Bring in the Eagles

Caracara Eagle Driving a taxi

In Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien brought in eagles to save the day only when all hope had been lost for mere mortals. I always makes me wonder, “Why didn’t J.R.R. bring in the eagles at the beginning of the fighting?” On second, thought, if the eagles had come into the story in Chapter One, he wouldn’t have needed to write Chapter Two. In my story I’m not waiting a moment too long — I’m bringing in the eagle in the middle of the book, when the kids need help getting out of a tight squeeze with a gang of churlish alligators.

Coincidentally, the national bird of México is the crested caracara eagle, a beautifully colored bird with intense tropical colors.