Dramatic action, politcal intrigue, modern romance and all those narco-dollars
What’s happened to honesty, integrity, and justice? Are they too old fashioned for a modern young woman? Freyja doesn’t think so, but her uncompromising adherence to them is threatening her career, her relationships, even her life.
Young, talented, ambitious, Freyja Brynjarrson’s a photographer struggling to crash the art establishment, the challenges presented by her family, and still keep true to her uncompromising ethic.
Fate places her on the front line of a political demonstration where soldiers open fire on civilians. She photographs death for the first time and likes it.
Because of the sensitive nature of her pictures the current government, facing an imminent election, tries to suppress them. But someone far more unscrupulous than government spin-doctors also wants those images destroyed.
Gunnar Brynjarrson, Freyja’s eldest brother is the head of an illegal narcotics empire. He’s concerned about the opposition party’s platform to decriminalize drugs. His sister’s photographs could influence the outcome of a close election and put his business in jeopardy.
As events unfold, Freyja slowly becomes aware of the far-reaching impact the billions of narco dollars have on the government, the economy, friends, family and even herself. Something insidious has infected society and like a super bug it’s resilient, opportunistic and appears as a mutation in the most unexpected places.
Freyja refuses to compromise and is intolerant and unforgiving of those who succumb to this evil or are complicit in their acceptance of it. If she stays at home she’s afraid she’ll be infected and never attain success on her own terms.
She takes an assignment with an international agency photographing the chaos and casualties of Mexico’s drug war. Freyja soon discovers she’s shot only one frame of ‘the big picture’.
The BIG PICTURE – A Camera, A Young Woman, An Uncompromising Ethic focuses on dramatic action, zooms in on political intrigue, and takes a candid snap shot of modern romance. The plot also reveals how narco dollars, overtly and covertly, influence every level of our lives; the wars we fight, the governments we elect, the impact on healthcare, and most importantly and tragically, our personal relationships.
The BIG PICTURE is story of a young woman’s journey from naiveté to reality, from the cynicism to tolerance and acceptance, from viewing her family as a ‘liability’, to cherishing them as an asset, something to be honored, nurtured, and protected.
WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING:
Imaginative and fast moving…extremely compelling .… will punch you in the heart.”
“The plot of The Big Picture, with its twists and reversals of fortune, …is imaginative and fast moving…extremely compelling.”
“….characters are diverse, well developed, and real… “
“…imagery is powerful and fresh. The book is an excellent read and pausing to experience some of the imagery makes it even better.”
“- The Big Picture is …a thought-provoking novel that is smartly written with genuine emotional, no holds barred dialogue, and events that will punch you in the heart.”
“This book was a gem to read and an interesting one at that.”
★★★★★ 5 STARS – Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews
Rod Raglin is a author, paid writing coach and facilitator, journalist, and photographer living in Vancouver. A passionate environmentalist, he is the author of FOREST – Love, Loss, Legend, and the series ECO-WARRIORS in the new genre of Eco-Fiction. The stand-alone series includes Saving Spirit Bear, Not Wonder More – Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients and soon to be re-issued Loving the Terrorist – Beyond Eagleridge Bluffs.
