MSI Press Blog

Author: Patricia Lorenz Book : 57 Steps to Paradise What possessed you to write a tell-all book about your past dates, husbands and interim boyfriends?      When I moved to Florida in 2004 I met many women who were divorced and widowed, mostly in their 50's, 60's, 70's and 80’s.  I myself was single at that time having spent the last 27 years of my life raising my four children as a single parent.  I was married, divorced and annulled twice before that.  In Florida I met a number of men and finally married one in my 60’s.  Because I had met, known and dated a number of men over the years I decided to write a book about my experiences to share with my friends and anyone who is looking for love and perhaps a second or third marriage in their mid-life and later.             What is your favorite story in the book?        My favorite story is the one titled “Mr. Underpants”.  In that story I go from dating or at least meeting over a d

  From 57 Steps to Romance: Finding Love in Midlife and Beyond  (Lorenz)  Mom’s Got a Date Tonight   When you're used to sharing your life with someone, to be suddenly single can be the most devastating, lonely, life-shaking experience in the world. Just ask any separated, divorced or widowed person. The thought of starting over in a new relationship, though, is the most terrifying thing you can imagine. In 1987 when my divorce was final after a two-year separation, my four children had different ideas. After a couple years of being my dates at movies and fast food restaurants, I heard comments like, "Mom, why don't you join that singles group at church and meet some men?" I shot back, “I don't know how to meet men or go out on dates. Besides, who wants a 40-year-old woman with four kids and a big mortgage?" But the children kept after me to do something for myself, and so I worked up my nerve and joined the Single Again group at church. A few week

  Books on discount through Kindle (Kindle Countdown) Understanding the Seeker  (Quinelle) 10/5 - 10/12 Tucker & Me: Growing Up a Part-Time Southern Boy  (Harvey) Hollywood Book Festival finalist 10/22 - 10/29 Helping the Disabled Vet  (Romer) 10/23 - 10/30 Passing On  (Romer) 10/24 - 10/31 57 Steps to Paradise  (Lorenz) 10/25 - 11/1 Books on discount at  MSI Press webstore /books available while supplies last 10 Quick Homework Tips  (McKinley-Alder & Trombly) 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents: Fun Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Elementary School  (McKinley-Alder & Trombly) $5 book sale at  MSI Press webstore /books available while supplies last 100 Tips and Tools for Managing Chroni c Illness (Charnas) 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas  (Gentile) For posts on any of these books or their authors, type in the name in the search bar; you will have plenty to read! Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagra

 "Guaranteed to advise as well as amuse..." says the US Review of Books. Click the yes to read the remainder of the review -- the book was RECOMMENDED.   👀   Read about the other HERE .

Marty: Mr. Nice Guy  This chapter about Marty will be short, mainly because although he was a very nice man, he didn’t challenge me intellectually. Even though we dated for 2 1/2 years I really don’t remember any life-changing events or conversations that we had together. Perhaps the excitement that Tony brought to my life kept me from giving Marty a fair chance, but I just couldn’t picture myself with Marty for the long haul. I met Marty when a friend of mine, 80-something-yearold Barbara, begged me to go to her daughter’s high school reunion with her daughter Susan. Susan wanted to go, but since she lived out of state and hadn’t kept in contact with anyone in her high school class, she didn’t know anyone to ask so that she wouldn’t have to walk in alone. I didn’t even know Barbara’s daughter and felt very squeamish about attending a reunion like that with another woman for fear everyone there would think we were a lesbian couple. Remember, this was in the early 90’s. Things

  Books on discount through Kindle (Kindle Countdown) Understanding the Seeker  (Quinelle) 10/5 - 10/12 How to Be a Good Mommy When You're Sick (Graves) 10/8 - 10/15 Tucker & Me: Growing Up a Part-Time Southern Boy  (Harvey) Hollywood Book Festival finalist 10/22 - 10/29 Helping the Disabled Vet  (Romer) 10/23 - 10/30 Passing On  (Romer) 10/24 - 10/31 57 Steps to Paradise  (Lorenz) 10/25 - 11/1 Books on discount at  MSI Press webstore /books available while supplies last 10 Quick Homework Tips  (McKinley-Alder & Trombly) 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents: Fun Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Elementary School  (McKinley-Alder & Trombly) $5 book sale at  MSI Press webstore /books available while supplies last 100 Tips and Tools for Managing Chroni c Illness (Charnas) 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas  (Gentile) For posts on any of these books or their authors, type in the name in the search bar; you will have plenty to read! Sign up for the MSI Press LLC n

  Books on discount through Kindle (Kindle Countdown) Jesus Is Still Passing By  (Eastterling) Pinnacle Book Achievement Award/Religion 10/10-10/17 Tucker & Me: Growing Up a Part-Time Southern Boy  (Harvey) Hollywood Book Festival finalist 10/22 - 10/29 Helping the Disabled Vet  (Romer) 10/23 - 10/30 Passing On  (Romer) 10/24 - 10/31 57 Steps to Paradise  (Lorenz) 10/25 - 11/1 Books on discount at  MSI Press webstore /books available while supplies last 10 Quick Homework Tips  (McKinley-Alder & Trombly) 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents: Fun Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Elementary School  (McKinley-Alder & Trombly) $5 book sale at  MSI Press webstore /books available while supplies last 100 Tips and Tools for Managing Chroni c Illness (Charnas) 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas  (Gentile) For posts on any of these books or their authors, type in the name in the search bar; you will have plenty to read! Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Pr

  Want to know if 57 Steps to Paradise is worth reading? If we published it, certainly we believe it is. However, as evidence, take a look at the endorsement of Jack Canfield: “Patricia Lorenz has been one of my favorite writers since she began writing stories in 1995 for so many of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® books. As a master storyteller, she draws the reader in and always leaves us with the bonus of a great take-away message. In 57 STEPS TO PARADISE she provides a blueprint for dating in middle age, thanks to her own interesting, hilarious and fruitful experiences.” - Jack Canfield Co-Author of The Success Principles ™ and Chicken Soup for the Soul ®  To read more glowing support for this book, take a look at the review on US Review of Books , where the is RECOMMENDED There is no greater endorsement than to be excerpted on a leading website. Read an excerpt in  Chicken Soup for the Soul. Find out more information about this book, including access to the Press Release, clic

There is too much stress, anger, anxiety, and depression today. We all need a counterbalance to them, some sunshine among the shadows, and some MSI Press authors have written just those kinds of books: either ones to help cope or ones to help achieve happiness. This blog posts focuses on the latter, including self-care because without good self-care, it is indeed difficult to achieve happiness. 57 Steps to Paradise For more posts on Patricia Lorenz and her work, click HERE . 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas For more posts on Julie Gentile and her books, click HERE . A Guide to Bliss For posts on A Guide to Bliss , chick HERE . A Woman's Guide to Self-Nurturing For more posts on Joanna and her books, click HERE . Creative Aging For more posts on Joanna and her books, click  HERE . God Speaks into Darkness For more posts on Bennett and his books, click HERE . Good Blood: A Journey of Healing For more posts on Irit and her book, click HERE . Harnessing the Power of Grie

The Personals I not only answered dozens of ads in the newspaper personals section during the early to late 90’s I also probably had 20 or more first dates with men. Safe, boring, one-time-only dates. Dates with men I never wanted to see again. Meeting men in the personals became more of a hobby than a serious way to find Mr. Right. Years later when newspaper personals gave way to on-line dating, I have to say the on-line ads worked a lot better. Getting to know someone via e-mails is easier than only getting to talk to them on the phone before you actually met face to face on a real date. On-line photos and in-depth writing conversations back and forth help you weed out the frogs. One year during the 90’s, a friend of mine and I even offered a writing class at a big writers’ conference on how to write sizzling ads for the personals. I can’t remember how many people showed up or what exactly we taught them, but here’s our promo ad for the class. HOW TO WRITE GREAT ADS FO