Interview With Author Rod Raglin
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Rod Raglin is a journalist, photographer, editor of an online community newspaper and author of fourteen self-published novels, a collection of short stories and two plays.
He lives in Vancouver, Canada.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Thin White Line – Culture War with Deadly Consequences.
A racially charge novel of political suspense, domestic terrorism and murder.
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. In the case of The Thin White Line which began first as an article, then an essay, and finally as a novel, the story came out of my research into discrimination against mainstream authors in favour of marginalized ones. An assumption that is not only not based in fact but detrimental to the vary groups it professes to want to help.
Issues of race and culture are better dealt with as literary fiction because their complexity demands subtlety and nuance. Nothing is black and white. I situated my protagonist in circumstances where he’d be exposed to the overt and the systemic, the well-intentioned and the misdirected. The research and the writing at times were disturbing, enlightening, frightening and frustrating.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As a journalist, I’m immersed in contemporary issues. My stories come out of my extensive and unbiased (as much as anyone can truly be unbiased) research and have addressed everything from the environment to race relations.
What are you working on now?
In between novels and working on short stories, flash fiction poetry that address contemporary issues. See and read my published works free at https://revuecommunitynews.com/rod-raglin-author
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Write a good book and the promotion will take care of itself.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write because you love to write. Forget fame or fortune because you’ll likely have little or none.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
When the writing’s not going well, do research.
What are you reading now?
I visit my local library regularly and chose three literary novels at random. I seldom get past the first chapter, sometimes not even the first page. I’m consumed by news articles.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More of the same.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Anything by Anna Quindlend. Maybe Robinson Crusoe for reference.
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