MSI Press Blog

  (photo by Carl D. Leaver) On the solstice (Tuesday), at Old Mission San Juan Bautista, the sun will stream through the arms of St. John the Baptist (the statue outside the church), then through the window in the choir loft, and starting from the right-hand side of the statures in the rededor and coming to rest on the tabernacle, from which it flows in a golden river of light down the center aisle. On cloudless solstices, it is quite spectacular. Anyone in San Juan Bautista at 6:00 am Tuesday this week (Dec 21) are welcomed into the church -- usually a priest, together with local Native Americans who built the church, will lead a waiting ceremony until the sun does its thing. Want more information about Old Mission San Juan Bautista? Here is the official information , and here are the reflections of MSI Press author, Sula, Parish Cat at Old Mission . Enjoy the solstice wherever you are.

  Our beloved cat, Murjan, died three months ago tomorrow.  We still miss him! The emergency room vet who received him in his last few minutes of life kindly made a contribution to the  Birchbark Foundation  in his name. That was comforting -- as is the grief counseling that the BBF conducts.  Click on the link to learn more about the BBF and its great work.

  Know someone who needs a good laugh? Here are some humor books that make great Christmas gifts (Available in paperback and in e-book editions.) If purchasing a paperback (any paperback) through MSI Press webstore, use coupon code FF25 for a 25% discount. How My Cat Made Me a Better Man -- Book of the Year humor finalist; Kops-Fetherling Legacy Award Winner for humor 57 Steps to Paradise (a personal history--quite funny with moments of inspiration by an author who has written a number of articles and books for Guideposts ) A Movie Lover's Search for Romance - diverting and hard to put down Diary of an RVer -- written during the early days of pandemic lockdown; learn about the quarantini -- useful for any stuck-at-home situation Mommy Poisoned Our House Guest -- yes, she did! RV Oopsies -- both funny and informative Soccer Is Fun without Parents - good coaching for parents and leaders The Musings of a Carolina Yankee - amusing stories of those from the North and the South

Franki Bagdade, author of I Love My Kids, But I Don't Always Like Them , a 5-star Amazon "hot new book," was recently interviewed by Voyage Michigan Magazine . You can read the interview HERE . Go ahead and meet Franki a little more personally, check her availability for consultation, read her blog, and learn her highly experienced thoughts on parenting at her blog, FAAB Consulting . Read more MSI blog posts about Franki and her book HERE .

We are proud to have learned that MSI Press author, Colette McNeil, has been named Top Communication Advisor by Autism Parenting Magazine. Colette is the author of two books: Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with Autism has earned the following awards: Reader Views Literary Awards Silver Medal Adult Classics Kops-Fetherling International Books Legacy Award Education Choice and Structure for Children with Autism has earned the following awards: Reader Views Literary Awards Silver Medal Parenting

  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 looks at how to create good word-of-mouth advertising, crazy good. And, keep in mind, that word of mouth has been found to be the most effective kind of advertising. The deep value in word-of-mouth advertising is that in and by itself it creates credibility, reaches a wider audience, and provides free advertising, while mainly asking that you grant accessibility to your book, accessibility that opens the book to the possibility of greater sales.  Here are ways to create credibility:  Seek out endorsements Enter competitions Ask for reviews   Here are ways to reach wider audiences: Write articles Maintain

  Choosing hospice is choosing to die. That may sound like a stark statement, but it is, in my experience, a true one. Now, when confronted with cancer, one can choose to live at home, not receive treatment, and not be in hospice--at least, for most of the course of the disease. That is what my sister-in-law did. She chose to die naturally and not fight nature, in part because she had no insurance (and did not want to rack up major debt for her husband or jeopardize their life savings and house) and in as much part due to her religious beliefs. She did go on hospice during the last six weeks of her life; she needed medical attention, and the hospital, to which she was ambulanced, moved her to in-patient hospice as a compromise. She was placed in a very nice New Hampshire hospice, Hyder Family Hospice House , known simply as Hyder House. Not all hospices are this attentive, gentle with the family, well-appointed in interior ambience and amenities, or surrounded by such beautiful landsca