ROMANCE, THRILLER, OR MAYBE BOTH? AND ALL THESE SET ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE…

Who of us has never dreamed of a life full of adventures, thrill and love accompanied by the exotic surroundings? In a country or maybe in a few… the ones you have always wanted to visit? Dreams are beautiful, since they make us take actions and they give purpose to our life, which is certainly essential for everyone, regardless of the place they are currently living in.

If you can’t afford distant travels, your love life has just died a death, and the greatest thrill in your life is leaving work a few minutes earlier than required, romantic thrillers set on the international stage will surely move you to the world of your favorite characters without spending a fortune and healing your broken heart.

Despite the fact that books may be the right cure to all evil, it is still worth to think about possible ways of changing your life while working on your own terms and in places which allow to enjoy your life to the fullest. More and more often people are deciding to take up new-style nomadism, which lets them work everywhere across the globe and at any chosen time. To make it even more convenient, such a new lifestyle doesn’t mean neglecting your daily duties.

I’m truly pleased to introduce you to my today’s interviewee – Johnny Ray – a best-selling author, a digital nomad, an avid traveler and photographer who exactly knows how to celebrate his life doing what he enjoys the most. In this interview he will not only reveal some secrets of his work, but he will also explain how being a new-style nomad allows him to celebrate all the moments of his life while still working in a profession.

Passion Piece: Could you tell my readers a few words about yourself?

Johnny: A few words would be hard, but I will try. I am an international digital nomad who loves working when I want, where I want, and doing what I love to be doing at the moment. We move from country to country living in each for one month only. I am best known perhaps as a writer and have produced 26 international best sellers. I also love photography and I am passionate about capturing a moment in time to hopefully inspire a special moment in time for you. We have one rule when traveling which we call the ABC rule, Always Be Celebrating.

Passion Piece: You’re a man of many passions such as writing and coaching to name just a few. How did you find the vocation for writing novels and coaching people? Are these two in any way related?

Johnny: I write international romantic thrillers, which means they are set on an international stage and have some romance, but they are a thriller. Sometimes the romance gets out of control and I have to reclassify them to a romance and I release these under a female name. Charisma does come in handy as no readers likes a dull character.

Passion Piece: Saying that you’re a book author may be an understatement, since your books can be found in the bookstores all over the world and you’re also one of the Amazon best selling authors. You’re well-known for your gripping romance thrillers. Why did you choose this particular genre? Do you ever try yourself in different types of novels?

Johnny: This genre just seemed to fit me as we travel a lot and always have. The romance helps to balance out the thriller and adds great depth to them. I have moved close to the edges of this several times, but not fully off the core of my novels. I did write one nonfiction book on how to write your memoirs.

One funny note is that I once had a teacher in college tell me that I could not go through life making things up. Really?

Passion Piece: What’s the key to creating a captivating plot?

Johnny: In developing a plot you have to think through the novel and make it authentic first, know your characters, their limitations, their strengths, etc. Then you make the characters do what they would never do by placing them in a situation they never faced before. The best compliment you can give a writer is saying you should have seen that coming but missed that one important detail in the book.

Passion Piece: Has your life ever brought you such inspiration?

Johnny: Every writer will tell you that all of their books reflect what they have experienced or encountered in one way or another.

Passion Piece: You’re the founder of the International Digital Nomad Society. What does it mean to be a digital nomad?

Johnny: You will find many definitions, and all are correct for those you made them, but basically, it is someone who travels and makes a living on the Internet.

Passion Piece: What’s the purpose of this online space?

Johnny: I think answering the question is all about making a living as you travel and making it sustainable. Many people envision digital nomads as the 60’s backpackers who criss-cross Europe, etc. However, it also now extends to those who love luxury travel and many top executives do this these days. I much prefer penthouse living and have never used a hostel for example.

Passion Piece: How can being a digital nomad improve one’s quality of life? Why do people often hesitate to take up such a lifestyle?

Johnny: The world is a big beautiful place filled with so many interesting people and things to discover and see. Contrary to many beliefs that the USA is the best in everything, you soon see what real quality is when traveling. Many people hesitate to start the life of a nomad because of the unknown, and having no lifeline or friends to support them can make them hesitant to start such a journey.

Passion Piece: You are an avid traveler and you share the videos featuring you, your wife and the places you’ve had a chance to visit. What’s the travel destination that everyone should place on their bucket list? Why?

Johnny: Everyone is different of course. If you speak Italian, you naturally would love to go to Italy. We just lived the last few months in Korea and found it to be not ultra-modern but very futuristic compared to the rest of the world. We were there also during the Korean music festival and their Freedom Day celebration. Everyone really needs to experience k-pop firsthand. Hitting locations at the proper time is very important. We do not do winters anymore and jump from the south to the north hemispheres every 6 months.

Passion Piece: What’s the strangest or the most amusing anecdote related to your journeys you can recall?

Johnny: One funny situation happened in Athens Greece a few months ago. I noticed two early 20 ladies following us as we walked one of the streets and heard them speaking in French. One asked the other to take a look at us and that the guy there must be rich. The other young lady asked why do you think so? The first young lady replied by telling her friend to just look at his wife, she’s beautiful. I couldn’t resist, so I stopped and turned around, and spoke in French as they stopped walking in amazement. I looked over my shoulder and told them that she is the one that was rich.

Passion Piece: Last but not least. You’re also a coach, but not a usual one! You teach people how to find and use charisma to their advantage. Can everyone master this skill?

Johnny: Yes, it is a skill that can be learned in spite of many people thinking it cannot be. One of the biggest parts to learn is forgetting about being impressive and learning to be impressable. In other words, learn not how to be impressed by others, but be impressed by others.

Passion Piece: How can it help in one’s private and professional life?

Johnny: When asked directly and given time to reflect on it, most people will say it is the most important part of their career. My million-dollar question is simple and straightforward for the management of any company. How do you evaluate and develop the charismatic qualities of your future leaders?

Passion Piece: What do you love doing in your free time?

Johnny: I love having real coffee in the morning, no dirty water, and fine wine at night, bold enough to take down the strongest cheese I can find.

Passion Piece: Where do you see yourself in the nearest future? Are you working on any new projects at the moment?

Johnny: We are leaving for South America for the winter in a few weeks. I do have a new project I am working on which is an online fine art photography gallery. Thank you for asking. It will take me years to get my work uploaded and it is a passion of mine for sure. I have been a photographer for a long time, from fashion photography to travel photography and everything in between. My gallery can be found at sirjohnphoto. I am on many platforms and have many blogs, etc. and the best way to see them is on the about page of my central site at johnnyray.online.

Passion Piece: Which motto would you like to share with my readers?

Johnny: I think I mentioned one earlier, which is the ABC of life, ALWAYS BE CELEBRATING. My favorite toast is simple also. To this moment and the moments to come.

Passion Piece: Thank you very much for this truly inspiring conversation and I wish you many more best sellers to come in the future!

See you around!

Yours,

Passion Piece

Photos by: Johnny Ray