The Frasier Entries are in! Now all we can do is sit down, cuddle up with our bags of popcorn, and wait for the results. In the meantime though, My Book Therapy will spend Fridays introducing you to the work of our all-powerful judges.

This week we are pleased to introduce you to James L. Rubart and his new book: The Chair.

Q: Tell us about your Book.

A: If someone gave you a chair and said it was made by Jesus Christ, would you believe them? 

When an elderly lady shows up in Corin Roscoe’s antiques store and gives him a chair she claims was crafted by Jesus, he scoffs. But when a young boy is miraculously healed two days after sitting in the chair, he stops laughing and starts wondering . . . could this chair heal the person whose life Corin 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. And that mysterious woman who gave him the piece flits in and out of his life like a shadow, insinuating it’s 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’ll reveal. Corin’s life shatters as he searches for the truth about the artifact and the unexplained phenomena surrounding it. What’s more, he’s not the only one willing do almost anything to possess the power seemingly connected to the chair.

Q: What is one piece of writing advice you could give to the MBT Audience?

A: Your manuscript isn’t competing against other aspiring authors. It’s competing against published authors. So your story can’t be 90% of the way there. It has to be 98% of the way there. In other words, work on your craft, work on your craft, and work on it some more. I know it’s tough, but keep going!

Q: What review or responses have you gotten to The Chair?

The Chair is a 2012 Christy Award Nominee, RT Book Reviews gave it four and a 1/2 Stars, Christian Retailing Magazine made it their Top Pick in Sept ’11. This is one of my favorite letters I’ve received from a fan:

Hi Jim,

I just finished “The Chair”.  I loved the message of healing and of restoration.  What a gift you have of writing.  Of delivering the message that’s obviously in your heart to challenge others to live the life that God has intended them to.  I couldn’t help but post on my facebook page the information about your book

Carol Robertson

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James grew up in Pacific Northwest, Seattle and Spokane. He attended the University of Washington (Go Dawgs!) and since ’94 has been the owner of an ad agency/marketing firm. His favorite memories include jumping off cliffs with his boys, long walks & talks with his wife, and going deep with friends.