Explore Beyond the Usual™

About Us

About US/Me

The name Explore Beyond the Usual comes from a Friendly's Ice Cream banner I saw hanging in one of their shops. The sign shows three different flavors of sundaes to choose from, which if anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE sundaes! So, I offered Friendly's $10 which they donated to a charitable organization, and I now own the sign which hangs in my kitchen.

I've studied astrology since I was ten years old, and now I'm the President of the Seacoast Astrological Association in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Imagine that. In addition to astrology, the metaphysical world has always fascinated me. My friends know that I can't be disturbed during my favorite ghost hunting shows--and yes, I've seen more than a few myself. Over the years, I've taken many classes by Master teachers in astrology, psychic development, past lives, and I've been a student of A Course in Miracles for over 25 years. I'm a ferocious reader on all of those topics, spending all my lunch money on new books...and some used. As a result, I thought I would share some of my opinions about those books with you, since people were asking me anyway...friends and strangers in the metaphysical aisle at Barnes and Noble where I happen to spend a lot of time even when I travel for business. Don't be surprised if you visit the metaphysical aisle at Barnes and Noble in Portsmouth and find I've changed the featured new books on the shelf to local authors and the books I love. No kidding. Why should anyone waste their money on a new book if it stinks?

People who love to read usually love to write. I'm no different. I usually write book reviews or about whatever is on my mind. You can find some of those articles on my blog and website They're free until I become a rich and famous author then I'll charge you for reading them.

This year, I have put most book reviews on hold while I write my first novel Portsmouth- A Love Story. A novel you say? Yes, it has surprised even me since I mostly read non-fiction. A friend asked me to try my luck in the Next Top Spiritual Author contest and the details of a novel started writing themselves. I've been dictating ever since. This novel combines my love of Portsmouth with my love of men...or a man, anyway. The rough draft is a few chapters away from being finished, and I'm having a blast writing it. It has a little me in it, which means the main character is intuitive but works in the business world...like me, huh! It includes the requests of several girl friends who keep pleading with me to include some sex. So of course I had to listen. (They didn't have to twist my arm all that much though). Then, there's a spiritual lesson of forgiveness, release and paying attention to the synchronicities in life. But most of all, it has a happy ending. I don't mind telling you that it has a happy ending, because it was my decision in advance to make sure it did. We all need a happy ending right about now. The movies and television shows available to us lately seem, for the most part, disturbing. Watching the nightly news lately is enough to make you want to start your own country. I felt it was time we all needed to escape into a world of perfect endings...like the old movies from the 1930s that I love watching. People were happy and left the movie theatres dancing in the street.

Got to get back to writing my novel and being the Wizard of Oz behind the blog and website curtain. Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Please email me at r.ann@explorebeyondtheusual.com if you have any questions or would like a reading.

R. Ann Rousseau

Proprietor , Webmaster, Subject Matter Expert

PS. Click on some of my ads so I can continue to buy myself some hot fudge sundaes while I write the novel!