Squid the Squirrel: Chapter 3 + BIG NEWS!

The gravel road to our house has collected puddles and the gutters rumble with steady streams. The cardinals and blue jays have arrived and, even though it’s constantly raining, they skitter across the lawn to hunt worms. By the barn, two rabbits are boxing each other. Front paws locked together, back legs beating the other until the two momentarily split apart, only to rejoin in another attack. A third rabbit looks on, observing the fight while casually nibbling at grass. It must be mating season.

While I watch the daily backyard drama with fascination, there is one individual who couldn’t care less about the ruckus: Squid the Squirrel.

She’s put on quite a bit of weight in the last few weeks. I’m not sure if she’s pregnant or simply fat from her daily (and sometimes multiple times per day) visits to the feeder. But regardless her chunky middle, she still nimbly climbs the porch railing, easy as ever.

She turns her back to the rabbit fight and focuses entirely on the seeds, digging a little to find the sunflowers. All the while, rain is guzzling down from the sky, running in little rivulets down the railing and pooling at her feet. Even the covering over the feeder doesn’t stop the rain from pelting at Squid. That’s when I realize, Squid has positioned her tail in an unusual way.

Instead of curling it behind her in its usual form, she has stretched her tail up and forward. It reaches up along her back so that the tip drapes just slightly over her face. The edges are soggy and dripping, but her face and neck are dry.

Her tail is an umbrella.

I wonder how she’ll manage to dry it later on. But it’s doubtful that I’ll get the chance to see. Beyond knowing that she nests in the hollow of a tree behind the chicken coop, I don’t know much about Squid’s personal life– beyond what little she reveals to me during her visits to the bird feeder.

BIG NEWS!

I have a BOOK DEAL with Tyndale Publishing House! It’s so wild and sweet how God has blessed every step of this process.

The writing itself came by surprise– an outpouring of marine biology stories and theological learning. The amazing Sherri Wilson Johnson of Gardner Literary believed in me and by writing enough to become my agent. She connected me to sweet Kara Leonino, who shares my love for puns and understood the book’s core message straightaway. What joy!

We are so excited to bring this book to life– and to YOU! Keep your eyes peeled for IF THE OCEAN HAS A SOUL on bookshelves next spring. And if you’re ready to begin your “deep dive” into faith and science, check out my Instagram.

Sea ya later!