BK Nation Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Mr. Ray O. Kelly
Greetings BK Nation,
I am pleased and honored to introduce you to another highly gifted and talented author, Mr. Ray O. Kelly. Upon reading and completing some of the assignments in his book, “Back to Peace; A Miracle Journal,” I can truly say that it will bring your spiritual journey to another level. Sometimes, in this rat race called life, we need to pause and reflect on God’s love and peace that only he can provide, which is why I thought this was a timely book to consider. BK Nation, let’s give a virtual hand clap for Mr. Kelly.
KLR: Greetings Mr. Kelly and a hearty welcome to BK Nation. Thank you for joining us today. I’m excited about what you’re going to share with us, but before we begin, tell us about yourself, including little known facts that most people don’t know.
ROK: I’m honored and grateful to have the opportunity to join you in this fantastic forum at BK Nation! I am a native of Orlando, Florida, although I have lived in a few other places over the years. I have lived out west, in the northeastern United States and once in the deep south. Orlando, however, will always be my home. I am a married father of 3 beautiful, smart, and kind daughters who I am grateful for and the Godfather of 6 young people, each wonderful in their own unique ways, ranging from 10 to 33 in age.
KLR: What are your favorite past times, hobbies and bucket list things that you want to do within the next year?
ROK: I love to play the piano / keyboards when I can find the time, love listening to live music, like to play video games, and love studying the Word of God. I have been playing the piano for more than 48 years. In terms of my bucket list for the next year, I would really like to travel to another country. I think I have caught the bug for travel and now would like to see some really beautiful places like Ireland, Malta, Iceland, Ghana, or Croatia. I like to see the things that God has created beyond my normal surroundings. There is so much to take in – and create new memories from.
KLR: What is your favorite book and author and why?
ROK: I think I would have to say that my favorite book is called Noah’s Family, by Alonzo Holmes. I am an avid historian and genealogist, so this author’s ability to trace the story of mankind from a biblical perspective is absolutely fascinating to me. There is so much to be revealed about who we are by understanding where we came from. Mr. Holmes’ depth of understanding and his ability to get others to understand what is quite complex in a simple way, is quite amazing to me.
KLR: Who or what inspired you to become an author?
ROK: I have been a serial entrepreneur for much of my life and always wanted to try my hand at writing. I didn’t have a particular purpose at first, when I helped others to publish their books. But then I thought about ways to help job seekers as I drafted to help them figure out how to get themselves positioned for success. Then it got more serious as I wrote a short book formed as a letter to my very young daughters, whom I absolutely love. They are now well into adulthood. I believe they were around ages 4 and 6 at the time I wrote to them. I wanted to be sure that if I wasn’t here (since we all have to leave here at some point), that they had the chance to know some things that I had learned “the hard way,” in hopes that they might avoid at least some of those “bumps and bruises.” This piqued my interest in writing about the lessons I have learned in my not-so-distant past, and share them with others now and in the future. I started wanting to write to people who might read about those lessons even in years yet to come.
KLR: Now, let’s talk about your book, “Back to Peace; A Miracle Journal,” What led you to write this book?
ROK: I was deeply motivated to share the secret that I discovered peace for my mind, despite the many challenges I faced in my life from about 2007 through 2012. Little did I know, the challenges would continue well beyond that time. The difference would be that I would have a peace of mind that while not impervious to the new life issues that grew unwelcome like weeds in a garden, I would definitely find myself much more resistant to them. I seriously needed what I learned while considering my options on the ledge of life – at the edge of myself, when I was tired and just about ready to give up because the challenges got increasingly more difficult. Specifically, I was more resistant to depression, anxiety, and an overwhelming fear of the unknown concerning my life. I thought, “well, if what I have learned can help someone else, I should share it.” I know that this kind of work is connected to my purpose – the reason God decided to breathe life into me in my mother’s womb.
I think it’s important that we not give up on life, work to discover our purpose, and live to fulfill it with every day we are blessed with.
KLR: What would you say to those who would like to write a journal for the first time; What can they expect after completing a journal?
ROK: It really depends on them. A journal is a low-content book, so there is not a lot of writing to be done. However, the focus has to be on the user experience – what is it going to be like for them when they use your journal, and does it serve the purpose you intended it for. That means you must also know at the start of your project, what you hope that it will help them do. Journals are usually to help people. A wise woman who was a long-time elementary school principal that I knew years ago used to always say, “begin with the end in mind.” That stuck with me as I set out to write Back to Peace: A Miracle Journal, which I developed as a way to help people to get their minds to settle, help them regain their confidence and strength in the possibilities ahead of them, and be more resilient to the “certain to come” challenges that life will bring.
KLR: Are there any tips and/or strategies you would recommend for novices who want to start their journal experience using your book?
ROK: Yes! Absolutely. I recommend that those who want to get the most out of this journal start with the exercise near the front of the book – in which they are challenged to think about miraculous (or unexplainable things) that have happened in their lives that they are extremely grateful for. It will help get them into the right frame of mind for success in the battle for the mindset reset that I believe is needed to win in life.
KLR: Where can BK Nation purchase your book?
ROK: Back to Peace: A Miracle Journal is available in hard cover and soft cover versions at these retailers:
Thank you again for the opportunity to visit with your readers. They can learn more about Back to Peace: A Miracle Journal at www.backtopeace.com.
KLR: Mr. Kelly, thank you so much for spending time with BK Nation today. As part of our tradition, you will receive an autographed copy of my book, “A Time for Courage” compliments of yours truly. On behalf of BK Nation, we wish you overwhelming success with your book and may God continue to bless you and your family.
FAMOUS HISTORICAL EVENTS IN OCTOBER
October 2, 1967 - Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993) was sworn in as the first African American associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
October 3, 1863 - President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation designating the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.
October 5, 1877 -Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Indians surrendered to U.S. Cavalry troops at Bear's Paw near Chinook, Montana.
October 8, 1998 - The U.S. House of Representatives voted 258-176 to approve a resolution launching an impeachment inquiry of President Bill Clinton.
October 13, 1775 - The United States Navy was born after the Second Continental Congress authorized the acquisition of a fleet of ships.
October 14, 1964 - Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He donated the $54,000 in prize money to the Civil Rights movement.
October 16, 1995 - The Million Man March took place in Washington, D.C., under the direction of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
October 17, 1777 - During the American Revolutionary War, British General John Burgoyne and his entire army of 5,700 men surrendered to American General Horatio Gates after the Battle of Saratoga, the first big American victory.
October 20, 1944 - During World War II in the Pacific, General Douglas MacArthur set foot on Philippine soil for the first time since his escape in 1942, fulfilling his promise, "I shall return."
October 28, 1636 - Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in America, was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
October 28, 1886 - The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor. The statue was a gift from the people of France commemorating the French-American alliance during the American Revolutionary War.
October 31, 1941 - Mount Rushmore National Memorial was completed after 14 years of work. The memorial contains 60-foot-tall sculptures of the heads of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt - representing America's founding, political philosophy, preservation, expansion and conservation.
“A TIME FOR COURAGE” IN PERSPECTIVE
One of the bright spots about being an author is the awesome people you meet. As an amateur historian, I run into people all the time that share a profound passion for history, just like me. My favorite era is the American Civil War, especially the role African Americans played in helping unite this great country into what it is today.
I have been asked by many people about why I wrote a novel about a 164-year-old war? Why not write about romance, science fiction, or a self-help book? Well, its simple. I wanted to pay tribute to the spirit of American fighting men of that era who were in many ways, just like us. People like Private Madison Jefferson Payne, an ordinary 18 year old who used his gift to inspire African American men to join the Union army; Lieutenant John Davenport who volunteered to educate African American soldiers, despite the backlash he knew would come from his fellow officers; Major James Hightower who was forced to leave his terminally ill wife and join General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry, and last but not least, antagonist Captain Daniel Barlow, who on the surface, was a devout racist and cold blooded murderer, yet, has a completely different side of him that you will discover in the novel.
If you want to know more about the fate of these main characters, I urge you to go on Amazaon.com and purchase a copy of “A Time For Courage” If you want a sneak preview of the book, click on my YouTube channel.
PARTING THOUGHTS
My favorite character in “A Time for Courage” is Private Madison Jefferson Payne because I think his character resonates with most of us. He had a passion and gift that he was willing to share with people he didn’t even know. That passion and gift ultimately led many African American men to answer the call to become union soldiers. We are the modern-day Madison’s of our era. As we enter the final stretch of 2025, I would like to encourage you to purchase and present an age-appropriate book to an elementary or high school student during this month. Together, we can change the lives of many, just like Madison.