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About

About  J.L. ROBB

J.L. Robb is an American author best known for his 7-book novel series The End: The Book which explores biblical end-times prophecies.

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Early Life and Background

Robb was born in January 1947 during a worldwide polio pandemic. At age 5, he was sent to live with relatives in Georgia for a year due to a polio outbreak in his home state of North Carolina. He continued to visit every summer, and it was there that he first read the Book of Revelation at age 10.

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Robb left home at 16 and graduated high school in 1965. He joined the U.S. Navy, serving from 1968-1974 and then graduating from North Carolina State University with a degree in Zoology. After graduation he became a sales manager for a major medical company.

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At age 53, Robb began feeling called to write a book series which continued until he was 63. It was at that time that he felt the calling was from God, and he started his writing career. Robb spent 9 years writing a 7-book fictional series, The End: The Book parts 1-7. The series focuses on biblical end-times prophecies in a thriller/love story format. Robb has also written hundreds of articles for various Christian publications.

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While writing The End: The Book, Robb began seeking an agent to present The End Part One to traditional publishing houses, realizing that it might take months to find a qualified literary agent. Then he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and felt he may not make it through 7 books. He chose the self-publishing route, because he wanted to get his message out to the public, primarily to the unsaved public. The prostate cancer was followed by open-heart surgery, malignant melanoma, Bell’s Palsy and several minor strokes.

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Robb describes his writing as inspired by God and influenced by numerous dreams.

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J.L. Robb's journey from various careers to becoming an author later in life, coupled with his perseverance through health issues, forms a significant part of his personal narrative as a writer.

Despite these serious health issues, Robb persevered with his writing, and The End Part Seven was published in 2019. As one source notes, "He trudged on, never quitting, trying to finish before health problems did him in."

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Robb began writing the series at age 63, having never written a novel before. This lack of prior writing experience likely presented its own challenges as he embarked on such an ambitious, multi-book project. Additionally, as a self-published author, Robb had to handle much of his own marketing and promotion on a limited budget, with much help from his daughter. They focused on low-cost strategies like:

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  • Utilizing social media platforms

  • Creating promotional items with his book logo (bookmarks, shirts, bottled water)

  • Book signings at coffee shops and independent bookstores rather than large chains

 

Despite these obstacles, Robb completed all 7 books in the series, which have received more than 1100 positive reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, averaging 4.4 out of 5 stars. 

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Robb’s persistence in the face of serious health setbacks and the challenges of self-publishing demonstrate remarkable dedication to completing the project he felt called to undertake.

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How did J.L. Robb's military service influence his writing?

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J.L. Robb's military service has influenced his writing in a few key ways:

  1. Background knowledge: Robb served 6 years as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman during the Vietnam Conflict. This military experience provided him with firsthand knowledge of the effects of warfare, military operations and geopolitical conflicts that he could draw upon in his writing.

  2. Themes: Robb's book series The End: The Book deals with topics like terrorism and global conflict. 

  3. Character development: Having served in the military, Robb had insights into the mindset and experiences of military personnel that could help him create authentic and likeable characters.

  4. Interest in geopolitics: His service during the Vietnam era sparked his interest in international relations and conflicts, which seems to play a role in his writing about end times scenarios involving global events and the coming Battle of Armageddon.

  5. Discipline and perseverance: The discipline required in military service contributed to Robb's ability to complete his ambitious seven-book series, especially in the face of multiple health challenges.

  6. Understanding of military culture: His time in the Navy gave Robb insight into military culture, jargon, and procedures, allowing him to create more authentic military characters and situations in his books.

  7. Geopolitical awareness: Serving during the Vietnam era heightened Robb's awareness of global conflicts and geopolitical tensions, which play a significant role in the series that deals with Islamic, Christian and Jewish extremism and their negative impact on global events.

  8. Theme of retired military characters: In The End: The Book, Robb’s story line includes a group of retired military and senior citizens who unravel a terrorist plot focused on the Bible Belt. His own military background and the multiple dreams he had inspired the inclusion and portrayal of these characters.

 

How did J.L. Robb's military service affect his depiction of the psychological effects of war?

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  1. Firsthand experience: As a U.S. Navy Corpsman during the Vietnam Conflict, Robb witnessed the psychological toll of war on soldiers firsthand. This experience gave  him insights into the mental health challenges faced by military personnel.

  2. Understanding of PTSD: Serving during a major conflict, Robb had a deeper understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological effects of war, which helped in the formation of his excellent character portrayals.

  3. Awareness of resilience: Research shows that many military personnel demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity. Robb's personal health experiences influenced how he depicted characters coping with war-related stress.

AUTHOR JL ROBB
ABOUT: JL Robb
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