Fabulous Friday Feature-Jim Rubart

Today I welcome the author who will make you laugh, shake your hand, 
and pull you into an intriguing story: Jim Rubart. 

Meeting Jim Rubart at the ACFW conference

was definitely a highlight for me

Enter to win a copy of Jim Rubart's book Soul's Gate, see below.

I first saw Jim in a hilarious skit put on by My Book Therapy during the 2011 ACFW conference. His novel Rooms was a major topic in the bookstore. I picked up a copy and became intwined with the story. I had the privilege to talk with him again at the 2012 ACFW conference. 

Jim Rubart in MBT skit with
Rachel Hauck, Karen Ball, and Susan May Warren

When I heard his new book Soul's Gate had been published I asked him to come tell his writing journey. 

I asked Jim to share his writing journey. Here is what he wrote:

This Road Ain’t Easy!

So many authors. So many different journeys.

I’ve yet to hear the story of publication from one of my author friends that is typical, yet they all have one element in common: It was hard. Excruciatingly hard.

In other words, it’s okay. This road you’re on with all its blindsides and potholes and jagged cliffs with no guardrails? It’s not unusual. You’re not alone.

My own writing road had a dead end sign on it of my own making. I’d dreamed of being a novelist since I devoured the Chronicles of Narnia in 5th grade. But when I was rejected for my school newspaper in 9^th, I accepted the fact I had no talent as a writer. (I know, I know, so let me ask, what “facts” have you accepted about yourself?)

But I kept dabbling in the dream. In my teens and early adult years I:

•    Subscribed to Writer’s Digest
•    Bought books on writing prose and screenplays
•    Scribbled a few short stories
•    Went to local writer’s workshops
•    Wrote a Seinfeld episode in ’92 with a buddy on a whim which ended up in the hands of a prominent L.A. TV writer 
      who said we had true talent
•    Wrote Web sites, radio ads, brochures, letters and TV ads for a living

But my dream of writing a novel? I did nothing. NOTHING!

(Well, I did think about it. A lot. And carried around this sack of nine-hundred pound guilt because I knew I should be taking action.)

Finally, in the spring of ’06, I went to my first writing conference. By summer I had three agents interested in repping me. In September of that year I signed with a fourth. A little less than two years later I had a contract for ROOMS.

Isn’t it Gretzky that says, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”? You nailed it, Great One.

Maybe your dream isn’t writing. It’s painting. Or music. Or opening a restaurant. Or taking that trip to Israel or the Bahamas, or doing missionary work halfway across the globe.

No one with a goal or a dream gets it easy. Just doesn’t work that way.

I like watching Biography and the one thing that has struck me harder than anything else is how tough it was for EVERYONE.

Here are a few of the stars I’ve watched profiles on:

·      John Travolta                             The Rolling Stones

·      Jamie Lee Curtis                         Eminem

·      Jodie Foster                               Chelsea Handler

·      Anthony Hopkins                        Jennifer Lopez

·      Kelly Clarkson                            Janis Joplin

It’s fascinating to see where they came from, what got them there and what they had to go through to get there. I had this idea that most stars walked into their gifting/destiny with a few minor pebbles in the road, not a street where bombs had gone off and were still exploding.

ALL of the stories revealed serious setbacks before these stars achieved fame and fortune. All.

A repeating mantra when outsiders describe these people is, “They were so incredibly determined.”

“They worked harder than anyone else.”

“They knew what they wanted, fixed their eyes on it and refused to give up.”

“No one came to see them at first, but they didn’t care. They just kept at it.”

It comes down to this: You have to believe in yourself. When no one else does. There is no other choice.

There is no other road.

Is your dream sitting in the back of a dark rusted shut drawer somewhere? What is it?

Grab the crowbar, let’s get moving.

James L. Rubart is speaker, marketing professional, and a best-selling, award winning author. Publishers Weekly says this about his latest release, SOUL’S GATE: “Readers with high blood pressure or heart conditions be warned: this is a seriously heart-thumping and satisfying read that goes to the edge, jumps off, and “builds wings on the way down"

RT Book Reviews made SOUL’S GATE a Top Pick and says, “Rubart’s novel is enthralling and superlative. Truly a story about freedom from things that we hold onto, this tale will captivate readers and encourage a more active, dynamic spiritual life. The original plot and well-drawn characters elevate this book to “must read” status.”

During the day he runs Barefoot Marketing which helps businesses and authors make more coin of the realm. He lives with his amazing wife and two sons in the Pacific Northwest and loves to dirt bike, hike, golf, takes photos, and still thinks he’s young enough to water ski like a madman. More at www.jameslrubart.com

Thank you for joining us today, Jim.

If you would like to enter the drawing for the book, leave a comment and become a follower. Winner announced Monday. Sorry, U.S. residents only.