MSI Press Blog

  If you are planning to attend ths year's New York Book Festival, look for The Rose and the Sword by Dr. Judith Bach and Nanette Hucknall! Need some background information about this fan-favorite book? Click HERE .

         Congratulations to Dr. Omar Imady on his book, When You're Shoved from the Right, Look to Your Left: Metaphors of Islamic Humanism , being selected as the  Kops-Fetherling International Book Awards  lega cy award in the category of religion.   This book contains 29 stories originally articulated in Arabic by Bashir Al-Bani, Orator of the Grand Mosque of Damascus and one of the masters of the Sufi Naqishbandi Order. They have been compiled, rendered in English, and introduced by Dr. Omar Imady, professor of humanities and political science. The stories are often comic but deep in implication. One story may address the motives underlying human interaction; another may address how hidden principles guide the way in which our lives unfold. A delicate concern for the value, indeed the sacredness, of human value permeates all the stories. This concern is explicated through metaphors, the purest vocabulary of Islamic humanism. Read more posts about Omar and his books HERE .

  (photo Tucsonlocalmedia) Arthur Yavelberg, author of A Theology for the Rest of Us, was recently interviewed in the Tucsonlocalmedia: " Religion Educator Pens A Theology for the Rest of Us ."'  Here is an excerpt: There are questions that have answers, questions without answers, and questions that just lead to more questions. In his new book, “A Theology for the Rest of Us,” local writer Arthur Yavelberg tackles all these types of questions in the hopes of providing some religious illumination in these uncertain times. Now that’s not to say the book aims to convince anyone of anything, but by examining various religions’ insights on topics like free will, the identity of the creator, and why evil exists, Yavelberg provides a map for spiritual awareness.  Yavelberg, who has worked as a teacher of history and comparative religion, as well as the head of Tucson Hebrew Academy, describes the book as “the sum total of his religious theological insight over a lifetime.” But f

  (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 about launching a book, especially for authors without universal name recognition. It is a follow-on to our December 29, 2020 blog post . The model that many new authors have in mind are the events and actions that famous authors take. Unfortunately, those are not the most effective for unknown authors. Here are some things to think about. Book signings: Book signings at book stores can fail more often than succeed where the author is an unknown.  The current status at many bookstores is that there is insufficient staff to set up and support signings. That aside, even before the

Congratulations to Dr. Dennis Ortman on his book,  Anger Anonymous , being selected as the  Kops-Fetherling International Book Awards  lega cy award in the category of psychology.   “When you feel in the grip of anger, ask yourself these questions: -Do you feel powerless to control your temper? -Does your anger frighten you so much that you feel compelled to suppress it? -Does your life feel unmanageable because of your anger? -Does your preoccupation with the unfairness of life and being wronged interfere with your happiness? -Do you feel hopeless about finding a cure for your temper? If you answer “yes” to these questions, you may be addicted to your anger. It acts like a drug that stimulates you, energizes you, and causes you to act insanely. <><><><><><><><> Viewing your anger as an addiction, Dr. Ortman guides you through the time-tested Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous to fi nd healing and growth. He shows how the Steps offer pr

  Sincere congratualtions to Dr. Frederic Craigie, whose book, Weekly Soul , took top place in the Foreword Reviews' Book of the Year Award.  From the award committee: "A collection of 52 meditations on meaningful, joyful, and peaceful living. The meditations begin with thought-provoking quotations from writers, journalists, theologians, musicians and artists, activists--and touch on themes of miracles, aliveness, purpose, laughter and joy, presence/mindfulness, activism, acceptance, gratitude, forgiveness, creativity, civility, and hope. In "Weekly Soul," readers will find a year's worth of affirmation and engaging exploration of wholeness and well being." From posts about Dr. Craigie and his book, click HERE .

  There have been many posts on Sula, Parish Cat at Old Mission , by many people, including on Sula's own page, as well as articles written about her in Guideposts and All Creatures, but perhaps the most special thing about her (at least recently) was shared by her current vet oncologist.  Sula has had an ongoing struggle with cancer, in and out of remission, for more than six years. At first, she had skin cancer on her ears. That was controlled by cutting out the cancered areas. Then, the skin cancer returned, and Sula's ears were removed. She wrote about it in Surviving Cancer, Healing People: One Cat's Story . Then, Sula got another kind of cancer: injection site carcinoma. Her vet cut out a piece of her hip to help her survive it, and survive she did. But in a couple of years, the cancer came back. This time, the vet said the only way to save Sula's life would be to remove her leg. The priest said no. Let her live out her life however long with all her legs intact.