Rod Raglin's Blog, page 4

#FreeEbook ’til April 7, 2025! The Thin White Line – Culture War with Deadly Consequences,

#FreeEbook! The Thin White Line – Culture War with Deadly Consequences, a racially charge novel of political suspense, domestic terrorism and murder, free until April 7, 2025. Download your copy now at https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU

HONEST REVIEWS AND RATINGS REQUESTED AND APPRECIATED.

#newfiction #discrimination #publishing #marginalized #BIPOCs #whitesupremacists #religousright #populistleaders #nationalism

Four of my photographs of winter scenes have been published in the Winter 2025 Edition of Flora Fiction Literary Magazine.

Four of my photographs of winter scenes have been published in the Winter 2025 Edition of Flora Fiction Literary Magazine.

Flora Fiction is run entirely online and remote by a collective of artists, writers, photographers, and staff from all over the world. Their mission is “to give a voice to those who might not otherwise have had a chance.”

You can enjoy the Winter Edition online free by visiting https://florafiction.com

You can view more images of blossoms and blooms at https://rodraglin.smugmug.com/

@florafiction #photography#literarymagazine

My short poem, Small Acts of Defiance, has been published in Powerless

My short poem, Small Acts of Defiance, has been published in Powerless, An Anthology of Thematic Poetry published by CultureCult.

73 poets from around the world come together in this collection to express what it means to feel without agency, silenced or marginalised, and the subtle ways power dynamics shape our entire existence. In this opulent anthology spanning over 200 pages, diverse voices illuminate the myriad forms that powerlessness takes in this modern world. From the suffocation of societal expectations to the oppression of systemic inequalities, these poets craft a tapestry of human experience that resonates with authenticity. Through verse that is by turns defiant, melancholic and liberating, “Powerless” explores the paradox of finding strength in acknowledging vulnerability.

PURCHASE LINKS:
Paperback: https://www.lulu.com/shop/dibyasree-nandy/powerless/paperback/product-p6ge7jp.html

Epub: https://www.lulu.com/shop/dibyasree-nandy/powerless/ebook/product-nv7wz69.html

#Powerless #marginalized #silenced #withoutagency #oppression #inequality #defiant

My short story, Bate and Switch, has been published in Ink Nest Poetry – A Literary Magazine.

Retirement isn’t working out as Arni had planned. Right after the Alaska cruise his wife had a stroke senior. Additional medical expenses, homecare and renovations including a wheelchair lift-van depleted most of the savings, but with their pensions, they were still able to make ends meet. Then inflation sent prices soaring. A visit to the grocery store makes Arni angry, then desperate.

Ink Nest is a literary magazine created to bridge the gap between writers and readers. It provides a platform where both established authors and emerging talents are showcased together, presenting readers with a wide array of voices and an exclusive introduction to fresh, new authors.

Each writer featured in Ink Nest contributes to a unique Spotify playlist for their readers and shares personal photos and insights about their lives, all contributing to a thriving and dynamic literary community.

The February 2025 edition of Ink Nest is now on sale at https://amzn.to/4366PHl

#shortfiction#newfiction @inknestPoetry #readingcommunity#amreading#readers

My poem, Winter Solstice, has been published in the Seasonal Poetry edition of Coin-Operated Press

My poem, Winter Solstice, along with an accompanying black and white photo I took of a stark winter sunset framed by naked boughs, has been published in the Seasonal Poetry edition of Coin-Operated Press’ monthly collaborative zines. You can purchase a full PDF copy of the publication featuring the work of 38 international poets for £3.00 ($5.39 CAD) at https://coinoperatedpress.bigcartel.com/product/pdf-another-revolution-a-seasonal-poetry-zine

Coin-Operated Press is an artist-led social enterprise based in Scotland.

@CoinOpPress #wintersolstice #newpoetry #amreadingpoetry #poetrycommunity

A pretentious idiot puffed up with self-importance – Hey! That’s me.

I have yet to read/hear an author interview where the subject didn’t come off sounding like a pretentious idiot puffed up with self-importance. Why is that I wonder?

Having said that, perhaps you’d like to read my featured author interview post on AwesomeGang.com? It’s about how I came to write The Thin White Line, which is doing surprisingly well (really!). Here’s the link https://awesomegang.com/?p=1144764

Thanks to Vinny and @TheAwesomeGang, a site “for authors and readers to meet”, for posting the interview.

#newfiction #readingcommunity #amreading #politicalsuspense #interracial #murder #action

Year End Fiction Sale. Free E-books!

Load up your new digital reading device with selected titles FREE from my bibliography until Jan. 13, 2025. Visit https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU
An honest review or rating is greatly appreciated.

#freeEbooks #freefiction #romance #action #adventure #birds #dystopian #literary #speculative #amreading #readingcommunity #fictionreaders

#FreeEbook! Prelaunch Promotion and Review Request.

The Thin White Line

– Culture War with Deadline Consequences.

A racially charged novel of political suspense, domestic terrorism and murder.

Download your free edition ’til Jan. 12, 2025, at https://www.amazon.com/-/eB003DS6LEU

In the midst of our culture war, journalist Matt Bennett, has uncovered an inconvenient truth, one that has made him a racist to some and a cultural hero to others. He wants to explain he’s neither, just someone who feels morally obligated to declare his findings, but the only person prepared to give him that opportunity is Lane North, a right-wing commentator.

Trying to make it right goes from bad to worse to murder.

Honest Reviews and Ratings Requested

#freeEbooks #freefiction #romance #action #adventure #birds #dystopian #literary #speculative #amreading #readingcommunity #fictionreaders

Most Canadian publishers still discriminating in favour of marginalized authors

My new novel, The Thin White Line, challenges an assumption nearly all Canadian publishers adhere to religiously. That assumption is that Black, Indigenous and people of colour  (BIPOCs) as well as writers from other marginalized groups (see the ever-growing list at the end of this article) are discriminated against. Furthermore, they deserve special privileges during the submission process, privileges which are, apparently, at the publisher’s discretion.

Matt Bennett, the protagonist in The Thin White Line, is an author/freelance investigative reporter who is frustrated that his manuscript keeps getting passed over by publishers whose stated preference is for BIPOC or marginalized authors. The preferential treatment is considered a way to atone for “historical and systemic barriers that have existed in publishing,” However, Matt’s research has shown him that this assumption is not borne out by facts. Marginalized authors are not underrepresented today in Canadian literature, indeed, just the opposite.

But when he publishes his findings challenging the assumption that BIPOC and marginalized authors should get special consideration he’s met with significant blowback that evolves into cultural warfare and murder.

The novel was completed six months ago, and when I say completed it was written, rested, revised, vetted by six reasonably accomplished authors and then revised again incorporating their suggestions. It was then submitted to publishers, agents and competitions no less than fourteen times.

My lack of talent as a fiction writer aside, you can see where this story might be a hard sell, especially when no less then eleven major traditional Canadian publishers have statements on their submission pages that offer preferential treatment to authors whom they consider (it’s arbitrary) marginalized.

Here are samplings lifted from a few of the publisher’s submission pages*:

“…are committed to doing our part in correcting the historical and societal imbalance of representation in literature. In the spirit of moving towards an inclusive publishing program that reflects the rich diversity of our communities, we welcome submissions from Indigenous writers, writers of colour, writers with disabilities, writers from the LGBTQIA2S community, and writers from any other community that have historically been underrepresented. If you identify with any of these communities, and you feel comfortable in doing so, we encourage you to mention this in your submission letter.”

“…we are looking to engage with work by writers from historically underrepresented communities, including—but not limited to—those who are Black, Indigenous, people of colour, disabled, neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, debuting later in life, or without an MFA.”

“…is excited to open our submission policy exclusively to LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC writers, as well as those from other traditionally underrepresented communities.”

“ We encourage submissions from all Canadian writers, including Indigenous writers, writers of colour, writers from the LGBTQ2S+ community, writers with disabilities, and writers who identify with other marginalized groups. If you require an accommodation to submit your manuscript, please contact us at…”

At first, I found it disappointing that all these publishers would think in lockstep. Then, I began to wonder if there was a reason for their conformity in thought and action, so I reviewed all their submission pages again and there it was, on the submission page of Coach House Books. It reads,

“We publish primarily Canadian authors. The reason for this is that most Canadian-owned publishers, including Coach House, are made viable in part by grant funding from federal and provincial levels of government. Access to these grants requires that we prioritize the publication of Canadian authors.”

“What,” you say? “Where does it say anything about giving preferential treatment to the work of historically unrepresented authors?”

The grants (up to $250,000 annually) that make most Canadian-owned publishers viable are from The Canada Council for the Arts (CCA), a federal Crown corporation accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

In 2022-23, the CCA distributed $366.5 million. The criterion for receiving these grants is available at https://canadacouncil.ca/funding  There is significant attention given to supporting programs with an Indigenous component as well as “strategic funding for individuals, groups and organizations from racialized (culturally diverse) communities.”

The CCA 2021-26 Strategic Plan includes the following “Action”:

“50% of total grant funding to projects to help better understand and address the numerous barriers faced by youth, official language minority communities, and historically underserved and marginalized communities including Indigenous, Black, racialized, Deaf and disability, and 2SLGBTQI+ and gender-diverse communities, women, and artists at intersections of these groups.”

You can imagine that publishers do whatever is necessary to access these funds, including offering preferential treatment to authors from marginalized communities to help the CCA fulfill its Strategic Plan. This despite the lack of evidence that these groups are underrepresented.

So, when a novel appears on their desk that challenges these assumptions, what’s the likelihood they’ll consider it? Who bites the hand that feeds them?

The Thin White Line – Culture War – With Deadly Consequences, is a racially charge story of political suspense, domestic terrorism and murder, and is available from Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU

Eco-fiction – Writing as a moral act

Mattie Saunders, the hero in my five-book series by the same name, is an independent, determined, outspoken young woman with a social conscience and a bad attitude. Mattie loves birds and has devoted her short life to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of exotic ones people buy as pets and then abandon.

Pickles was a young Blue and Gold Macaw and resident at the bird sanctuary when Mattie took over running it and they formed an inseparable bond, though not always loving considering both their personalities. They were together for over twenty years until in book five, Mattie decided to rewild the parrot in the rainforest of Costa Rica.

During my research on how rewilding could realistically be achieved, I discovered The Ara Manzanillo Great Green Macaw reintroduction project and used it as a guide. as how this could be done. Since then, I’ve been a fan of this remarkable project and the inspiring work they are doing to ensure the world does not lose another irreplaceable species.

The IUCN Red List of Endangered Species published in 2020 reclassified The Great Green Macaws (Ara ambiguus) as a CRITICALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES with only about 1000 left in the world and about 200 left in Costa Rica. Populations continue to decrease due to:

• International wild bird pet and feather trade

• Land use changes causing loss of food and habitat

• Illegal trapping for in-country trade, food and feathers

• Lack of awareness of importance of conserving the species

In 2010, Ara Manzanillo, a Costa Rican licensed, non-profit organization with government oversight, initiated the Ara Project, a Great Green macaw reintroduction project in the South Caribbean region of Costa Rica near Manzanillo in a national wildlife refuge.

Since then, Ara Mazanillo has added over 120 more of these emblematic birds to the wild group increasing the world population by 10% and the Costa Rican population by 50%. A significant impact on saving a critically endangered species.

The Ara Manzanillo Great Green Macaw reintroduction project – 2024 In Review.

For more information about Ara Manzanillo and the Great Green reintroduction visit https://aramanzanillo.org/2024-wrapped/

The Mattie Saunders Series is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088NH8S6K?binding=paperback&searchxofy=true&qid=1735625883&sr=1-1#birdlovers

#endangeredspecies #macaws #parrots @manzanillo #birds #birdfiction