MSI Press Blog

  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 look at finding a publisher from a different perspective, not the one that advises authors how to prepare proposals and cold-approach editors. This approach, well-done, can work. That is often, however, not how a publisher is found. Sometimes, it is through serendipity. More often than not, it happens through networking. A few examples should be enough to illustrate the principle. Attending a conference, meeting a publisher     This is probably the most traditional "warm approach" way to land a contract. If you are hoping to impress a publisher at a conference, come prepared. Know why you would like to publish wi...

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 addresses an author's self-presentation, the look-and-feel of your work and yourself. Here are some things to think about as you go about designing the cover of your book (even if a professional designer does the work, you will need to approve it), putting together a website, deciding what social platforms you will use, designing advertising materials, deciding where and how to promote your book, and more. Who are you?  What are your strengths? If your strengths are in the networking area, then you might set up meetings with local organizations interested in your topic to discuss the topic of your book...

  from the publisher: El Poder de lo Transpersona l was the second book that Fernando, a psychologist, wrote. He wrote it in Spanish and published it in Colombia, where he was living at the ti He had recently moved to San Diego and wanted to have his book available for his clients there -- but they would also be Spanish-speaking.  Fernando's brother, P. Julio, was the priest in our local parish (yes, we have a Spanish-speaking parish) and a good friend of mine. He asked if MSI Press could help out Fernando. We could, because Fernando's books fell in line with the genres that we normally publish. Very helpful was the fact that a previous press I had worked with had had a contract with the Andean Pact for book sales, so I was familiar with the copyright regulations in Colombia. This is an example of how many books end up being published -- and the least painful route to publication: networking. I have published several books with both Cambridge University Press and Georgetown U...

  When speaking a foreign language, there’s nothing more grounding than a place you can stand with confidence. That’s the magic of  speech islands —memorized monologues or well-rehearsed chunks of speech that learners can deliver fluidly, like a native. This tool, popularized by Boris Shekhtman in  How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately , invites learners to develop short verbal “islands” on topics they know well. Whether it’s your hometown, your favorite hobby, or your professional background, these rehearsed segments become linguistic safe zones. 🧭 Why Speech Islands Matter Speech islands give learners: A break from on-the-fly construction A chance to showcase fluency and pronunciation A moment to regroup and breathe A way to guide the conversation toward familiar ground They’re especially useful in spontaneous or high-stakes situations—think interviews, panel discussions, or networking events—where preparation meets performance. 🗣️ How to Create and Use Spe...

  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 is reaching readers. Perhaps you have a book in hand. Perhaps you are still working on your book. It does not matter. You need readers. It is never too early, and it is never too late to build your reader base (and thereby your mailing list ). Here are some thoughts on the topic: Look at your local community (grow your inter/national readership like spreading ripples in a pond): Do some readings or give some seminars on the topic of your book at your local library. Is there a local cafe where authors and readers gather? Gather with them. Are there writing groups that meet periodically to help each other?...

  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.  This week, we share in part what kinds of things help a good book get even more attention and better sales. (Note: typically, more attention and better sales go hand in glove.) So, sharing some things (not research, but ones we have noticed over time): Success Breeds Success When books are successful, it becomes easier to make them even more successful.  Everyone loves success. So, if a book achieves "bestseller" status in any way (on Amazon in a niche category, there is a story! When that story gets repeated by the author, the publisher, and others on various media platforms or in ads, more sales come, and the bestselling label re...