#RainbowSnippets: Rise of the Alpha Squirrel

As we get closer to release date, my fingernails get shorter. I’ve been bouncing around the story trying to figure out a good 6 lines to use for Rainbow Snippets this week (check out all of them here!), but I’ve found one that sort of introduces a few new characters.

Now, there’s a bit of a story behind these characters. I’ll explain the goats next week, but the red pandas I’ll explain right now. Devon Hunter is an actor in porn films and sometime male escort, and he loves red pandas. Like, serious squeeing kind of love. It all started as people being silly, chatting on Twitter, but somewhere in there, the red panda family was born, and the twins, Devon and Hunter, ended up being named after Devon. (But, Devon is way better behaved than the twins. Not that the twins mean badly, they’re just young and determined and, well–twins). And that’s why the book is dedicated to Devon.

There’s a serious possibility of Devon and Hunter and their older brother Jake coming back in their own book, once I get Nathan and Vince mostly squared away.

The subtle rustling of the bushes created a haven of privacy for them. Nathan had just finished licking raspberry juice and salad dressing from Vince’s fingers when it occurred to him—there wasn’t actually any wind. He sat back and peered in the direction of the noise.

A small red, masked face poked through the leaves. A second one popped up, right beside it. Then, with a massive crash of snapping twigs, two little black and white goats leaped over the pandas and into the campsite.

“Protect the burgers,” Nathan cried and ran to intercept the four-legged torpedoes barreling around the picnic table.