Monday, September 26, 2011

James Rubart's "The Chair"

Title: THE CHAIR named TOP PICK for September by Christian Retailing Magazine
Publisher: B&H Fiction

Cover blurb: If you were given an ancient looking chair and told Jesus Christ made it, would you believe them? When an elderly lady shows up in Corin Roscoe’s antiques store and gives him a chair she claims was built by Christ, he scoffs. But when a young boy is miraculously healed after sitting in the chair, he stops laughing and starts to wonder: Could this chair heal the person whose life I destroyed twelve years ago?

As word spreads of the boy’s healing, a mega-church pastor is determined to manipulate Corin into turning over the chair. But the mysterious woman who gave him the piece insinuates it is Corin’s destiny to guard the chair above everything else. But why? Desperate, he turns to the one person he can trust, a college history professor who knows more about the legend of the chair than he reveals.

Searching for truth about the artifact and the unexplained phenomena surrounding it, Corin soon realizes he isn’t the only one willing to do almost anything to possess the power that seems to surround the chair.

1) How did this story come to you?
I was reading an article about a Jewish historian from the first century who noted that some of the plows Jesus made were so well constructed they lasted until the second century.

It made me think, "What if Jesus made something that lasted until today? What if it was a chair? What if it was a chair he sat in after he was resurrected? What if it contained Jesus' healing power? And what would an ordinary person do if the chair was given to him?

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I got the idea in the summer of 2008 and B&H bought it and BOOK OF DAYS (my second novel) in late '09 so I had the premise for a long time before I started writing it—which was the fall of 2010. But it wasn't until I brainstormed the story with three author friends that the plot fell into place. (Thanks, Great Ones!)

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
• I used to voice and appear in radio and TV commercials.
• I almost lost three fingers on my right hand when I was 1 ½ years old
• I used to be a semi-pro magician

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
In the spring I signed a new five-book contract so I'll be penning a few more novels! It's a continuation of my dream and it's still surreal to think I'm getting paid for something I love to do. Right now I'm working on my fourth novel and I love where the story is going.

5) Parting comments?
The heart of this book is about the restoration of relationships and came from a falling out (and reconciliation) with one of my best friends. My desire is people will read this book and find the hope of restored relationships in their own lives and it will set them free.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Web site: http://www.jameslrubart.com/
Facebook: James L. Rubart
Twitter: @jimrubart

Thanks for having me, K. Dawn! Always fun to be here.

17 comments:

  1. I've read two of James Rubart's books, Rooms, which I LOVED, and Book of Days which I didn't love. I would love a chance to read The Chair. I appreciate good writing and storytelling, when done with great moral content. Thanks so much.

    freda.mans[at]gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much for the chance to win this. This looks like an interesting book. I would love to read this. Thanks again.

    agent_beckster(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Interesting plot, a chair with healing powers that Jesus had. Please enter me in your drawing.

    cepjwms at wb4me dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. An interesting concept for a story. Sounds like a great read. Thank you for offering this book.

    Suzanne
    shartmann5(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks so much for the chance to win this book. It sounds so very interesting.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I must read this book! Your plots are always so unique, Jim!

    joyfulhutch[at]msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love hearing how one random fact about a plow surviving from Jesus' time can spark a whole concept for a novel. How very fascinating! I loved Rooms and am looking forward to this book as well! Thanks so much!
    ihhcheryl(at)comcast(dot)ney

    ReplyDelete
  8. A fascinating premise!! I would love to read THE CHAIR.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds like a fascinating book. :o) Please enter me in the free book drawing. Thank you very much!

    ~Daisy Adams
    daisyflower.adams@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would love to win this book! I have read reviews and it sounds so good. Thanks! Hope I win!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. This sounds very interesting ~ thank you for the opportunity.
    amanda38401 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. The chair sounds so intriguing. I loved Rooms, please add me to the drawing.
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a fabulous concept for a story! Thanks for the chance to win.
    twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. This author is new to me and I am very excited
    about reading his books...
    Many thanks for this opportunity!
    Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I loved this book. (I also really enjoyed his book Rooms, and this is just as good!)
    It's a fast-paced suspense novel, but at the heart of it, the story is really about healing--both inner and outer. It was a great blend of suspense, action and a story of someone whose life and heart is unexpectedly transformed. It really made me wonder about the power of religious relics! The author has a great website and blog at http://www.jimrubart.com/
    I already own a copy so you don't have to enter me in the drawing, I just wanted to give my friend Jim a shout-out for a fabulous book!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Stopping back to tell you about a cool video that goes with this book. It's on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBEh5gabKp0

    ReplyDelete

Interview with Barbara M. Britton and spotlight of Lioness...

We're happy to have Barbara M. Britton with us talking about her book Lioness . To learn more about her and Lioness, please read o...