The unofficial sequel to Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston
Read an excerpt below:
Cassidy was somebody. Depending on who you asked would determine what kind of somebody they were.
To the Royal Australian Air Force, they were the first non-binary fast-jet pilot on active duty who agreed to become the face of LGBTQI+ diversity within the force.
To their moderate following of a few million fans, they were a down-to-earth, badass being who shared their experiences of being enby with the world.
To the more politically savvy in Australia, they were a force to be reckoned with when they decided to voice their support on an issue.
To the tabloids? They were easy material to smear against their father, the current Prime Minister.
So when an invitation to participate in a handling demonstration in Arizona was passed down, they accepted. It was all to go as usual; they would fly the F-35, speak to the students, participate in some mock-combat sorties, pose for some photos, and wrap it all up with a series of vlogs. What they didn't count on, was the President of the United States of America attending.
Or more specially; her son and his boyfriend, the Prince of Wales.
This was a concept I had floating around for ages. Think of it as Red, White, and Royal Blue 2: Electric Boogaloo. A queer, non-binary child of the current Prime Minister of Australia gets in cahoots with the First Son of America, and the ‘Spare to the Throne’ the Prince of Wales. Can the Super Six make room for one more member?
It would be a really interesting way to delve into the politics of Australia, and have a discussion about how we do (or do not) place our leaders on pedestals. To compare the iconic brand that is the British Royal Family, with the idolized American First Family, with a country that goes through more Prime Ministers a week than I do socks.
A country where a sitting Prime Minister disappeared while swimming at the beach and had a swimming pool named in his honour, or broke the record for sculling a beer at a footy game, or eats raw onions like apples.
Thanks to my amazing IRL friend who was the inspiration for Cassidy. If I ever wrote it, you are who I would want to be cast.
