Rod Raglin's Blog

When Dying Seems Inevitable. Installment 10 of Cold-Blooded, the second book in the Mattie Saunders Series is now a free read on Wattpad.

https://www.wattpad.com/1659144953-cold-blooded-book-2-in-the-mattie-saunders-series?utm_source=web&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=share_reading&fbclid=IwY2xjawUe9qdwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7njrqWHlG_OAoFJwAvlTpn1gfCkcAxY_LIc58-sIi6EYZLSPbDSsekCFvNng_aem_2JtDl-bNqgEzaDSOpnmDwA

Emma has a new cousin – a few times removed. And it’s not only new to her but the world!

For the first time in a century, researchers say they’ve identified a new species of wild cat previously unknown to science.

Leopardus tilcayo — or the tilcayo tiger cat — is slender and spotted, with rounded ears. It is smaller than a typical house cat and lives in the Bolivian Yungas, the cloud forest where the Andes mountains meet the Amazon basin. It measures about 18 inches (46 cm) long and weighs around 3 pounds (1.4 kg), making it smaller than the average domestic cat (and a lot smaller than Emma – no judgement).

Emma’s anxious.

Tiger cats — small, wild cats native to South and Central America — face stiff conservation challenges. All of them are in habitats that are vanishing fast. The mountain forests face growing pressure from deforestation, agricultural expansion, human-caused fires and mining.

Restoring forest patches damaged by fires, protecting remaining native forest and maintaining connections between habitats are urgent priorities.

Emma has heard this before – and a lot closer to home. Some days she gets depressed and slinks around the house with a scowl and her tail down. She wants to remain optimistic but then she reads (right here) of yet another cat that has died because of the action (or inaction) of their irresponsible human companions.

But on the bright side….

DONATIONS TO VOKRA WILL BE MATCHED ‘TIL SEPT. 30, 2026

This year’s VOKRA’s Walk for the Kitties has so far raised $170,000! That’s still short of their $275,000 goal. but the good news is that until Sept. 30, 2026, every individual donation made to the campaign is matched 1:1 by an anonymous donor. For example, a $25 donation becomes $50, and a $100 donation becomes $200. The matching pool is capped at a maximum total of $100,000.

To ensure your contribution qualifies for the match, donations must be processed directly through the official VOKRA DonorPerfect Match at

That’s put Emma’s right tail back up!

https://www.wattpad.com/1658410760-cold-blooded-book-2-in-the-mattie-saunders-series

Awesome Autumn – Limited edition fine art pieces at Reduced Pricing. Eight selected works capturing the magic and majesty of the season at reduced pricing.

Framed and delivered to your door. Only ‘til Oct. 15, 2026

To view this limited time offering visit

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Q and A-plus a Haircut. Installment 8 of Cold-Blooded, book 2 in the Mattie Saunders Series is not a free read on Wattpad.

https://www.wattpad.com/1657622943-cold-blooded-book-2-in-the-mattie-saunders-series?utm_source=web&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=share_reading&fbclid=IwY2xjawUVsRlwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7FtO0TdCJz9iI2zISXR_diEsvPuht-ZjEYPrnBZiSkzaS8K1VXTRgG_Ev4AQ_aem_Ln8qqpG_JvfPBKXhA6QqDg

#freeread #readingcommunity #mystery #animalrescue #herps

The Mattie Saunders Series is now a free read on Substack. 5 books, 2000-word installments every other day. #Romance, #mystery, plus learn about the devastating effects the exotic pet trade has on parrot and reptile populations.
Subscribe for free at

https://www.rodraglin.substack.com

#exoticpettrade #reptiles #herps #birds #parrots

New Friends, Old Issues. Part 7 of Cold-Blooded, book 2 in the Mattie Saunders Series is now free read on Wattpad.

https://www.wattpad.com/1656820796-cold-blooded-book-2-in-the-mattie-saunders-series?utm_source=web&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=share_reading&fbclid=IwY2xjawUQkXpwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6sjT__f9X3qy6sOohWDkZKxUR3mIeeFWlEryM0HOIr1oIENmD9hcl06RkEFQ_aem_9UOLPkv2fQT5ms1jmBrr-w

When compassion turns dangerous, trust can get you killed.

Mattie Saunders has always believed in saving creatures no one else will—wounded birds, abandoned parrots, all the wild things left behind. So, when Liz, an old high school friend, asks for help housing reptiles from a refuge under police investigation, Mattie doesn’t hesitate. But this time, her generosity drags her into something far darker than animal rescue.

When two drug squad detectives come knocking, Mattie learns the Reptile Refuge was a front for criminal activity—and Liz may be in deeper than she admits. As the secrets untangle, Mattie must decide where loyalty ends and survival begins.

Torn between her instincts to protect and her growing sense of betrayal, she discovers that “cold-blooded” doesn’t just describe the reptiles. It describes the people willing to use friendship, trust, and even love to their own ends.

With tightly-wound tension and emotional depth, Cold-Blooded is a compelling story of morality, betrayal, and the cost of caring too much—proof that doing the right thing can sometimes mean losing everything. Fans of strong female leads, modern mysteries, and character-driven drama won’t want to miss this gripping second installment in the Mattie Saunders Series.

Click on the link to read Installment 6

#freeread #mystery #readingcommunity #animalrescue #herps #mattiesaundersehttps://www.wattpad.com/1656235085-cold-blooded-book-2-in-the-mattie-saunders-series?utm_source=web&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=share_reading&fbclid=IwY2xjawUMqY1wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4bInSGwWt4BcHDmMWJC1DovlaTY_XjhPtn8UiDyJeoY0XmpZV28WS8hZImCg_aem_3FtfRHvUrsq2mZpFTzO-IQ

I’m a member of the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism’s (FAIR) International Writer’s Group and want to encourage local members to join.

The FAIR Writers’ Group is a monthly online, discussion-based community for early and mid-career writers hosted through Fair for All (FAIR in the Arts). Here’s the link for more info

Writers’ Group

The FAIR Writers’ Group is a space for writers to share and talk about their work without self-censoring. We understand that throwing words onto a blank page is a challenge in and of itself, but it’s even more difficult when a writer is concerned about offending publishers and critics due to identity politics. Writers shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not they have the right to pen a novel about a Latino protagonist if they themselves aren’t from Latino roots. They shouldn’t have to ask “will I be accused of being antisemitic if my short story’s villain is Jewish?” 

Overall, writers shouldn’t have to worry about being categorized and criticized because of their religion, ethnicity, sex, physical abilities, politics (or perceived politics), and personal experiences. The only thing that should matter is the writing.

The FAIR Writers’ Group is a supportive, discussion-based community of early and mid-career writers from across the world (with sessions in English). Current members hail from Australia, United States, and UK.  We meet once every month online to provide input and discussion on each other’s work that is in development. Our focus is solely on writing in which our intention is to support each writer’s unique goals with positive, thoughtful, and objective feedback and discussion. 

To find out more or get involved, contact the FAIR Writers’ Group Directors Karen Howes and William Barker.https://www.fairforall.org/british-columbia/

A rescue gone wrong pulls Mattie into a chilling mystery of corruption and betrayal—where even good intentions can get you killed.

The first instalment, “What to do with a van full of reptiles?”  is a free read now on Wattpad at

https://www.wattpad.com/myworks/414986514-cold-blooded-book-2-in-the-mattie-saunders-series