I do quite a few talks on the craft and business of writing, so when I see something that I can use during a presentation as an example I pounce on it.  So when I saw someone using copyrighted images on the book cover of their self pubbed title (a no-no by the way), I took a closer look—and got quite a shock when I read jacket copy.  It was a novel, but what it was a manifesto for the author’s paranoia and hate.  The blurb was racist and bigoted at the minimum and pretty much libelous as it featured real life people as characters.  How anyone could hold such views in the 21^st century astounds me.  It was a horrible and disgusting piece of work. 

Personally, I don’t dodge topics that I’m passionate about.  Many of my books are motivated by real life events, but I do my level best not to turn them into excuses to rant and rave.  That’s why I have pets.  It’s their job to listen to my tirades, not you.  As I’ve mentioned before I annotate my manuscripts for my wife for her read throughs.  I’ll put “am I being a little preachy here?” or “a little ranty?”  The answer is usually yes which means a trip to rewrite city.