MSI Press Blog

  Excerpt from Lamentation of the Heart (Marti Wells-Smith) -  TO THOSE WHO HAVE OPENED THIS BOOK   In these pages, you will read of the loss of my only child. I share the details not to inflict needless pain—but rather, to share the incredible signs I received assuring me that he is safe in heaven. The circumstances were shocking but had miraculous consolations. I was so overwhelmed with them all that I felt compelled to express my emotions in both poetic and prose form, while honestly conveying the facts as they unfolded.   As believers, we know that the innocent young always ascend to their heavenly homes upon passing. But perhaps you have also lost an adult child, or other loved ones—and are concerned about their eternal well-being. If so, then I have written this book for you. The Lord has led me to this place—where I discovered, in the midst of my loss, that our heavenly Father is more loving and compassionate toward all of His children than I could possibly have imagined

  Beginning today and continuing through July 31, we will be offering a discount on Lamentations of the Heart through the Kindle Countdown program.  Find it HERE . Read more about Marti Wells-Smith and Lamentations of the Heart HERE .

  Marti's book has brought in all 5-star ratings on Amazon, with rave reviews. Here, take a look: Top reviews from the United States Christopher Smith 5.0 out of 5 stars   Beautifully written balm for the bereaved Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021 Verified Purchase Lamentations of the Heart, Mingled with Peace and Joy, is aptly named and provides an enormous fount of solace and inspiration from cover to cover. Ms. Wells-Smith writes a faith-driven, emotionally and intellectually intelligent book of poetry and prose, each piece interwoven with a scriptural citation, that delves into her own experience with becoming a member of a club none of us would ever want to apply for, those of us who have lost a beloved child and are left with putting our lives back together as best we can, one foot after another, as well as prose about events and people that have led her to the place in life that she can find peace and joy. It is deeply personal and because of that spoke to my ow

image from DML Editing & Writing check out their latest post on " How to Write Good Poetry " In observance of poetry month, MSI Press would like to share with its readers and fans two books worth reading: One will bring a comforting smile to an unbidden tear. The other will bring an outright laugh page after page. Time spent with comforting and/or happy thoughts is time well spent indeed. Marti Wells-Smith's Lamentations of the Heart Mingled with Peace and Joy combines prose and poetry in a comforting missive for bereaved parents. Through its pages, one finds not only the resilience of the author but sources for anyone to develop needed resilience in the face of devastating life circumstances. When it came out, it quickly became one of Amazon's "hot, new releases." Lamentations of the Heart soulfully combines contemporary free verse poetry and nonfictional prose to tell the story of one mother's grief following the death of her only child. The autho

  Lamentations of the Heart is a memoir about the death of the author's son. THE LOVELY THINGS          Today, I look fondly upon this place, this life of mine, in a softer way, from a different view. Choosing to see something new, even in its long-lived state. To peer upon my world and see the faintest lovely things grow large, as the smallest acts of kindness show their power.       Weary of grief, this choice was made. A call for beauty among ashes, overlooked before, pulled from a time that cannot return, from thoughts that churned in an aching stream. Those were the days when I dwelled on my loss—when it seemed there was nothing more.          But there is always more. “God, help me,” I said, “to seek them out, the parts that will cover the rest of my life.” Shaping the corners where you once stood, connecting the spaces that you once filled, I asked for something to move me when I stand too still. And faith came upon me. It carried me along, and I went with it, willingl

  Just released: Hard cover edition of Lamentations of the Heart (Wells-Smith) Great book - all reviews have been 5 stars! For more posts on this book and its author, click HERE .                                  Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter                           Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .

  Marti Wells-Smith, author of Lamentations of the Heart , has written her last blog post, "Not Really Good-Bye." She writes, Dear Kindred Spirits in Christ, I've been writing my blog for several years now. It all began with the passing of my son Grant in 2019. Then came the grief, then a quickened faith, and finally the book, Lamentations of the Heart - Mingled with Peace and Joy. This blog has been an extension of my faith, of wanting to reach out to others. But life unfolds in chapters, and everything alters in time, with the exception of God, Who is eternal and unchanging. To read the rest of the blog post, click HERE . To read other posts about Marti and her 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 

Extracted from photo by M. Katherine Shear, M.D. See original photo with words and blog article at aspire.com .   Whether they die in war, from illness, by suicide, or as a result end-of-life issues, their loss affects relatives, friends, acquaintances, neighbors, and colleagues in  devastating ways. The following books are gentle but helpful treatments of the issues of bereavement and grief. Damascus amid the War by Muna Imady Written by popular author, Muna Imady, whose book, Syrian Folktales, has delighted an uncountable number of readers outside of Syria, Damascus amid the War tells the very human story of the devolution of a society. The book containts 29 pre-war poins, vibrant with imagery of daily life in a robust Damascus. The 100 war poems that follow show the devastating affect on the people who navigate a daily existence after war came. This is a posthumous publication, containing Muna’s very last works and an introduction by her mother, Elaine Imady, author of Road to Dama

  Excerpt from Lamentations of the Heart (Marti Wells-Smith) -  SPARROWS   House sparrows swoop and hide in the old holly bush to the side of my porch; clustered with berries and sharp-edged leaves that never turn dull or lifelessly fall.                                                               A place for small flocks to tuck in their wings when rain pours upon them or snow settles in. These sparrows that scatter and fearfully fly from the young, rumpled boys who often pass by and the chattering girls who follow behind, never, not once, see the woman inside. I perch in the background, hidden away with a lap of white paper and rambling thoughts— of what is, and could be but simply is not… And the sparrows, they console me, as I sit, watching God move upon their lives— providing every need.   Matthew 10:31 So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.   For more posts about Marti and her book, including more exce