>In the process of moving to WordPress

>Hello everyone I am in the process of moving this blog over to WordPress.  Nothing should be lost at all.  Thank you for all my followers for the support and understanding and hope you will still follow after I move.  

>Guest Gene Twaronite

>

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=babsw0b-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=145024517X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrBabs….Have you always wanted to write?  If not when did the mood hit you?

Aside from some romantic notions about writing during my early twenties, it wasn’t until I was in my thirties, with the sale of my first short story to Highlights for Children, that I began to get serious about writing.

Babs….What do you want your readers to get out of The Family That Wasn’t?

We all carry our families inside us.  Our families, whether living or deceased, are the stuff of our dreams, all that we are and hope to become.  Yet they are so fragile and easily lost. 

Babs….What book are you reading right now or just finished?

I am just finishing Huckleberry Finn, and can now more fully appreciate the influence that Mark Twain had on so many writers, including myself.  Twain’s wry and cynical observations on the human condition, especially with regard to race, seem even more relevant today.  His novel always seems fresh and new with each rereading.  

Babs….Do you have a special place you write or any special rituals you have, ie coffee, tea, food, etc?

I generally write in the small office/library that I share with my wife, Josie.  But I also write wherever I happen to be – on a boulder at Grand Canyon, on a plane or in a crowded waiting room – when I feel the need to write.  And no, I don’t have any special rituals – I have enough distractions as it is without being distracted by food or drink.

Babs….Will we see any more projects?  Do you mind sharing a bit about it?

There is one part of the story where we discover that John has been sexually abused by his fake “Uncle Vinnie.”  Though I did not make this a major part of the book, I felt that I just couldn’t leave John or my readers hanging there with this unresolved issue.  Though I have never experienced such abuse, I still tried to imagine some of what John must have felt, including the rage, powerlessness, and self-hatred of abuse victims.  And I wondered how he might try to deal with it.  The result is a much longer novel, My Vacation in Hell, in which John embarks on yet another journey of the imagination through the hell he has created within himself.  I am currently on the third draft and hope to finish and publish it this year.  Because of its darker theme and the fact that John is now 15, this will definitely be a young adult novel.  

Babs…..If you had to pick which character in your book would you have been and why?

I guess I identify most with the main character, John, who like me is a writer and a frequent flyer of his imagination.  Being a science nerd, I also feel a certain kinship with Venus, who has a very low opinion of people who don’t see the need for evidence or logic in their arguments. 

Babs….Favorite Food?

Pizza (and beer)!

Babs….Anything you would like to add or links to share?

Thank you for interviewing me and allowing me to share my thoughts with your readers.  Also, your readers may be interested to know that, based on recent changes in the publishing industry, I have dropped the price of my e-book edition to $3.99.  The price of the softcover will remain the same, however.  Though this price is now in effect at my publisher, IUniverse (http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookSearchResults.aspx?Search=twaronite), it may take several weeks before the price goes into effect with other vendors.  I feel that, because of the lower costs in producing an e-book, readers are entitled to expect substantially lower retail prices for the e-books they purchase.  And I hope that this will allow more readers to discover The Family That Wasn’t.

>New Review Opal Fire by Barbara Annino

>http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=babsw0b-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004QGYHFI&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrReporter Stacy Justice did not expect to be set on fire that night, but being raised by witches prepares one for life’s little surprises. In fact, she isn’t the least bit shocked when her cousin is accused of arson, or when her divorced grandparents sign up for a marriage retreat, or even when her own boyfriend hauls her off to jail. But when a decades-old secret is discovered within the walls of her cousin’s bar, even Stacy is rattled. Now, someone wants her dead and she finds herself dodging angry motorists, exploding chickens and a very creepy man who lurks around every corner. As she begins to dig up the past, Stacy learns that even those closest to her have something to hide–and she’s about to discover a destiny she never imagined.






A cute cozy mystery that has the right ingredients. A great dane that takes your heart in and is adorable and the characters are all well written. There are so many surprising twits that will keep you guessing up to the last minute which makes it a great story. 

I enjoyed it for some of the fantasy as well as the mystery. A well rounded book. I will be looking for more books by Barbara. 

>New Review Recovery by Alexandra Weis

>http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=babsw0b-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1453875700&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrRecovery by Alexandrea Weis is the second novel in the wildly sexy series featuring the enigmatic Nicci Beauvoir. A thrilling read, this character-driven book boasts a whodunit mystery, sultry seductions, and an unforgettable cliffhanging twist. Once a darling of New Orleans society, Nicci pens a novel about her departed love, the artist David Alexander. While promoting her book in the Big Apple, she’s approached by David’s former boss, Simon La Roy, who has a theory about David’s death that devastates Nicci. She learns David’s murder may be linked to someone from her past. Enter Dallas August, an elite member of Simon’s organization of corporate spies prized for his ruthless ability to get the job done. Playing the part of Nicci’s lover, Dallas returns to Katrina-ravaged New Orleans with her to flush out the killer. But everything is not what is seems in the Big Easy, and soon the couple finds themselves trapped in a psychotic’s twisted game of revenge. As the danger grows, Nicci’s relationship with the handsome spy turns from adversarial to amorous. On the run for their lives, Dallas and Nicci must confront their tormentor before it is too late. It’s a deadly decision that could cost Nicci everything, but it is her only chance for finally revealing the identity of the murderer. Just as the truth behind David’s death is discovered, another more compelling mystery is unearthed. It’s an unexpected turn of events that rocks Nicci’s world.

A fast paced thriller and more. Nicci is a great character and has a good sense of humor. Dallas has a wall up that Nicci tries to get through. She has been so hurt and heartbroken for so long she might not make it.

I loved the book for the mystery and romance. This book is the 2nd in the series, but that it ok as it is a great stand a lone read. The first book is To My Senses. I will have to go back and read that one. If you love New Orleans you will love the story line.

>New Review The Social Climber’s Handbook by Molly Jong-Fast

>HIGH SOCIETY CAN BE A KILLER.

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=babsw0b-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0345501896&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrUpper East Side socialite Daisy Greenbaum is accustomed to the finer things—designer clothes, summers in the Hamptons, elite private school educations for her daughters, and a staggeringly expensive Park Avenue apartment. But Daisy finds her well-heeled lifestyle on precarious footing after her husband, master of the universe Dick Greenbaum, learns about some shady dealings that threaten his position at The Bank.

Daisy refuses to allow her family to slip down the social ladder, so she devises a madcap plan: Anyone who jeopardizes her place at the top will simply have to be dispatched—six feet under. From Dick’s arrogant boss to his scheming former mistress to a pair of nosy bloggers, Daisy’s hit list is a who’s who of big names with even bigger secrets. But with the body count rising as the Dow Jones falls, can Daisy really get away with murder?




The book was ok for me. Some of the book was boring for me with all the bank bailouts, mortgages, investments etc. Daisy will go to any length even murder to keep her lifestyle. I didn’t really care for any of the characters that are miserable, snobby, spoiled and desperate. It was a quick read.

>Posts Missing

>Most of you know Blogger was down and took away some of our posts in the process.  Please bare with me if trying to post them again.

>Guest Gene Twaronite

>

Please welcome Gene to the blog today.


http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=babsw0b-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=145024517X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrBabs….Have you always wanted to write?  If not when did the mood hit you?

Aside from some romantic notions about writing during my early twenties, it wasn’t until I was in my thirties, with the sale of my first short story to Highlights for Children, that I began to get serious about writing.

Babs….What do you want your readers to get out of The Family That Wasn’t?

We all carry our families inside us.  Our families, whether living or deceased, are the stuff of our dreams, all that we are and hope to become.  Yet they are so fragile and easily lost. 

Babs….What book are you reading right now or just finished?

I am just finishing Huckleberry Finn, and can now more fully appreciate the influence that Mark Twain had on so many writers, including myself.  Twain’s wry and cynical observations on the human condition, especially with regard to race, seem even more relevant today.  His novel always seems fresh and new with each rereading.  

Babs….Do you have a special place you write or any special rituals you have, ie coffee, tea, food, etc?

I generally write in the small office/library that I share with my wife, Josie.  But I also write wherever I happen to be – on a boulder at Grand Canyon, on a plane or in a crowded waiting room – when I feel the need to write.  And no, I don’t have any special rituals – I have enough distractions as it is without being distracted by food or drink.

Babs….Will we see any more projects?  Do you mind sharing a bit about it?

There is one part of the story where we discover that John has been sexually abused by his fake “Uncle Vinnie.”  Though I did not make this a major part of the book, I felt that I just couldn’t leave John or my readers hanging there with this unresolved issue.  Though I have never experienced such abuse, I still tried to imagine some of what John must have felt, including the rage, powerlessness, and self-hatred of abuse victims.  And I wondered how he might try to deal with it.  The result is a much longer novel, My Vacation in Hell, in which John embarks on yet another journey of the imagination through the hell he has created within himself.  I am currently on the third draft and hope to finish and publish it this year.  Because of its darker theme and the fact that John is now 15, this will definitely be a young adult novel.  

Babs…..If you had to pick which character in your book would you have been and why?

I guess I identify most with the main character, John, who like me is a writer and a frequent flyer of his imagination.  Being a science nerd, I also feel a certain kinship with Venus, who has a very low opinion of people who don’t see the need for evidence or logic in their arguments. 

Babs….Favorite Food?

Pizza (and beer)!

Babs….Anything you would like to add or links to share?

Thank you for interviewing me and allowing me to share my thoughts with your readers.  Also, your readers may be interested to know that, based on recent changes in the publishing industry, I have dropped the price of my e-book edition to $3.99.  The price of the softcover will remain the same, however.  Though this price is now in effect at my publisher, IUniverse (http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookSearchResults.aspx?Search=twaronite), it may take several weeks before the price goes into effect with other vendors.  I feel that, because of the lower costs in producing an e-book, readers are entitled to expect substantially lower retail prices for the e-books they purchase.  And I hope that this will allow more readers to discover The Family That Wasn’t.

>New Review of Opal Fire by Barbara Annino

>http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=babsw0b-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1935407902&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrReporter Stacy Justice did not expect to be set on fire that night, but being raised by witches prepares one for life’s little surprises. In fact, she isn’t the least bit shocked when her cousin is accused of arson, or when her divorced grandparents sign up for a marriage retreat, or even when her own boyfriend hauls her off to jail. But when a decades-old secret is discovered within the walls of her cousin’s bar, even Stacy is rattled. Now, someone wants her dead and she finds herself dodging angry motorists, exploding chickens and a very creepy man who lurks around every corner. As she begins to dig up the past, Stacy learns that even those closest to her have something to hide–and she’s about to discover a destiny she never imagined.

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: Vanilla Heart Publishing (January 12, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1935407902
• ISBN-13: 978-1935407904

My 2 cents:

A cute cozy mystery that has the right ingredients.  A great dane that takes your heart in and is adorable and the characters are all well written.  There are so many surprising twits that will keep you guessing up to the last minute which makes it a great story.

I enjoyed it for some of the fantasy as well as the mystery.  A well rounded book.  I will be looking for more books by Barbara.

>New Review of Recovery by Alexandra Weis

>http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=babsw0b-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1453875700&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrRecovery by Alexandrea Weis is the second novel in the wildly sexy series featuring the enigmatic Nicci Beauvoir. A thrilling read, this character-driven book boasts a whodunit mystery, sultry seductions, and an unforgettable cliffhanging twist. Once a darling of New Orleans society, Nicci pens a novel about her departed love, the artist David Alexander. While promoting her book in the Big Apple, she’s approached by David’s former boss, Simon La Roy, who has a theory about David’s death that devastates Nicci. She learns David’s murder may be linked to someone from her past. Enter Dallas August, an elite member of Simon’s organization of corporate spies prized for his ruthless ability to get the job done. Playing the part of Nicci’s lover, Dallas returns to Katrina-ravaged New Orleans with her to flush out the killer. But everything is not what is seems in the Big Easy, and soon the couple finds themselves trapped in a psychotic’s twisted game of revenge. As the danger grows, Nicci’s relationship with the handsome spy turns from adversarial to amorous. On the run for their lives, Dallas and Nicci must confront their tormentor before it is too late. It’s a deadly decision that could cost Nicci everything, but it is her only chance for finally revealing the identity of the murderer. Just as the truth behind David’s death is discovered, another more compelling mystery is unearthed. It’s an unexpected turn of events that rocks Nicci’s world.

• Paperback: 302 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (March 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1453875700
• ISBN-13: 978-1453875704

My 2 cents:

A fast paced thriller and more.  Nicci is a great character and has a good sense of humor.  Dallas has a wall up that Nicci tries to get through.  She has been so hurt and heartbroken for so long she might not make it.  

I loved the book for the mystery and romance.  This book is the 2nd in the series, but that it ok as it is a great stand a lone read.  The first book is To My Senses.  I will have to go back and read that one.  If you love New Orleans you will love the story line.  

>Guest Tamara Mousner & Giveaway

>

Please help me welcome Tamara today.  She is so easy and wonderful to talk to.  She has been gracious enough to offer a copy of Being to one lucky winner.  You can check that out below.  In the mean time check out these wonderful answers.

My Being Review

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=babsw0b-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004R9QQ8U&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifrBabs….Have you always wanted to write?  If not when did it mood hit you? 

First of all, thank you so much for reviewing my book and interviewing me, Babs.  To answer your question, yes, I wanted to write since adolescence, although my childhood fantasies of being a novelist turned out to far more glamorous than reality has proved. Up until seven years ago, I wrote here and there, mostly in journals, but story ideas only started coming to me in the last decade. 

Babs….What do you want your readers to get out of Being?  

I hope readers come away with a greater appreciation for our world and a desire to better care for it. 

Babs….What book are you reading right now or just finished? 

I just finished re-reading City of Thieves by David Benioff and am now reading Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse #11.) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins also arrived with Dead Reckoning and it’s been calling my name!  

Babs….Do you have a special place your write or any special rituals you have, ie coffee, tea, food, etc? 

I prefer to write at home because I require a quiet environment.  Otherwise, my special ritual is I try to clear my schedule.  In order to access my creativity, I cannot have limits, especially time limits.  Ack!

Babs….Will we see any more projects?  Do you mind sharing a bit about it?  

Being’s sequel, Just Being is in the works. Unfortunately, life has been so chaotic lately I’ve not gotten much done on it. However, I adore the characters in Being like they’re my children and cannot wait to spend more time with them.  

Babs…..If you had to pick which character in your book who would you have been and why? Xtarr (pronounced Star) because she’s a princess and has staff to attend to her every need, lol.  I have no doubt I’d be 4 or 5 books into my career by now if I had domestic help. 

Babs….Favorite Food?  CANDY!!!!

Babs….Anything you would like to add or links to share? Actually, yes.  Being has been nominated for a Global ebook Award but I need people to vote for it. To do so, please follow this link:

http://bit.ly/fiItw2

At the top of the page (underneath the book title but above the book description) you’ll see five lowercase e’s. If your readers would vote for it by clicking on the fifth e, I’d be most grateful. When people vote, they can let me know they did so by messaging me on twitter, Facebook or my blog and I’ll gladly follow them back, like their fan page, follow their blog or have their baby. Just kidding about having their baby.

Here’s where to find me:

Blog:  www.trmousner.com

Being Facebook Fan Page: http://on.fb.me/fG14ox

Twitter: @TRMousner

Or, if anyone would like to purchase my book, here’s the link to the Amazon product page: http://amzn.to/hZIQ6b

Giveaway ends: 5-18-11

There will be one winner who will receive a copy of Being. 


All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post.   You DO NOT have to be a follower it is appreciated and I will follow back, but not required.