161 ratings | 155 reviews | avg rating:3.40

more photos (11)

Rod’s Year In Books

Rod’s 2024 Year in Books

Take a look at Rod’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Rod’s 2024 Year in Books

Rod Raglin’s Followers (28)

Rod’s Bookshelves

to-read (6)
currently-reading (2)
read (170)
books-by-rod-raglin (4)
eco-fiction (3)
the-golden-house (0)
the-illegal (0)
wide-blue-yonder (0)

Rod’s Friends

Rod hasn't connected with his friends on Goodreads, yet.

Rod Raglin

Goodreads Author

Born

in Vancouver, Canada

Website

https://revuecommunitynews.com/rod-raglin-author

Twitter

Rod Raglin

Genre

Contemporary, Romance, Fiction

Influences

Environment, nature, politics, the human condition

Member Since

January 2013

edit data

Rod Raglin is a Canadian writer/journalist/photographer, the author of fourteen novels, two plays, and a collection of short stories.

Much of his work, considered literary/commercial, combines romance and action with environmental themes for an entertaining and exciting exploration of contemporary culture.

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Rod Raglin questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Rod Raglin I’m trained as a journalist and so have never had writer’s block. My experience has been that I have twenty minutes to deadline and forty inches of sp…moreI’m trained as a journalist and so have never had writer’s block. My experience has been that I have twenty minutes to deadline and forty inches of space to fill with copy. It’s not always inspired but at least it’s not a blank page.
(less)

flag

3 likes · like
Comment

Did you find the plot and the characters your second novel, Loving the Terrorist, restricted by the confines of this genre?”

Rod Raglin Despite the lack of success of my first novel, Saving Spirit Bear, my publisher was still keen on publishing two more novels as part of the Eco-Fi ser…moreDespite the lack of success of my first novel, Saving Spirit Bear, my publisher was still keen on publishing two more novels as part of the Eco-Fi series, Eco-Warriors, and I was still keen on writing them. The plan (remember the plan?) appeared flawed, but perhaps not fatally.

As a journalist I'd been following and commenting on a local protest where residents and hardcore environmentalists had joined forces to boycott the development of a highway bypass that would destroy Eagleridge Bluffs, a very rare eco-system, home to migratory birds and at least one endangered species.

Despite a number of other viable options the government was intransigent. In frustration the protestors set up a blockade and eventually were arrested and literally dragged off to jail.

I've spent the best part of my life climbing and hiking in the local mountains. I've seen some awe-inspiring scenery, moments when I truly felt if I died in the presence of such magnificence, well, that would be just fine.

But Eagleridge Bluffs was the best. These ancient rock faces, carved by eons of Pacific storms roaring down Georgia Strait, and decorated by gnarled Arbutus Trees emanated a benign energy that soothed and uplifted the human spirit - no kidding.

When they dynamited The Bluffs they destroyed something very special and to this day I feel guilty. I should have done more to save this wonderful wild place that I loved.

But what could I have done? Loving the Terrorist - Risking it All, is that story.

Miriam is forty and frustrated. In an attempt to enhance her living-just-to-breathe life she joins some neighbours protesting a highway bypass that will destroy Eagleridge Bluffs. Not only are the Bluffs her special sanctuary, they’re also the beautiful home of rare and endangered plants and animals.

The protest gains the support of environmental organizations including the attention of a group of eco-radicals lead by an enigmatic younger man named Zaahir.

Miriam is mesmerized by this charismatic leader and sees him as someone that can save her as well as the Bluffs. But is Zaahir just using Miriam to help him further his radical political agenda?

As legal channels fail and civil disobedience falters, Miriam is seduced into the murky world of eco-terrorism.

The plot of this story follows the actual events that took place over three months that summer - up to a point. I literally lifted dialogue for my characters from news clips and stories. Then I took it further.

I wanted to explore the theme - is violence justified if the cause is just? Furthermore, is violence effective?

I wanted a sympathetic villain because as an author if you have a political agenda (and boy, did I) the only way to keep from sounding didactic is to also present it from the point of view of the anatgonist - and do it fairly. I gleaned this from Robert Boswell's book, The Half-Known World: On Writing Fiction. Not only does this approach work it, was a good idea since I wasn't quite sure where I stood on this issue myself.

I took the criticism of my first novel to heart and "sexed up" this one.

This presented a challenge and I wondered how I could write explicitly about sex without it being gratuitous? I decided to make Miriam a virgin, her lover fifteen years younger than her, and she white and him brown. My idea was to let my readers discover sex along with my heroine.

I hit most of the points including a "Happy Ever After" ending but even as I was writing the novel I could tell I was straying beyond the confines of the romance genre. Despite the ending, this wasn't a happy story, how could it be - innocent creatures were wiped out, a beautiful, spiritual place was destroyed, and for no good reason (as if there ever is one).

I couldn't help it, I couldn't change it. It bombed, but I felt better.

By the time Loving the Terrorist was published I was well into the third novel for the Eco-Warriors series. I'd learned quite a bit about writing and about publishing and even more about myself. This would be my last romance. I knew I was leaving genre even as I was writing Not Wonder More, Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients. I was also becoming increasingly dissatisfied with my publisher (and no doubt, she with me) and had begun exploring other options.

Next 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?

(less)

flag

2 likes · like
Comment

See all 12 answers from Rod Raglin…

Combine Editions
Rod Raglin’s books

Average rating: 4.35 · 102 ratings · 62 reviews · 32 distinct works

	The Rocker and the Bird Girl 4.07 avg rating — 14 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The LOCAL RAG 4.36 avg rating — 11 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	FOREST - Love, Loss, Legend 4.44 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Saving Spirit Bear really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2010 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Loving the Terrorist: Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs 4.38 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2010 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients 4.43 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2010 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Big Picture: A Camera, a Young Woman, and Uncompromising Ethic 4.29 avg rating — 7 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The BIG PICTURE: A Camera, A Young Woman, An Uncompromising Ethic 4.60 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	East Van Saturday Night - Four short stories and a novella 3.67 avg rating — 6 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Abandoned Dreams 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2016 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Rod Raglin…

437 posts
Rod Raglin's Blog

Green Flash Fiction competition – £300 prize for the winning story

Green Flash Fiction competition – £300 prize for the winning story plus £100 prize for 7 runners up. Deadline 27th August 2025.

Green Stories is running a flash fiction competition for stories under 500 words on the theme of ‘epiphanies’, the transformative realisation that inspires behaviours with positive environmental implications.

No entry fee, but all entrants must purchase at least one boo

Series by Rod Raglin

Eco Warriors (3 books)
by

Rod Raglin (Goodreads Author)

4.24 avg rating — 25 ratings

Rod is Currently Reading

Rod Raglin is currently reading

The Overstory

by Richard Powers

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jun 23, 2019 12:07AM

Rod Raglin is currently reading

Mercedes Wore Black

by Andrea Brunais (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jun 22, 2019 11:59PM

rss
Rod’s Recent Updates

Rod Raglin wrote a new blog post Green Flash Fiction competition – £300 prize for the winning story Green Flash Fiction competition – £300 prize for the winning story plus £100 prize for 7 runners up. Deadline 27th August 2025.Green Stories is runni Read more of this blog post »
Aug 14, 2025 12:28AM · like
Rod Raglin answered Rod Raglin's question: Do you think marginalized authors still need special privileges? It’s 2025 and most Canadian publishers are 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, Indigen See Full Answer
Aug 10, 2025 12:02PM · like
Rod Raglin rated a book it was ok Dirt by Laura Baggaley (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dirt has more holes than a garden ready for planting. In the not-too-distant future, fifteen-year-old Sam and his family live in NewBeck, a small, arid, town on the edge of nowhere in an undisclosed country. The population of Newbeck as well as the re ...more
Aug 04, 2025 06:57PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Dirt by Laura Baggaley. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Dirt by Laura Baggaley <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Rod Raglin joined the groups Blogger Lift and The Indie Connection: Authors and Bloggers Unite!
Feb 11, 2025 11:54PM
Rod Raglin made a comment in the group The Indie Connection: Authors and Bloggers Unite! — Authors Promote Here! topic " As a journalist, I’ve come to realize that when a concept becomes “baked” into the public’s psyche it most often is false or at least flawed. This is ...more "
Feb 11, 2025 11:43PM
Rod Raglin made a comment in the group The Circle: for readers/beta readers/critiques/reviews/free reads — Interested in a racially charged novel of political suspense, domestic terrorism and murder. topic " 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 h ...more "
Feb 11, 2025 11:38PM
Rod Raglin rated a book it was amazing A Gypsy's Curse by E.L. Parfitt (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A re-imagining of this Scottish Folktale The Fisherman and the Genie is a remarkable achievement. Not only has the author, Emma Parfitt, woven an intriguing story, but she’s also told it in a “muddled up” language that rather than detracting from the ...more
Jan 30, 2024 02:18PM · like · see review

More of Rod's books…

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
2025 Reading Chal...: July: The Summer Vacation Spell Out Challenge	143	233	Aug 18, 2014 09:13AM
You'll love this ...: High Five: reporting ONLY	367	74	Oct 29, 2014 02:21PM
2025 Reading Chal...: The Goodreads Authors Challenge - 2014	330	644	Dec 27, 2014 12:49AM
You'll love this ...: Team Captivating Cryptic Conquerors - report your reads	215	51	Feb 16, 2015 12:47PM
You'll love this ...: Feb 2015 - Spelling Bee Reporting Thread	188	96	Mar 10, 2015 09:56PM
WACKY READING CHA...: Army Surplus Special, Team #6	176	63	May 03, 2015 10:23AM
You'll love this ...: Elsbeth's Serial Killing; Casualty Report...	18	52	May 23, 2015 10:06AM
Crazy Challenge C...: We're celebrating ... THAT??	2043	344	Mar 16, 2016 09:10AM
Crazy Challenge C...: A - Z Book Covers 2015	221	158	Oct 02, 2016 05:46PM