Raymond Strait has built an international reputation via his numerous celebrity biographies. In addition to his books, he has written hundreds of articles covering entertainment and sports. He served the military for a total of six years between 1941 and 1951, including World War II and the Berlin Airlift. From his Depression childhood in West Virginia, he has travelled the world, speaking and promoting his work. He did not seek a literary career. His first endeavour in the world of entertainment came as a big band vocalist during the Swing Era. In 1957 he relocated from Houston, Texas, to Los Angeles, where he became Press Secretary for a film star, Jayne Mansfield. When Mansfield was killed in an automobile accident in1967, it was suggested that he might have a biography to write. The opportunity brought him into the literary world. At 97, he currently resides in Hemet, California, where he continues to write books and is a Senior Writer in the local newspaper His motto is? "Life is for living, and I live."