Q&A with Tamara Mousner

I'm so delighted to welcome author Tamara Mousner to P.S. I Love Books today!

Tamara Mousner studied acting with an Oscar-winning teacher in Los Angeles, played a few anime characters, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Houston with a Creative Writing degree, did a little theatre, studied with award-winning novelists, published a few articles (under her maiden name), wrote a manuscript for a novel, rewrote said manuscript many times and self-published said manuscript, a paranormal romance for young adults with a sci-fi edge entitled, Being.

 
Welcome Tamara! I appreciate you taking the time out to visit P.S. I Love Books.


Thank you so much for having me as your guest!

Can you tell us a little bit about Being?


Being is about an extraterrestrial whose ship crashes in California after colliding with space trash orbiting Earth.

But Being is also about family and the connections we share with those we love most. The story showcases two families, one human and one extraterrestrial. My extraterrestrials are similar to humans in many respects, except they have different philosophies and a different, more peaceful way of being than humans do.

What was one of your favorite and least favorite things about writing it?


Most favorite: exploring the narrative, getting to know the characters & my creative process. Least favorite: All the trees I killed getting the story where I wanted it (guilt!)

Which of the characters did you enjoy working with the most?


I love them all, but I’d have to say EBN. She held the biggest surprises.

If you had the chance to do it all over again would you change anything in Being?


I’d try to tighten it up more.

What do you think of the cover?


I couldn’t be more pleased with it. The background image is a photograph I took a few years ago, so it’s especially personal and meaningful, just like Being.

If Being were made into a movie who would be your ideal cast for the main characters?

Well, l’m no casting director. However, I could see either Saoirse Ronan or Dakota Fanning playing EBN, Zac Efron would make a stellar Aix and I’m not sure for Shale. Shale’s role has undiscovered talent written all over it.

If you could write a book about absolutely anything with any other author (dead or alive) what would it be about and who would you choose?

Wow! That’s some question. Let me see … the easy answer is I think Dr. Seuss and I could’ve had a blast working together; Roald Dahl, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King too. But the more I think about it, the more writers come to mind and truth be told, I have no idea what it would be about because of the nature of the collaborative process. We’d both have to agree on the subject matter.

If you didn’t have a passion for writing books what do you think you’d be doing as a career?


Physician.

I’m always looking for books to add to my ginormous TBR (to be read) pile. What books are you currently reading or have read recently? Any good recommendations?


My current faves are City of Thieves by David Benioff and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

What are some of your favorite things to do when given a break from the writing life and other work-related things? 


Running, working out, seeing my friends & family. I don’t get much time to do either unfortunately.

Are you currently working on any projects that we may see from you in the future?


I’m doing the prep work for Being’s sequel, getting inspired and writing scene sketches.

Thank you so much for stopping by Tamara! Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

My blog: http://www.trmousner.com/

Follow me on Twitter: @TRMousner

Being on Amazon: http://amzn.to/hZIQ6b

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

Being on goodreads: http://bit.ly/gm26B4

Coming soon: Being on Barnes & Noble!

Come back to see my review of Being and enter for a chance to win an ebook copy!

 
 

Q&A with R.A. McDonald

Please join me in welcoming author R. A. McDonald to P.S. I Love Books!

R.A. McDonald grew up in the Pacific Northwest and continues to reside there with her Husband, two children, and dogs.

Since she was a child, reading about foreign lands and people, as well as their beliefs, traditions and languages has captivated her. The possibility of being able to travel to those far off places was a dream.

It wasn't until late in college while seeking a dual major in Humanities and French that she finally realized words and writing were a way to travel to any land, real or imaginary.



 

Welcome R.A.! I appreciate you taking the time out to visit P.S. I Love Books.

Hi Everybody! Thank you Mishel for having me.

Can you tell us a little bit about Ada Legend of a Healer?

Definitely, Ada is a teenage girl who discovers she has the power to heal. She's spent her life being shuffled between foster homes so she hasn't had a lot of time to appreciate other people. The mystery of her mother's disappearance sends her to France where her life takes an unexpected turn and from there the adventure really begins.

What was one of your favorite and least favorite things about writing it?

My favorite part is disappearing into the lives of my characters. It's the same for me as travelling to a different country, which I love to do. My least favorite thing and the most difficult for me is when characters go in directions that I don't agree with. I let them, but it's hard at times.

Which of the characters did you enjoy working with the most?

I love working with Ada. She's stubborn and at times hard headed, but she's got a good heart and always in the middle of an adventure.

If you had the chance to do it all over again would you change anything in Ada Legend of a Healer?

At this point, I don't think I would change anything about Ada, but working on the second book keeps me busy expanding the story, so that helps.

What do you think of the cover?

I love the cover of Ada. My husband, James McDonald, did all of the artwork in the book, so I was able to watch the process. He's an incredible artist.

If Ada Legend of a Healer were made into a movie who would be your ideal cast for the main characters?

If I had a say, I would want all unknown actors. There are a lot of talented people out there.

If you could write a book about absolutely anything with any other author (dead or alive) what would it be about and who would you choose?

This is a fun question to think about. I love the idea of building worlds and creating creatures as well as interacting with mythological creatures. J.R.R Tolkien is one of my favorite authors, but if I had the privilege (as well as miracle) of seeing him write I would probably end up only reading in awe and trying to learn to better my own writing.

If you didn’t have a passion for writing books what do you think you’d be doing as a career?

I love working with little kids, so maybe an elementary school teacher.

I’m always looking for books to add to my ginormous TBR (to be read) pile. What books are you currently reading or have read recently? Any good recommendations?

I just finished reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and loved it and am currently reading Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, and really enjoying it. I would definitely recommend both.

What are some of your favorite things to do when given a break from the writing life and other work-related things?

I love to hike with my family, take spur of the moment road trips and find quiet places to read.

Are you currently working on any projects that we may see from you in the future?

Yes, I'm working on the second book in the Legend of a Healer series and hope to have it done sometime next year.

Thank you so much for stopping by R.A.! Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

Thank you very much for having me Mishel. Readers can find more about me and my work on http://www.adaslegend.com/.

Check back soon for my review of Ada Legend of a Healer and a giveaway!!

Review & Giveaway: Recovery

Recovery

Alexandrea Weis

Series or Stand Alone: Nicci Beauvoir series, book two

Series Order: To My Senses (2007), Sacrifice (TBA)

Release Date: March 2011

Publisher: CreateSpace

Pages: 296

Author Site: http://www.alexandreaweis.com/

My Rating: 4.25/5

Source: Received for review from author

Synopsis:

[from goodreads.com]

A killer is lurking among the ruins of Katrina-ravaged New Orleans.

A killer she knows.

Still devastated two years after the mysterious murder of her beloved David Alexander, Nicci Beauvoir surprises everyone in the Big Easy by returning to her hometown with a new admirer: the cool and contentious Dallas August. But the attractive stranger is asking a lot of questions about David’s death, making Nicci’s family and friends speculate about his true intentions. Only Nicci knows that Dallas, a high-priced corporate spy, has come to New Orleans to flush out David Alexander’s killer. Playing the part of her lover, Dallas escorts Nicci around town hoping to get closer to his possible suspects. But hiding amid the city’s elite is a jealous maniac waiting to make Nicci suffer. As the days pass and the danger grows, Nicci’s relationship with the handsome spy turns from adversarial to amorous. Desperate to unearth the identity of David’s murderer, Nicci and Dallas decide to lure the killer out of the city for one final showdown. It is a deadly decision that could cost Nicci everything. But it may be her only chance for… Recovery

Review:

I came across a review of Recovery not too long ago at Jackie’s blog (House Wife Blues and Chihuahua Stories) that really got me interested in the book. After reading the comments I left on her review, Jackie contacted me, along with Alexandrea, to set up a possible review on my blog for her novel. I’m so glad I came across Jackie’s review because I really enjoyed Recovery and Alexandrea is such a pleasure to work with!

Although Recovery is the second book in a series, it can be read as a stand alone novel. I hate reading out of order and I will admit I would prefer to have read book one, To My Senses, first. Nicci Beauvoir is slowly adjusting to life without David. Losing the only man she’s ever really loved has taken a very heavy toll on Nicci. And now that she’s published her first novel she’s trying very hard to come to terms with her loss. That is until she finds out that David’s murder may have not have been just a random act of violence but could have a lot to do with Nicci and her presence in his life. Enter: Dallas August.

Dallas, a very close friend of David’s, is a spy that has been hired to find David’s killer. He also works for the same high-priced employer that David did. He’s got a very cold demeanor but he is extremely precise and is very good at what he does. He tags along as Nicci’s new lover when she returns to post-Katrina New Orleans after her book promotion. And although her family is highly suspicious of Dallas, he’s determined to get closer to the people in Nicci’s life in order to eliminate suspects. Neither is prepared for the passion that slowly starts to burn between them despite the dangerous surroundings.

So Alexandrea provides enough background information for the book to be read by itself. However, I felt a little left out since book one was about David and Nicci. But I’m just being a whiney baby. Reading Recovery has only made me want to read To My Senses that much more. Although I liked Dallas and Nicci, my favorite characters were Nicci’s family, her father and uncle in particular. I’m a sucker for romance and paranormal things but if you give me characters that can have hilariously written dialogue I am a happy, happy camper. Nicci’s family is dysfunctional but fun and I had such a great time with them. But I’ll happily admit the banter and tension between Nicci Dallas was equally fun!

I enjoyed being able to feel the author’s obvious love and respect for New Orleans through her writing. I haven’t been there myself, before or after Katrina, and I can’t imagine the devastation that the storm caused for the beloved city. Alexandrea’s descriptions were powerfully written and an important aspect of the novel since the city meant a lot to Nicci as well.

I’m looking forward to what awaits Nicci and Dallas in the next installment and I’ll definitely be reading To My Senses so I can catch up with everything. Recovery is a great mystery/romance novel that is fast-paced and filled with really fantastic characters.

P.S. (cover talk)

I like the New Orleans style feel to it.

I have 3 paperback copies of Recovery up for grabs courtesy of the lovely Alexandrea Weis.

To enter simply fill out this form!

Giveaway ends July 10th!

US Entrants Only

Good Luck!

Winner Announcement: Queen by Right

Congrats to:

Maureen
(claimed =D)

You have until the end of Tuesday, June 28th to email me back. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Q&A with Alexandrea Weis

Please welcome author Alexandrea Weis to P.S. I Love Books!

Alexandrea Weis began writing at the age of eight. In college she studied nursing and went on to teach at a local university. After several years in the medical field, she decided to pick up the pen again and began her first novel To My Senses. Since that time she has writen several novels and sold two screenplays (White River and Blood Will Tell). Blood Will Tell is currently in pre-production with Buyer Group International. Her work has been critically acclaimed and is continually growing in popularity.

Alexandrea Weis is also a permitted wildlife rehabber and works rescuing orphaned and injured animals. She recently has been working to aid oil soaked birds in the Gulf disaster .

 
 

Welcome Alexandrea! I appreciate you taking the time out to visit P.S. I Love Books. Can you tell us a little bit about your newest release in the Nicci Beauvoir series, Recovery?

Recovery follows Nicci Beauvoir’s life two years after the death of her love, the artist David Alexander. We see Nicci’s emotional healing mirrored in the resurrecting city of New Orleans. The ravages of hurricane Katrina provide the perfect backdrop to a story about healing and redemption. In addition, it gave me the opportunity to incorporate my own experiences from the aftermath of the storm.

What was one of your favorite and least favorite things about writing it?

Getting lost in the book as I write it. It consumes your life much to the chagrin of those around you. My friends, animals, and husband often feel abandoned when I am into a new book. I love being immersed in the story, but I also feel guilty about it. I wish I could be more balanced in my approach to writing, but as I delve deeper into this art, I find it is really a question of all or none with this kind of passion.

Which of the characters did you enjoy working with the most?

I loved writing all of them. Nicci, Dallas, Uncle Lance, Val, Aunt Hattie, all the secondary characters were a true delight to put down on paper. Perhaps the banter between Nicci’s father and Uncle Lance, along with the tension between Dallas and Nicci, were my favorites in this book. But in the first novel of the series, To My Senses, the interplay between David and Nicci was also a lot of fun to write.

If you had the chance to do it all over again would you change anything in Recovery?

I feel the book is where it needs to be. In addition, you have to realize as I wrote this novel, I had to keep book III in the series, Sacrifice, in my head. Tying book I, To My Senses, and Sacrifice together in Recovery was a tough job, but I was happy with the result.

What do you think of the cover?

I love my cover. When I sit down to write a book, I see the cover in my head. What I envisioned for Recovery is what you see in the final published version. It is very New Orleans and that is what I wanted to convey to the reader.

If the series were made into a movie who would be your ideal cast for the main characters?

The movie option for Recovery has already been sold to Buyer Group International, an independent production company out of Austin. As far as casting goes, I have no idea who I see as Nicci or Dallas. As we move farther along with pre-production, I hope to find people who I feel can best bring these characters to the big screen.

If you didn’t have a passion for writing books what do you think you’d be doing as a career?

I worked as an RN Clinical Specialist in Gerontology for years, but I would probably be a full-time Wildlife Rehabber if I could. I have my permit with the La. Wildlife and Fisheries and would love to be able to take in more orphaned and injured animals than I currently do now.

If you could write a book about absolutely anything with any other author (dead or alive) what would it be about and who would you choose?

Probably something about New Orleans history or its people with the iconic Tennessee Williams. He was a family friend growing up in the French Quarter and he taught me a great deal about writing. It would have been wonderful to be able to collaborate with him at this point in my career. He was a fun and interesting man who was always very kind to me.

I’m always looking for books to add to my ginormous TBR (to be read) pile. What books are you currently reading or have read recently? Any good recommendations?

Cleopatra: A life by Stacy Schiff. I am an ancient history nut. This is a well-written and thorough work about the life of the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt.

What are some of your favorite things to do when given a break from the writing life and other work-related things?

Animal, animals, animals. I have a house filled with animals and get a lot in from concerned individuals who find orphaned and injured wildlife. When I am not writing, I am up to my elbows in all things furry. As I write this, I have an injured baby squirrel running around on me wanting to play. Needless to say, I am a big time multitasker.

Are you currently working on any projects that we may see from you in the future?

Sacrifice, book III in the Nicci Beauvoir Series, is currently going through editing and I am hoping to get it out at the end of the year. I also have other books planned for the future with characters from this series.

Thank you so much for stopping by Alexandrea! Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

At my webpage: http://www.alexandreaweis.com/index.html

On facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/pages/To-My-Senses/113609858681394

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/alexandreaweis

Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_15?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=alexandrea+weis&sprefix=alexandrea+weis

 

Be sure to stay tuned for my review of Recovery, the second book in Alexandrea's Nicci Beauvoir series, and a giveaway!

 

Daily Dose [9]

 Hosted by: Good Golly Miss Holly

** check it out **

 
 

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Book Arrivals

For Review:

• Dracula in Love by Karen Essex (for blog tour)
• City of Gods: Forgotten by M.Scott Verne & Wynn Mercere

Won/Miscellaneous:

• Shades of Midnight (Midnight Breed, #7) by Lara Adrian
• Bad Moon Rising (Dark-Hunter, #18) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

eBooks for Review:

• The Lake by Banana Yoshimoto (from netGalley)

Winner Announcement: Changeling Moon

Congrats to:

debbie
(claimed =D)

You have until the end of Tuesday, June 21st to email me back. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Friday Finds [57]

I usually add a lot of books on my TBR list throughout the week. This is just a small glimpse into the ones that were added on recently. Maybe you'll find something you like =)

Please let me know your thoughts on a book you've read from the list. Or tell me about a good book you've found this week.

My Finds This Week:

Warped :: Maurissa Guibord

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair :: Elizabeth Laird

Where the Truth Lies :: Jessica Warman

Unearthly :: Cynthia Hand

When Blood Calls :: J.K. Beck

Angelfire :: Courtney Allison Moulton

The Cellar :: A.J. Whitten

The Accidental Sorcerer :: K.E. Mills

Wake Unto Me :: Lisa Cach

Magic Time :: Marc Scott Zicree & Barbara Hambly

Awaken :: Katie Kacvinsky

Delirium :: Lauren Oliver