MSI Press Blog

  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

Many of our authors have had incredible lives or incredible experiences -- or both! Surely, you can find one or more that sits beside you and keeps you company for years. All are difficult to put down.   Looking for love in your 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and yes, even your 80’s or 90’s?  57 Steps to Paradise  will help you navigate dating in midlife and beyond. Lorenz unzips her soul and exposes her foibles during 50 years of men weaving their way in and out of her life, providing a heap of wit and wisdom to help you make life-changing decisions about love and, perhaps, a life partner. A diverting and informative story of searching for love in mid-life by a divorced social worker, who intertwines entertaining stories of successful love interests with well-known movies containing similar plots and themes. Written as diary entries covering a 15-year period, the author shares openly, in detail, and with insights her experiences with dating, friendships, affairs, and relationships. Written ca

  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

  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 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, typ

  Okay, so this post does not tell the story behind the book itself. Not really. But most book publications have a relationship between publisher and author that exists or is built prior to publication. Publication of a book does not typically occur as an automatic, computerized, solely criterai-related set of steps. Rather, there is an initial contact of some sort, and, in many cases, a longer-term relationship prior to a book's acceptance and publication. This author is a bit more private about her publication life (ironically so since this book puts her personal life front and foremost -- and with quite a bit of personal sharing -- and emotion, both bathetic and humorous), so I will share just enough to provide insights for other authors and wannabee published authors.  Patricia Lorenz, a well-published author, especial by Guideposts , had a little inside information about MSI Press because of her support to one of our former authors. So, when she approached MSI Press with her b

  Excerpt from  57 Steps to Paradise  by Patricia Lorenz-- INTRODUCTION   You’re probably wondering why a woman on Social Security and Medicare even entertained the idea of writing a book about men. I may be middle-aged or even stumbling toward old, but I’m not dead. I like men. Men have been walking, sliding, galloping, and slithering in and out of my life for over 50 years.   We women of the biggest generation in America, the Baby Boomers, are in the majority. We outlive men. I have already outlived my second husband who left me for an older woman, married her the day of our divorce, and then died two years later in 1989.   I have no idea if I’ll outlive my first husband. He’s seven years older than I am, and in the years since 1975 when I left him and moved out of state after seven tortuous years together, he never remarried. If he had, perhaps he’d look younger and have a healthier lifestyle. In the years since we divorced, he’s had some tough medical problems so who kn