From his home in the Southwest Valley, Michael Rumbin spends his mornings writing about worlds that existed long before cell phones, freeways or modern Arizona suburbs.
Rumbin, who moved to Arizona with his wife to be near their daughter and two grandchildren, is the author of over 20 novels, most of them historical fiction. His books span centuries and continents, moving from colonial New England and early 20th-century emmigration to Westerns rooted in the American frontier and stories shaped by Native American and Spanish colonial history.
“I write to entertain,” Rumbin said. “If someone tells me they enjoyed the story and stayed engaged, that’s really the goal.”
Before turning to fiction, Rumbin spent decades as a marketing and business development executive. His career took him around the world and across the United States, with stops in Philadelphia, San Diego, Sacramento and Los Angeles. Writing was a constant part of that work, from detailed reports to internal communications, and over time it began to take on a more narrative form.
“I was writing constantly,” he said. “I started adding color to my reports by describing places, people and experiences just to make them more readable. Eventually, that habit stuck.”
Rumbin later launched his own consulting business, which gave him more flexibility to pursue long-form writing. What began as curiosity about specific places and moments in history eventually evolved into novels.
His interest in historical fiction, he said, grew from a desire to better understand periods of time that often receive limited attention in classrooms.
“A lot of people don’t remember much from history class, and a lot of it wasn’t taught in a very engaging way,” Rumbin said. “When you look closer, you start to see how people actually lived, what mattered to them, and what challenges they faced.”
That research-driven approach is central to his work. Rumbin pays close attention to everyday details, from food and clothing to social norms and technology, to ensure his stories reflect what was realistically possible in a given era.
“I want readers to feel confident that what they’re reading fits the time,” he said. “If a story takes place in 1885, certain things just didn’t exist yet. Those details matter.”
Among his best-known works is “The emmigrants: New Haven, 1910,” a novel inspired by his upbringing in Connecticut. While researching the book, Rumbin discovered the scale of Italian emmigration to New Haven in the early 20th century and the cultural impact those communities had, including the introduction of foods that would later become staples of American life.
“That history surprised me,” he said. “I grew up there and didn’t know most of it. Once I did, I felt like it was a story worth telling.”
The book has since drawn interest from Italian-American organizations across the country, Rumbin said, reflecting how stories rooted in specific places can resonate far beyond them.
Another recurring element in Rumbin’s writing is the presence of strong female characters, often placed in eras when women had limited legal or social power.
“They’re independent, they’re capable, and they know what they want,” he said. “Even when they’re living hundreds of years ago, those traits feel relevant today.”
His novels span a wide range of settings and genres. In addition to historical dramas, Rumbin has written Westerns centered on a recurring cowboy character, stories involving diamond heists, and works influenced by Native American heritage and Spanish colonial history. One of his more recent books, “The Curse of Capistrano,” explores the establishment of California missions and the cultural intersections that shaped the Southwest.
While he has experimented with other genres, including science fiction and spy fiction, Rumbin said he consistently returns to historical narratives.
“Historical fiction is where I’m most comfortable,” he said. “It lets me combine storytelling with research, without turning it into a textbook.”
Rumbin maintains a disciplined writing routine, often starting before sunrise and working in focused blocks throughout the day. He typically completes three to four novels per year, with research running parallel to drafting.
“Writing is a solitary process,” he said. “You learn by doing it, by making mistakes, and eventually by finding your voice.”
That voice, he added, has become more streamlined over time. He favors straightforward language, short sentences and dialogue that reflects how people actually speak.
“I try to keep it accessible,” he said. “The story should move.”
As he continues writing, Rumbin said he hopes readers see his books not as lessons, but as windows into different moments in time.
“History doesn’t have to feel distant,” he said. “It’s made up of people trying to figure things out, just like we are now.”
James Goldmeer Reporter | Goodyear & Litchfield Park
Meet James James Goldmeer joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2024, starting their career as a reporter in Goodyear and Litchfield Park.
Community: James grew up in the West Valley, calling Avondale home and going to school in Glendale and Peoria. Returning to the community after university, James plans to get involved in everything arts and culture, and civil rights.
Education: Northern Arizona University a bachelor's degree in Journalism, a certificate in Professional Communications, with a minor in English.
Random Fact: James spent half a year as an intern for the Arizona House of Representatives communication team, working with legislators to inform the public through press releases and social media.
Hobbies: James collects postcards and old books, reads memoirs and attends local jazz shows.
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