Mystery Lovers Corner

Between 1996 and 2002, Raymond was commissioned by the James Bond literary copyright holders to take over writing the 007 novels.  In total he penned and published worldwide six original 007 novels (including ZERO MINUS TEN, NEVER DREAM OF DYING, THE MAN WITH THE RED TATTOO), three film novelizations, and three short stories.  His book THE JAMES BOND BEDSIDE COMPANION, an encyclopedic work on the 007 phenomenon, was first published in 1984 and was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award by Mystery Writers of America for Best Biographical/Critical Work.  Raymond has also written non-Bond novels:  FACE BLIND (2003) and EVIL HOURS (2004), both published by Twenty First Century Publishers Ltd.  THE POCKET ESSENTIALS GUIDE TO JETHRO TULL was published in September 2002.  Using the pseudonym “David Michaels,” Raymond is also the author of the NY Times best-selling books TOM CLANCY’S SPLINTER CELL (2004) and its sequel TOM CLANCY’S SPLINTER CELL—OPERATION BARRACUDA (2005).  Raymond's recent suspense novel SWEETIE'S DIAMONDS was published in hardcover in 2006 and in paperback by Leisure Books in 2007 and won the Lovey (Readers Choice Award) for Best Thriller of 2006 at the Love Is Murder Conference for Authors and Readers.  Three titles are scheduled for 2008:  A HARD DAY'S DEATH, a rock 'n' roll thriller; METAL GEAR SOLID, based on the popular Konami videogame; and THE UNION TRILOGY, an anthology of his James Bond works.

In the late 1980s and first half of the 90s, Raymond worked as a computer game designer for various companies. For his work in this field he is the recipient of the Newsweek Editors' Choice Award, the Parents Choice Award for Excellence, and two Digital Hollywood Awards. Raymond also spent over a decade in New York City, directing numerous stage productions off-off-Broadway and composing music for many other shows. In January/February 2005 his play SECOND CHANCE (co-written with Doug Redenius), was performed by Darknight Theatrical Productions in Chicago. Raymond has taught screening classes and courses in film theory at New York’s New School for Social Research, courses in "Interactive Screenwriting" at Columbia College Chicago, and currently teaches Film Studies at W. R. Harper College. Raymond has been honored in Naoshima, Japan, with the erection of a permanent museum dedicated to one of his novels, and he is also an Ambassador for Japan’s Kagawa Prefecture. Raymond is an active member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers Inc., the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers, a full member of ASCAP, and serves on the Board of Directors of The Ian Fleming Foundation.