MSI Press Blog

  Janice Hucknall Snyder was caregiver to her husband for twenty years.  He had Parkinson’s Disease, followed by dementia. She wrote about what she was experiencing during that time, as it was therapy for her. What followed is her book,  Survival of the Caregiver .  Janice loves playing bridge, doing photography, swimming laps, and writing poetry, some of which has been published . Janice also wrote a weekly column for  The Beaches Leader , called “On The Sunny Side,” for two years. For more posts about Janice and her book, click HERE . And yes, she is the sister of Nanette Hucknall. (You can read posts by and about Nanette HERE .)

  Excerpt from Survival of the Caregiver A Treasury of ABC Self-Help Words that Give Encouragement and Support to the Caregiver  by Janice Hucknall Snyder: ABILITIES are unique and varied in each individual. I hope your parents let you become the person you were meant to be. Did they? If so, then you have developed your own interests. You have been given the opportunity of becoming a happy and well-adjusted person. In which case, you are now better prepared mentally to deal with your current role as caregiver. In fact, all the problems that face you during your lifetime will be more manageable. It is a tragedy when a child is expected to follow in his/her parent’s footsteps. Many times, it leads to failure, depression and even self-destruction. Ultimately, some of these people end up requiring a caregiver—sad but true. When you are comfortable with who you are, you are better able to respond in affirmative ways to all others. When your life is smothered in negativ...

Being sick is the pits! The authors of these recommended books know. They are not only experts; they have also lived the experience. Read one, read them all! They are available at discount from MSI Press webstore (use code FF25 for a 25% discount). All are available on Kindle. How to Be a Good Mommy When You're Sick Soon after receiving her Bachelor's Degree, Dr. Emily Graves was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and given a prognosis that she would be confined to a wheelchair within ten years. Shortly thereafter, pregnant with her first and only child, Emily's kidneys shut down. Thus, began a new chapter in Emily's life: balancing chronic illness, motherhood, and the professional ambitions that had caused her to excel as an academic and meet her husband. Today she is still fighting chronic illness, but she has found some answers as to how to manage that fight while being a good mother and spouse and continuing to pursue her professional ambitions. In this...

                             One of the fun things that a publisher (or at least, an acquisitions editor) gets to experience is meeting more than one member of a family -- as an author whose work we publish. Today, we introduce the Hucknall sisters, Janice and Nanette.  Janice Hucknall Snyder's book, Survival of the Caregiver , is an older book, but it is a good one, and one that does not really have a parallel for caregivers. The paperback edition is available at the MSI Press webstore on significant discount. Nanette's books have been published before and after Janice (Hucknall) Snyder's book. Nanette's books include The Rose and the Sword (co-authored with Judith Bach) and How to Live from Your Heart   (currently on deep discount on Amazon). How to Live from Your Heart has earned multiple awards:  Pinnacle Achievement Book Award Book of the Year Award finalist Best Books Award finalist Book ...

  Now available from Kindle: audiobook edition of Survival of the Caregiver by Janice Snyder. Book Description:  Survival of the Caregiver" is the result of all the author's ins and outs, ups and downs of caring for her husband for 20 years when he had Parkinson's Disease, followed by Dementia. This book is written from the heart. It is as personal as it is informative. The author chose to use an alphabetical list of topics so that a busy caregiver can refer to a special need quickly. It is the author's hope that this book will aid other caregivers in their sad, but meaningful journey with their loved one. Read more posts about Janice and her book HERE .    To purchase copies of this book at 25% discount, use code FF25 at  MSI Press webstore . Want to buy this book and not have to pay for it? Ask your local library to purchase and shelve it. Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter (recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list,...

  Caregiving is an act of sacred generosity. It’s the whisper at 2 a.m., the steady hand during medical crises, the presence that says,  you’re not alone.  But even the most devoted caregivers—especially them—can find their flame flickering. Burnout isn’t failure. It’s the body’s quiet alarm bell, a call to tend to one’s own spirit. 💡 Recognizing the Signs Burnout often begins in the margins: Feeling emotionally numb or detached Chronic fatigue that sleep doesn’t fix Irritability or guilt for wanting space Forgetting your own needs—meals, rest, joy These aren’t selfish signs. They’re sacred indicators that your well is running low. 🌿 Strategies for Renewal Managing caregiver burnout is about reclaiming your own humanity. Micro-Moments of Peace : Five minutes outside with a cup of tea, breathing in the wind. Peace doesn’t always need hours. Name Your Need : Silence can feel noble, but asking for help is powerful. Whether it’s a friend, a respite service, or a support gro...

  Caregivers often occupy the quiet spaces of heroism. You prepare the medication, catch the subtle signs of decline, hold the stories that others forget. But this vocation, born of love and necessity, can slowly erode the self if not tenderly tended. Self-care isn't retreat from caregiving—it’s its foundation. 🧭 Redefining Self-Care Forget the spa clichés. Caregiver self-care is about: Permission : To feel deeply, to rest fully, to say “not today.” Protection : Of boundaries, of time, of emotional bandwidth. Presence : With oneself—not just being available for others. Self-care is the practice of safeguarding your own sacred ground. 🕯 Daily Practices with Depth Body Listening : Before you serve, pause to ask: What does my body need today? Stretching, silence, sustenance? Emotional Debriefing : Journal your truths. Not to analyze, but to exhale. Care requires emotional breathwork. Spiritual Anchoring : Whether prayer, poetry, or porch sitting—create a ritual that remi...