At SDP Publishing, we love it when our authors and their books get recognized by reviewers, bloggers, or other media outlets! Yvonne deSousa’s MS Madness! Recently received some great reviews from BookLife by Publishers Weekly and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America’s publication The Motivator. You can read them below!
Review as it appeared in BookLife by Publishers Weekly
“A week before Christmas in 2009, deSousa, a writer and blogger in her late 30s, receives a diagnosis that explains all of the mysterious symptoms she’s had for months: relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis. She’s thrown into a disorienting world of self-administered shots, exhaustion, and memory loss. Rather than descend into pity or bitterness, she decides to enjoy her favorite holiday while relying on her Catholic faith, a sense of humor, and family. DeSousa considers herself lucky: unlike her sister, who also has MS, she doesn’t need a cane or a brace to walk. That attitude, which helps her navigate the difficult early months, comes through right away in the book. At first, deSousa continues to hold down a stressful job and teach Sunday school, in part because, even with insurance, she worries about the mounting costs of dealing with the disease, but eventually, her disability forces her to quit working. She describes her deliberations over whether to spend 83¢ on a fountain soda, and her joy at discovering that the soda is actually free. With her new free time, she discovers previously untapped interests like writing and earns a scholarship to a writing conference and is published. In this heartfelt memoir, deSousa proves that while there is much to be frustrated and dispirited about, it’s possible to face quagmires with grace.” (BookLife by Publishers Weekly) http://booklife.com/project/ms-madness-2108
Review as it appeared in the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America’s publication The Motivator: Summer/Fall 2014
“Subtitled “A ‘Giggle More, Cry Less’ Story of Multiple Sclerosis,” MS Madness! is an enjoyable book for anyone looking to uncover the lighter side of MS. Authored by a woman with MS, the story is written in a conversational tone, connecting the reader with her many unique encounters and entertaining perspectives. Ms. deSousa takes readers on her journey through her daily events, including her relationships, school and work, doctor visits, and much more, all while sharing her comical thoughts on how she interprets the sometimes bizarre situations.
When the pharmacist refuses to give her a large prescription of Vitamin D at one time – making her return to the pharmacy every few days – she wonders if he thought she was going to try to sell it illegally to “unsuspecting folks who were already drinking their fair share [of Vitamin D] in their milk.” Not only can members of the MS community relate to her physical, cognitive, and emotional ups and downs, but readers will find themselves laughing out loud throughout the book. In addition to borrowing this book from MSAA’s free Lending Library, this book may be purchased through www.amazon.com.” http://www.mymsaa.org/publications/motivator/summer-fall14/spread-word/
ABOUT MS MADNESS
Yvonne deSousa’s diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis came with an insightful declaration from a new doctor (“MS sucks”) and a brother’s helpful advice (“You could totally get one of those handicapped parking plates now”). What followed was a year of MS-adventures: “accidentally” kicking an officious male doctor in the crotch, becoming an undercover agent to pay for medication made from Chinese hamster ovary cells, discovering the amazing effects of legal speed, and battling her arch-nemesis, the dreaded food group: vegetables. Throughout her MS journey, Yvonne learned how to use humor to find acceptance in her diagnosis, and how to smile in the face of a debilitating chronic illness. MS Madness will make you laugh while learning the real story of what MS, a disease that affects 400,000 Americans daily, can do to a perfectly normal person. Life with multiple sclerosis can be daunting, but Yvonne shares her giggles at the bizarre world she has unwittingly entered and the new perspectives it has given her on life. MS Madness makes us realize that with a sense of humor, we can survive anything.
To learn more about MS Madness, please visit: https://sdppublishingsolutions.com/bookstore/ms-madness. To learn more about Yvonne deSousa, please visit: http://yvonnedesousa.com.
SDP Publishing Solutions, LLC (formerly Sweet Dreams Publishing of Massachusetts) is a leader of self publishing in Massachusetts. We offer optimal self-publishing solutions for authors worldwide. From literary agency representation to worldwide marketing – including international rights – and independent publishing, we provide the best solutions for authors. Our services include developmental editing and copy editing, custom cover design and layout, book marketing, query letter and book proposals, literary agency representation, print, and e-book development. We provide the best exposure for your book!
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