James L. Rubart and Free Books!

The Pages of Her Life is the story of a woman who stands up for everyone else in her life but hasn't ever truly done it for herself; until now.

Before we chat with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of On a Summer Tide, by Suzanne Fisher, is:

sarahmom335@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's revisit novelist James L. Rubart, author of The Pages of Her Life (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, May 2019).

Jim, how would you classify the genre of your new novel?

Tough question! No one really knows (not even me). My publisher and agent say I’ve created my own genre, which makes my stories unique, but often hard to describe. The closest definition is a genre called Slipstream, which essentially says, “Contemporary fiction where fantastical things often happen.”

I love that--it's good to know publishers are willing to allow authors to step outside standard genre boundaries.

Now for a bit more about Jim:

James L. Rubart is 28 years old, but lives trapped inside an older man's body. He thinks he's still young enough to water ski like a madman and dirt bike with his two grown sons, and loves to send readers on journeys they'll remember months after they finish one of his stories.

He's the best-selling, Christy Book of the Year, INSPY, and RT Book Reviews award-winning author of ten novels as well as a professional speaker, audio book narrator, the co-host of the Novel Marketing podcast, and the owner of The Rubart Writing Academy.

Jim lives with his amazing wife on a small lake in eastern Washington.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I’m a scuba diver and love sleight of hand magic.

I feel like I've maybe seen the occasional Facebook post about the diving. But the sleight of hand is definitely news to me!

 Please tell us a bit more about the plot of The Pages of Her Life.

How Do You Stand Up for Yourself When It Means Losing Everything?

Allison Moore is making it. Barely. The Seattle architecture firm she started with her best friend is struggling, but at least they’re free from the games played by the corporate world. She’s gotten over her divorce. And while her dad’s recent passing is tough, their relationship had never been easy.

Then the bomb drops. Her dad was living a secret life and left her mom in massive debt. As Allison scrambles to help her mom find a way out, she’s given a journal, anonymously, during a visit to her favorite coffee shop. The pressure to rescue her mom mounts, and Allison pours her fears and heartache into the journal.

But then the unexplainable happens. The words in the journal, her words, begin to disappear. And new ones fill the empty spaces—words that force her to look at everything she knows about herself in a new light.

Ignoring those words could cost her everything . . . but so could embracing them.

What is it about Allison that will make your readers care about her?

From the early feedback I’ve gotten, Allison (my lead character) is so relatable. Most of us have had times in our life where we wish we’d stood up for ourselves and haven’t, or maybe like Allison, we never have and are desperate to do it. Allison’s struggles are real, and she’s vulnerable, but knows there’s a strength deep inside herself. It’s a matter of that strength rising to the surface and coming out. And that’s the heart of the story.

Let’s say someone wrote a novel based on your life. What would the title be?

Wow! Great question. Maybe, The Life Through A Broken Vessel. The “Life” is Jesus. So it’s his life, and the Life he gives, lived out through me, the broken vessel.

That's kind of beautiful. Go on and write it, Jim!

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

I’ll mention the novel that popped into my mind first, even though it’s been a number of years since I read it. It’s called, Long Way Gone, by Charles Martin.

It’s a beautiful interpretation of the Prodigal Son story set in modern times. It got quite dusty multiple times as I read the book and realized the love of the Father for me. Highly recommended.

I know his readers really loved that one.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a series starring a character named, Rembrandt Stone, who is a detective that solves cold cases by traveling back in time. I’m writing the stories with my great friend, Susie Warren and we’re quite excited about them!

What a fun duo!

Where else can readers find you online?

They can head for my website, JamesLRubart.com, where they can sign up for my newsletter which will inspire, encourage and hopefully bring them more Life. I’m also on Facebook , Twitter: @jamesLrubart , and Instagram

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

Is standing up for others easier than standing up for yourself?

Thanks for having me once again, Trish! We’ve chatted about every one of my novels. I appreciate that so much.

Always a pleasure, Jim. Thank you for visiting and telling us about yourself and your novel. Readers, Jim has offered to give away a free copy of his book. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Jim's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. 

Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, an email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

James Rubart and Free Books!

What if you woke up one morning and the dark parts of yourself were gone?

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of As Bright as Heaven, by Susan Meissner, is:

dobeworld@...

Congratulations! I'll email you for your snail mail address, and we'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with novelist James L. Rubart, author of the psychological thriller (with a Christian supernatural element--or supernatural suspense), The Man He Never Was (HarperCollins Christian Publishing, February 2018).

James L. Rubart is 28 years old, but lives trapped inside an older man's body. He thinks he's still young enough to water ski and dirt bike with his two grown sons, and loves to send readers on journeys they'll remember months after they finish his stories. He's the best-selling, Christy BOOK of the YEAR, CAROL, INSPY and RT Book Reviews award-winning author of nine novels, a speaker, branding expert, co-host of the Novel Marketing podcast, and co-founder of the Rubart Writing Academy.

He lives with his amazing wife on a small lake in Washington.

May I interject here that many of us suspect Jim truly is 28 years old. He's not joking about the sports in which he engages. He's always been energy personified, and that spills over into his imaginative story ideas.

Jim, please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

A 20,000 pound, 130 foot tree crashed through our home in 2014, almost killing my wife and youngest son, but it led to a profound working of God in our lives, as well as the chance to live next door to Viggo Mortenson (Aragorn from Lord of the Rings) for three months in a hotel while he was filming a movie, and our home was being rebuilt. In case you’re curious, Viggo is a wonderful person.

Where can I sign up for the near-death-meet-Viggo experience, please?

Tell us a bit more about the plot of The Man He Never Was.

What if You Woke Up One Morning and the Darkest Parts of Yourself Were Gone?

Toren Daniels vanished eight months back, and his wife and kids have moved on—with more than a little relief. Toren was a good man, but carried a raging temper that often exploded without warning. So when he shows up on their doorstep with no notice, they’re shocked to see him alive. But more shocked to see he’s changed. Radically.

His anger is gone. He’s oddly patient. Kind. Fun. The man he always wanted to be. Toren has no clue where he’s been, but knows he’s been utterly transformed. He focuses on three things: Finding out where he’s been. Finding out how it happened. And winning back his family.

But then shards of his old self start to rise up from deep inside—the man kicked out of the NFL for his fury—and Toren must face the supreme battle of his life.

In this fresh take on the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story, James L. Rubart explores the war between good and evil within each of us—and one man’s only chance to overcome the greatest divide of the soul.

You see what I mean, readers? How cool is that story premise? My book club read Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde this past year, and we saw so many Christian elements featured in the doctor's struggle. 

What is it about Toren that will make your readers care about him?

He’s you. He’s me. He’s anyone that has said—as Paul famously said in Romans 7—“I do the thing I hate.” So I think readers will care because they’ll see themselves in Toren, and maybe in his wife Sloane as well, who has to deal with the dark parts of Toren.

Share with us a quote you like from a book other than yours.

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

—Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring

Why do you like the quote?

We live in an age of blaming everything and everyone around us, instead of acknowledging that we have choice, in every moment. Choice how to view our circumstances, choice on what kind of attitude to have, choice how we spend our time. We get to decide. I liked being reminded of that.

I agree, and so much of that choice needs to be considered before circumstances call for action. The more we consider what we believe, the more prepared we are when choices have to be made.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

My son bought me East of Eden for Christmas. Not a novel I would have ever picked up on my own, but I read it to honor him and am so glad I did.

Why do you recommend it?

The sentence structure in places is beautiful. The insight into the human condition is brilliant. Great writer.

East of Eden was one of the first "literary" novels I ever read. It hooked me on the classics. 

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a new novel called, The Pages of Her Life, a story of a woman who finds a journal on the side of road that takes her life places she couldn’t have imagined. And I just wrapped up recording the audio version of The Man He Never Was—quite fun to do all the character’s voices and voice the book the way I heard it in my head when I wrote it.

Where else can readers find you online?

On my website jameslrubart.com where they can sign up for my newsletter and get a free copy of one of my short stories, on my Facebook page and on Twitter: @jamesLrubart

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past six months? Should my wife and I watch it?

Thank you, Jim, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Jim has offered to give away a signed copy of his novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Jim's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).

Also readers, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post title.

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE