Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a 46 year old womyn who identifies as non-binary trans non-queer lesbian (they/them/theirs) living in New Hampshire with her cats and a wonderful roommate who she hopes will never move out.
I’m proud to say I love the ladies. I’ve identified as trans since high school, or sometimes lesbian. At that time I thought I was a mxn trapped in a womyn’s body, but then realized I wasn’t, yet I don’t identify as womyn either. It was a long struggle of finding myself that wasn’t remotely fun & impacted my work, family, job & everything. In the past few years with the popularizing of the phrase ‘non-binary’ I finally found something that worked for me. There’s been some wonderful strides in gender & sexuality studies that I wish I’d had when I was young. Kids today are so lucky with all the resources and positivity that they often take for granted. I sound like an old maid, to use the horrible cliche, but I do like to remind them how lucky they are & not to bite the hand that feeds them.
I’m an activist for queer rights, and am proud to say I’ve marched with both Antifa and BLM. I’m a full time therapist. I have written articles for numerous blogs and magazines based on my work, often focusing on finding personal growth and healing via alternative spaces, and working with alternative parenting approaches for raising a sex positive child.
I wrote my first book in 2021 when I met Texas transplant Dr. Matthew Faustus, who had been involved with the Church and Christian academia until a few years ago when he became disgruntled. We were both at a queer spirituality conference when we started talking. I can write articles, but I’m too disorganized to write anything longer, while he’d been creativity stagnant and feeling spiritually lost. I had the ideas and he had the words. It was meant to be. We became friends and writing partners.
We’ve written two books, both published 2021: “Rebuilding America: A Liberal Proposal For A Post-Trump Social Revolution To Save America” and “The Little Dictionary Of Gender Identity”
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“The Little Dictionary Of Gender Identity”, published February 2021 in paperback and kindle.
Society was forever revolutionized when science verified the existence of more than just male, female and non-binary. We decided to put all the gender identities together in a dictionary. It came about when reading a newspaper clipping that said there were 18 identities? Really? We discovered there are so many many more. We do plan to update the book down the road if needed.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Is getting frustrated all the time count as an unusual writing habit? I’m joking. No, really, is it?
If it wasn’t for my wonderful writing partner Dr. Matthew Faustus, who has lots of experience writing and actually does the coherent writing while I do the incoherent brainstorming, I would never have written a book. I don’t have the attention span or organizational ability to write and finish a book. Its also so anti-climactic. Its out. The end. You don’t hear from anybody. So frustrating after all that work that can take years. I tried a few times, but even my master’s degree was torture.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I don’t consider myself an author, so I can’t really answer this. My two books have been influenced by current events and social issues, while my articles come out of things I see in my work. Most of my writing was soon after graduating to build up my reputation.
What are you working on now?
Matt and I are finishing up a book examining heterosexual privilege and how it really is a thing that holds many of us back who aren’t in that group. It started as a conversation over if it existed or not. Pages and pages later … yes, it does. That’s planned for 2022 release. It’ll be on Amazon and bookstores around the world.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve long suffered from agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder, so I don’t promote. Matt does all that for me. We have such a great relationship I’m happy to let him speak for me. I get really nervous talking to people if I don’t have a script prepared, so this is the first interview I’ve done of the book where I can work over the answers on my own time. Matt convinced me this would be fine to do and that it was time I spoke for myself. I also like my privacy, so I don’t have a website or facebook page or even instagram.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you can’t write, find someone who can. Part of writing is just the ideas, so if you have the ideas but don’t know how to put them down, don’t fret. Without ideas you have no book, so that’s equal to the person choosing the words for the page. Sometimes you can find an author who is looking for some idea to work on. I did. I was lucky. Two books later … wow.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t be afraid. I don’t remember if someone told it to me or I heard it, but its been my motto all my life. Though, easier said than done.
What are you reading now?
I just got “Non-Binary” the new autobiography of Genesis P-Orridge. I grew up listening to Throbbing Gristle and really fringe experimental music, punk rock and others anti-social things. It was a place of safety.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Matt and I haven’t planned before our next book. It’ll probably happen by accident, like the last ones, if it does.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Something by Ray Bradbury, cause he always made me dream big, and Virginia Woolf, who I was obsessed with in college. From there I’d want the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, but that puts me over the limit! I could list so many more! Of course, the hardest question is last.
Author Websites and Profiles
Jamie Ray Amazon Profile