Today we’d like to introduce you to Pamela Flynt Knight.
Pamela, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I guess I have been writing most of my life. I have done some journaling, writing poetry and essays just for myself. I did think of writing and God put it on my heart to write a book. I started that book, Living in the Fire, about 20 years before it was ever finished. I would sit in the parking lot at 1:00 a.m. at the amusement park waiting for my oldest son to get off work. He was an airbrush artist at the time. I spent a lot of years not working on the book. Periodically I would pull it out and write some but I really didn’t do anything with it. I didn’t finish it.
As life always does, mine changed and around the turn of the century I came to a point where I began to redefine my life. In 2010, I decided to pull together many of the poems I had written through the years for a book on CD. With lots of input, and help from friends I decided to put together a coffee table took. My neighbor provided photos for the book. The CD readings were done by old friends. What is most interesting about the CD project is that the six individuals that helped, me all graduated from high school in Irving; most of us were from Irving High School except one from MacArthur. One graduated a year ahead of us, one four years later and the rest of us all graduated the same year.
Now, more in a book frame of mind, I went back to work on Living in the Fire. It was about 20 years after I had started it, at the encouragement of a friend, I finally went back to work on the book in earnest, many of the things I had originally written were taken out but the foundation I had formed in that parking lot during my late nights of writing stayed. God showed me that all those years were needed to produce the book that was published. Neither what was originally written, nor what would have been started 20 years later would have produced the book God had called me to write.
Since then I have produced 3 more books and am working on two more. The book, Legendary Locals of Grand Prairie was written with a friend. My co-author on it was Richard G. Waller. I am currently working on a book to benefit the Pregnancy Resource Center of Grand Prairie and help to celebrate our 25th Anniversary.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Of course it has not been a smooth road. In this life, we are coming out of something, going into something or going through something. God uses struggles to teach us.
We all have struggles in life and it’s important that we learn from them. I have learned a great deal in writing and publishing. I still have a lot to learn. This is a very complex industry. I feel like writing is the easy part. It’s the other stuff that gets to be difficult.
My greatest struggle right now is my project for the Pregnancy Resource Center. Time is running short and there is still a lot to do. Editing and re-writes; proof reading; a graphic artist to help with the cover and interior; marketing; publishing; distribution and sales. Since the sales of this book will benefit the Pregnancy Resource Center, it is especially challenging to find people to donate their services for this publication. Cost is a big factor here. I pray the book sells a million copies so the center can give more of love and compassion they have given for 25 years.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about MGF Ventures – what should we know?
MGF actually started out as a personal secretarial service. Virtual assistance on an affordable basis was my initial goal. I started that because, as I stated earlier, I was re-defining my life. I have decades of experience in the field of clerical service and thought that could be my direction. I wanted the average guy to be able to get help when needed.
However, the economics of meeting that goal were more challenging than I expected. I did some mobile notary services for a while but as difficulties with my eye sight became more apparent, I dropped accepting assignments in that field. I still do some notary services but it is mostly for friends and neighbors.
What am I known for? Maybe being opinionated! (LOL) I guess that’s why my writing is really my focus now. I enjoy it and I can better control what is said. My opinions can be set back and fewer people are offended. At least I hope that’s how it works.
I guess I am most proud of my first non-fiction book, Living in the Fire and my current project, Why Are You Here? I think these two books help to express the heart of God in each of our lives. He gets the praise and the glory and I’m just the fingers on a keyboard and a name in a cover strip.
As far as being set apart from others, that’s sort of a two edged sword. As a Christian, God has set me apart for His purpose in this life. As far as the world thinking of me as being set apart, I feel I just blend into the background. I’m no more important than the next guy and he probably does it better.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I guess the first person that deserves credit is my life-long friend, Peggy Husky. She encouraged me to go into business for myself.
Gail Condor, Patsy Crawford and Becky Nelson encouraged me to write and finish the book I had started. Patsy has been a big supporter of my writing.
As far as a mentor is concerned, I have never really considered having one but the reality is, that a former pastor and his wife, Ron and Kathy Smedley had a great influence on my life. The two of them helped me to see myself and life from a different perspective. They were instrumental in my stopping “Stinkin Thinkin”.
Pricing:
- Sufficient Grace (book w/CD) – Poetry $30.02+ tax = ($32.00)
- Sufficient Grace CD only $4.32+tax=($5.00)
- Living in the Fire $12.01+tax=($13.00)
- Rude Awakening or Not in the Budget $4.32+tax=($5.00)
- Buy Rent Sell, 100+ Things That Can Go Wrong $4.32+tax=($5.00)
- Why Are You Here? pricing is based on the year the PRC opened in 1994.
- Why Are You Here? (pre-orders) $18.325+tax= ($19.94)
- Why Are You Here? (after release) $19.94+tax= ($21.56)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mgf-ventures.com
- Email: pam@mgf-ventures.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MGF.Ventures/
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