For the Love of Mermaids by Tera Lynn Childs
June 3rd, 2010 | 
Author: 
I was in elementary school when the movie Splash came out. Splash is the story of a mermaid who emerges from the water to find her true love in New York City, completely naive to human ways but determined to be with her boy, despite the risks. I fell in love instantly. Not with Tom Hanks (who is adorable enough, but no thank you) but with the idea of being a mermaid. With the romantic notion of living underwater and saving drowning boys who would love you forever. With the idea of being not just different, but magically different. With the idea that there might be a world out there, right beneath the surface, that we don’t know about.
My cousin Michelle and I had countless discussions about how we could find out if we were mermaids. (Because we were sure that we were mermaids.) In Splash, Madison (played by Daryl Hannah) turns into mer form whenever she comes in contact with water. Michelle and I tried jumping in the pool. No luck. Taking baths and shows. Still no. We finally decided that it had to be salt water for the change to happen. Sigh, the ocean was too far away. (I have since been in saltwater many times and can sadly attest that our theory was wrong.)
This love of all things mermaid and this dream of being one never went away. When The Little Mermaid came out when I was in high school and I fell in love with mermaids all over again. So it should come as no surprise that, when I was spending some time in south Florida’s Gulf Coast, that I dreamed up this idea for a mermaid story of my own.
It began with a simple thought: wouldn’t it be cool if a mermaid could bestow her magical powers with a kiss? And then, the obviously next question, what if she kissed the wrong boy? And so a book was born.
Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid, like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.
Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid—she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview High School ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems—like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince Fletcher—but it has that one major perk: Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type—the instant they “bond,” it’s for life.
When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.
Sound like fun? You could win a signed copy of Forgive My Fins just by commenting. Let me know if you ever dreamed of being a magical creature as a child, and of course share if that dream ever came true! I’m still hoping for fins, you know.
Hugs,
TLC
Tera is the winner for last year’s Best First Book Rita for Oh. My. Gods. – about a girl who finds herself going to a private school for the decedents of the Greek gods. You can find her blogging at her own blog: http://teralynnchilds.blogspot.com or with several of her YA fellow authors at Books, Boys, and Buzz: http://yawriters.blogspot.com
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So can’t wait to get my copy next week, Tera!
Never really dreamed of being a creature, but I always wished I had superpowers. Still don’t have those yet. Can’t wait to read Forgive my Fins! Sounds like an awesome read.
Well, if this is international, enter me for the giveaway!
thanks anyway
Oh I totally had a Mermaid obsession as a kid. I was in 1st or 2nd grade when The Little Mermaid came out and I loved it. I’ve always been an underwater swimmer and about that time I began swimming with my legs together as though they were a tail. I still swim that way because I’ve grown used to doing it. lol
I’ve dreamed about being a witch a couple of times – being able to cast magic spells and all. But alas, never happened
I’ve always drept of being a fairy and somtimes and i’m 20 years old now, with the amount of fairys in my room, i come to life as my fairy form in my dreams. I’d love to have pure lavinder colour wings and golden fairy dust, and a sapphire sparkly dress. =D
I used to pretend I was a dinosaur, decided against the ponies or mermaids…what a weird little girl I was
When I was a kid, I always dreamed of being a mermaid. That, sadly, did not come true, but still to this day I have a love for all mermaid movies and books!
My dad has always called me Tinker Bell….I’m 28 now and he still refers to me as that. My mom just referred to me as a fairy diddle. I’ve always dreamed of being a fairy — my own creation of a fairy, I suppose. Alas, I have never found myself to be.
I am really looking forward to the book!
oh man, Ariel was one of my favourites. Her life seemed so cool and couldn’t believe she would give it all up for some boy. I think I need to go watch that movie now.
I loved The Little Mermaid as a girl and always dreamed of becoming a mermaid.
I love you books.I have read them all and I can’t wait to dive into your next book!!
I’m a big fan of YA stuff and I have to admit that all of your work sounds awesome. I bet my little sister (she’s 15) would really like them, too. I’m tagging you onto my “To Read” list. Your work sounds great!
Ya know, as a little kid, I always wanted either to fly or to be a mermaid. Now, I fight a fear of heights and I’m not big on swimming. Go figure!
The book looks very good. Thanks for sharing!
I can’t wait to read it. I just need to get into some money…
Tera’s book sounds great. What a pretty cover. I wanted to be a fairy like Tinkerbell when I was a little girl.
I always wanted to be a mermaid! Every summer we spent a few weeks at the Jersey Shore (not *that* Jersey Shore, the real one!!). I also have a fear of great white sharks. Did you know that JAWS actually took place on the bay side of Long Beach Island, NJ? Pretty much kept me from trying to be a mermaid for a whole week. >:D
Tera—LOVE LOVE LOVE the book!!!!!!
Especially, because I always wanted to be a mermaid, too! I suppose if I could be any other magical creature, I’d want to be a Thundercat.
Thats funny, I loved splash when I was little too! I love fatasy! I wanted a magical unicorn and I dreamed of being a real fairy that could cast spells like a witch but a good witch! Your book sounds great! Thanks for sharing!
This is exciting! I mean, when I was 9, The Little Mermaid was my best Disney movie ever.I can watch it over and over again and imagined I’m Ariel. I love her greenish fin and Flounder and Sebastian and Eric as the handsome prince! I cried when Ursula took her lovely voice and I even remember the tune of the hum and songs she sang. It was the best movie ever. I am so hoping that my legs can turn to fin when they touches water and I could swim freely in the ocean. The funny thing is, I dont know how to swim! LOL
I love to win a copy of this but I dont know whether it’s international or not. But really hope it is yes!
thanks for giveaway Tera!
I think it’s safe to say that I’ve wanted to be a witch ever since reading Harry Potter. I’m still holding on to that dream!
When I was younger all I ever wanted was to be a fairy! Oh and not like Tinker Bell, more like Crysta from Ferngully. You know, stubborn and tenacious? Some small part of me still hopes someday I might shrink down and sprout some wings. Perhaps I’d go and save the forest too
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nope, dont think so, but i did want to be wonder woman!
yes! i dreamed of becoming a fairy that can fly and have a magic wand like the fairies in sleeping beauty except with prettier clothes and younger.
Yes! I totally have! Atleast I’m not the only one! I was always obsessed with mermaids when I was super little. Okay, well here is my dream:
So I wake up, underwater, on a rock. I look around and no one is around me. I have no idea what is going on and why I am underwater. I swim to the waters surface asfast as I can, because I feel like I am going to die (The dream began as a nightmare) I reach the tops of the water and realize I am in the middle of Chatauqua Lake. (A small lake in my community) Then I start swimming to shore, not realizing that the bottom half of me is all mermaid. So I finally reach shore, and I can’t stand up. I look over and there is a fisherman staring at me, his eyes HUGE. So I look down, and I have no shirt on, and a mermaid body! So, all of a sudden my hair grows, super long. I’m super ex cited at this point, even though I shoudl be emarassed. I mean I just found out I am a mermaid! So I dive back into the water. I reach the bottom, and what do I encounter? More mermaids. So they all swim up to me like they know me. Then they tell me that we’ve been best friends since they can remember. So I just go along with.Then I see this GORGEOUS guy. He swims up to me and just starts kissing me. Then I wake up. Yeah, I know! I was mad too! I tried to make myself fall asleep, but it didn’t work
There is is!
Haha
Jordan
I’ve always been a daydreamer of fairy tales. I always dreamed of being Ariel, especially since I have red hair and can sing. But the best part is being able to defy all odds and make sure I have a happy ending.
I’m still keeping the mermaid dream alive O<~{
I love all things mermaid..artwork, old books, legends,movies and I’m always searching for new stuff to read.The book sounds amazing and I would absolutely love to read it. Enter me please, if the contest is international. Are e-books given too?
When I was a little kid, I dreamed to be Belle in Beauty & The Beast, and Ariel in The Little Mermaid.
I went to numerous stores this weekend trying to locate a copy of this book with no luck. They kept telling me they were all gone.
AIK! YOU WIN!