MSI Press Blog

  Dia de Muertos is a holiday celebrated now throughout the world though is began a long time ago in Mexico. It is too good a holiday not to be adopted by others. Honoring ancestors is part of nearly every culture, but none does it quite as richly and publicly as the Mexican culture with Dia de Muertos.  The eating of specially prepared (yunny) foods at the graves of those who have passed, a sacred sharing, is a culmination of sorts of all the other activities that include: altars remembering the dead (Sula shown visiting one above) yummy, yummy, yummy food served at restaurants, eaten at home, shared with friends posadas (parades) around town - sacred and fun at the same time paper-cutting (really ornate) Sula's book, Dia de Muertos , contains a history, authentic recipes (!!!!), explanation of symbols, directions of how to make the paper cuttings, and lots and lots of pictures. Proofed by a Mexican priest -- Sula wanted to get it 100% right because, as with many other things, mis

  Born in Israel, raised in Canada, and now living in the US, Irit Schaffer works  in her physical therapy practice in California, where her “good blood” background and her extensive educational training has allowed her a unique perspective on the mind-body-spirit connection. For more posts about Irit and her book, click HERE .

From "Children's Fears" --  Their bed, room, ears, body, time and leisure are not their own, but are often invaded by the child’s anxious reactions. A series of studies by Eli Lebowitz on our approach to parents of anxious children showed that when parents learn to restore and protect their personal boundaries, the child’s anxiety and distress diminish significantly. And what is not less important: The parents’ distress diminishes as well! We all know that when the baby is born, the mother’s availability is virtually unlimited. Probably many babies “would like” to perpetuate this situation. Thus they protest loudly when the mother becomes gradually less available. Fortunately, mothers have needs of their own, reducing their readiness to service the baby unlimitedly. The renowned psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott coined the expression “good enough mother” to stress that mothers do not need to be perfect. On the contrary! If they were perfectly attuned and always sensitive to

Jonah Meyer, US Review of Books, recently reviewed Rainstorm of Tomorrow by Renyuan Dong and reached the following conclusions: "reads (in some passages) like pure poetry" "gorgeously unique and extremely novel" "unexpectedly pleasing insight" "engaging ... and ... unafraid" A snippet from the review: Much of Dong's monograph, though driven by a studious and deep dive into the complex quirks and nuances of philosophical inquiry, reads (in some passages) like pure poetry. At once entirely academic—including the use of mathematical equations which the casual reader might find difficulty grasping—this gorgeously unique and extremely novel take on some of the basics of the time-honored discipline of philosophy brings overwhelming flashes of unexpectedly pleasing insight in a manner as engaging as it is unafraid to push the envelope. In reading the entirety of his book, a strong case could be made that this author possesses qualities of a polymat

(photo by Frank Perez) 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 inspired by a proposal I received just yesterday, in which the would-be-published author wrote, "Sorry that the spelling and grammar may be a bit off; I know your great staff of editors can take care of that." Of course, that book was rejected without even looking at it. Here is why: - Authors are word people. They are communicating with their readers, and they need to be able follow the basic conventions through which their readers understand. Errors in punctuation, grammar, and spelling can change meaning or create confusion as to meaning.  - The implication is that th

  Joshua Shea, author of  He's a Porn Addict...Now What?  (with Tony Overbay) and  Porn and the Pandemic  was interviewed on the Face to Face Talk Show. Click  HERE  to listen to Jsohua's interview.  For more posts about Joshua and his books, click  HERE .

  We just released an incomparable and comprehensive book on growing old with grace and smarts.  With over ten years of growing into an old woman with the help of her friends, Bertha Cooper knows whereof she writes. In this book you will learn that growing old is not the slow death of our personalities, our bodies, or our relevance to the world. Someday, it will happen, but not yet! Feel the wisdom below the years we've lived and the power that comes with making our own choices about our aging selves.  Women, We're Only Old Once  offers explanations for natural changes that occur while aging and transitions we must make as we age. Women can be relieved to learn that having less endurance or word-finding problems are not signs of disease. Women are empowered to put their energy and spirit where it counts on their journey in this important phase of life. More information about the book can be found HERE .  Bertha was born and raised in Seattle WA long before Microsoft and Amazon.