James L. Rubart's "Rooms"

James L. Rubart's "Rooms"

We're happy to have James L. Rubart with us today talking about his new book, Rooms. To learn more about James and Rooms, read on!


1) How did this story come to you?
In my teens I read a little pamphlet My Heart, Christ’s Home. In my mid-twenties I thought, “What if you took that idea and put it on steroids?” After laying dormaint for many years it eventually become ROOMS.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The dream to be a writer started in 7th grade when a story I wrote was picked to be acted out in class. But I didn’t do anything about it till 2003 because of fear. At that point I got serious, finished ROOMS in late ’05, went to my first conference in the spring of ’06, and signed with an agent six months later. He shopped it to all the major houses and everyone rejected it. But a year later, David Webb (with B&H at the time) said he’d read 200 manuscripts since he first read ROOMS but he couldn’t get it out of his mind, so decided to take another run at it. ROOMS sold in June of ’08.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Fun question! I used to be a semi-professional magician, I’ve almost drowned twice but still like to scuba dive, and I started my career on-air at a Seattle radio station.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just signed a new three-book contract with B&H which I’m thrilled about. Book of Days will hit shelves on January 2011 and The Chair will be released fall of 2011, and I’m working on ideas for the fourth book.

5) Parting comments?
I lived too many years with my music still inside. Don’t do that. Take the risk, go after your dream. Even if you don’t reach it you won’t carry any regrets.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My author Web site is: http://www.jimrubart.com/
My marketing company is: http://www.barefootmarketing.com/
e-mail: jim@jimrubart.com
Facebook: James L. Rubart
Twitter: @jimrubart

Nicole Zoltack's "Knight of Glory"

Nicole Zoltack's Knight of Glory

We're happy to have Nicole Zoltack with us today talking about her new release from Desert Breeze Publishing, Knight of Glory. Read on to learn more about Nicole and her book.

1) How did this story come to you?
Knight of Glory is the sequel to Woman of Honor, both medieval fantasy romances. Knight of Glory takes place immediately after the events in Woman of Honor, with full war going on between the Kingdoms of Arnhem and Speica. It centers on Sir Geoffrey, who travels across the continent of Alethereia to recruit allies for Arnhem, while trying to determine which of two very different ladies he loves.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Because this book is book 2 in a series, it was easy to get the contract for it. As for the journey to get Woman of Honor published, I first learned about Desert Breeze Publishing through a publisher chat at the Castle in the Sky yahoo group. Gail mentioned that she would love to see a fantasy romance series, I mentioned Woman of Honor (which was still a WIP at that point). Gail said to send it to her once it was done, and I did. Shortly thereafter, she sent me a contract.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. Although I absolutely love to ride horses, and even took lessons for several months, I am extremely allergic to them. At the end of each lesson, I would be sneezing so much that I could only hold the reins with one hand! I would love to resume my lessons at some point, but it’s too dangerous right now (I’m pregnant) plus I plan on having two more. Maybe once the kids are all in school?

2. My husband and I collect swords. Some are medieval-style replicas, others are from movies (mostly LOTR). I often look at the different swords for ideas for my characters’ weapons, and I’ll even wield one through the motions of a pretend fight to get a better idea of what a sword fight entails. Ah, what us crazy writers will do to better our craft! LOL

3. I can’t be in the middle of reading a book and work on my own stories at the same time. I have to finish reading the book first. As such, the amount of time that I can devote to reading is not nearly as much as I would like it to be.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m currently working on a paranormal with romantic elements about a female assassin. This story is very different from my other works. Most of the time, my heroes and heroines are just that—heroes and heroines. To write from the point of view of an assassin is completely different. The mindset, the motivations, the killings, everything is tainted. But Lorna isn’t completely evil. I’m surprised how fun it is to write from her POV. I’m also working on a couple of short stories, and of course, Champion of Valor, book iii in the Kingdom of Arnhem series.

5) Parting comments?
Writing is such a huge part of my life that I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to. Even if I were told that I would never sell another story or that I would never sell another copy of my works, nothing would stop me from writing. And if you have this kind of attitude, this drive, this determination, there’s nothing that can stop you from writing a story and publishing it.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Everywhere! LOL My website is http://www.nicolezoltack.com/ I have a fan page and a regular page on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Nicole.Zoltack and a myspace page http://www.myspace.com/scarlett9284 I’m also on twitter: http://twitter.com/NicoleZoltack Finally, my blog is at http://nicolezoltack.blogspot.com/