A dazzling tale of sisterhood and the healing power of nature embodied in the Great Lakes.

A young girl faces turmoil when she must rise to the challenge of caring for her sister suffering a long-haul case of COVID-19. Brooding over her sister’s precarious condition, Dawn seeks solace in free diving in Lake Huron, where she discovers a presence in the gray-blue waters who also knows the pain of loss and loneliness. The Lake Huron mermaid reaches out to Dawn, starting a chain of events that set the human sisters on a wild journey to the Straits of Mackinac.

A new tale in the spirit of the award-winning The Lake Michigan Mermaid, this collection of poems introduces another beautifully illustrated freshwater mermaid to the world, fluidly shifting between Dawn and the mermaid’s voice. Their voices resonate with a parallel sense of longing and isolation, interrupted by the hope, compassion, and restoration found in sorority. Through this poetic adventure, Dawn and the mermaid unearth a deeper understanding of sisterhood and the significance of growing up together, making sense of the world together, and fighting to stay together.

“As I plunge down to the depths…
…as I rise to the
lake’s glittering and jeweled surface…
every movement reflects a dance.”

from the poem, “Morning on the Lake,” (published in the book, The Lake Huron Mermaid, Wayne State University Press, 2024)

Notable Review

“Literary magicians Linda Nemec Foster and Anne-Marie Oomen, along with gifted illustrator Meridith Ridl, have made a beautiful book of poems about deep water—the literal and the metaphorical kind. Readers of all ages will dive deep then resurface, buoyed by invaluable wisdom and knowledge. This book isn’t just wildly and satisfyingly imaginative; it is a genuine teaching text: about Lake Huron, about medical science, about sisterly love, and about the power of joining feeling with knowing.”

Alison Swan, author of A Fine Canopy (Wayne State University Press) and Fresh Water

News

The Lake Huron Mermaid was featured on the websites of PEN America and AWP

The Lake Huron Mermaid was featured on the websites of PEN America and AWP highlighting new books by members.

Linda was a guest lecturer at Aquinas College

Linda was a guest lecturer at Aquinas College on November 6, 2024 to discuss her new book, The Lake Huron Mermaid, with creative writing students in Dr. Amy Strand’s class. For more information about the presentation and to schedule classroom visits for college and high school students, email Linda directly via this website’s contact page.

GR Author/Poet Linda Nemec Foster talks about her new book, The Lake Huron Mermaid, on The Shelley Irwin Show

October 21, 2024/in News, The Lake Huron Mermaid /by Administrator

GR Author/Poet Linda Nemec Foster talks about her new book, The Lake Huron Mermaid, on The Shelley Irwin Show (on WGVU, a NPR affiliate). Click on the link for the full radio interview that was recorded on October 21, 2024. Source: WGVU NEWS https://search.app/96X349Se2jhmqD1e6

The Lake Huron Mermaid with Linda Nemec Foster and Anne-Marie Oomen

September 27, 2024/in Feature, News, The Lake Huron Mermaid /by Administrator

Thursday, October 24, 2024 – 6:30pm Schuler Books 2660 28th Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512 Two acclaimed Michigan authors are back with a dazzling tale of sisterhood and the healing power of nature embodied in the Great Lakes. This event is free to attend, however, it helps us in planning to receive your RSVP. […]

Bearsprout Films Interview with Linda Nemec Foster about New Book, The Lake Huron Mermaid

June 20, 2024/in News, The Lake Huron Mermaid /by Administrator

Linda Nemec Foster was recently interviewed about her forthcoming book, The Lake Huron Mermaid.

Accolades

Year	Honor	Prize	Description
2019	Finalist	ForeWord Book of the Year Award in Poetry	“The Lake Michigan Mermaid” is a finalist in this national book competition for independent, university, and small presses sponsored by ForeWord Reviews.
2019	Finalist	The da Vinci Eye Award	“The Lake Michigan Mermaid” is a finalist in this prestigious national contest given for superior cover artwork by the Eric Hoffer Book Awards.
2019	Winner	Michigan Notable Book	The Lake Michigan Mermaid received Library of Michigan’s 2019 Michigan Notable Book award.