Rod Raglin's Blog, page 3
July 4, 2025
Japanese Lilacs in bloom.
The Japanese Lilacs perfume the evening with the scent of vanilla.
My photograph, Portal, is being featured as Cover Art for the first edition of Italiks
My photograph, Portal, is being featured as Cover Art for the first edition of Italiks, a new publication “committed to showcasing quality work from writers of all genres, styles, and backgrounds.”
At Italiks, they believe in a “writer-first approach”, meaning they “will never charge fees for submissions, nor do we solicit stories from established authors. We prioritize fast response times and clear, direct communication with our writers, ensuring every voice is heard.”
Their mission is to “continually increase our impact, including offering better compensation for our contributors as we grow.”
You can read Italiks July 1, 2025, Volume 1 · Issue 1 by visiting
You can support Italiks by donating at https://www.paypal.biz/italiks
Portal is an image from the series, The Pond and Beyond, which can be viewed in its entirety at
https://www.smugmug.com/app/organize/Thepondandbeyond
#photography @Italiks #literarymagazine#coverart
The Eco-Warriors Series: Free and Deeply Discounted Ebooks!
Free and Deeply Discounted Ebooks!
The Eco-Warriors Series:
Book 1 – Saving Spirit Bear.
A Corporate Climber challenges an Eco-Warrior for the future of the sacred and endangered Spirit Bear.
Book 2 – Loving the Terrorist – Risking it All.
What would you risk to save a wild place you love? Everything?
Book 3 – Mad Maggie and the Wisdom of the Ancients.
Magic, mystery and madness versus logic, cause and effect. Can love find a middle ground?
Free and discounts in effect ‘til July 7, 2025 at
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00#DS6LEU
#freebook #spiritbear #amreading #readingcommunity #EbookSale #summerreading #mystery #romance #action #environmental #paranormal #endangeredspecies #thrutopian
July 3, 2025
Free Ebook! Saving Spirit Bear, book 1 in the Eco-Warrior Series ’til July 7, 2025
#FreeEbook! Saving Spirit Bear, Book 1 in the Eco-Warrior Series, is FREE until July 7, 2025, with Books 2 & 3 in the series deeply discounted. Download your copies now at https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU
A Corporate Climber challenges an Eco-Warrior for the future of the sacred and endangered Spirit Bear.
Kimberley James is hoping her new assignment will jump-start her stalled career with a New York corporate relations firm. Her client wants to develop a mega ski resort in northern Canada. Her job is to convince the current owners of the land to sell. With millions of dollars to be made, it seems like a done deal.
Until she runs up against Jonah Baker.
Baker is part owner of a lodge on the land and an ardent environmentalist. He’s not about to permit a development that threatens ancient rainforests and the habitat of the rare and endangered Spirit Bear for any price.
Kim begrudgingly respects his principles before profit, but cannot allow a tree-hugging, bear-loving zealot to derail her fast track to success. Jonah admires her determination and worldliness but will fight to the end to stop a materialistic corporate climber from destroying something rare and unique.
Saving Spirit Bear is the first in the stand-alone series ECO-WARRIORS, a combination of romance and action with a subplot that addresses important environmental issues.
#spiritbear #amreading #readingcommunity #EbookSale #summerreading #mystery #romance #action #environmental #paranormal #endangeredspecies
June 21, 2025
Cherry blossoms 2025
This is a little after the fact, but it was good year for cherry blossoms on again on Arygle St., Vancouver, Canada
Always beautiful and still inspiring.
More images of cherry blossoms at https://www.smugmug.com/app/organize/CherryBlossoms2020
#cherryblossoms2025 #spring #vancouver #kensingtoncedarcottage
Summer Solstice Sunset featured on OAF’s front page
My series of seven images depicting a Summer Solstice Sunset are being feature on the Open Arts Forum front page at https://openartsforum.com/summer-solstice-sunset/
More images of sunsets can be viewed at https://rodraglin.smugmug.com/
June 14, 2025
Brothers, my short story about the opioid epidemic and proposed solutions, has been published in Steel Jackdaw Magazine
Brothers, my short story about the opioid epidemic and proposed solutions has been published in Steel Jackdaw Magazine, Edition 17.
Steel Jackdaw Magazine is a mixed art and literary magazine “celebrating the work of international creatives and championing positive social and environmental action.”
On its website, the publication is described as being “created as a tool for positivity, to not only celebrate the arts in all its forms but also to do some good. Environmental and social responsibility are key issues that we all face, so the magazine has a charitable focus. Editions are sold with 10% donated to our charity partners.”
In Brothers, City Councillor Christopher Bennett has an opportunity to try to change that and at the same time elevate his political career. He has the deciding vote on whether to continue to fund safe injection sites where substance abusers can inject illicit drugs safely under the supervision of medical professionals.
The proponents of the sites say they save lives and the longer you can keep a person with an addiction disorder alive, the more chance for rehabilitation.
Chris’s supporters, a powerful coalition of business owners, citizen associations and faith groups, argue the sites condone illegal activity and rather than discouraging drug use, normalizing it. Public funds would be better spent on addiction treatment.
If Chris supports their position, he’s almost guaranteed to become the next mayor.
As the crucial vote approaches, a personal tragedy makes Chris question his decision, and his ambition.
Steel Jackdaw Magazine is available to purchase at https://www.steeljackdaw.com/
@steeljackmagazine #literarymagazine #shortstory #drugaddiction #opioidepidemci #safeinjectionsites #harmreduction #addictiontreatment #illicitdrugs
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June 12, 2025
“Gallery of Vancouver Wildflowers” has been published on the Open Arts Forum front page.
“Gallery of Vancouver Wildflowers – Photography by Rod Raglin” has been published on the Open Arts Forum front page.
The galley has twelve images and includes buds and blooms, from pussy willows to buttercups in vibrant shades and subtle hues. Just to be clear, the wildflowers are not native to Vancouver, only the photographer is.
To view the gallery, visit https://openartsforum.com/vancouver-wildflowers-by-rod-raglin-photography/ #wildflowers #photography #flowers #blooms #buds @openartsform @OAF
June 9, 2025
Thin White Line featured in FBCW readON newsletter
With my membership of $55 (senior rate) Federation of British Columbia Writers (FBCW),
I received among other benefits, a discount to list one of my novels in their monthly readOn newsletter that publicizes works by BC authors.
“With over 4,000 subscribers and above-average open and click rates, readON is your means to reach a dedicated audience. Our open-rates are consistently over 50%.”
They limit entries to a maximum of 8 books per newsletter, list the entries alphabetically by book title and charge only $15.00.
I booked my latest novel, The Thin White Line – Culture War with Deadly Consequences. I’ve spent way more money (and got no results) marketing my books, and I can even justify it by saying I’m supporting the FBCW.
The June 2025 edition of readON, Vol. 51, arrived and there it was my book with its cover graphic, a brief description of 50-80 words written in the third person, and a purchase link.
My work was accompanied by seven other titles including the works of:
– 4 other self-published authors,
– one author whose publisher charges a reading fee (always a bad sign),
– one who used a hybrid publisher (charges author fees but at least they’ll read your manuscript for fee – though the reading fee is probably built in), and
– two traditionally published.
All of us are unsuccessful (IMO), with the exception of one title that has 576 four-star reviews on Amazon, which makes me wonder what’s he doing among this sampling of mediocrity.
Here’s the link; https://preview.mailerlite.io/emails/webview/120378/156372592518759486
Five book sales from this promotion will cover the cost. I’m not holding my breath.
June 1, 2025
They, has been published in The Miserere Review
My short story, They, has been published in The Miserere Review, an international online Arts & Literary Magazine created to showcase artists, writers and performers from around the world.
Back in the 90’s, the original Miserere Review website received well over a million visitors. However, the original web host no longer exists, so it has now been relaunched as a new publication in an attractive, eclectic online flip-book format.
Excerpt from They.
“You infer you have a life, you’re not a weird loner bent on undermining the system. You’re satisfied, get along, are content. You embrace order, want nothing more than to conform, to be normal. No one would suspect that beneath the bland exterior, you’re a force for justice and equality.”
Read The Miserere Review, Issue 3, May 2025 at https://www.miserere-review.com/
