Khali was diagnosed with Asperger’s at age six. His passion for writing helped him to deal with low self-esteem and day-to-day challenges related to his condition. His persistence and hard work have accelerated his professional writing career. Khali wrote his first book “The Ballad of Sidney Hill” at the age of fifteen. Today he has published nearly 200 books with series like “Ballard Universe”, “The Collective” and many more. He has been invited to write for editorials such as The Obama Foundation, the Prudential, and many more.

When and how did you start taking an interest in writing? How do you pick the subject for your writing?K: My name is Khali Raymond and I am from Newark, New Jersey. I go by the name of savage writer. I want to say that I began writing when I was a young child. It all started when I learned how to start reading. I would say that I was anywhere from 2-4 years old when this occurred. As the years went by, I wrote for fun. It wasn’t until I became a teenager I realized that writing was something I could turn into a career and make money off. I would have never thought I could go on to publish over 156 books within a five-year span.
I was always eager to share my stories in the classroom and create that next ambitious world. In fifth grade, I would write comics. I took notebook paper, folded it in half, and drew pictures and text on it to create a narrative. It was leagues below what I am able to craft now, but it is what got me started. Most of the material that I created then I still have to this day.
The subject of my writing usually comes from however I am feeling about a certain project I want to tackle or how I may feel during the time I am to begin writing. If I feel like getting deep with figurative language, I will opt for poetry. If I feel like creating a narrative to make the reader feel like they lived it, I’ll go for a prose narrative. I aim to create all my work from the heart and utilize the feelings one feels but cannot recite in words and infuse that into what I put out.

What is your own favorite work so far and why?K: I have two favorite works. My first favorite is The Ballad of Sidney Hill, my first published novel that released on October 26, 2014. At the time it was published, I was fifteen years old. I had just entered the tenth grade. This marked the beginning of my professional writing career. I always say this was the book that started it all because it did.
The Ballad of Sidney Hill was a cumulation of all the things I’ve been through leading up to that point because I’ve had a rough upbringing and I began losing all sense of hope that I could make it in life until I put this project out.
The story of how I began the book was interesting. I started off writing it by hand in the fall of 2012, which took about a year and a half to finish. The first ever manuscript (by hand) amassed to about 288 pages.
It took a few more months after that to have a manuscript ready to publish. I did not have the funds to get crucial resources such as an editor, designer, or anything else of the sort so I had to do it all on my own and publish the book independently. Throughout my career, I’ve learned how to become more efficient with design and how the book writing process actually works.
Yes, I’ve had mentors come along as time passed by but when I got started, I had no one but myself. It took many trials and errors years to get my book the way that I wanted years after its release but the experience I’ve garnered from it cannot be beat.
My second favorite work of mine is Ghanport’s Finest, which was the fifth book I published. This came out on January 1, 2016. I was a junior in high school at the time. As I was writing this book, I began feeling a bit more comfortable with the noveling process. With that comfort, I was able to tell more ambitious stories. Ghanport’s Finest is an extremely ambitious novel.
This book has four parts with three protagonists. I was inspired by the game Grand Theft Auto V to have multiple protagonists in my story. I really enjoyed how the developers of that game was able to weave all the protagonists into the game’s narrative. The first three parts of the book consisted of the individual lives of the three characters with the fourth part making them meet, creating an arc of its own.
The scale of this story and the way that I told it is something I still look back on almost four years later and marvel at. I am currently in the process of putting out a new edition for the book, cleaning up some errors and inconsistencies left over from previous editions and making it more concise. It had to be one of the earliest pinnacles of my ever-expanding storytelling capabilities.

What qualities and skills of yours have helped you to become a better writer?K: In terms of qualities, my authenticity, persistence, discipline and immense work ethic has helped me to become better at what I do. Keeping it real grants the audience a better chance of understanding you more because you don’t sugarcoat anything. Really, that is what my craft represents. I get straight to the point and I speak how I’m feeling by saying what needs to be said as I am unapologetically straightforward.
Continuing to march on in the face of adversity is what gave me character not only as a writer but a person because when you are enduring times that try souls, it is important that you stay focused. The universe will always throw tests your way to see if its strongest warriors can handle the toughest battles. My darkest moments in life became the centerpieces of my testimony.
Discipline is the ability to sit there and get it done without making excuses. As a college student who has classes and work, it can be a challenge to find the time for my creative pursuits but I always manage to do so no matter what it takes.
Little progress is always better than no progress. I don’t halfway do anything when it comes to my art. I will sit there for hours if I must until I get it right. You must be willing to put the work in if you want the results. No one ever got to where they were without getting inside of the mud. Talent without effort is wasted potential. I didn’t always have the best skillset, but what made me stand out was how much I was willing to do so I could make it happen.
Far as skills go, my immense attention to detail and description is what helped my writing improve. Brevity and specificity is the key to the game. Having such conciseness helps me to focus on whatever story I’m creating, I just have to be wary of not crossing the line.
I do have a dark sense of humor too, which adds this everyday feel to my work. I’m not a writer who tries to sound all politically correct and uptight like I can’t have any fun. I want people to be able to see themselves in the things I say and in everyday conversation we aren’t always who we say we are on wax. I attempt to create relatable content.

What challenges did you face during your school years? How did you face these challenges?K: These were the times which required the most strength to get through. In grade school, I was bullied a lot by the children. This contributed to many problems later in life such as depression and low self esteem. I did not have many friends either. I fell out with many of them after graduating and we went our separate ways.
I grew up in a single parent household on a fixed income which presented its own set of problems. Once I entered high school, issues at home were at an all time high. My mother was in an abusive marriage and that put me and my siblings through a lot. It affected my academics and mental state.
Once I began my professional writing career, I faced a lot of doubt from my classmates. Many of them would talk about me to my face and behind my back because they were jealous and intimidated by my potential. They would constantly tell me that I wouldn’t make it and my books are a failure. I even had family members trying to stop me from rising to the top.
Staying focused on my writing helped me get through many of this. I was more determined than ever to prove everyone wrong so I continued to write more and more. I keep outdoing myself and stepping into my power. Eventually, I graduated both middle and high school. Since I’ve gotten out of high school, I have been trailing with flying colors and it’s only been two and a half years since I left high school. Within that time, I obtained my first college degree at the age of twenty and am on my way to have 200 books published.

What are your other hobbies?K: I perform poetry and MC often. I like to exercise in the gym and go for a run. I also meditate in nature. I like playing The Sims, too. It’s a fun game. I also have a YouTube channel where I vlog regularly about life and things I’ve been through.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you love about that place?K: I find myself going to parks and places of nature. Wherever there is grass, trees, lakes or anything else of the sort, you could usually find me there. I love such places because it reminds me of where I come from; we as a species come from nature.
Without it, we would not survive. I hate how people are setting forests on fire and destroying ecosystems just to build for their own benefit. It’s quiet and gives me time to gather my thoughts. You need a break from the concrete jungle.

What is your suggestion for families of children with disabilities to empower their children?K: Always honor the needs of your children. Never look at them as less of who they are because they’re stuck with something they have no control over. Everyone is unique in their own way and have something to contribute to the world. Encourage them to go above and beyond. Nurture them. Let them know that they are valued and appreciated. Showcase their successes. Celebrate them every day.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who are interested in writing?K: Whoever out there is aspiring to become a writer or do something related, learn as much as you can. Go to seminars, read articles, speak to experts in the industry, and read books from different authors so you can get the feel of what it is like to transmute your thoughts from the pen to the page. Once you have the knowledge you desire, put it to work. Write how you feel. Go with what’s in your bones. Find you voice.

Any special message for our community?K: Always be true to yourself. Never allow anyone’s views to define you. That is their opinion. Know who you are and continue to keep your head up. Push through the storm and conquer everything which stands in your path. Do not give up. You don’t know who’s watching you and becoming inspired. You have a place in this world. You are worthy!