MSI Press Blog

  I am going to deviate a bit from the normal format for the publisher's conversation because what I have to say is short and simple -- and there is a longer, typical post HERE that describes the affiliate program. This is simply an addendum, providing another option for authors unknown to MSI Press to become affiliates and have their books listed in the MSI Press webstore catalogue with links to the author's own sales source (Amazon, author website, etc.) If your book has received at least 25 5-star reviews, we will consider your book, any genre, for including. The reviews may be cumulative: 10 on Amazon, 10 on Barnes & Noble, 7 on Goodreads, 1 on Readers' Favorite, 1 on Kirkus, etc., as long as they total 25 or more.) To be considered, send a link to the reviews to editor@msipress.com , as well as to a description of your book on Amazon with the LookInside feature. (If there is no look inside feature, we may need to receive an actual copy of the book.) The cost is $

  Now you can hear all five interviews of Joanna Charnas by the hosts of OwlTail at the same time! They have been pieced together into one podcast HERE . OwlTail has some very interesting programming, including interviewing the likes of former president Obama and Elon Musk. Well worth following! Read more posts that include links to writings, interviews, and podcasts by Joanna Charnas, including her four books,  HERE . American Book Fest Best Books Awards Finalist 2917 2018 Book Excellence Award Hollywood Book Festival Honorable Mention 2021 a pandemic series book

  " Parenting the Great Experiment " is the name of a podcast, taped on June 4, in which MSI Press author, Farnki Bagdade, is interviewed. Watch for the September 25 release of Franki's book, I Love My Kids, But I Don't Always Like Them . Franki is a consult, experienced parenting expert, and a parent of three children. She also provides consultations through FAAB Consulting . For more posts about Franki and her book, click HERE .

  excerpt from Life, Liberty, & Covid-19 SELF-COMPASSION When we blame others with such vehemence, it is a good indication of a hidden, unacknowledged self-blame. We used to say as kids, “It takes one to know one.” Another way of saying it, “If you spot it, you got it.” That is called projection, as we discussed regarding prejudice. What we hate in others is what we cannot tolerate in ourselves but disown. We get rid of what we despise in ourselves by casting it onto others and then berate them for it. There is only one way to escape the blame game. Beginning with ourselves, we give up the harsh self-judgment. The first step in self-compassion, forgiveness, is to become attuned to our own suffering, which has several aspects: Losses During the pandemic, we suffer so many unavoidable losses. Our lives have been turned upside down. Most tragically, family members may have become infected and died. We could not be by their sides during their sufferings because of the quaranti

  How do I know if he’s actually an addict?   Tony, the mental health professional   To be clear, until recently, there wasn’t anything in either the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) or the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD) that talked about sexual addiction or pornography addiction. Recently, the WHO updated the ICD to include Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) as a mental health condition. While this designation doesn't exactly meet the standard for addiction, it is definitely the strongest statement made by a body of experts in the field of sexual mental health.   Let me share a very 30,000-foot view of what is happening to the brain when viewing pornography.  When a man watches porn, his brain releases the feel-good drug, dopamine. There is some fascinating research around what is called “The Coolidge Effect.” The idea is that a male will mate with

  Natural Awakenings magazine published an article, called Three Ways to Say "Yes" to Self-Care , written by MSI Press author, Julie Gentile. Indulge, invigorate, and invest, she says. Find out what she means by clicking above on the link to the article. To read more posts by and about Julie and her books, click HERE .

  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 addresses two terms that are generally used together but mean very different things: marketing and promotion.  Marketing has as a goal getting someone to buy your book. It can include, but is not limited to: advertising, whether in print (e.g., direct mail, posted posters, ads in magazines and newspapers) or via social media passive marketing: presence in bookstores, online catalogues, distributor's catalogue, publisher's website and webstore presence on other websites where it is for sale listing in catalogues email blasts tweaking SEO and following results holding sales  sales booths book signi