MSI Press Blog

  It is Tuesday. Time to tall turkey. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side. Today's topic deviates from our usual "conversation" topics of pragmatic and technical advice for authors and would-be authors, as well as those trying to be their own publishers. Instead, we want to bring to you information about a new MSI Press program that has the potential to help authors directly in significant ways: MSI Affiliates.  An MSI affiliate is an author whose book(s) the MSI Press editorial staff has accepted for inclusion in its webstore as a "friend" of the press. The high quality books of affiliates benefit in a number of ways: They are listed in the MSI Press webstore. While MSI ...

  Dr. Betty Lou Leaver, Managing Editor of MSI Press, is in Indonesian, helping university lecturers begin their publishing careers. It is just one of the wide variety of activities that one can find MSI Press staff and authors doing. A side benefit for Leaver? Welcoming in Ramadan in Bandung -- standing here beside Jatinangour Hotel's lovely Ramadan display. Ramadan kareem! (Sweet Ramadan) To all who celebrate it, MSI Press wishes you Ramadan mubarak wa kareem. Kul am wa intum behair. For more posts about MSI Press staff in the news, click HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our  author au pair  services will mentor you through the process. Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book  in ...

  It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.  Today's topic answers a question we are often asked: where do our weekly topics come from. The answer is: from several sources, including seminars/workshops that MSI Press, our authors, and The Literacy Center have conducted in the past; questions posed by MSI Press authors to MSI Press editors (brief answers are included here, but complex answers are provided to MSI Press authors on the Author Hub); questions from query letters and subsequent communications with those writers interested in publication; podcasts and other blogs on the topic of publishing (we might disagree or expound or expand or otherwise inform); personal experience o...

  It is with sorrow that MSI announces the death of affiliated author, Jim Ostdick. Jim lived in San Juan Bautista and interacted with MSI Press staff and participated in activities of The Literary Center, a local outreach arm of MSI Press. He was especially close to Carl Leaver, MSI Press typesetter from 2003-2021. They both are missed. HERE is the biographic information published in the Hollister Freelance , the local paper.  For more posts on Jim and his book, click HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book  in exchange for  reviewing  a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com. Want an  author-signed copy  of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use co...

  Murjan, hugging his owner/staff Happy National Respect Your Cat Day! 🐱 Today, March 28th, we celebrate our mysterious, majestic, and sometimes mischievous feline friends who grace our homes with their presence. Why Our Cats Deserve Respect Cats have been our companions for thousands of years, evolving from skilled hunters to beloved family members. They provide us with: Companionship without demands Stress relief through their soothing purrs Entertainment with their playful antics Independence that teaches us to respect boundaries Unconditional love in their own unique way How to Honor Your Cat Today Give them space : Respect your cat's independence and let them come to you Offer fresh treats : A special snack shows your appreciation Dedicate playtime : Engage with their natural hunting instincts Create cozy spots : Provide comfortable places for napping Simply observe : Take time to appreciate their grace and beauty Remember... "Time spent with cats is nev...

  Two years ago today, Carl Leaver, typesetter, graphic designer, and co-founder of MSI Press LLC , passed away after five too-short months of cancer of unknown primary . We all want a legacy, no matter how humble, and Carl certainly has one. To wit, Dozens of MSI Press authors loved his book covers -- and, in a kind way, they reached out to him in his dying days to tell him so. He edited one book, Overcoming the Odds , and co-authored another, Intrepid . Books almost always outlast us. He was Dad to four children (or seven, depending on how you count the three who moved in with us as teenagers) and three grandchildren, two of whom lost both their grandfathers in 2021, and daddy to a couple dozen cats; his very special cat, Intrepid, who preceded him in death, is buried with him. His name is engraved on a brick, shown above by Br. James, at the St. Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista, reminding a number of people of him as they pass over his stone. His obituary is the secon...

It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.  Today's post provides advice on planning a successful book event. Here are some of the experiences from successful authors. Start with Clear Objectives Determine what you want to achieve. Is your primary goal selling books, building your audience, or establishing your expertise? Your objectives will shape all other decisions. Know Your Venue Select a location that matches your book and audience. Bookstores provide built-in marketing and experienced staff, while libraries often attract engaged readers. Check for good accessibility, appropriate size, and necessary equipment. Create a Marketing Timeline Begin promotion 4-6 weeks before your e...

  MSI Press managing editor, Dr. Betty Lou Leaver, recently returned from conducting a workshop at Emory University, a follow-up to a workshop she conducted there last spring. For more posts about Dr. Leaver, click HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our  author au pair  services will mentor you through the process. Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book  in exchange for  reviewing  a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com. Want an  author-signed copy  of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com. Want to communicate with one of our authors? You ...