Rod Raglin's Blog, page 13
February 28, 2023
Cryptic Messages – published by Bewildering Stories
Ernie’s weird but the mysterious messages he’s getting from unidentified sources reminding him to attend a meeting he knows nothing about, are making him even more so.
Read my short story, Cryptic Messages in Bewildering Stories, Edition 986 at
www.bewilderingstories.com/issue986/cryptic_messages1.html
#bewilderingstories #shortstory #amreading #amreadingshortstories #CrypticMessages #fate #unknown Bewildering Stories #readingcommunity #mystery #suspense #weird
February 22, 2023
How I came to write my first 7 novels
#5. Forest – Love, Loss, Legend.
This is the fifth in a series of personal stories about how I came to write my seven novels and two plays and what I’ve learned along the way.
This novel is an exploration two contradictory themes I frequently write about, wild things and places and intimate relationships. Quite inadvertently it also became a mystery.
I’m hoping you might pick up some marketing insights, mostly what doesn’t work, writing tips about themes and motivation, a bit of an understanding about how publishing as well as self-publishing works, and a lot of empathy from someone who is traveling the same road and has likely had less success than you.
I’m interested in comments. What, if any success have you had with self-publishing?
Likes, comments and followers are welcomed and appreciated.
Visit my Amazon Author’s Page for reviews and links to all my work
February 21, 2023
Writing Environmental fiction
The choice doesn’t have to be between depression and delusion
ClimateCultures is a network of over 200 artists, curators and researchers in many countries. They showcase a diversity of interests, practices and works bringing creative responses to our ecological and climate crises.
As a member of this organization I’m honoured to have my approach of writing fiction that addresses environmental issues featured on the site. Here’s the introduction and the link to the full article.
“Rather than aiming at overt eco-fi or cli-fi markets, Rod Raglin‘s novels use romance, action or mystery genres to feature normal people confronting urgent environmental issues. “Preaching to the converted doesn’t enlist new members in the battle to save our planet. I attempt to write entertaining books that appeal to a larger spectrum of society.”
Mad Maggie and the Wisdom of the Ancients
February 19, 2023
Cake Night – a poem about a year of sobriety
Ever attended a cake night? Most twelve step programs have them to celebrate a members annual clean/sober birthday – the day the stopped drinking or drugging be it a year, two years, or more. Read what it looks like from the point of view of a victim of the chaos and heartbreak the addicted person has afflicted.
Published here on Scars Publications
http://scars.tv/cgi-bin/framesmain.pl?writers
February 11, 2023
How I came to write my first 7 novels
#4. The BIG PICTURE – a Camera, a Young Woman, an Uncompromising Ethic
This is the fourth in a series of personal stories about how I came to write my first seven novels and two plays and what I’ve learned along the way.
In this segment I answer the question: How did your new direction – writing and self-publishing literary commercial fiction, work for you?
I’m hoping you might pick up some marketing insights, mostly what doesn’t work, writing tips about themes and motivation, a bit of an understanding about how publishing as well as self-publishing works, and a lot of empathy from someone who is traveling the same road and has likely had less success than you.
I’m interested in comments. What, if any success have you had with self-publishing?
Likes, comments and followers are welcomed and appreciated.
Visit my Amazon Author’s Page for reviews and links to all my work
February 9, 2023
Flash of the Dead, an anthology of horror flash fiction now available.
Beginning of a Long Relationship – my contribution to this attractive publication.
My story, The Beginning of a Long Relationship, hints at the perils of dating and how you might want to pay attention to idiosyncrasies. It’s been published in an anthology of flash fiction entitled, Flash of the Dead, along with stories by fifty-one other authors.
Here’s the blurb written by the publisher:
“The craft of building up horror and communicating the dread effectively in limited span of words is an art form that poses quite the challenge to an artist. The authors of this book have lived up to the task with electrifying elan within these pages and Wicked Shadow Press is proud to present its first anthology of flash fictions: FLASH OF THE DEAD.”
Electrifying elan? Anyhow, here are the buy links if you’re interested.
Buy a Paperback copy of FLASH OF THE DEAD at
https://www.lulu.com/shop/parth-sarathi-chakraborty/flash-of-the-dead/paperback/product-kp7m7p.html
Buy a ebook version of FLASH OF THE DEAD at https://www.lulu.com/…/flash…/ebook/product-qp85vn.html
January 31, 2023
How I came to write my first 7 novels
#3. Mad Maggie and the Wisdom of the Ancients
This is the third of a series of personal stories posted back in 2016 about how I came to write my first seven novels and two plays and what I’ve learned along the way.
I’m hoping you might pick up some marketing insights, mostly what doesn’t work, writing tips about themes and motivation, a bit of an understanding about how publishing as well as self-publishing works, and a lot of empathy from someone who is traveling the same road and has likely had less success than you.
In this segment I answer the question: Did your third novel Not Wonder More, Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients resolve the issue of whether to write genre or literary fiction? And what about your publisher?
As well as resolving(?) those two issues, this novel has gone on to have a new cover as well as a title tweak – I dropped the “Not Wonder More” and it became Mad Maggie and the “Wisdom” of the Ancients. I consider this one of my best stories – strong characterization, solid plot, good pacing and important themes – habitat loss and mental illness. It’s also garnered a handful of impressive reviews though not enough to make it commercially successful. Still, I’m proud of it.
Visit my Amazon Author’s Page for reviews and links to all my work http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU
January 22, 2023
How I came to write my first 7 novels
#2. Loving the Terrorist – Risking it All
This is the second of a series of personal stories I posted in 2016 about how I came to write my first seven novels and two plays and what I’ve learned along the way.
If you’re a self-published author you might pick up some marketing insights, mostly what doesn’t work, writing tips about themes and motivation, a bit of an understanding about how publishing as well as self-publishing industry, and empathy from someone who is traveling the same road – and has likely had less success.
Novel #2, Loving the Terrorist – Risking it All, came from my personal experience of watching the protests against the destruction of Eagleridge Bluffs, a unique wild place that was home to endangered floral and fauna. This to make for a shorter excursion to the events during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, some of which were held in Whistler, BC. This was book 2 in the stand-alone series Eco-Warriors and was initially entitle Eagleridge Bluffs, which meant little or nothing to anyone other than myself who had spent many glorious days wandering and climbing on the warm rock among the storm-worn Arbutus trees. Along the way, I also updated the cover.
Likes, comments and followers are welcome and appreciated.
Visit my Amazon Author’s Page for reviews and buy links to all my work
January 11, 2023
How I came to write my first 7 novels.
#1 – Saving Spirit Bear
Back in 2016, I posted individual personal videos on how I came to write my first seven novels. Why I thought anyone would be interested is a question I now ask myself, but, as they say “it seemed like a good idea at the time”. There’s been a lot of changes (it’s now 13 novels) not the least of which is the author is eight years older (looking and feeling it). The cover of the novel has changed, a number of typos in the text have been corrected, but the underlying theme of endangered species, loss of habitat and romance (not necessarily in that order) hasn’t.
If you’re a self-published author you might pick up some marketing insights, mostly what doesn’t work, writing tips about themes and motivation, a bit of an understanding about how publishing as well as self-publishing industry, and empathy from someone who is traveling the same road – and has likely had less success.
Here’s the first in the series. Likes, comments and followers are welcome and appreciated
Visit my Amazon Author’s Page for reviews and buy links to all my work
