An Interview with an Author: Malinda Fugate
It’s Author Thursday on my blog, one of my new favorite days! Today, I share an interview with one of my fellow Christian authors, Malinda Fugate. Malinda grew up in children's ministry. Now, after two decades of dedicated volunteer service, she serves full-time as the Children's Education Director at a church in Southern California: Malinda studied communications and theatre at Azusa Pacific University, then worked behind the scenes at the Los Angeles Salem radio stations, including The Fish and KKLA. Her writing includes The Other Three Sixteens (an exploration of God's love for adults), Bible Time for Active Kids (an activities-based devotional), commercial copywriting, various faith-based stage and screen plays, as well as co-producing A Single Girl's Guide To, a lifestyle blog and web series. Her lifelong study of God’s Word continues to reveal more about the Lord every day. She lives by the beach with her pup, Yoshi.
Connect with her through the links at the end of this interview.
—By Jessica Brodie
JB: Tell us about yourself and your faith journey. How did you get where you are?
Malinda: I grew up with Jesus, as I am a pastor's daughter with an extended family that loves the Lord, but also with exposure to the downfalls and imperfections of church. It has been through the trials and blessings of life that Jesus made Himself real to me and I developed a solid foundation of faith, grown in His love and grace for me. The journey hasn't been easy, but God has walked me through 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, demonstrating how my brokenness becomes the canvas for His glory. He creates beautiful things!
JB: When did you know you wanted to become a writer?
Malinda: I wrote stories and poems from childhood, and even participated in a writing competition club called Power of the Pen in 8th grade! But then, high school and college began to dull the love for writing once my energy was channeled into homework. I constantly blogged, however, and slowly the love for writing returned as I was introduced to copywriting for radio and had the opportunity to write faith-based plays that were produced by a local theater company. Looking back, it's clear that this is a God-given gift and part of how I was designed.
JB: How does your faith influence your writing?
Malinda: Faith in God is at the core of my being, so it naturally spills over into my writing. I am currently writing non-fiction that focuses very much on the Lord! "The Other Three Sixteens" is all about God's love, which reflects the journey He has led me on to discover more about how He loves us, how we love Him, and how we love others like He does. God is constantly teaching me and helping me grow, and I delight in sharing what I've learned with anyone who will listen in hopes that it is a blessing to them, as well.
JB: When did this particular story first start stirring in your heart?
Malinda: "The Other Three Sixteens" began a couple of years ago during personal study time. In children's ministry, we spend a lot of time learning and reciting John 3:16. This caused any other 3:16 verse to jump off the page whenever I stumbled across them. My curiosity led me to investigate what each 3:16 said, and I discovered that, since every Scripture points back to God's love, the 3:16's helped us learn a little more about His character and how He cares for us. As He revealed His love, I couldn't possibly keep so much goodness to myself, and so the book process began.
JB: Do you have other books coming out in the future (or any you are actively writing now?)
Malinda: I am in the very early stages of writing my next book, which involves spending time with some minor characters in the Bible. I'll share more details as it progresses!
JB: What do you hope readers take away from this book?
Malinda: God loves you so very much, and that means more than just emotion, affection, or superficial care. The Lord is actively loving you every moment of every day, with passionate nurture. I pray each reader realizes that the messages of each 3:16, though written for all of God's children, personally applies to them and their one-on-one relationship with our Heavenly Father. His love is transformative, and our lives can't possibly be the same when we truly realize what it means to be loved by God
Connect with Malinda:
www.malindafugate.com
www.facebook.com/malthewriter
www.instagram.com/malthewriter
www.twitter.com/malthestar