Today I have to the pleasure of welcoming Carolyn Turgeon to Book Chick City. Carolyn is the author of ‘Rain Village‘, her first novel which was published in 2006 and ‘Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story‘, published in 2009, her third and lastest novel ‘Mermaid’ is published this month.
Please give a warm welcome to Carolyn…
So Mermaid kind of began by accident. When Headline Publishing bought my last novel, Godmother, a couple of years ago, they asked to see a list of other things I was working on. I told them about two books I was in the middle of writing—a noir, and a novel about Dante’s Beatrice, both still unfinished—and listed several ideas for other books I wanted to write at some point, including one about a mermaid. And that was really the whole idea: that I might like at some point to write about a mermaid. Because I love mermaids. Who doesn’t love mermaids (aside from Warren Ellis)? Mermaids are weird and awesome.
To my surprise, they bought it.
I spent some months working out the idea. I went through a few different storylines and premises before deciding to grapple directly with the original Hans Christian Andersen little mermaid story, which is very dark and strange and didn’t seem, at first, all that accessible. It was my agent who suggested entering the story through the perspective of the princess—who barely appears in the original tale. I toyed with this idea for a while until I hit on one moment that captured my imagination so totally that I knew I could build the whole book from it.
In the original story, the mermaid rescues the prince from shipwreck and carries him to shore. The princess, who is staying in a convent nearby, finds him on the beach. He wakes, and falls in love with her, but nothing happens. Later, his father arranges a marriage between him and a foreign princess, but his heart belongs only to the girl at the convent—much to the sadness of the little mermaid, who is attempting to woo the prince in her now-human form. But then lo and behold, this foreign princess turns out to be the very same girl from the convent. They marry and the devastated mermaid turns to foam. Those are the bones of the original story.
So I thought of that original moment, the moment when the mermaid arrives at this shore with the almost-drowned prince in her arms. And I thought: What if the princess witnesses this event? Imagine: she’s standing on a cliff in the wind and snow, looking out over the gloomy sea. She’s in hiding, far from her family and world. And then there, in the midst of this desolate scene, appears a mermaid from the sea, glittering and beautiful and strange. Holding a man in her arms, a man with whom she is clearly and radiantly in love.
Wouldn’t that be a moment that would change your life?
After that, the book began to fall into place. I decided to tell both women’s stories, in alternating chapters, building on that strange dynamic that’s set up in that first scene.
Another funny thing happened, though. As soon as I started telling people I was writing about a mermaid, they got excited. One friend told me she got goosebumps thinking about the book—and all I’d told her was that I was writing about a mermaid. People like mermaids, I realized. People also started sending me mermaid stuff, posting mermaid pictures on my Facebook wall, emailing me links, even sending the occasional gift through the mail… And then last spring I was going to Florida and planned a day trip to Weeki Wachee Springs, the city of live mermaids built in 1947 as a glamorous roadside attraction, and a couple weeks before leaving I received an email from one Julie Komenda, telling me she liked my books and mentioning that she’s the artist-in-residence at a place called Weeki Wachee. Julie ended up meeting me, my sister and mother and uncle and grandmother there and showing us around and even taking us “backstage” to see how the underwater mermaid shows work.
Other coincidences happened. Last October I was in Berlin and decided, randomly, to take a trip to Warsaw to see Leonard Cohen. The first night there, my friend Jen and I walked around Old Town and came upon the central square. There’s a big statue/fountain in the center of it—and to my astonishment, I realized it was a twin-tailed mermaid, holding a sword and a shield. Later we walked down a side street and came upon this televised window display—showing image after image of mermaids. It turns out that the mermaid has been the symbol of Warsaw since the middle ages—and they’re everywhere in Warsaw. Every street lamp in the city, for example, has a little mermaid stamped on it. It kind of blew my mind.
So what to do with all this mermaidliness, I wondered. I decided to start a blog, iamamermaid.com (my friend Eric came up with the name one afternoon over coffee in Berlin), to put everything, and then I thought I could interview a few people about mermaids, too, and I started sending emails and doing research and uncovering all kinds of mermaid things… and so many people responded with a “yes” that so far I have posted nothing but interviews, and have tons more in the pipeline. And in the process I’ve discovered all kinds of weird, amazing ways that people infuse their lives with magic and beauty through mermaids… and I’ve visited with Weeki mermaids, and mermaid tailmakers, and mermaid professors, and mermaid convention organizers, and mermaid burlesque girls, and by the time I’m done I may very well have met every aspiring mermaid in America and possibly Europe, too.
So anyway, it all started by accident, and now these strange, beautiful, dangerous, wild half women half-fish have lured me in completely, too, as they’ve done to so many before me, as if we were all sailors of old.
You can find out more about Carolyn here:
GIVEAWAY
Thanks to the lovely peeps at Headline, I have Two (2) copies of MERMAID to giveaway! One to UK and one INTERNATIONAL!
All you have to do to enter is the following:
1. Leave a comment for Carolyn
2. Read Book Chick City’s giveaway policy
3. Fill out this form
4. One entry per person
That’s it!
This giveaway ends 8th April 2011.
GOOD LUCK!
59 Comments
It so weird like there is such a thing as synchronicity. Put something out there (mermaids) and pretty soon they're everywhere. Cool post. Thanks!
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Carolyn, you are OBSESSED! But just reading about your obsession, you have probably lured me in and now I feel I just HAVE to read your book!
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I would like to read this book and I imagine I would probably enjoy it except for one problem.
I have been brainwashed by Disney and any time someone mentions the word, I immediatly picture Ariel from the movie !
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
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Wow, I'm so surprised to read that Carolyn went to Poland
I'm from Poland and I saw the mermaid on the central square many, many times 
It would be awesome to read the book inspired (in a way) by the Polish mermaid! 
I really enjoyed reading Carolyn's thoughts on the mermaids,so interesting!
Evie
evieseo(at)gmail(dot)com
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Sounds fascinating – thanks for letting us know how the book came to be
!
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I'm one of those people who like Mermaids so I am glad you wrote about them. Hope to read the book to.
Thanks, Carolyn.
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I have to confess I've not given much though to mermaids recently, but as a kid I read and loved The Little Mermaid story. It was so haunting and the way it doesn't even end with the traditional happy ending…I loved that it was different. And I now HAVE to read Mermaid as well!
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i love story about mermaids..i'm intrigued by this book
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i've always loved ariel + the barbie mermaid too can't wait to read your book…
vixenp33atgmaildotcom
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Wow, Carolyn, that sounds so cool, when small ideas and concepts build up to make a whole book. It sounds like you've had a lot of fun whilst researching. Your enthusiasm has made me very excited to read your book!
Caroline
Carrierules(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk
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I have goosebumps on my arm after reading this post. You were destined to write about mermaids so now I am curious to see how the story turns out.
)
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I love how committed Carolyn is to the research! This book is going to rock!
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Wow! It seems like fate played a hand in what type of book you should write next with all the mermaid coincidences and happenings. I can't wait to read it.
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Great post! I love mermaids and books sounds very interesting.
The cover is amazing! Thanks for the giveaway.
artgiote at gmail dot com
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Great interview! Book sounds good and I've heard great things about it.
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It sounds amazing, deffinetly will have to read this book!
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I had seen this book on the internet, but didn't actually know what it was about, other that the obvious (mermaid). I've always liked The Little Mermaid story by Hans Christian Andersen, even though it's so sad.
I would love to read this book! It sounds like Carolyn put quite a lot of research into it! Thank you for this chance!
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Thank you for the interesting post! Mermaid sounds awesome. I can't wait to read it!
Giada M.
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I love hearing about Mermaids. They are the one creature I wouldn't mind being because I always loved the water so much!
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Carolyn — thanks for the fascinating guest post. I had no idea that the mermaid was the symbol of Warsaw since the middle ages.
I would love to read this.
monagarg@yahoo.com
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I really want to read this book… I love mermaids too!
I've enjoyed your post very much and I'm gonna start following your mermaid blog.
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I love the cover of the book! And I love mermaids. Thanks for the giveaway!
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All this research must have been exhausting, but your books is probably amazing, after all this work
I want to read it! XD
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I haven't read many books with mermaids so I'd be interested reading in this one.
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Fantastic cover. I love mermaid books, hope to see many more of them!
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Oh that was a great interview, thank you! I am very interested in the book and the descriptions was amazing. I cannot wait to read it. I started seeing blurbs on the book and author this week and would love to read and review a copy.
Teri C
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That was a great post. Gave me some second thoughts on my ideas of mermaids. The book sounds like a great one. I cannot wait to check it out. Thank you for coming on and telling us more of the story behind your work.
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Nice. It's hard to find interesting mermaid books. Like buddyt said I think many of us have been totally brainwashed lol
thanks for the giveaway
faefever25 at hotmail dot com
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I'm curious what Carolyn's opinion of mermen is?
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Awesome interview! I want to read this so badly! I'm adding 'Godmother' to my TBR list also!
thebookishbrunette@gmail.com
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This looks like an amazing read!
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I love reading about a book's development from the writer. It's an inside perspective.
Thanks for the giveaway!
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Your book sounds wonderful Carolyn. I can't wait to read it!
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I can't wait to read your book, Carolyn! This will be my first mermaid book and I am super excited about it. Also, the cover is BEAUTIFUL!
Tiffany D.
jaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)ner
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I enjoy mermaid stories, and there aren't all that many out there, so I'm happy to discover a new one. Mermaid sounds great and I'm looking forward to reading it.
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Who knew mermaids were so popular:) I'd love to read this! It sounds fascinating!
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Carolyn, Really enjoyed the interview! I've always been a fan of fairytales and enjoy the retold for adults versions. Little Mermaid is on my top oc favs and can't wait to read this one. Will definitely have to keep an eye out for you!
Pam S
pams00 @ aol.com
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I love mermaids and I have since I was a child. You have no idea how much I want to read this one!
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Loved the interview! I'd definitely say you are obsessed with mermaids! It sounds like a great book and I would love the chance to win it.
adsanders77 at gmail dot com
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That is a very cool post! I love the mermaid in the picture =)
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I enjoyed reading this post! It was so interesting to see how things came together for this mermaid book! I haven't read many mermaid stories so I look forward to this
chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com
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I love that spring!
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This sounds like such a great book, l have actually only read one mermaid book but l did love it!
Thank you!
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I've been seeing Mermaid all over the place! I would love to win a copy!
rootml1@hotmail.com
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That is awesome how everything falls into place like that. I love the blog! I remember being little and pretending to be a mermaid in the swimming pool (even though I was and still am a horrible swimmer). I love love your other two books and can't wait to read this one!
Amanda
libraryofmyown at gmail dot com
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What a gorgus cover !!!!! And Carolyn if we have nothing to be obsessed over then life would be rather dull
its nice to see a differnt theme out their 
thanks for the giveaway 
kat
kittee_cat@bigpond.com
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Thanks for the great review and giveaway – whenever I am on the look out for my next read, I always search for reviews online!
Ever since being a little girl, I have always been intrigued and fascinated by mermaids, fairies, goblins, unicorns, dragon and like, and that has never really changed! I'm 35 now and a mum of two girls, aged 3 and 5, who share the same joy!
I would love a copy of this book to add to my collection – which will hopefully be pased on to my two dear girls, when they are a little older!
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I love mermaids. I remember reading The Water Babies when I was little ( probably not politically correct for children now). I was facinated with the idea of living in the water. I would love your book it sounds ideal to me.
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Hi,
I really enjoyed reading the article and I'm now dying to read your fabulous book!!
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your book sounds like it'll be amazing! I want to visit Poland someday D:
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It definitely sounds like you've done a lot of research, Carolyn! I love mermaids so this sounds like a great read. The cover is beautiful
Thank you for the international giveaway!
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Carolyn, what an awesome idea for a book, and I love the way you came up with it: with one little idea, and then the rest just fell into place! I really hope I win this giveaway because I would love to own this book
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This sounds great and different to what i usually read!
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It's not my cup of tea, but it sounds interesting! I'll give it a shot!
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This book sounds really good, it's definitely going on my to read list !
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Mermaids should be the next big thing! So interesting to read about and I like that your book isn't a typical mermaid story. On my to read list!!
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I would love to read this book. It sounds so good, and I just love the cover. Thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
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Hi Carolyn !
I love mermaids too, and remember that I have read the original Little Mermaid’s story by Andersen and it was such a memorable childhood trauma for me who has only read fairy tales ending happily ever after endings, that I didn’t want to watch the Disney version because I feared it would be so sad, little did I know I couldn’t have been more wrong
But I have always love mermaids in Greek mythology I found the tragical and moving story of sirens fascinating.
Your take on The Little Mermaid story sounds intriguing, I can’t wait to read it!!
And off to check your blog, sounds like fun collecting everything mermaid related
stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com
And ps: you are incredibly lucky to have such a beautiful gorgeous, tingle-inducing cover!
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I like how you was inspired to write your story.
I'm from Denmark and have read the little mermaid a lot of times and I would love to read your book. It sounds great.
forceofstars(at)yahoo(dot)dk
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