MSI Press Blog

  excerpt from 100 Tips and Tools for Managing Chronic Illness (Charnas) -- Chapter 3. FACING SETBACKS   Tip #22. MOVIES FIRST   On a recent Saturday morning, I desperately wanted to go to the movies, but I had a long list of chores and errands I’d convinced myself I should finish first. I often worry that if I don’t accomplish tasks when I plan them, they won’t be done in time. That morning I decided they all could wait. Sometimes when you live with chronic illness and its complex demands, you need to step back from the daily grind of managing your illness and simply enjoy life. After the bargain matinee, I left the theater ready to face my long list of chores. When we don’t relax or take time to enjoy our lives when we’re able to, we run the risk of losing out on some of life’s pleasures, which are already frequently circumscribed by illness. Creating balance between what we must do to remain functional and enjoying our lives is a constant challenge. Don’t forget to do w

  Excerpt from A Movie Lover's Search for Romance (Joanna Charnas) THE NEW GUY   You don’t always know when you’re experiencing burnout until you’re hip deep in its muck. You also don’t comprehend how completely addicting Internet dating is until you’re hooked. So if you find yourself burned out from Internet dating, as I did, the prudent thing is to give it a rest. Although I planned to take a break from Internet dating, I’d become too addicted to stop. It didn’t matter that I was emotionally exhausted from too many blind dates. Which is when Simon entered my life.  I met Simon on an Internet dating site. When we first spoke on the phone, he asked if I’d meet him that evening at a party given in honor of a couple of his friends. Simon explained that his schedule was booked for the rest of the week, but he wanted to meet me right away. The party started in mid-afternoon, and assuming I wouldn’t be enslaved and forced into the sex trade, I agreed to rendezvous at his friends’ house

11. A Slice of Canine Heaven  When Emme died, I struggled to find the right words of condolence for her owner, my colleague Matt. I finally told him that rarely are my expectations of great things completely fulfilled, but my day with Emme exceeded my hopes and was a joy. Emme was a 170-pound Great Dane who spent one hot summer day, per Matt, “babysitting” me when I was homebound with a sinus infection. I’d been sick in June with a similar illness, and when I returned to work, Matt offered to bring Emme to my home the next time I felt ill. He knew I loved Great Danes but couldn’t own one because of my chronic illness. So, during my second week-long bout that summer with sinus issues, I gave Matt a call. At six-thirty the next day, he arrived with Emme and the largest dog bed I’d ever seen.  After an hour of anxiously checking my front door, Emme settled in. She was the most obedient animal I’d ever encountered. She jumped on the couch to cuddle on command. She placed her head

Author: Joanna Charnas Books:  100 Tips and Tools for Managing Chronic Illness Living Well with Chronic Illness Date of Interview: August 20, 2018 Joanna Charnas has authored two books published by MSI Press. Meet the author! Who are you? What do you want readers to know about you? I've been a social worker for thirty years, and I have clinical licenses to practice psychotherapy in two states. My books are based on my professional experience with patients and my personal experience managing my own chronic illness . Why are you qualified to write this book? I've been ill since I was nineteen years old, and I've learned over the years how to have a happy life while struggling with illness. I've also listened to my patients and understand what they find helpful. What is the message of your book? What should be the take-away by readers? The message of my books is that it is possible to have a good life while chronically ill

  Now is a good time to take a few minutes away from running errands and other busyness and become reacquainted with MSI Press author, Joanna Charnas, who just updated her author page with new information, new photo, and nifty links. Joanna's four books ( Living Well with Chronic Illness , 100 Tips and Tools to Manage Chronic Illness , A Movie Lover's Search for Romance , and Tips, Tools, and Anecdotes to Help during a Pandemic ) have won a number of awards. You can link up with each of them on Joanna's updated page. For more posts about Joanna and her 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 th

  During the 1970s, many of the girls in my high school had feathered blond hair, like Farrah Fawcett, who starred in the television show  Charlie's Angels   and was a huge celebrity at the time. Short, curvy, and dark haired, I couldn’t relate to her at all. I spent much of my free time in adolescence obsessively watching classic movies in art houses, among them the 1955 film  The Rose Tattoo , starring Anna Magnani and Burt Lancaster. The day I saw that movie, I discovered a star I could relate to. She was dark and curvy, just like me. This year while lunching with my stepmother and aunt, I told them I’d always wanted to look like Anna Magnani. They both immediately exclaimed, “You do!” I was deeply gratified. I finally fulfilled my ideal of female beauty. We can spend our lives wanting to be something we’re not, or we can set our own standards. We don’t have to fit into what’s popular. I found a movie star I could relate to, and she provided the imag

  Books on discount through Kindle (Kindle Countdown) Discount begins (first day) at 99 cents, with amount of discount decreasing during the countdown period, so, if you are interested in the book, snatch it on day one for the best price. (Subsequent prices, though, are something to smile about as well.) Books return to regular price the day after the last day listed below. Lamentations of the Heart Mingled with Peace and Joy 4/23 - 4/30 Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters 4/23 - 4/30 Publishing for Smarties: How to Find a Publisher 4/25 - 4/30 Paperback formats (and in some cases, hard cover formats) of the above e-books can be purchased on discount at MSI Press webstore; use FF25 as a coupon code to get a 25% discount. Books on deep 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)

  Books on discount through Kindle (Kindle Countdown) Discount begins (first day) at 99 cents, with amount of discount decreasing during the countdown period, so, if you are interested in the book, snatch it on day one for the best price. (Subsequent prices, though, are something to smile about as well.) Books return to regular price the day after the last day listed below. Lamentations of the Heart Mingled with Peace and Joy 4/23 - 4/30 Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters 4/23 - 4/30 Publishing for Smarties: How to Find a Publisher 4/25 - 4/30 Survival of the Caregiver 4/30 - 5/7 Creative Aging USA Best Books Award finalist 5/1 - 5/8 Healing from Incest Finalist, Book of the Year Award Rainstorm of Tomorrow Awards Silver Medal, Science, Kops-Fetherling International Books Award Silver Award, Humanities, Reader Views Literary Awards competition Silver Award, Literary Titan Book Award 5/29 - 6/5 Paperback formats (and in some cases, hard cover formats) of the above e-books can

  Books on discount through Kindle (Kindle Countdown) Discount begins (first day) at 99 cents, with amount of discount decreasing during the countdown period, so, if you are interested in the book, snatch it on day one for the best price. (Subsequent prices, though, are something to smile about as well.) Books return to regular price the day after the last day listed below. Lamentations of the Heart Mingled with Peace and Joy 4/23 - 4/30 Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters 4/23 - 4/30 Publishing for Smarties: How to Find a Publisher 4/25 - 4/30 Paperback formats (and in some cases, hard cover formats) of the above e-books can be purchased on discount at MSI Press webstore; use FF25 as a coupon code to get a 25% discount. Books on deep 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)

  Books on discount through Kindle (Kindle Countdown) Discount begins (first day) at 99 cents, with amount of discount decreasing during the countdown period, so, if you are interested in the book, snatch it on day one for the best price. (Subsequent prices, though, are something to smile about as well.) Books return to regular price the day after the last day listed below. Lamentations of the Heart Mingled with Peace and Joy 4/23 - 4/30 Spunky Grandmas and Other Amusing Characters 4/23 - 4/30 Publishing for Smarties: How to Find a Publisher 4/25 - 4/30 Survival of the Caregiver 4/30 - 5/7 Creative Aging USA Best Books Award finalist 5/1 - 5/8 Healing from Incest Finalist, Book of the Year Award Rainstorm of Tomorrow Awards Silver Medal, Science, Kops-Fetherling International Books Award Silver Award, Humanities, Reader Views Literary Awards competition Silver Award, Literary Titan Book Award 5/29 - 6/5 Paperback formats (and in some cases, hard cover formats) of the above e-books can