James Rubart and Free Books!

Spirit Bridge is the epic conclusion to acclaimed author James L. Rubart's Well Spring series, which will propel each of the Warriors Riding on a quest of true identity, ultimate freedom, and a final battle that will leave them changed forever.

Today we're talking with James L. Rubart, author of Spirit Bridge (Thomas Nelson, May 2014).

James L. Rubart is the best-selling and Christy award winning author of Rooms, Book of Days, The Chair, Soul’s Gate, Memory’s Door, and Spirit Bridge. During the day he runs Barefoot Marketing which helps businesses and authors make more coin of the realm.

(I love that.)

In his free time he dirt bikes, hikes, golfs, takes photos, and occasionally does sleight of hand. No, he doesn’t sleep much. He lives with his amazing wife and two sons in the Pacific Northwest and still thinks he’s young enough to water ski like a madman.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

-- I’ve almost drowned, twice.

-- I’ve stared in a TV commercial.

-- The pinky finger on my right hand won’t straighten out.

I'm so impressed about the water skiing, considering your propensity for near-death experiences in the water.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Spirit Bridge.

The Warriors Riding have battled in astounding supernatural realms, set captives free, and awakened thousands of hearts. But now their only chance of survival depends on calling forth the Spirit Bridge.

Reece, Dana, Brandon, and Marcus have achieved staggering success in the spiritual realm . . . but each is reeling from vicious attacks. They need rest. A break from the war.

But the warlord Zennon is raging and will give them no quarter. The demon holds what he believes to be the trump card—a hidden strategy set in motion before Warriors Riding even began—that will detonate the team from the inside out. And he's just set it loose.

The street magician Simon—finally free of Zennon's alternate reality prison—is racing to remember his past before his ignorance obliterates his destiny. Then there's Miyo—a brash young warrior with advanced knowledge of spiritual realities and supernatural armor even Reece doesn't know about. These two will be pivotal in the final war.

If only the Warriors knew which side Simon and Miyo are truly on.

What is it about your lead characters that will make your readers care about them?

In my Well Spring series (of which Spirit Bridge is the last book) I have four main characters and I think people will care about them because they’re ordinary people drawn into extraordinary circumstances by the Holy Spirit:

• Reece Roth walked powerfully in the things of the Spirit years ago, but was taken out when his wife and daughter were killed. Now he’s stepped back in the arena to guide and train the other three of the prophecy, but it’s forced him to face his greatest failure in the process.

• Dana Raine is the General Manager of a Seattle radio station and is a born leader, but her fear of abandonment, as well as being thrust back into relationship with the man who broke her heart threatens to cripple her God-given destiny.

• Marcus Amber is a brilliant physics professor at the University of Washington who has had to face his deepest regret and overcome it, because if he doesn’t, he and the other warriors will be destroyed.

• Brandon Scott is multi-milling selling singer and song writer but still struggles with his worth. And when his career starts to slip away he has to make the choice to save himself, or allow his dream to die, bringing astounding freedom to the other warriors.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

I’d have Harrison Ford play Reece Roth





Dana would be played by Rachel McAdams





Marcus would be played by Mark Ruffalo






And Brandon Scott would be played by Chris Evans





What kind of brainstorming do you do for your stories, and whose help do you incorporate?

For the three Well Spring series, I had more help brainstorming than I’ve had for any of my previous novels. For Spirit Bridge, I brainstormed extensively with a Mastermind group I’m part of that’s made up of novelists, non-fiction authors, and marketing folks. I also got help from my great friend Allen Arnold, and my former agent, Lee Hough. (Lee passed away in August of 2013.)

Yes, what a great loss that was.

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

I re-read a favorite novel of mine recently, called Arena by Karen Hancock. I don’t typically re-read novels, so that shows how much I liked it. It’s not for everyone, but if you liked Pilgrims Progress, and the movie The Matrix, I think you’ll like this novel. It’s an allegory which I think is brilliant in it’s depiction of the Christian life.

I remember that book. I loved it! You describe it well.

What are you working on now?

I just turned in the rough draft of my seventh novel to my publisher. It’s a stand-alone that I’m really excited about. And I’m working on a screenplay of one of my novels. Very fun.

Where else can readers find you online?

My website: www.jameslrubart.com
e-mail: james@jameslrubart.com
Facebook
Twitter: @jameslrubart

The book can be purchased in fine book stores and online via the following buttons:




CBD.com


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

You’re sent to a desert island alone. You’ll be there for one year before coming back home. You get to take one book, one movie, and one CD. What would you take? (Sorry, your book can’t be the Bible.)

Thanks so much for having me!

Thank you, Jim, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, James has offered to give a signed copy of his book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, May 19. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Jim's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interviews with Miralee Ferrell and Katy Lee, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

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

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 HERE.