MSI Press Blog

Hi, I am Sula, the Parish Cat. In honor of Caturday, I am going to invite you to join me on my Facebook Page  HERE   -- I have almost 800 friends now; you can be my friend, too, if you like read some blog posts about me HERE   -- all kinds of information: who I am, pictures of me, information about my book, and more: go discover! read the interview that Mudpie conducted with me when my book, Suriving Cancer, Helping People: One Cat's Stor y first came out HERE   -- it was fun; I think you will like it see  the stories about me on the Internet (from local newspapers, Guideposts Magazine, All Creatures Managzine, and more) read reviews about my books; you can a list of the reviews here Christmas at the Mission Dia de Muertos Easter at the Mission Saints I Know Surviving Cancer, Healing People: One Cat's Story Tale of a Mission Cat read some excerpts from my books HERE And, for some immediate reading pleasure right here, this is the Canticle of Sula that Stacy Gentry, my care pro

  Photo by Kaleena Scargill Some of the people who form a big part of my mission [taking emotional/spiritual care of the parishioners at Old Mission San Juan Bautista] struggle with cancer. I do understand them—their fears, their pain, their sometimes-sadness. I feel those things, too, at least as much as a cat can feel. I know that God made humans to have even deeper feelings and a greater range of feelings, and I am glad that some of those feelings include loving animals because it is through that love that I can connect with them and bring them the message of God’s love. I have to tell you about one of my special friends, Loryn. She understands me because she had cancer, and I understand her because I had cancer—the same way Cody and I understand, support, and love each other. Maybe it is better if I am not the one to tell her story, though. Maybe she should tell her own story. I think you will find it more interesting that way. So, here is what she wrote for my book about her exper

  (Sula, reminiscing, in her own pew, donated by parishioners in her honor.) So, how is Christmas 2020 going? You might ask Sula, beloved parish cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista and MSI Press author, considering that she wrote a book a few years ago--a popular one really--called Christmas at the Mission . Different this year, she may tell you because her cancer returned in the form of a tumor but with some very skilled veterinarian care her very bad prognosis turned around and the tumor is disappearing. At the same time this is all too familiar.  Because of covid, her "home" being closed from lock-down many times, and her cancer, Sula retired in December. (Please pray for her cancer to disappear entirely.) She now lives with parishioners and gets to interact with a retired priest from the Mission who lives nearby, so it feels like home. But she does work on Sundays, and she participated in all the normal activities--if anything could be considered normal this year. She he

  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!

Excerpt -- I Am Not Alone (photo by Kaleena Scargill) Some of the people who form a big part of my mission struggle with cancer. I do understand them—their fears, their pain, their sometimes-sadness. I feel those things, too, at least as much as a cat can feel. I know that God made humans to have even deeper feelings and a greater range of feelings, and I am glad that some of those feelings include loving animals because it is through that love that I can connect with them and bring them the message of God’s love. I have to tell you about one of my special friends, Loryn. She understands me because she had cancer, and I understand her because I had cancer—the same way Cody and I understand, support, and love each other. Maybe it is better if I am not the one to tell her story, though. Maybe she should tell her own story. I think you will find it more interesting that way. So, here is what she wrote for my book about her experience: Over seven years ago, I

(Christmas photo by Lovejoy Studios, Hollister, CA; originally published in The Hollister Freelance )  This Caturday, we are sharing some new pictures of Sula, parish cat at Old Mission San Juan Bautista, who has earned Internet fame and written six books (one in Spanish) and two more proposed. For today, though, thought it might be fun just to share some pictures of the author herself, as she has appeared in various interviews and stories over the years. Photo by Klimek, for Guideposts Magazine. More from that article can be found HERE . Portrait by Kat, cat artist in New York City. Drawing of Sula by Stacy Gentry, photographer and Old Mission Gift Shop manager--and overseer of Sula's care and caregivers. And the newspaper article with the photo above. And another newspaper article : "Cat's Story Is a Tale of Hope" ( The Hollister Freelancer ; photo by Nick Lovejoy). And yet another article , "Sula the Cat Is on a Mission in San Juan" ( The Gilroy Dispatch

  Books on discount through Kindle (Kindle Countdown) All books begin (first day) at 99 cents, with amount of discount decreasing during the countdown period, so, if you are interest in the book, snatch it on day one for the best price. (Subsequent prices, though, are something to smile about.) Books return to regular price the day after the last day listed below. Survival of the Caregiver  (Snyder) 12/10-12/17 Tucker and Me  (Harvey) Hollywood Book Festival  12/11 - 12/18 The Widower's Guide to a New Lif e  (Romer) Book of the Year finalist 12/12 - 12/19 Christmas at the Mission  (Sula) 12/13 - 12/20 Heart to Heart Resuscitation  (Montgomery) 12/14 - 12/21 Blest Atheist  (Mahlou) 1/8 - 1/15 in time for Orthodox Christmas, reflected in the opening and closing scenes Think Yourself into Becoming a Language Learning Super Star!   (Leaver) 1/9 - 1/16 Publishing for Smarties  (Ham) 1/11 - 1/19 Paperback formats (and in some cases, hard cover formats) of the above e-books can be purchas

  Books on discount through Kindle (Kindle Countdown) All books begin (first day) at 99 cents, with amount of discount decreasing during the countdown period, so, if you are interest in the book, snatch it on day one for the best price. (Subsequent prices, though, are something to smile about.) Books return to regular price the day after the last day listed below. Survival of the Caregiver  (Snyder) 12/10-12/17 Tucker and Me  (Harvey) Hollywood Book Festival  12/11 - 12/18 The Widower's Guide to a New Lif e  (Romer) Book of the Year finalist 12/12 - 12/19 Christmas at the Mission  (Sula) 12/13 - 12/20 Heart to Heart Resuscitation  (Montgomery) 12/14 - 12/21 Blest Atheist  (Mahlou) 1/8 - 1/15 in time for Orthodox Christmas, reflected in the opening and closing scenes Think Yourself into Becoming a Language Learning Super Star!   (Leaver) 1/9 - 1/16 Publishing for Smarties (Ham) 1/11 - 1/19 Paperback formats (and in some cases, hard cover formats) of the above e-books can be purchas

  Books on discount through Kindle (Kindle Countdown) All books begin (first day) at 99 cents, with amount of discount decreasing during the countdown period, so, if you are interest in the book, snatch it on day one for the best price. (Subsequent prices, though, are something to smile about.) Books return to regular price the day after the last day listed below. Survival of the Caregiver  (Snyder) 12/10-12/17 Tucker and Me  (Harvey) Hollywood Book Festival  12/11 - 12/18 The Widower's Guide to a New Lif e  (Romer) Book of the Year finalist 12/12 - 12/19 Christmas at the Mission  (Sula) 12/13 - 12/20 Heart to Heart Resuscitation  (Montgomery) 12/14 - 12/21 Blest Atheist  (Mahlou) 1/8 - 1/15 in time for Orthodox Christmas, reflected in the opening and closing scenes Think Yourself into Becoming a Language Learning Super Star! (Leaver) 1/9 - 1/16 Paperback formats (and in some cases, hard cover formats) of the above e-books can be purchased on discount at MSI Press webstore; use FF

  Books on discount through Kindle (Kindle Countdown) All books begin (first day) at 99 cents, with amount of discount decreasing during the countdown period, so, if you are interest in the book, snatch it on day one for the best price. (Subsequent prices, though, are something to smile about.) Books return to regular price the day after the last day listed below. Survival of the Caregiver  (Snyder) 12/10-12/17 Tucker and Me  (Harvey) Hollywood Book Festival  12/11 - 12/18 The Widower's Guide to a New Lif e  (Romer) Book of the Year finalist 12/12 - 12/19 Christmas at the Mission  (Sula) 12/13 - 12/20 Heart to Heart Resuscitation  (Montgomery) 12/14 - 12/21 Blest Atheist  (Mahlou) 1/8 - 1/15 in time for Orthodox Christmas, reflected in the opening and closing scenes Think Yourself into Becoming a Language Learning Super Star!   (Leaver) 1/9 - 1/16 Publishing for Smarties  (Ham) 1/11 - 1/19 Paperback formats (and in some cases, hard cover formats) of the above e-books can be purchas

  Books on discount through Kindle (Kindle Countdown) All books begin (first day) at 99 cents, with amount of discount decreasing during the countdown period, so, if you are interest in the book, snatch it on day one for the best price. (Subsequent prices, though, are something to smile about.) Books return to regular price the day after the last day listed below. Survival of the Caregiver (Snyder) 12/10-12/17 Tucker and Me (Harvey) Hollywood Book Festival  12/11 - 12/18 The Widower's Guide to a New Lif e (Romer) Book of the Year finalist Christmas at the Mission (Sula) 12/13 - 12/20 Heart to Heart Resuscitation  (Montgomery) 12/14 - 12/21 Blest Atheist (Mahlou) 1/8 - 1/15 in time for Orthodox Christmas, reflected in the opening and closing scenes Paperback formats (and in some cases, hard cover formats) of the above e-books can be purchased on discount at MSI Press webstore; use FF25 as a coupon code to get a 25% discount. Books on deep discount at  MSI Press webstore /books

  Books on discount through Kindle (Kindle Countdown) All books begin (first day) at 99 cents, with amount of discount decreasing during the countdown period, so, if you are interest in the book, snatch it on day one for the best price. (Subsequent prices, though, are something to smile about.) Books return to regular price the day after the last day listed below. Christmas at the Mission  (Sula) 12/13 - 12/20 Heart to Heart Resuscitation  (Montgomery) 12/14 - 12/21 Blest Atheist  (Mahlou) 1/8 - 1/15 in time for Orthodox Christmas, reflected in the opening and closing scenes Think Yourself into Becoming a Language Learning Super Star!   (Leaver) 1/9 - 1/16 Publishing for Smarties  (Ham) 1/11 - 1/19 Paperback formats (and in some cases, hard cover formats) of the above e-books can be purchased on discount at MSI Press webstore; use FF25 as a coupon code to get a 25% discount. Books on deep discount at  MSI Press webstore /books available while supplies last: 10 Quick Homework Tips  (McK