The paranoid 'Rubi' is sure to surprise

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(Free-Press-Release.com) February 5, 2005 -- "Rubi is a little bit crazy, a little bit paranoid, a lot wealthy and all female," author Billie Rae Bates says of the title character of her first novel, arriving in print on Feb. 14.

"Rubi is really a tale of how NOT to live your life," she continues.

How NOT to live your life? Seems an odd way to approach a novel, but Bates stands beside what she calls the "moral tale" of the book.

"It's subtle, quite subtle," she says. "I think a lot of people will read 'Rubi' and think this person is pretty cool, that she seems to have everything, and it's not until you get toward the end of the book that you really realize what Rubi does NOT have."

"Rubi" is the story of Rubi Veronica Blass, a 29-year-old, single, red-haired daughter of a wealthy business family -- with a temperament to match the redhead stereotype -- who lives in downtown Detroit and works as the book critic of the bustling Detroit Daily newspaper. Amid the party life with coworkers -- and the engagement she maintains with one of them -- Rubi practices her own brand of justice, observing conflicts around her and seeking to "fix them" through various, sometimes-dastardly schemes.

Bates hatched the plot in 1996, in the middle of writing another book ("Call Me Mary Magdalene," which she just released as her second novel in September 2004). "I took a break from the one book to write the other," she says, "because I got this kooky idea, sort of a 'what if' scenario, while I was working my own newspaper job in Detroit."

And the lines between fiction and truth?

"I would NEVER do the things Rubi does in this book," the redheaded author laughs. "It's fiction, definitely! Plus, I just don't look as good as she does!"

Bates first published "Rubi" as an e-book in 2000, then was offered the print contract by PublishAmerica of Frederick, Md., last year. The longtime writer also has researched and written a series of reference books on classic '80s TV shows such as "Dallas" and "Dynasty," one of which went into print in 2004. She carries all of her electronic titles through her own author websites and through publisher eBookAd.com of Markham, Ontario, Canada.

Bates, 36, worked as an editor and writer for 10 years in the newspaper business, then went on to work as an editor, publishing manager and communications director in the corporate world. The Georgia resident (who moved from Michigan in 2004) is now developing a fourth title in the BRBTV book series.

The softcover "Rubi" sells for $20 through the publisher's website, www.publishamerica.com, and is also available through major booksellers such as Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Borders.com and Waldenbooks.com.

For more information about Bates, visit www.BillieRae.com or www.brbtv.com, or email the author at billieraebates-at-yahoo.com.