effervescent grace.” It’s a phrase that lingers, because it captures something essential about the way true joy behaves. Joy, in her understanding, is not a mood we manufacture or a smile we paste on. It is grace rising — unbidden, unforced, and unmistakably alive. Effervescence is what happens when something within begins to lift, bubble, and shimmer. Grace does that. When it touches the human heart, it doesn’t stay flat or quiet. It moves. It brightens. It spills over the edges of our lives in ways we don’t always notice but others often do. This kind of joy is not naïve. It doesn’t pretend that sorrow isn’t real or that life is easy. Effervescent grace is what happens when love proves deeper than pain, when hope refuses to die, when God’s presence becomes so steady that it begins to rise through us like light through water. People feel this kind of joy. They breathe easier around it. They soften. They remem...

  Scientists still do not know how to completely prevent Alzheimer’s disease. But research over the past two decades suggests that  certain lifestyle choices may significantly reduce risk . Many of them are surprisingly simple. Protect Your Heart What protects the heart often protects the brain. Risk factors for Alzheimer’s include: High blood pressure Diabetes High cholesterol Obesity Managing cardiovascular health helps preserve blood flow to the brain. Stay Mentally Active Challenging the brain appears to strengthen cognitive resilience. Activities that help include: Reading Learning new skills Studying languages Playing musical instruments Solving puzzles The brain thrives on  novelty and complexity . Stay Socially Connected Isolation is linked to higher dementia risk. Regular interaction with others—friends, family, clubs, volunteering—helps keep the brain engaged and emotionally healthy. Exercise Regularly Physical activity improves blood flow to the brain and suppo...