MSI Press Blog

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

  Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters , written by Ken Mogren and illustrated by Joella Goyette, is now available for pre-order at the 50% discounted sale price of $10.  Pre-order sale is available only at the MSI Press webstore. Sale will continue through release date of the book: April 30, 2022. Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters is a collection of over 100 entertaining, fictional mini stories about comical human behavior. Written in sonnet form, each of 22 chapters starts with a cartoonish illustration by Joella Goyette that introduces the theme of the stories that follow. Humorist, Ken Mogren, features grandmothers who are anything but stereotypical, as well as other folks whose behavior is best described as unconventional.

  Spunky Grandmas and Other AmusingCharacters is a collection of over 100 entertaining, fictional mini stories about comical human behavior. Written in sonnet form, each of 22 chapters starts with a cartoonish illustration by Joella Goyette that introduces the theme of the stories that follow. Humorist, Ken Mogren, features grandmothers who are anything but stereotypical, as well as other folks whose behavior is best described as unconventional. For more posts on Ken Mogren, click  HERE . For more posts on Joella Goyette, click  HERE . For more posts about Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters, click  HERE . For other humor books by MSI Press, click  HERE .

  The following excerpt comes from Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters by Ken Mogren.  PREFACE   Today’s grandmothers aren’t much like their outdated stereotype. Sure, some might spend their days knitting in a rocking chair or baking pies in the kitchen, but most grandmas have much different lifestyles and far more spunk than traditionally depicted. The grandma stories in the first chapter celebrate this spunkiness.   In the chapters that follow you’ll meet dozens of equally amusing characters. Each chapter has several very short stories that revolve around a theme introduced by a Joella Goyette illustration. Many of these fictional yarns were inspired by real people and events. Some are fables featuring animals acting like humans who might resemble folks you know. The final chapter, “Misfits,” has tales that don’t fit neatly with any of the preceding themes.    Don’t be alarmed if all this looks a lot like poetry. I hesitate to use the S word (sonnet), lest it br

From reviewer Helen Dumont at Midwest Book Review:  Critique: With a very special appeal to readers who enjoy limericks and humorous verse. "Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters" is a lighthearted joy to read from first page to last. Written and illustrated with wit and comedic insight into human foibles, fables, and fun, "Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Poetry & Humor collections. To read the rest of the review, click HERE . To read more posts about Ken and his book, including excerpts, click HRE .                                    Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter                           Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters by Ken Mogren , which reached #69 on Amazon's bestseller ranking for limericks and humorous verse. For more posts about Ken and his book, click HERE . For more publisher pride posts, 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 coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com. Want to communicate with one of our authors? You can! Find their contact information on our  Authors' Pages .

  Excerpt from Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters (Mogren) APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED   Seems Grandma’s clothes were getting rather tight. When Grandpa said she ought to lose some weight, It very nearly caused a nasty fight For she got pleasure from the foods she ate.   She baked and ate delicious cakes and pies, Drank wine and cappuccino every day, Loved pizza, burgers, onion rings, and fries And one day threw her bathroom scale away.   Time was she’d fret about what others thought. She exercised and always was aware Of fats and carbs in all the foods she bought. But now she says, “I really don’t much care.   “I’m happy with myself the way I am. If folks don’t like it, I don’t give a damn.” Ken's book can be purchased at retail stores, online booksellers, and for 25% discount, with coupon code FF25, at the MSI Press webstore . For more posts by and about Ken Mogren and his book, click HERE . For more MSI Press humor books, click HERE .

  Just released: Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters by Ken Mogren is now available in hard cover, in addition to the previously published paperback and e-book. or more posts by and about Ken Mogren and his book, click  HERE . For more MSI Press humor books, 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 coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com. 

  Ken Mogren, the Sonnet Guy , was featured in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on the 6-month anniversary of the publication of his book, Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters .  Read more about Ken and his delightful book HERE .                                          Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter                           Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .

Ken Mogren is sharing excerpts from Spunky Grandmas….And Other Amusing Characters on the maiden voyage of the American Symphony river boat while docked in Winona, MN. Read more posts about Ken and his book HERE .                                         Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter                           Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Stories  by Ken Mogren, which reached #100 in limericks and humorous verse.  Read more posts about Ken and his book  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 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

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Stories  by Ken Mogren, which reached #100 in limericks and humorous verse.  Read more posts about Ken and his book  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 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

  Ken Mogren has been a nearly lifelong resident of Winona, MN, in the beautiful Mississippi River Valley. At Winona State University, he majored in Psychology and English and credits an understanding of human nature and good communication skills for success in a 43-year insurance industry career.  At about age 60, he rekindled a dormant interest in creative writing and began entering humorous sonnets in contests, enjoying a bit of success. In retirement, he has picked up the pace, resulting in a collection of nearly 200 sonnets, with over 100 of these in his first book, SPUNKY GRANDMAS …. And Other Amusing Characters .  Ken and his wife, Sally, enjoy traveling and spending time with their three sons and their families. He also serves as a volunteer on the non-profit boards of a hospital, university and theatre company. Ken’s other interests include running, cycling, and cross-country skiing. He regularly competes in those sports and has won three national age group championships. He a

  Kenneth Mogren's most recent blog post is titled "Bew Year's Resolution." It is a good one...we wonder how far he has come with it. It’s late January, and so far, I’m keeping a resolution to write more new sonnets in 2023 than in 2022. My production slowed to a trickle last February when MSI Press offered to publish SPUNKY GRANDMAS….And Other Amusing Characters . Suddenly my efforts went in a different direction. Turning a manuscript into a book involves more work for an author than most people realize. Manuscripts are really just a draft, so there is still an opportunity to make improvements. I went back and looked at every word and made quite a few tweaks. Then comes a final editing process which involves quite a bit of back-and-forth communication with the publisher. While publishers take the lead in publicizing and distributing a book, they expect authors to be active in book promotion, as well. That meant creating and maintaining a website, harnessing social me