Mermaids of Terceira Island

I recently traveled to the Azores for vacation. I had never visited the Azores islands before, but after some research and looking at dozens of beautiful pictures online, it seemed like a worthy destination. The archipelago boasts a bounty of natural wonders, sites of historic interest, and lots of delicious, locally grown food.

I stayed on Terceira Island for a week with my husband in the capital city of Angra do Heroismo. 

Naturally, during my visit, I kept my eyes open for any traces of mermaids. I didn't discover an overwhelming presence of mermaid art or lore, but I'd like to share what I did find.

Natural lava pools, Biscoitos, Terceira Island, Azores

I took this picture in the village of Biscoitos, located on the northern coast of Terceira. Biscoitos features natural lava pools which formed millions of years ago when the island's volcanoes were active. The name of the town refers to the texture of these rocks that have a biscuit or biscotti-like feel to them. People swim here in the warmer months and lounge on man-made platforms and walkways that intersect the pools. I was struck by the aqua color of the water contrasted with the deep black of the lava formations. I thought if there were mermaids to be found on Terceira, they'd visit here for regular sunbathing and socializing.

Scrimshaw mermaid and dolphin, sperm whale ivory with wooden base

I found this piece of scrimshaw in a shop on Rua Direita, just steps from our hotel. It was in a glass case with other figurines and caught my eye. The shopkeeper let me take a closer look and take this photo. It was out of my price range at 325 euros, but even if I could have afforded it (and didn't have ethical misgivings about whaling), sperm whale ivory is illegal in the U.S.

Wooden chest with ivory and mother of pearl, India, Mughal dynasty

My favorite mermaid find of the trip was this inlay chest from India, located in the collections of the Museum of Angra do Heroismo. During the Spanish occupation of the Azores (1580-1642), Angra became a launching point for ships engaged in the lucrative spice and luxuries trade with Asia.

Wooden chest with ivory and mother of pearl, India, Mughal dynasty

I translated the object label for the chest (thank you Google translate!) and here's what it read:

Indo-Mogol Counter/Chest
Inlaid with ivory and mother of pearl
Malabar Coast, 17th century

The Malabar coast is the southwestern coastline of mainland India.  And as you can see, the chest is covered with dozens of mermaids. They have a split tail like many depictions of Melusine that were popular in Europe in the medieval period.

Wooden chest with ivory and mother of pearl, India, Mughal dynasty

I was amazed to think of this chest traveling from India to the Azores in the 1600s, and began to wonder about its story...Who purchased it? Was it a gift? How much would it cost today? Where did they keep it in their home? What did they store inside its lockable drawers? Where's the key?

Wooden chest with ivory and mother of pearl, India, Mughal dynasty

Maybe someday, I'll return to Terceira and have some of these questions answered, but for now, it's fun to imagine.

Medieval Mermaids: The Zennor Mermaid

Mermaid bench, St. Senara's Church, wood, embroidery, 15th century, Zennor, Cornall.

In the small village of Zennor in Cornwall, England in St. Senara's Church, you'll find a beautifully carved wooden bench whose end pieces probably date from the 15th century.  The carving shows a mermaid holding what looks like a mirror and a comb (historical mermaids really loved combing their hair).

The story of the mermaid behind the carving was first recorded by the Cornish folklorist William Bottrell in 1873.  The folktale says that she appeared at St. Senara's Church as an elegantly dressed lady, who loved to sing with the parishioners during their services. Her sweet voice enchanted the congregation and they always remembered when she visited though it was often years between her visits. And though many years passed, she never seemed to age.

One visit, a young man named Mathey Trewella caught her eye and ear with his own melodious singing voice. After the service, they went for a walk together, and he wasn't seen in the village again. People wondered what had happened to the pair, until some time later a ship anchored in Pendour Cove was addressed by a mermaid requesting the ship raise anchor because it rested on her front door and she couldn't reach her children. Based on this encounter the townspeople concluded that Trewella had gone to live with the mermaid in the cove.

Cornish poet Charles Causley wrote a picture book retelling this tale, The Merrymaid (Mermaid) of Zennor, illustrated by Michael Foreman. 

The Merrymaid of Zennor, Charles Causley, illustrated by Michael Foreman, Orchard Press, 1999.

The Merrymaid/Mermaid of Zennor is available for purchase on Amazon and Amazon UK.

Medieval Mermaids: Clonfert Cathedral Mermaid

Mermaid with comb and mirror, Clonfert Cathedral, Ireland

At Clonfert Cathedral in County Galway, Ireland, you'll find a mermaid carved into the stone of the chancel arch. Dating from an addition made in the 15th century, she's holding a mirror and a comb in her hands.

Chancel arch, Clonfert Cathedral, Ireland

The cathedral dates from around 1180, but it's built on an older church from the 6th century, founded by St. Brendan the Navigator, an Irish monk who sailed with a crew of 14 monks in a currach.  Brendan and his crew may have sailed to North Africa, and some think he may have even reached North America.

There are many fantastical accounts from Brendan's voyage, including this one detailing an encounter with a siren or mermaid:

"When all this was over at last, they resumed their journey and once more got into great difficulties, because they saw a beast coming towards them with a human body and face, but from the waist downwards it was fish. It is called a siren, a very lovely creature with a beautiful human shape; it sings so well and its voice is so sweet that whoever hears it cannot resist sleep and does not know what he is doing. When this sea monster approached them, the shipmen fell asleep and let the ship drift: the monks too forgot themselves completely because of its voice and did not know where they were," The Voyage of St Brendan.

Medieval Mermaids: Melusine

The legend of Melusine can be found in European regional folklore, particularly in Germany and the northern and western areas of France and Burgundy. In medieval times, royalty from these regions even claimed to be descended from the goddess or water spirit Melusine. Hey, whatever helps legitimize your claim to the throne, right?

The story usually goes as follows: a knight or king finds a beautiful and mysterious maiden in the woods, often near a stream or spring. They marry on the condition that he gives her one day out of the month, or week to spend alone bathing. He cannot look at her during this time, or speak with her. Things go on happily for a while (usually several years) and they have many children together. But then one day the knight or king's curiosity gets the better of him, and he peeks in on her bathing. He sees her in her true form, half woman on the top, half fish or reptile below the waist, and is greatly disturbed. She leaves with the children never to return.

Here's an illustration from the German translation of the Melusine legend by Thuring von Ringoltingen.

Melusine, Thüring von Ringoltingen, 1456, Germany.

She is also often depicted as a two-tailed siren, as this 15th century illustration shows. Look familiar Starbucks lovers?

For a more in-depth read about Melusine, the legends, and etymology of the name, check out this post on the Origins: What Does History Say? blog.

Mermaid of the Moment: Nuremberg Bible Mermaids

Noah's Ark, Nuremberg Bible, Biblia Sacra Germanica, 1483

The Nuremberg Bible contains a curious woodcut illustration featuring Noah's Ark surrounded by a mermaid, merman and merdog.

The medieval text was printed by Anton Kolberger, a German goldsmith, printer and publisher, who was the godfather of artist Albrecht Durer. 

Here's a color version of the same image. (Click on the image to see it larger.)

Noah's Ark, Nuremberg Bible, Biblia Sacra Germanica, 1483

There are so many interesting and odd little details in this illustration--the bare-breasted (gasp!) mermaid holds a mirror and appears to be combing or tending her hair, while the merman seems to be looking at bearded Noah, who is looking at the dove with the olive branch.

And of course this mer-couple must have a pet, a loyal merdog who accompanies them on this adventure, while a standard four-legged dog looks at the mermaid from the Ark's deck.

I'm also guessing that the small orange/red pyramids towards the back of the picture are the tops of towers, now barely visible due to the complete and catastrophic flood which has been ongoing for 40 days.

I love the simplicity and humor of this illustration. And, it may have inspired me to take a closer look at other 15th century mermaids to see what they're doing.

Look for more medieval mermaids to come.

"The Mermaid" Chinese Film (2016) Poster Design

Recently, I watched "The Mermaid", a Chinese fantasy/action film. It was the top-grossing film in China this year, and I was very curious to see it.

The film was an engaging eco-fable with some romance, comedy and action thrown in, but what I want to highlight here are some of the creative poster designs for the film's promotion.

There's a series of posters created in this gold and white-hued design, showing each of the main characters with their hair styled to reflect their personality/character traits. This one shows Yun Lin as the titular mermaid, Shan, who has a sweet, goofy personality and a split fish tail.

This one seems like it may have started as concept art created for the film's design, as there wasn't a scene like this in the finished film, but it's still a beautiful mermaid image.

I think this one may be my favorite. Again, it doesn't reflect a literal scene from the film, but it captures a bit of the mystery and romance that occurs between the two leads, with Chao Deng pictured here as his character Liu Xuan.

If you're interested in seeing the film, it's available on disc from Netflix (that's how I saw it), and Amazon Video and iTunes.

Mermaid of the Moment: Mermaid & Captain Peg Dolls

Recently my husband and I received these adorable hand-painted peg dolls from a friend. She has an Etsy shop if you'd like to see some of her past projects.

They stand about 3 inches high. I love how the mermaid holds a book (like my blog logo) and she's wearing glasses very much like my 1960's aluminum cat-eye frames. They are too cute.

El Galeon at Newburyport Maritime Days

This past weekend we took a drive up to Newburyport to visit El Galeon, the reconstructed 16th century ship from Spain.

Spain used galleons primarily for cargo transportation during colonial times, but oftentimes they were captured by pirates in the West Indies, as some of that cargo tended to Spanish silver and gold coin.

Maybe this is why I find them romantic. When I look at this ship, I picture a dashing buccaneer gazing over the side, looking at something in the water... something mysterious, beautiful and not quite human...

Howard Pyle must have thought they were pretty romantic too, and based one of his better known pirate illustrations on this type of ship. I got to see "An Attack on a Galleon" in person a few years ago at the Norman Rockwell Museum. The colors are so vivid, they practically leap out at you.

And, looking at it, don't you hear the wind and sloshing waves?

"An Attack on a Galleon," Howard Pyle, 1905, Oil on canvas.

The Daily Mermaid Pillow & Tote Bag Giveaway

Thanks for your patience while I've been putting this together! (My cat is playing Vanna White while napping.)

Starting today, enter for a chance to win the above pictured tote bag and pillow, featuring The Daily Mermaid logo, created by my illustrator hubby George Courage.

Pillow materials and care instructions: Polyester jersey and fleece, removable machine washable cover.
Tote bag materials and care instructions: Polyester jersey, machine washable.

TO ENTER:
Please subscribe to my blog, and leave a comment with your name below this post.

At the end of two weeks, on May 7,  2016 at 12 pm midnight EST, I'll stop taking entries. I'll pick a winner and announce them shortly thereafter. We'll get in touch via email to make arrangements, and then I'll mail the items to you.

The Ballad of the Mermaid by Ruth Moore

Doug Anderson, The Ballad of the Mermaid

Hannah, the storm being done, took down her shawl,
And softly, mindful of her husband's snore,
Stole with her basket down the moonlit path,
To see in secret what had washed ashore.

Three days of wind had stripped the trellis bare
Of trumpet-vine; autumn was cold and late.
A bird's nest on the path forlornly seemed
A summer frippery, quite out of date.

She set a decent rubber on it; then
Easing her body, with rheumatic twinge,
Came to the beach, nor saw, behind, the moon
Make ribald shadow of her, shawl and fringe.

"It's time to pile the punkins. There'll be frost
Before tomorrow morning, I misdoubt.
If I'd have known how cold a night it is,
I'd have thought twice before a-venturing out."

The sea far out withdrawn, the stricken beach
Left lonely to the moon, the whispered stir
Of sucker-shells moved something in her mind.
Bits of inspired gossip came to her;

Unthought of ways of circumventing folk;
A penny saved; the sucking pig grown fat;
"That pan I'll solder; and that tennis ball,
Some youngone, now, will pay a dime for that."

Sure-footed as a cat, but not so light,
She plodded gravely on to where the beach
Ended in ledges and great rows of foam
The shrieking sea had left. Beyond her reach

She saw a gleaming; grunted; peered; and there
Stark in the moonlight, shining silverly,
Beauty forever kept from mortal eyes
Lay in a pool for Hannah's eyes to see.

She saw bright hair afloat on starlit shell,
A frightened hand that beat the hollowed ledge,
White, blood-stained breasts, a torn and delicate fin,
Scales, spattered out like jewels at the edge;

And for a moment, while a thin voice cried
A piercing word she could not understand,
Her mind slipped sideways, seemed to spill itself,
And tumble, with her basket, to the sand.

How had the old wives talked, who, dying late.
Had said a bitter name for what must be
In wait beyond unknown, unearthly foam,
To keep their sailor-men so long at sea?

And after all, 'twas so! She felt the blood
Move in her veins again; she caught her breath
And crushed the terror rising in her throat.
"You hussy! Scaring decent folks to death!"

She stooped and peered, remembering her God.
"You! With your finny tail and yaller hair!
And not a rag to hide you! How'd I be
Flat in a puddle, with my bosom bare?"

There was one thing for decent folks to do,
When devil's spawn like this should drift ashore.
"It ain't a human woman, it's a fish.
It's half a fish; and I've kilt fish before."

The clasp-like knife from her pocket...then, she chilled,
For as she leaned above the white and gold
And shuddering thing, it watched her, in its eyes
Something as veiled as starlight, and as cold.

No, it was not a fish. She struck and fled.
Clumping across the rocks and up the hill,
Leaving her knife to glisten by the pool,
Her basket for the rising tide to fill.

_________________________________________

Ruth Moore, "The Ballad of the Mermaid," excerpt from Cold as a Dog and the Wind Northeast, illustrations by Doug Anderson, Timberhead Ink, 1986.

Custom Tote Bag Giveaway from Vision Bedding

Custom Tote Bag Logo

Custom Pillow Logo

I recently discovered Vision Bedding, an online retailer which creates custom-printed pillows, blankets, tote bags and more. I decided to give them a try.

I've ordered a pillow and a tote bag. They'll have the above images on them. When they arrive I'll be sure to post pics.

And... there will be a giveaway of these same items! I'll post more information on how you can win soon.

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

I recently read the middle-grade fantasy adventure Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly, the first book in the Waterfire Saga. It's about a mermaid world just below the surface of our world, so I'd been curious about it for a while.

It was a fun read that moved very quickly. I thought the characters were engaging, and the author fashioned a rich world with its own Atlantean mythology and history. 

I was also drawn in by the cover which was created using a combination of underwater photography and digital effects.

Here's a short video about how they created the cover:

I'm planning to check out the other books in the series, Rogue Wave and Dark Tide soon, too.

Hamlet's Mermaid

Last month I had a role in the Salem Theatre's production of Hamlet. (I was a player in the play within the play.)

It was a great experience, and I couldn't help but note the mention of a mermaid in Act 4, Scene 7. It's one of the more tragic moments in the play, when Gertrude reports the drowning of Ophelia to Claudius and Laertes. It's also one of the most beautiful speeches in the play (in my opinion).  I cannot think of another death in Shakespeare described with such tender and delicate language, which only highlights the tragedy of Ophelia's untimely passing.

It's a scene that numerous artists have painted over the centuries. Here's one of my favorites by Sir John Everett Millais, followed by Gertrude's speech.

Ophelia, Sir John Everett Millais, 1851-1852, Oil on canvas.

QUEEN GERTRUDE

There is a willow grows aslant a brook,

That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream;

There with fantastic garlands did she come

Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples

That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,

But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them:

There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds

Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke;

When down her weedy trophies and herself

Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide;

And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up:

Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes;

As one incapable of her own distress,

Or like a creature native and indued

Unto that element: but long it could not be

Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,

Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay

To muddy death.

PiBoIdMo 2015 Has Wrapped

Hip hip hooray! I did it!

Not to toot my own horn (well, maybe a little), I finished another great PiBoIdMo challenge. During the month of November, I joined with hundreds of other writers pledged to come up with 30 picture book ideas in 30 days.

Now I can share this lovely "Winner's" badge with you, designed by Troy Cummings.

Throughout the next year, I'll be working the best of these ideas into manuscripts to share with my SCBWI critique group.

Many thanks again to Tara Lazar for her tremendous work and organization in putting this all together. Bravo!

Picture Book Idea Month 2015

And drumroll please..... Voila!

Starting November 1st, I'll be participating in the wild and wacky writing motivation spree called Picture Book Idea Month. Hosted by the talented author Tara Lazar on her super helpful blog, Writing for Kids While Raising Them.

I participated in PiBoIdMo last year for the first time. It was an excellent exercise in not editing myself. I think sometimes as writers we think that whatever comes out of our brains has to be gold the first time. This can inhibit our freedom and imagination. An activity like this forces you to be less critical of your ideas, because you're brainstorming seeds of ideas, rather than a finished product. Afterward, you can go back and see what might be worth fleshing out into a full story. 

For more information, you can read my recent Writers' Rumpus post about PiBoIdMo.

Eric Carle Museum: The Art of Fred Marcellino

This weekend I took a trip out to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art to see the special exhibit A Renaissance Man: The Art of Fred Marcellino.

Fred Marcellino was the illustrator of (probably) my favorite picture book ever, the 1990 version of Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault that was a Caldecott Honor book that year.

I remember getting the book when I was 13, which is a bit old for picture books, but I was drawn in by the beautiful illustrations and playful storytelling. Puss is the kind of hero anyone could appreciate. He's clever, shrewd, hard-working and determined. He uses his wits to keep himself from getting eaten and to help the miller's son find better fortune.

The exhibit included some of Marcellino's art supplies and tools from his studio.

Fred Marcellino's colored pencil carousel

His cabinet of inspiration

The exhibit featured much of the final artwork from Puss in Boots, quite a bit of Marcellino's other children's illustration, and some of his earlier work for adult books and album covers. (Alas, photography wasn't allowed, so I can't show you more.)

Not surprisingly, the Puss in Boots artwork was the highlight of the visit for me. To see in person, pictures I've loved for a long time and to see up close the detail and richness of original art that can get lost in reproduction, made me feel like I was reading the story for the first time again. I remembered how I felt as that awkward 13 year old girl and why she fell in love with picture books then.

I also learned that Marcellino spent time in France, sketching and researching the setting and costumes for Puss. The attention to detail in the work is staggering. His preparation shows in every page, from the miller's windmill to the Ogre's palace to Puss' ruffled collar.

The show is only up for another week, as it closes October 25. So, if you want to see Puss in person you better hurry.

Click here for more information about the Eric Carle Museum and this exhibit.

Mermaid of the Moment: Near Island Coffee

Over the summer, dear friends of mine were living on Kodiak Island, Alaska, working as camp leaders and counselors. During their time there they explored the beaches and hills, and fished for salmon in the rivers.

Another discovery they made was Near Island Coffee, with their lovely mermaid stamped coffee cups, as you see above.

She looks pretty friendly to me, a reflection I'm sure of the people you'll find in Kodiak.

Mermaid Tea Towel from Primitives by Kathy

Being a mermaid fan has its perks.

One of the best things is that friends occasionally give me cute mermaid swag, including this dish towel from Primitives by Kathy.

I did a search on their site and found they have a collection of fun mermaid gift and home items, perfect for the mermaid lover in your life.

(Hint, hint.)

Mermaid of the Moment: Candace as Ariel on DWTS

This video of Candace Cameron Bure on Dancing with the Stars combines two of my favorite things from my childhood, The Little Mermaid and Candace, who starred as DJ Tanner on the sitcom Full House.

The TGIF lineup on Friday evenings was a weekly ritual for myself and my best friend, Jill. We'd have a sleepover and we'd hang out in our jammies. As soon as the theme song for Full House started we'd perform a special dance we had choreographed especially for the opening.

When I was in fifth grade, I played Ariel in the school play. Singing "Part of Your World," I wore a sparkly green-tailed outfit with puffy purple seashells attached to a flesh-colored leotard. It was the highlight of my fifth grade year.

So, seeing Candace perform this samba for "Under the Sea" as Ariel on DWTS puts a big smile on my face :)

Mermaid of the Moment: Henry Hudson's Mermaid

In 1608, as explorer Henry Hudson was traveling with his crew off the coast of Norway, he recorded this account in his logbook:

This morning one of our companie looking over the boord saw a Mermaid,…from the Navill upward, her backe and breasts were like a woman's, her body as big as one of us; her skin very white; and long haire hanging down behind, of color black; in her going downe they saw her tayle, which was like the tayle of a porposse and speckled like a Macrell.

My artist hubby George, created an illustration depicting this event.