You don’t have to go down to the sea for the section on “Real Mermaids and Where to Find Them.” Here, Turgeon takes us to the advent of mermaids as entertainers starting with the story of Annette Kellerman who learned to swim like a fish in her native Australia to overcome rickets and bowed legs, eventually becoming strong enough to swim an average of 45 miles a week. Fair warning-mermaids aren’t always nice. “Arts and Culture” tells the stories of sirens in classic mythology and contains luscious reproductions of mermaid art and recounts tales of mermaid from around the world. Not to worry Turgeon includes directions. Of course, then you need a mermaid mirror to admire yourself.

In “Fashion and Beauty” we learn techniques on creating mermaid hair-face it, haven’t you always wanted a reason to sprinkle glitter throughout your locks. Turgeon, the editor-in-chief of Faerie Magazine, a quarterly print publication and author of several books including The Faerie Handbook, showcases all things mermaid by dividing her handbook into four sections.

There’s riding seahorses through shimmering sea foam capped with frothy white waves, finding the perfect rock on which to display their fish-like tails sheathed in iridescent spangles so they sparkle in the sunlight, combing their beautiful long locks and, of course, singing enticingly so that sailors forsake their duty and travel to their doom all to get a better look.įor mermaids as well as mermaid wannabees or just those who love reading about these mythical creatures, folklore expert Carolyn Turgeon introduces us to their world in her recently released ( Harper Design 2018 $35). Life is busy for a lovely mermaid (and aren’t they all?). Sea shell cookies perfect for Mermaids to nibble

The mermaid handbook