Welcome back, James.
Reading your novels always stretch me spiritually. Why did you become an
author?
Like many other writers, I didn’t chose writing, writing
chose me. I remember when I was around twenty years old on a weekend getaway to
the Washington
coast where I felt so restless inside I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I sat
down and wrote out the true story of how a friend and I narrowly escaped being
mauled by a mama bear, and as soon as I finished everything felt right with the
world. I can’t not write if I want to feel peace.
I so understand that
feeling. If you weren’t an author, what would be your dream job?
Bear trainer. No, I’m kidding. Since I’m too old, and was
never talented enough to play in the NFL, I’ll go with actor. I took acting
classes in college and loved it. One of the items on my “someday” list is to
try out for community theatre.
I don’t know if you
knew that my degree is in Drama. And I’ve both written the script and directed
in community theater. If you could have lived at another time in history, what
would it be and why?
Let’s head for 1804, and give me a spot on the Lewis and
Clark Expedition. What a rush to be journey across the US to the Pacific Coast ,
not knowing what kind of adventures you’d find along the way. No roads, no map,
just the unknown quest in front of you.
I like that period,
too. My only pirate book was set in 1804, but it took place in the south
eastern part of the US .
What place in the United
States have you not visited that you would
like to?
Darci and I have always talked about visiting the New England states in the fall. The golden and red
leaves, the covered bridges, the quaint small towns ... take us there!
How about a foreign
country you hope to visit?
I have never been to Greece , and we’d love to go
someday. I can’t wait to scuba dive down there in the Greek Isles.
What lesson has the
Lord taught you recently?
That it’s all about grace. Everything. The grace we give
ourselves, the grace we give each other, and our willingness to receive the
unending, exploding fountain of grace our true Abba has given us through Jesus.
I love basking in His
grace for me so I can extend it to others. Tell us about the featured book.
The Five Times I Met Myself is probably the most personal book
I’ve ever written. So much of me is in there. The question I ask in the book
(and I asked about my own life) is, what would you do differently if you could
make different choices? And what would that life look like? And is there hope
for the future since we can’t make different choices? Here’s the back cover
copy that will give you a good feel for the novel:
What if you met your
twenty-three-year-old self in a dream? What would you say?
Brock Matthews’ once promising life is unraveling. His
coffee company. His marriage.
So when he discovers his vivid dreams—where he encounters
his younger self—might let him change his past mistakes, he jumps at the
chance. The results are astonishing, but also disturbing.
Because getting what Brock wants most in the world will
force him to give up the one thing he doesn’t know how to let go . . . and his
greatest fear is that it’s already too late.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
The dream had come again last night, just as it had sliced
into Brock’s subconscious the night before that. A dream now dominating a
significant portion of his waking moments. He had to talk to someone about it—
someone with at least a smattering of psychology. Someone he could trust. His
best choice was Morgan. His only choice, really.
Brock crossed Seattle ’s
4th Avenue
and looked up at the sky as it surrendered to dusk. Not long till the spring
evenings would hold the light till after nine o’clock. He reached the other
side of the street, strode up to the front door of Java Spot, yanked the door open,
and stepped inside. Three-quarters full. The perfect number of people. Not so
many that newcomers would turn away, but enough to tell people it was a place
to be. Morgan had to feel good having that many customers at six twenty.
Brock glanced around at the 1940s motif. Posters of Rosie
the Riveter and Ted Williams, an old Coca- Cola sign, and the famous shot of
the sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square
hung on the walls. Definitely captured the hope of a post–World War II
populace. Or maybe Java Spot simply appealed to those who wanted an alternative
to the corporate giant that had more coffee shops sprinkled throughout Puget Sound than 7-Elevens.
On one side: a cluster of what looked like college students,
a few couples, and some solo acts. The opposite side: three people hunched over
their Mac laptops, and a large group of mid-forty somethings laughed and
pointed at each other in rapid-fire succession. What Java Spot put in its
drinks was obviously the right concoction, which made Brock smile again,
because he’d developed those concoctions being consumed in all fifteen of
Morgan’s locations as well as the rest of the country and overseas.
Brock took one more glance around the coffee shop, then
strolled behind the counter and said, “Not a bad crowd for a Monday night.”
“You can’t come back here.”
“Deal with it.”
“Nope. Employees only. Get out. Now.”
Morgan Myers lugged his sizable girth toward Brock and
grinned. When he reached Brock, Morgan grabbed him by both shoulders and shook
him like he was a stuffed animal. Yeah, maybe Morgan had put on more than a few
pounds since their college days, but even after thirty-one years, he hadn’t
lost any of his linebacker strength.
“Amazing,” Morgan said. “You actually have the hint of a tan
to go with your slightly graying mane. A vacation you call work—but at least
you got some sun.”
“It was work.”
“Uh- huh. A week in Costa Rica sipping coffee and
checking out beans. Brutal. How did you survive? What, you were probably
slaving away three, maybe four hours a day before you hit the beach?”
“Four and a half.” Brock grinned at his friend.
“When did you get back?”
“Five days ago.” Brock lowered his voice. “That’s when they
started.”
“When what started?”
“When you get a moment, I need to talk.”
“The doctor is in.” Morgan tapped his chest.
“A degree in psychology you never used makes you a doctor?”
“I use it every day.” Morgan waved his paw of a hand at the
crowd. “Spill it. Problems with Karissa? Tyson? Work?”
“A dream. More like a nightmare.”
Morgan beckoned with his finger and led Brock to the back
room and into the office. After they settled into the small space, Morgan
beckoned again with both hands. “Let’s go. Tell me about dem cah-razy dreams.”
You’ve already pulled
me in, as you always do with the first scene in your books. How can readers
find you on the Internet?
·
Website and where folks can sign up for my
newsletter: JamesLRubart.com
·
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLRubart
·
Twitter: @jamesLrubart
Thanks for having me, Lena !
Always great to be with you.
And I love having
you. I’m eager to read this new book, and I know my readers are as well.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Five Times I Met Myself - Christianbook.com (best print price today)The Five Times I Met Myself
The Five Times I Met Myself - Kindle (best price)
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
would love to win. Angela in KY
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting. Count me in, please.
ReplyDeleteCalifornia
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I love James's statement that "That it’s all about grace. Everything. The grace we give ourselves, the grace we give each other, and our willingness to receive the unending, exploding fountain of grace our true Abba has given us through Jesus." It is sometimes so hard to remember this ourselves, let alone convince others! Thank you James and Lena for this interview and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteConnie from KY
cps1950 (at) gmail (dot) com
Looking forward to you thoughts on The Five Times I Met Myself. Again, thanks for having me!
ReplyDeleteJames
I have read such wonderful things about this book. I would love to read it! Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteMelanie Backus, TX
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteCaryl in TX
Such a curious title. I am intrigued.
ReplyDeleteMary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
Very interesting book. I would love to read it as I love James Rubart's books. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteI live in Indiana.
Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.
countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com
The more I am hearing about this book, the more interested I am in reading it. It sounds like such an interesting concept. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!
ReplyDeleteLoraine in TX
I heard good things about the book.kamundsen44ATyahooDOTcom. North Platte Nebraska.
ReplyDeleteThis book really intrigues me though it is totally different from my normal reading genres. Rachael in ME
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win this book. I want to read some of James's books when I get caught up.
ReplyDeleteEdward A in VA
Jim's book sounds absolutely fascinating. So does his life. I can't remember if he mentioned where he lives, but I hope he does get to see the fall leaves in New England. I would love to win this book, either in print or on Kindle.
ReplyDeleteBonnie in Arizona
Enter me in your awesome contest!!!
ReplyDeleteConway, SC.
Enjoyed the interview. Sounds like a good read. I would love to win a copy of this book.
ReplyDeleteBrenda in VA
Sounds interesting. Please enter me.
ReplyDeleteBlanch NC