Dear Readers, I
always eagerly await the release of James L Rubart’s next book. He writing is
awesome, as those of you who have read his works have seen. And the storylines
take me to spiritual places I haven’t explored before. I love stories that
stretch my belief in our awesome God.
Welcome back, James. As
an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the
people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their
contributions?
Although I had a great deal of help, the person most
responsible is my wife Darci who came up with the idea for the novel. Every
summer when our boys were young, we took them to the same lake. At the end was
a wall of cattails and trees. One year we swam through the cattails and pushed
through the trees to see what was on the other side. We found a wide, beautiful
field. We all pretended we’d entered another land where anything could happen.
When we were brainstorming Jake, my wife said, “Why don’t you write a story
about the corridor? Where it’s a legend and no one can find it, but if they do,
they’ll get what they want most in the world?” And the story was born.
I know I will love
this book. My copy hasn’t arrived yet, and as always, it will go to the top of
my to-be-read pile. If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?
This past year I spoke at ACFW, the Oregon Christian Writers
conference, the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers conference, the Writer to
Writer conference, and at the University of the Nations in Kona , Hawaii .
So far for next year, I’m speaking at a one-day conference at OCW in February
and at Realm Makers in July. More dates are likely coming. I love speaking
almost as much as writing.
If you had to
completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?
Probably Australia .
Darci and I went there in the early 90s and fell in love with the weather, the
beaches, the atmosphere, and most of all the people.
If you could only
tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?
There’s room at the top. Writing novels is hard. It’s the
hardest kind of writing to do well that there is. But that’s good news because
most people give up. So if you can’t stop yourself from writing, keep going,
you will improve while most other aspiring writers are falling away.
You’ve been asked to
be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why?
(AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])
I used to be a semi-pro magician so there has to be a magic
show. Phil Keaggy and Jeff Johnson and Jack Johnson would take care of the
music, Ellen DeGeneres would probably do stand up for us, my friend Paul Young
would give talks on theology, and I’d have my friend Riley do all his amazing
food stuff.
Tell us about the
featured book.
From the back cover:
What if there was a place where everything wrong in your
life could be fixed?
Corporate trainer Jake Palmer coaches people to see deeper
into themselves—yet he barely knows himself anymore. Recently divorced and
weary of the business life, Jake reluctantly agrees to a lake-house vacation
with friends, hoping to escape for ten days.
When he arrives, Jake hears the legend of Willow Lake —about
a lost corridor that leads to a place where one’s deepest longings will be
fulfilled.
Jake scoffs at the idea, but can’t shake a sliver of hope
that the corridor is real. And when he meets a man who mutters cryptic
speculations about the corridor, Jake is determined to find the path, find
himself, and fix his crumbling life.
But the journey will become more treacherous with each step
Jake takes.
Jake was given 4.5 stars by RT Book Reviews and made a Top Pick for August. Publishers Weekly gave it a rare starred
review as did Library Journal.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
If Jake Palmer had only kept the mundane promise he’d made
to himself, his life wouldn’t be headed down a dead-end road at the speed of
light. He’d vowed there’d be no more late-night flights. No more trips stacked
on top of each other. No more landings at Seattle ’s
Sea-Tac Airport after midnight, which pushed him
to physical and emotional exhaustion. But there he’d been for the third time in
eight days. His phone rang as he pulled out of the parking garage, and Jake
glanced at the time before he picked up. Twelve thirty-five a.m. Sienna should
be asleep.
“What are you still doing up?”
“I miss you. I’ve hardly seen you for the past three
months.”
“I know. Not fun. But Italy will be here in six short
weeks. Then fourteen days of cruising where you’ll have to put up with me
24/7.”
“Maybe I should get some rest.” Jake laughed.
“How far away are you, Adonis?” Sienna asked. He smiled at
her pet name for him.
“Forty minutes.”
“Get here now. I’ll wait up.”
“And sacrifice your beauty rest?” Jake tapped on his
steering wheel and grinned.
“Yes, even though it’ll make me look horrible tomorrow.”
“Impossible. You’d win every beauty contest known to man
even if you stayed up for a month.”
“If I’m asleep when you get home, wake me up. Promise.”
“Absolutely.”
Sienna blew a kiss through the phone and hung up. Jake
glanced at his gas gauge as he headed up I-5. The yellow warning light glared
at him, red needle on the wrong side of the empty line. Problem. Wouldn’t be
good to run out before getting back to Bothell. He glanced at the exits coming
up. Probably not the greatest section of Seattle
to get gas this late at night, but running out here would be worse. Why hadn’t
he filled up before the trip? Because his schedule was insane and there hadn’t
been time.
Jake pulled off I-5 at the next exit. Quick fill and he’d be
back on the asphalt river, home to Sienna before one twenty. He pulled up to
the outside gas island and snatched his wallet out of his coat at the same
time. As he stepped outside into the October chill, odors of pot and gas filled
his nose. As he stepped to the pump, a battered Honda Civic with peeling dark
blue paint lurched into the station and stopped behind his Jeep. A young woman
got out, her black hair streaked with red and purple, her denim coat marred
with grime and amateur images of dragons drawn with blue and red Sharpies. She
swiped a credit card and as she pumped her gas glanced furtively past Jake at
the street to his back, then at the street in front of them. She jiggled her
nozzle up and down as if to try to make the gas flow faster.
“You okay?”
And as usual when you’re
on my blog, you leave us hanging at the end of your page, wanting to know what
comes next. Where can my readers find you on the Internet?
Best place is my website: jamesLrubart.com That’s where
folks can sign up for my newsletter which is the best way to find out what’s
going on with me.
But I’m also on Twitter: @jamesLrubart and on Facebook: facebook.com/JamesLRubart/
e-mail is: james@jamesLrubart.com
Thanks so much for having me, Lena !
I always look forward to interviewing you, and maybe next year, I can see you again at ACFW, since it is very close to where I live.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Long Journey to Jake Palmer - Christianbook.comThe Long Journey to Jake Palmer - Amazon Paperback
The Long Journey to Jake Palmer - Kindle
The Long Journey to Jake Palmer - mp3 audio
Comments conversation starter questions: Have you read any of James L Rubart's books? If So, which one is your favorite?
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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.
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21 comments:
What a great sounding book! I think this would be a wonderful read. Thank you for the opportunity.
Melanie Backus, TX
Fun to hear that, Melanie!
angela in ky would love to win.
I do not want to enter the giveaway because I already have this book, and don't want to be greedy! Just wanted to add that this book is exceptionally moving. I love the way that Rubart brings a unique power to Christian fiction. Reading the interview was great -- so neat that his wife came up with the idea for the story!
Thanks for the fun interview. I haven't read any of James Rupert's books, but I've heard wonderful things about him and his books. I really need to read some of them soon!
Winnie T from Utah
Legends can be most intriguing. Sounds very interesting.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
I would love to read Jim Rubart's books. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of this one.
Blessings,
Cindy W. from Indiana
I loved the Five Times I Met Myself, and I'm looking forward to reading this one as well. Rachael from ME
Sounds good. north platte nebraska
An interesting interview. I have enjoyed several of Jim's other books and look forward to reading this one. I'd love to win it.
Edward A in VA
A great sounding book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Brenda in VA
I'm in South Carolina, and I have not yet had the chance to read a book by Mr. Rubart!!
I have read great reviews of Mr.
Ruberts's books but I haven't read any of them. Thanks for sharing.
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Dianna, so fun to hear that. Thank you!
Hope you enjoy them, Winnie!
I love legends too, Mary! (Uh, duh, that's why I put one in Jake. :))
Thanks, Cindy!
So glad you liked Five Times, Rachael!
Thanks, Kim!
Nice to hear that, Edward!
Thank you, Brenda!
Hope you get the chance, Robin!
Good to get that feedback, Connie!
Hi James & Lena! I've been looking forward to Jake Palmer for months and I'm sure it'll be no less amazing than the others of James's that I've read!
Kristen in OK
I am not familiar with Mr. Rhubarb's writing, but it sounds intriguing!
Patty in SC
I own The Five Times I Met Myself but haven't gotten around to reading it yet.
I'm saving it for when I'll have a little more reading time.
Thank you for the giveaway. The Long Journey to Jake Palmer sounds amazing!
Melody B from the province of Quebec, Canada
Enter me!!
Conway SC.
I have not read any of his books yet but look forward to in the near future.
Beth from IA
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