Ronald Brugada’s path to becoming an author was anything but conventional. Ronald grew up with a deep-rooted sense of faith and family. “Our house is literally beside the cathedral, and next to it is the all-boys Catholic high school where I graduated. My first experience of catechism and evangelization was in high school, where we would go to rural public elementary schools to teach catechism.” This predilection for teaching and evangelization he would carry throughout his entire life.
He was a freshman in high school when he saw Back to the Future for the first time. It was love at first sight. It was such a profound experience for him, as the movie’s magic of time travel, wit, and humor stayed with him for a long time. After high school, he studied at a Catholic university, where he graduated with a degree in Psychology and, later, Bachelor of Laws. Helping others and guiding people came naturally to Ronald. After college, he worked in Human Resources for Coca-Cola, where he was later promoted to HR Manager. His career in HR allowed him to delve deeply into the lives of workers, understanding the real-life issues they faced, from workplace injuries to emotional struggles.
At a very young age, Ronald always felt the pull of creativity. Like his father, he draws portraits and landscapes using oil paint, acrylic, charcoal, and watercolor as mediums. Throughout his adult life, out of the hundreds of artworks he painted, he never asked for compensation for any of his creations. He lovingly and unselfishly gifted them to his friends and family for free. “God gave this talent to me for free. I feel that I should also share it with others for free,” Ronald affirms. Outside of his HR career, he also spent almost two decades as a dedicated catechist, teaching middle school, high school, and adults in his church. He balanced his professional life with a passion for teaching and faith, realizing that these two worlds—work and faith—provided a rich outlet and inspiration for his creative ideas.
A Back to the Future diehard fan
Ronald watches the Back to the Future movies every chance he gets. One day, after watching BTTF 3, as he was rearranging his entire cabinet display of Back to the Future merchandise, a spark of creativity hit him. He wanted to paint the iconic Back to the Future poster, but instead of Marty, what if he drew Jesus Christ? He thought it would be funny, but it would also encapsulate his two favorite things in the world—God and Back to the Future—in one painting. And so, he did. From this painting came the idea for the book. The floodgates opened, and his ideas began pouring in.
Marty and Doc Brown have a very distinct relationship, Ronald explained. “They are not related by blood, but they love and respect each other. They have this certain dynamic which I can liken to our relationship with God,” he muses. “Marty always gets himself in trouble, and the first thing he does is seek Doc Brown. And the Doc, for his part, is always there to help him out. Clear as day, representing our relationship with God,” Ronald quips.
For Ronald, becoming an author wasn’t just about telling stories; it was about relaying God’s message in a novel, fun way that no one had thought of before. What began as a small idea for a painting grew into something much bigger. This realization set him on a path toward writing this amazing book of ideas. He delves into the culturally iconic Back to the Future to explore profound spiritual themes. As a lifelong fan of the movie trilogy, Ronald found himself drawing parallels between the movie’s plot and the journey of life, the afterlife, and eternal life. This obscure but profound connection became the seed for his first book.
Faith Meets Pop Culture: A Unique Writing Style
Ronald’s debut book, Back to the Father, is a testament to his unique approach to writing and life in general. Combining elements from Back to the Future with his deep-rooted Catholic faith, Ronald created a book that uses the well-loved sci-fi trilogy as a metaphor for the stage of life here on Earth, the spirit world of the Afterlife, and the Eternal Life.
His approach is both light-hearted and reflective, capturing the wit and humor of Back to the Future while seamlessly weaving in religious themes. Ronald’s writing resonates with readers because it takes familiar pop culture references and uses them to explain profound spiritual concepts in a fun and engaging way. His journey from artist to catechist to author was an organic one, filled with prayer, reflection, and moments of creative inspiration.
Challenges in the Writing Process
As with many first-time authors, Ronald’s journey to publishing was not without its challenges. The writing itself came naturally, with ideas flowing freely as he connected scenes from Back to the Future to religious analogies. However, the editing process proved to be a greater hurdle. When his manuscript was returned by the editing team at Kindle, Ronald found himself facing the delicate balance of staying true to his voice and humor while ensuring the book met professional standards.
“I had to revert some of their edits back to how I wanted them to read,” Ronald explains. “I didn’t want my style of writing and humor to get lost in the literary standards of book publication.” His persistence paid off, as friends and early readers praised the book for feeling authentic and personal, almost as if Ronald were speaking directly to them.
Balancing Faith, Work, and Writing
One of the most remarkable aspects of Ronald’s journey is his ability to balance his multiple commitments. Between his full-time employment, his church duties as a catechist, his passion for painting, his partiality to songwriting, and his travel schedules, Ronald remains fully dedicated to his writing. “It’s all a matter of prioritizing and not burning out in the process,” he says. His deep involvement in his church, where he volunteers four to five days a week, continues to fuel his writing and creative output.
Whether it’s painting, composing songs, or writing, Ronald finds joy in creativity. His ability to stay grounded and passionate comes from his faith and the support of his family. “The key to life is to be excited about what is to come, what God has prepared for you,” he adds, reflecting his optimistic outlook on both his writing career and life itself.
A Glimpse into Future Projects
While Back to the Father may be his debut book, Ronald is far from finished. His creative well is overflowing with ideas for future books, each with its own unique and fresh concepts. He is currently working on an illustrated book titled God is Funny, which takes a humorous approach to some Bible stories and church teachings. Additionally, he has plans for another project, Superhero Saints, which explores the super abilities of real-life saints as we live through the age of superhero mania in pop culture.
Ronald’s creativity also extends to children’s literature, as he has a children’s comic book series about a boy and his imaginary friend. And, if inspiration continues to surge, he may develop sequels to Back to the Father, creating an entire trilogy. He also has dozens of ideas and stories for movies, plays, and more books. He has already completed a couple of scripts for film. Ideas are just bursting at the seams, and he needs to find the time to write them all down.
Staying True to Himself as an Author
Despite the challenges of writing and publishing, Ronald remains unwavering in his belief in his work. He knows that not everyone will resonate with his unique style, but that is something he embraces. “Focus on the positive and believe in your work,” he advises. “Not everyone will like you, your ideas, or your style of writing, and that’s okay. It is better to fail as yourself than to be successful as someone else.”
Ronald’s commitment to authenticity is a core part of his approach, and he encourages aspiring writers to do the same. For those looking to publish their own work, he recommends starting with self-publishing platforms like Amazon Kindle, which make it easier than ever for new authors to get their work out into the world.
For anyone looking to follow in his footsteps, Ronald’s advice is simple: “Reach out to Amazon Kindle.” (“Can you give me a discount for saying that?” he asked us.) His humor shines through, but beneath the joke lies a genuine encouragement for others to pursue their dreams, just as he has.
Conclusion: A Storyteller with Heart
Ronald Brugada’s journey from artist to catechist to author is one of faith, creativity, and compassion. His unique blend of humor, pop culture references, and spiritual insight makes his work stand out, offering readers both entertainment and enlightenment. As Ronald continues to explore new stories and ideas, his message remains clear: life is an adventure, and God is always there with you. Through his writing, Ronald is not just sharing stories; he’s sharing a piece of his heart, his faith, and his belief in the power of creativity.
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