MSI Press Blog

  Introduction This book is a unique collaboration between a mental health professional, Tony Overbay, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Joshua Shea, a former journalist who spent more than two decades struggling with pornography addiction. Usually, the expert sitting in the chair and the person on the couch getting the help don’t work together on a project outside of the therapist’s office, but we think this is a natural match. (And for those wondering, Josh was never Tony’s client—they met on a podcast.) Tony spends dozens of hours every week working with couples who are at various stages of the therapy process. Many of these couples have struggled with pornography issues. Although you’re probably feeling alone in the world right now, you are not. Tony has dealt with women, men and couples who are going through exactly what you are experiencing. Josh was a pillar of his community when his world came crashing down. A magazine publisher and city councilor, his life cha

TIP # 4 KNOW WHERE TO GET HELP Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new. ~ Barack Obama   Why is this Important?  It is very frustrating for kids when they come upon something they don't know how to do while trying to complete their homework.  Getting stuck can really derail concentration for some kids.  That’s why it is good to know, ahead of time, what your child should do if she gets stuck. What You Can Do: Teachers sometimes use the “Ask 3 Before Me” rule.  This means that before kids go to the teacher for help, they are encouraged to try to solve the problem themselves by asking/using three other sources first.  At home, there may not be three other people to go to for help besides you, but you can brainstorm possibilities: friends, maybe even a pre-arr

Betty Shaw and her daughter, Liz, travel throughout the United States to bring awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.  She lives in Easton, Maryland with her family and their dog, Quintin. Her book with Dave Brown,  One Simple Text…The Liz Marks Story ,  is a poignant tale of the drama that Liz and her family suffered as a result of her nearly dying from an accident that resulted from texting while driving. For more information about Betty's book, click HERE .

(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 inflated claims from self-published authors looking for a "I have published traditional contract. "I have published three best-selling books" is a line on a recent proposal that came in to MSI Press. Such a claim ("best selling") is almost never warranted, in the experience at our press.  Here is why making such a claim can undermine your chance of being published. - Such claims are easily checked out; numbers are available from a variety of sources; if found to b e inflated, than the honest--or at least the ability of the author to see and accept reality-

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

  Prologue This is not a technical book. If your loved one has Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Heart Failure, Diabetes, Cerebral Palsy, or has depression, a stroke, spinal injuries or any number of other debilitating catastrophic illnesses, there are many books in the library that describe all the problems, treatments, and prognosis of each of these conditions. Doctors and scholars who have specialized in these illnesses write these books. There is valuable information to be found in these accounts, and you should avail yourself to the ones pertaining to the particular problems of your loved one. This is a book that is devoted to the caregivers of those who have the tragic illnesses. My twenty years of experience as a caregiver has given me many insights into coping with and surviving the problems of caring for an ill person. This book gives encouragement along with valuable information learned the hard way by trial and error. It is my hope that i

  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