The Lake Michigan Mermaid

2019 Michigan Notable Book

Wayne State University Press, 2018

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The Lake Michigan Mermaid is a new tale that feels familiar. The breeze off the lake, the sand underfoot, the supreme sadness of being young and not in control-these sensations come rushing back page-by-page, bringing to life an ancient myth of coming of age in a troubled world. Freed from the minds of Linda Nemec Foster and Anne-Marie Oomen, the Lake Michigan mermaid serves as a voice of reason for when we’re caught in the riptide.

This is a gripping tale in poems of a young girl’s desperate search for guidance in a world turned upside down by family and economic upheaval. Raised in a ramshackle cottage on the shores of Lake Michigan, Lykretia takes refuge in her beloved lake in the face of her grandmother’s illness and her mother’s eager attempts to sell their home following her recent divorce. One day Lykretia spots a creature in the water, something beautiful and inexplicable. Is it the mythical Lake Michigan mermaid, or an embodiment of the stories her grandmother told as dementia ravaged her mind? Thus begins a telepathic conversation between a lost young girl and Phyliadellacia, the mermaid who saves her in more ways than one.

Accompanied by haunting illustrations The Lake Michigan Mermaid offers a tender tale of friendship, redemption, and the life-giving power of water. As it explores family relationships and generational bonds, this book is an unforgettable experience that aims to connect readers of all ages.

“I enter your dream with my silver skin,
my blue/green hair married to the lake. I sing
a ballad–low chant of the moon…”

“The Mermaid Enters the Girl’s Dream,” (published in the book, The Lake Michigan Mermaid, Wayne State University Press, 2018)

Notable Review

“When a young girl who fears she is losing everything stands along the shore of Lake Michigan she senses a presence hidden beneath the waves. As her grandmother did before her, she has faith in her intuitions, and in a moment of despair is met by a mysterious healing power. This lovely series of poems, beautifully illustrated in quiet watercolors, tells a tale of grief and longing healed by grace.”

Patricia Hooper

News

FLOW Interview with Linda Nemec Foster and Anne-Marie Oomen about their book, The Lake Michigan Mermaid

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Poets Anne-Marie Oomen and Linda Nemec Foster will read from their new book, The Lake Michigan Mermaid, at a fundraiser for FLOW on Thursday, April 19. For more information on the fundraising event, please click here. The Lake Michigan Mermaid: Co-Authors Discuss Their New Work Published by Wayne State University Press for the Made in […]

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Accolades

YearHonorPrizeDescription
2019FinalistForeWord 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.
2019FinalistThe 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.
2019WinnerMichigan Notable BookThe Lake Michigan Mermaid received Library of Michigan’s 2019 Michigan Notable Book award.

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