Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to J.K. Raymond. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

J.K., looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Being chronically ill comes with days of not being able to brush your own teeth, let alone comb your hair. That kind of failure eats at a person. It tears a little bit of them away with each unattainable miniscule task that slips away with the passing of the days, taking pieces of you with it.
So why would the fates still whisper in my ear? Why would the muses still nag, nag, nag. They had been doing it since childhood. You should write a book. You should be an author. Why aren’t you writing the book yet? And as always, I had a simple answer…I was too busy. I had three jobs; I had an art degree to pay for. Later it was that I had a family to take care of. A few years after that…I was too sick. But the muses didn’t care for my excuses nor did the fates. Whether I was too busy living or too busy feeling like I was dying, the nagging whispers persisted.
It wasn’t until my illness finally stripped me of most of my mobility and with it went the constant busyness. I had become a ghost of myself. Being a mother and a wife kept me hanging on. The love for my husband and sons fueled my will to continue on as one part of me or another was stripped away. It was for them I learned to let it go of what I couldn’t have and be grateful for what I did. But there was one thing I couldn’t let go of or should I say wouldn’t let go of me. Art. But paints and canvases, clay and wax were beyond my reach now. I was a creator without an outlet. My natural gift stripped from me, my soul was desperate for an outlet. That’s when I found myself leaning into the insufferable whisperings. Facts were facts, I couldn’t create the way I’d been taught, but damn it, I could type. But could I string words together in a way that would paint a fluid, meaningful picture? Could I commit to ninety-thousand words when daily tasks were often a challenge?
It was risky business, taking on yet another thing I may not finish, another thing that could eat away at my sense of self-worth. By the time I found myself in front of a blank white screen it didn’t matter that I’d never had more than an English 101 course in college. In the end my drive to create overpowered the high likelihood that I would fail at this too.
Cursor Flashing and armed with raw determination, my fingers had been flying for several hours when doubt crept in. A new crossroad had appeared before me, and it was one I hadn’t seen coming. One sentence. One. And my fingers had stopped flying. I had been writing using my inner voice, the one with no filter. Did I really want to write these words, like this, for all to see? How open did I want to be with my inner thoughts? The odds of this book ever being published wide were miniscule but the odds of friends and family reading it were fairly high. Additionally, I realized I had been writing about the topics that have always interested me most. Hot button topics and a lot of them. I was playing with fire. Did I really want to shake this tree and see what fell out?
It only took a few moments to decide there was no way I was willing to water down what was left of me on purpose. If I was going to poor all of me into this book, then that was exactly what I was going to do. This book was going to get all of me, whether anyone else liked it or not. There is only one thing worse than selling out for approval and that is looking in the mirror later that same night and being ashamed of what you saw. I’d already had enough of that. The illness had taken too much of me already. So, I threw my last care out of the window and let my creativity run wild with personal philosophies and fantasies; and it was there that I found my voice.
Did the risks pay off? Yes, yes they did. I had learned to paint with words. In the end I had created a pliable landscape that challenged the status quo; an effort that juggled theology, multiculturalism, theoretical physics, LGBTQIA+, the metaphysical, mysticism, and heaping doses of satire. I had created something I was proud of and in my life that was something that had been in short supply.
Did the muses finally go quiet? No, no they did not. Because an artist who was born to shake trees to see what falls out will never find peace resting in their shade, not as long as there are other trees nearby in need of a good shaking…and there always are.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

“J.K. Raymond has a flair for writing and storytelling that’s sorely missing lately in fiction, that she is a rising star headed for huge success in undebatable.” Review -Airie Avant author of “The Subtle Art of Spellcasting and Sarcasm”

Infinite Mass
by J.K. Raymond
An All-Saints Novel
Book one
Edited by: Brittany McMunn
Cover Art/Publishing Abigail Wild
Morna JoAnn Stahr had become the town pariah at age ten. Beyond her control or planning, she managed to pull a religious miracle from the bowels of holy stardom, and try as she may, absolution had never come. Sure, some things can be forgotten or outlived, but not this kind of thing, especially if you’re a girl. Just ask Mary of Magdalene.
So, while every Priest, parishioner, and parent, including her own, held a candlelight vigil for her safe return, Morna had been busy doing what seventeen-year-old lepers do best. Gathering up what was left of the best pieces of herself, she got the hell outta dodge with not a soul the wiser. No soul’s but Silla’s that is, who by all accounts would forever be included among the very best parts of her.
Now, one accomplice, a fake i.d. and many miles later, Morna was slinging drinks at a local blues bar for tips. New me, who dis, right? WRONG. Because just beneath Morna’s newfound feet was a rag-tag horde of mythical beasties and one giant Judas furball of epic Galilean proportions. And while they enjoyed it, they were not here for the music.
One Liners from Infinite Mass by J.K. Raymond
“In the beginning,” started the narrator’s voice again, “there was only one dimension. In it, all things were possible. But like all good things, some greedy asshat screwed it up by wanting more.”
“Souls who lay in wait for their eternal itinerary didn’t regularly take to wandering beyond the Cliffs of Perdition, but they also used to shuffle through at a quicker clip than as of late and bored souls do stupid shit just like bored people do.”
“Hop on we gotta get over to the corral and call the Calvary,” The Red ordered after she’d convinced Justice the omniverse was on a crash course with heat death, and it was somewhat his fault.”

Reviews for Infinite Mass by: J.K. Raymond
“This book keeps me up at night. I know like I know I’m gonna read it 9000 times before I’m ready to move on…f’n hell she’s done it!!” -Arie Avant, author of: “The Subtle Art of Spellcasting and Sarcasm” Available now anywhere you buy books online.
“A Wild, strange-and amazing trip. It’s a fun ride and J.K. serves up some great dialogue, peppered with hilarious one liners.” -Bruce Buchanan, author of “The Blacksmith’s Boy” release and The “Return of the Cerulean Blur” Coming Soon!
“I could not put it down. So many twists and turns. It quenched the spiritual side of myself, while giving me a badass main character to make me laugh…and think.” (Barned and Noble Review)
5 out of 5 stars Infinite Mass well worth reading. Infinite mass was one of the best books I’ve read in a decade. (Amazon Review)

Authors Notes
Infinite Mass was born the day I pondered the question, “What happens when you throw something, out of everything, into nothing?” And down the rabbit hole I went. One twisting turning hyper focus leading to another to another. Topics I used as my personal playthings were science, physics, metaphysics, spirituality, psychology, sacred geometry, religion and heaping loads of satire. In all fairness I didn’t need to research satire, I came to this earth as an expert on the subject matter. Weird super power I know, but there it is.
Infinite Mass is a book that refuses to fit inside one well defined box. It crosses so many genres that it has earned itself the category of experimental, satirical, sci-fi/fantasy. In other words, nothing is off the table. Like for instance romance. It wasn’t a big thing in Infinite Mass, but the groundwork is being laid for all sorts of entanglements, quantum, romance, or perhaps a quantum romance? The point is, Infinite Mass is a menagerie of possibilities. Beyond the philosophical smorgasbord lay my three foundational goals; to suspend reality, keep it moving fast and make the reader laugh till they snort. One thing a lot of people realize after they’ve finished my book is that the entire 92,000+ words have taken place over just a few short days. In other words, I’m just getting started!
This is the first book I ever wrote; I never thought it would come as far as it has. The idea that it has a small cult like following is mind-blowing to me. It’s been out over a year and I’m still getting new readers who are asking for more. The good news is I’m working on that, the bad news is I’m chronically ill, so it’ll take a hot minute. Don’t sweat it though, you don’t to wait until all the books are complete to give it a read. Infinite Mass can easily be read as a stand alone until I can finally write “The End” on book two.
An audio book is currently under development!
Look for it soon!

Tenpenny Dreadful
Tails as Hard as Nails
A Horror Anthology
Anthologist: J.K. Raymond
Edited by: J.K. Raymond, Britanny McMunn, and Fatimah Jan
Cover Art/Publishing: Abigail Wild
50% of all proceeds go to the Special Olympics
Welcome to the dreadful world of Tenpenny, where the tales are as hard as nails.
Ready to make your heart run hot and your blood turn cold? The authors included in these pages have an unnerving ability to craft short stories and poetry that will shake you to your core. Thirty-three quick-witted authors came together to make sure you don’t sleep while reading this book. Bask in the intense beauty found only within the macabre.

Authors Notes
Tenpenny Dreadfuls was my brainchild. The original theme was actually quite a bit more intricate and complicated, but just like with all things art, you add and remove until the meaning and vision is clear for all to see, participate and interpret. In all honesty it’s mostly removal, but I digress. From the very beginning, one thing was clear, this anthology was meant to unsettle you, frighten you, and serve it up one piece at a time. Like a fifty-course dinner at a party hosted by Hannibal Lecter featuring a guest list equally as unnerving, with one exemption of course…you.
The title is a hybrid of a conversation I had with my father when I was ten years old and a mid-to late Victorian era publication that catered to the masses. The name of Victorian era publication was Penny Dreadfuls, which were low-cost publications that catered to an ever-increasing number of people capable of reading. Literacy among the masses was on the rise and with the ability to produce massive amounts of low-cost sensational publications featuring titles like “Barney the Vampire.” Penny Dreadfuls offered an accessible form of escapism to the lower-class people of Britain and they gobbled it up like fresh episodes of Supernatural. I always found the title of the lower-class rag titillating and the vision of what I wanted to achieve with Tenpenny kept lining up with a modern-day similar vision. Then my brain did what it always does without my permission. It started rifling through my brain files, linking anything and everything that could fall under the umbrella of Penny Dreadfuls. It’s an ADHD quality that throws me off course more often than not, but occasionally I’ll stumble across a hidden gem in the ransacked files of my brain. This time the gem was a conversation I participated in on an innocuous day in summer when I was around ten years old that matched the vague search criteria my brain approved for its unsanctioned mission. And for once I found myself staring at something beautiful and useful. A memory of my father asking me for a handful of tenpenny nails. We had at least a dozen rusted coffee cans filled with nails of various sizes strewn here there and everywhere in my dad’s garage. Having never heard the nail size before or it’s unusual name I asked what length he was looking for and he said, “like ten pennies stacked together.” I’ll never know why that conversation stuck, but it did. So, with the memory in hand, it didn’t take me long to find the title for my horror anthology. Tenpenny Dreadfuls, Tails as Hard as Nails. It was perfect.

Fun & Creepy Factoid
The reason that memory was so dear to me is because just a couple of years later my father would pass of an unexpected heart attack at the age of 43. The creepy but comforting fun fact about Tenpenny Dreadfuls, Tales as Hard as Nails is the publishing date. I had nothing to do with the day the publishers would release this book, it’s their schedule, we writers just set our clocks by whatever time they need something by and then proceed to live like it’s the only real time that matters.
So, imagine my surprise when I was told that the date Tenpenny Dreadfuls was set for publication would be September 10th. The exact day my father passed over back in 1986. And if that isn’t a wave from the grave, then I don’t know what one is!

Literary Anthologies Featuring Works by J.K. Raymond

The Carnation Collection
Edited by: Victoria Holland, Brittany McMunn, and Abigail Wild
Hekate, the Goddess of Magic, has called all heroes and heroines with a pen.
In the ancient age, a carnation with petals of rich color was found in Greece. The botanist who discovered it was so taken with it that he called it Dianthus—The Flower of the Gods. The flower of the divine.
In the modern age, an old temple has been found deep in the wilds of Greece. The only one of its kind. It holds a sacred text blessed and protected by the seven goddesses: Hera, Hestia, Demeter, Athena, Artemis, Persephone, and Aphrodite. Within this text are poems, essays, and short stories of divinity.
It is called The Carnation Collection.
The authors who contributed were asked one question: Who are you?

They have shared their inner hearts, their inner worlds. They have shared the song their souls sing, beyond all doubt, insecurity, or judgment. And they have entrusted their sacred truth with a goddess of their choosing.
It is well-known that these goddesses are incredibly human in their divinity. However, they also know that you are incredibly divine in your humanity. They have loved, just as you have loved. They have grieved, just as you have grieved. So, they offer the carnation as a promise.

Authors Notes
I am Stardust is a poem I wrote off the cuff. I was turning fifty and found myself at the age where I was shedding the trappings of the societal norms that no longer aligned with who I was or who I wanted to be. This poem was meant to show that I finally embraced who I was always meant to be while carrying an element of the lightness that came with accepting the truths that resonated with my soul. I was finally who I was always meant to be and there would be no apologies for living my life accordingly.

More than This is a micro fiction piece that places Demeter and Persephone in the wrong place at the wrong time, or is it? Perhaps it’s the other way around.

Uncensored Ink
A banned book inspired anthology
Edited by Amy Nielsen and Ian Tan
50% of all proceeds goes to the American Library Association
For authoritarians and their supporters, book banning is the floor. They’ve yet to define the ceiling. What other forms of creative expression will be next on their hit list: music, theater, paintings, sculpture? When we lose our intellectual freedom, we lose our democracy.
This collection of short stories, poetry, flash fiction, and essays highlight everything that is beautiful in the written word. Through this body of work, Wild Ink Publishing is taking a stand against book banning. We invite you to stand with us.

Author’s Notes
Hushed Whispers comes with trigger warnings. This story contains themes of medical misconduct, pregnancy loss and abortion. Hushed Whispers is a memoir of a very personal nature. One that should remain between a pregnant human being and their doctor. Unfortunately remaining silent on these topics is no longer safe. Ironic, isn’t it? We used to keep these things hush hush for fear of being judged over a lifesaving medical procedure. Now many of us who have survived these nightmare scenarios find ourselves compelled to share with the world something we wouldn’t have shared with a neighbor just a few years ago. Why? Because there is only one thing more frightening than what we went through and that was not living through it at all.

Clio’s Curious Dash Through Time
The Magical Muse Library: Volume Three
Edited by Brittany McMunn, Fatima Jan, Kate McKinney
Illustrator: Emily St. Marie
Layout/Publisher: Abigail Wild

Clio, the Greek muse for history, is looking for children of all ages to journey through time with her. She has brought together a group of amazing authors and poets who heeded her call and produced amazing literature for one and all. Race through ancient history, walk around the streets of the Middle Ages, take a pit stop to grab a snack in today’s world, and then rush to zip off toward the future.

Authors Notes
Clio and Cleo places the daughter of Zeus smack dab in the last moments of one of histories most famous women. Cleopatra. When the opportunity presented itself to write a piece for the Magical Muse Library I was instantly interested. Having read the first two anthologies I was really hoping the muse would strike and I would find the spark I needed to create the perfect piece for this well loved collection. When I read the title of this volume, Clio’s Curious Dash Through Time, my brain did that ADHD brain file sifting thing again and instantly connected to Cleopatra. There was no other direction to go, so down the rabbit hole I went. Armed with enough research to write a dissertation, I was ready to unbend some well bent truths. All that was left to do was weave the tale.
Clio and Cleo flew from my fingertips in a way few pieces do. Almost as if it were inspired by the muse herself.

Wickedness & Wonder
Coming Soon!
50% of all proceeds will be donated to The Trevor Project
Edited by: Shaelynn Long & Brittany McMunn
Layout, design & Publishing: Abigail Wild
What happens after the magical kiss, the spells dissipate, and the initial excitement of the promised happy ending? Is there truly a forever filled with rainbows and beauty and perfect, starry nights? Or might there be another, darker, more mysterious undercurrent that’s worth continuing? Could there be something still lurking in the shadows? Is magic still weaving its way into the souls of the fairy tale denizens?
Wickedness & Wonder is a collection of poetry and short fiction exploring classic fairy tales in new (and perhaps unsettling) ways. We invite you into these unique worlds, rhythms, and stories, hoping you’ll stay with us as long as you like. Perhaps it might be best to leave a trail of breadcrumbs, however…
We cannot ensure your well-being.
Authors Notes
My short story The Birth of the Morrigan is loosely based on the Brother’s Grimm fairy tale The Seven Ravens. A fusion of cultures and folklore come together to reveal an all-new origin story for the Celtic goddess. This story was so much fun to write, and I have to admit that it is one of those (not so short) short stories that could quite possibly birth and entire series!

Works in Progress

The sequel to my first book “Infinite Mass” is also underway. The main idea behind this book series was to challenge every pre-conceived notion and stereotype I could think of. My resolve to do just that has only strengthened. Camouflaged under the guise of satirical magical realism and science fiction, this book series takes the reader on a roller coaster of a good time, all the while spoon feeding the reader new ways of looking at the oldest issues suffered by everyone who isn’t a white Christian male. And if I do my job correctly many of my readers will come away laughing so hard, they will not notice that they’ve been “woke.”

A tarot inspired writer’s prompt workbook is another a project I have plotted out. The tarot evolved from a deck of cards into a way women could make money and support themselves in a time when such an idea was unacceptable. I want to honor its history while exploring other ways the deck can be utilized.
I plan to work on this book a little bit at a time for the sheer joy of the work. It’s a great balance to a heavy load. Perfect to fill in the gaps between publishing heavier projects. This project can be completed and published in a short time. This workbook will use the tarot archetypes as inspiration for micro-fiction, short stories and poetry.

“Your books are not just stories; they’re immersive experiences that transport readers to extraordinary realms. Thank you for creating worlds where imagination knows no bounds. Your literary contributions are truly invaluable!” -Reader comment from jkraymond.com

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a writer is watching reader’s absorb your work and connect with it. Once the work is published it takes on a life of its own. I’m often surprised to hear what portion of my writing resonated with someone and why. It’s rarely what I think it would be.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

During the editing portion of Infinite Mass I was fairly ill. That’s when things started to get really bad. We hadn’t figured out that I had Ehlers Danlos Syndrome yet and I was recovering from medical PTSD from my last cervical spine fusion. It was during this time that my mom was finishing up her breast cancer treatment only to find out a month later that she would be fighting for her life for a completely different reason for the next year. Between being sick and her being sick and editing my first book while being a wife and mother it would be understandable if I quit. It’s hard enough to write a book from start to publication without all the additional problems. But I didn’t quit. Noticeably there are a few typos in the first edition of Infinite Mass that slipped past me. In all fairness, that was the least of my worries at the time. They are being currently being corrected as we develop the audio book that will release later this year. The typo’s never really bothered me that much though. They are just another battle scar that exists because I survived something harrowing and came out the other side. It was all worth it when I signed a copy for my mom and gave it to her when she finally came home from the hospital. That resilience thing happens to run in the family.

Contact Info:

• Website: jkraymond.com (Under construction) PC only
• Instagram: @authorjkraymond
• Facebook: @jodyraymond-houser and @jkraymondauthor
• Other: tiktok @aquariusmoonauthor
  Threads @jkraymondauthor
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Image Credits

All images of books were created and illustrated by Abigail Wild owner of Wild Ink Publishing.