Rainbow Snippets is a facebook group where members post six sentences of a LGBT work, their own or in promotion of someone else, together with a link to the group page. The link to this post is then posted on the group page.

The idea is that readers go to the thread and sample the work of multiple authors then have the opportunity to open discussions with the authors either on their post or generally. I have to admit that I have not, as yet, seen any readers opening dialogues or discussions. Maybe you can be the first? Doesn’t have to be on mine; there are many to choose from.

Today’s snippet comes from my latest release, SHADE’s CHAMPION which is a young adult book about two young people with mental health problems. Here is the blurb

Shade has been kept in the dark for eight long years. Now he’s facing a world that terrifies him. A world that seems to hold no place for him.

When the authorities are unable to find a home for Shade, Penny, reluctantly accepts him into the secure school she manages, despite thinking it’s the wrong place for him. Penny fears for his safety among the other troubled children. In an attempt to forestall the disaster she predicts will happen she appoints one of them as his champion.

Dory, an engaging seventeen year old with mental health issues, is proud to be chosen as Shade’s champion and throws his heart and soul into the job. In doing so he is forced to face the thing he fears most – his own emotions.

An unexpected friendship begins to grow into something more, until a spiteful act tears them apart and leaves them broken.

When Dory falls ill, Shade is forced to face his demons and struggles to find the strength and courage he needs to fight for the right to love, and to be there for his champion when he needs him most.

In this snippet Penny explains to her second in command, Richard what happened after Shade was hospitalized for trying to show gratitude to his stepfather in the only way he knew how.

“Before he had the chance to leave the hospital, after the beating his stepfather gave him, he got hold of a scalpel and opened his wrists. If he’d been anywhere but the hospital he’d have bled to death.”

“Oh God, no.”

“Oh, it gets worse.”

“Worse?”

“He was transferred to the psych ward, and for the first three days he was restrained and drugged senseless. Three hours after they released the straps they found him in the bathroom, bleeding out. He’d torn out the stitches in his wrists with his teeth.”

Now go check out the other snippeters and find some fantastic stories that might just be your next super favourite book. (if you haven’t figured out how to find us, click on the link above.

Don’t forget to comment and it would be great if you would start a discussion. None of us bite, honest.