I am a mermaid

Kae-Leah is also writing a novella series, Nerissa Sanderson, the Part-Time Mermaid of Sunshine Valley, CA, and posts this and other writings on her page at Fictionpress.com. Here is a moment from said novella series, just after her main character transforms into a mermaid for the first time:

Her tail turned out to be far more beautiful than she could’ve ever imagined it. Humans tend to describe merfolk as being literally half-person, half-fish, but Princess Nerissa’s mertail was more elegant than any fish’s fins she’d ever seen. It began right below her belly button, and was blanketed in delicate aqua, lavender, and pastel pink scales that shimmered in the fluorescent bathroom light. Instead of a single, broad tailfin like so many aquatic animals possessed, Nerissa’s Sea Nymph appendage ended in a pair of semi-translucent flukes which seemed almost too silky and billowing to be adequately aquadynamic. Only their vaguely ribbed texture suggested that there were some kind of bone or vein inside.

Isn’t that lovely?

Recently I got hold of Kae-Leah to ask her some penetrating and possibly even deeply insightful questions about her own mermaiding and mermaids in general.

Our gorgeous Q and A follows.

So what drew you to mermaiding?
When I first heard of people buying or making mermaid tail costumes much more realistic-looking than those cheap mass-produced Ariel Halloween costumes for little girls that don’t even reach the ankles, I was quite intrigued and needless to say wanted one for myself. I also was very inspired by the passion some mermaids like Raina the Halifax Mermaid and Hannah Fraser have for environmental activism, and wanted to also use a mermaid identity as a tool to advocate for causes that are important to me, as well as promote my novella series, “Nerissa Sanderson, the Part-Time Mermaid of Sunshine Valley, CA.”

I also think my love of fantasy in general, not just mermaids, has at least partly to do with me having an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Like most folks with ASD, I’ve always felt pretty out of place in mainstream society, so I have always fantasized about a different world. I imagine the mer-world as being a more peaceful, more simple, less stressful and confusing place.

Have you always identified with mermaids?
Kind of, I have loved mermaids for most of my life. I’ve often thought of mermaids as living a very peaceful and very free lifestyle, simply serenely drifting through the water without a care under the sea, and I’ve for a long time admired and frankly kind of envied that peace and freedom. I also love the ocean and all its beautiful creatures, so I liked the idea of being friends with and being able to communicate with sea creatures, as portrayed in Disney’s Little Mermaid film and animated series, instead of killing and eating them as most humans do.

How important has the mermaid community been to you in helping you express yourself?
Being in the mermaid community and having a public mermaid page on Facebook has given me an outlet where I can express my views on ocean conservation, and other issues, pretty freely, and it’s helped me get in touch with the person I truly am deep down and who I want to be.

What do you think the attraction is to mermaids?
I think people are attracted to mermaids for many different reasons. For me, they represent being at one with the ocean and its beautiful creatures, but they can also represent beauty, serenity, freedom, the unknown, many different things. I’ve learned from experience that the mer-community is extremely diverse, and we all have different reasons for being drawn to the fantasy of merfolk.

Can you tell me about your mermaid message?
There are lots of causes that are very near and dear to my heart that I want to do all in my power to promote, but I suppose the message as a mermaid activist that I’ve become most strongly associated with is, in a seashell, to quote Finding Nemo, “fish are friends, not food!” To me, living a mermaid lifestyle is NOT about how well you can swim (heck, I can’t swim at all due to health problems!), how realistic your tail looks, or anything like that, but doing all I can to protect the ocean and its creatures, which means not eating any seafood, recycling and composting whenever possible, trying to make an effort to limit my consumption of single-use plastics, etc. Overfishing is destroying the oceans very rapidly, according to some statistics as much as 90% of fish are gone from the oceans and within a few decades, there won’t be any fish left at all, so while I realize some may view my stance as very extreme and radical, I personally think it should be quite obvious that stopping eating seafood altogether is an option strongly worth considering. I want very much to inspire people to stop viewing the oceans as a food bank and a sewer, and to be friends with nature instead of destroying it.

What about your mermaid writing?
I’m the author of “Nerissa Sanderson, The Part-Time Mermaid of Sunshine Valley, CA”, a young adult novella series that I self-published on Fictionpress.com. It’s about Nerissa, an ordinary, insecure, 15-year-old girl who lives in sunny Southern California with her eccentric single mother. Her normal teenage world is turned upside down over night when she finds out that the father she always was told was dead isn’t only very much alive, he’s not even human! The series follows her as she discovers her destiny, learns more about the world she was born into, and finds herself caught in a love triangle between Lord Zale, a devastatingly handsome, and very kind and romantic merman, and Adam Fonda, son of the CEO of a seafood company.

What kind of reactions do you get from people?
My beloved mama couldn’t be any more supportive of it if she tried, but since mermaiding is still a very new concept, so honestly, offline, being a mermaid isn’t exactly something I shout from the rooftops, if you know what I mean, but I think most of those who have seen my tail and my pictures are impressed, even though they more than likely have never seen anything like it before.

I mean look at them:

And look at them in 1989!

Below, I ask Chris about being married to a mermaid and his own merman transformation, not to mention his deep love for another (almost mermaid) out there, Miss Taylor Swift (who was outed for her mermaid hair by one Ms. Tabatha Coffey on this very blog), and his campaign to get her into one of Mermaid Shelly’s mermaid tail. I mean really. How can she possibly resist this merman call?

So Chris, how did you get involved with mermaids in the first place? Was it through your fabulous wife, Mermaid Shelly?
Sort of. I had always been fascinated by mermaids and the ocean as long as I can remember; one of my first memories was of a shower curtain in my home as a boy with a gorgeous mermaid on it that I would just stare at constantly, completely entranced by how beautiful she was. Even at such a young age, I think that was where my aesthetic concepts of beauty were formed. When Shell and I did meet in high school, you never would have thought she was a mermaid due to her “punkish” appearance. However, we soon discovered we had this mutual obsession, and it just grew from there. We have always had a ton of mermaid things in our home as a result, as well as trying in vain to make cheap lycra tails for her way before the internet was around. We remained fairly low-key about it all until we both met Linden Wolbert a couple of years ago and she set us on our current path.

You’re husband to a mermaid and call yourself a “mer-tender.” Can you explain what that means?

Chris and Shelly with Hannah Fraser at last year's World Mermaid Awards in Vegas

You’ve recently transformed into a merman yourself, and swam in a tail for the first time. Can you tell me about that? What was it that made you decide to make that leap?
I think what made me finally decide to go for it was turning 40 recently; I knew I was due for a midlife crisis, and it beats buying a Corvette! Shell never knew I harbored this idea; not through our 20 years together did I ever once mention myself joining the world or even pondering it. Suffice to say, she was a bit shocked when I “outed myself.” Also, swimming together with her in a tail and me with legs was not too fun; I simply cannot keep up. So, like in the stories, I had a choice; and I chose to join her in her world, and it has been amazingly good fun! I am enjoying swimming like never before, that is for certain, as it feels like nothing else.

Mermen might be a little less celebrated than mermaids. What is it like being a merman when it’s a mermaid’s world?
It doesn’t bother me at all, as I have always preferred the company and friendship of women, and also with so much in the world being patriarchal and male-centered, I think it is great that there is a culture where the females get to be the central figure. We guys are lucky we get to exist in their world. I do think part of it is aesthetic as well; the curvature of the tail seems a bit more fitting the shape of a woman, and of course women are much more mysterious than us dudes.

What would you say to those who’d argue that mermen aren’t the manliest or most alluring of creatures? (Have you dealt with this attitude at all, or no?)
I have not yet really had to deal with this myself, but it has never been my worry about being manly or alluring! I am more than secure with my own identity to not worry about what other people who don’t matter think. Of course, I did wrestle with the idea of negative perceptions, otherwise I would not have stayed quiet for so long. In the end though, as long as Shell was cool with it, that’s all I cared about.

Now that you and your wife are an official mer-couple… has this changed your relationship at all?

Well, not in any profound way, but it is does feel like our mutual obsession for our whole relationship has reached where it always should have gone; the point it always should have been building toward. Human life goes on for us as it did before, but now there is that little something extra that we share and enjoy together that just makes sense.

What kind of reaction do you get when you appear as a mer-couple?
Pretty much the same reactions she gets appearing by herself; some people come up fascinated, others avoid. The best reactions always come from other mermaids if they are around; they just seem to love that we do this together and wish the same for themselves. If our appearing together can inspire others to live their dreams together, than that is a great thing I am happy to be a part of.

Do you have any advice for aspiring mermen out there? (and/or for the significant others of fabulous mermaids?)
Do not care what others may think. Life is too short to worry about the opinions of small minds. Also, putting on a tail does not make you gay. Yes, many mermen out there are, and bless them for going for it and doing what they want. Straight guys should have their nerve and free spirit and not be so pent up over prejudices and stereotypes. Do what I did; make the fiercest, most aggressive looking tails you can imagine. And above all, just forget about Zoolander.

I know you’re quite involved in the mer community. Can you talk about how it’s grown and changed over the past few years?
The growth has been pretty huge; as with all things, we can thank the internet for that. Before then, who knew people thought about such things? That, along with the emergence of Hannah Fraser, taught us all it was perfectly okay to live your dreams and have fun. People could now see how many others were out there, meet up, trade secrets and tips, and so on. I never would have imagined something like the WMA’s happening before that, and I am proud to have helped it happen with our dear friend Sita. Shell was also involved with establishing the annual mermaid camp Mermaids in the Desert. I imagine the two of us will be active in the scene for quite some time. We’re not going away.

Chris, Shelly, and a bevy of other mermaids at the recent Mermaids in the Desert

You work at Mermaid Shelly, the business. Can you tell me about that? Do you have another job as well? (If so, what do your co-workers think of your mer-life?)
I certainly wish I did more on the tail making end, and hope to learn more; as it is, Shell has all the artistic talent, and I cannot sew. I need to learn, for sure. As it is, I simply do whatever I can that she needs. I can cut a mean sheet of neoprene! I do have a “day job” as it were, and my co-workers know all about it. I have always been the office weirdo, so no one really even blinks twice at whatever crazy thing I am up to now.

Chris and Taylor last year in Glendale, CA

So how did you become a mermaid?
I’ve always been fascinated with mermaids and the underwater world since I was a child so the progression for me to gain my tail seemed like a natural one. In my mid-teenage years I felt a great pull to the mermaid world which led me to scouring the internet for books, pictures and videos. On this search, I stumbled across videos on Youtube of mermaids swimming with amazing tails like Mermaid Raven and Hannah Mermaid which inspired me to look into tails, monofins and other expensive items a teenager can’t really afford. Once I hit university I had the resources to get my first monofin, make my first tail and start swimming.

What are the advantages to being an Australian mermaid?
Australia has some of the best beaches in the world and its home to the great barrier reef which makes our marine environment spectacular. The diving in my area is amazing and if I’m not in my tail then I’m likely to be diving in Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay discovering shipwrecks, reefs or gorgeous sea creatures. I’ve come face to face with sharks, rays, octopi (including the deadly blue ringed octopus), seals, dolphins, cuttlefish, squid and so many other amazing creatures! Also it helps that most of our population lives in major cities close to the ocean so being a landlocked mermaid in Australia is much harder to be than in the middle of the US.

Can you tell me about your shark encounters?
I love sharks, I find them to be fascinating creatures that are horribly misunderstood by the vast majority of people. I think my first shark encounter was when I was snorkelling with some large sharks on the great barrier reef. Since then I’ve dived into two aquarium shark tanks, the largest colony of grey nurse sharks in Australia and even saw a banjo shark a couple weeks ago on a shallow dive. He was so calm that I managed to get really close and admire the gorgeous markings of his back while a mixture of snapper and batwing fish circled around us. Wobbigong sharks are also really common in my area but they don’t even really look like sharks at all, they look like oversized catfish. In all my encounters with sharks I’ve never once been bitten although I’ve had sharks come up and take a good look at me to make sure I wasn’t a tasty seal. Shark attacks are rare but are so hyped up because of films like Jaws that portray them as villains but in my experience, sea turtles are much more likely to come up and snap at you than a shark. Sea turtles can be vicious although people seem to think they’re much more peaceful than sharks, I have no idea why!

Would you say there’s a mermaid movement in Australia? Have you met with fellow mermaids, etc?
I’d say there is a worldwide mermaid movement which certainly can also be seen in Australia. When I started out mermaiding I did it with some like-minded friends and together we formed the group Mermaidens, which has been an amazing experience. Volitania and Nerissa are both very talented mermaids who inspire and support me to be the best mermaid I can be. We do most things together and while we haven’t really met too many other mermaids we all contribute on MerNetwork, a worldwide Mermaid forum.

Hannah Fraser started mermaiding in Australia. Has she (or any other prominent mermaids) been a big influence on you?
Hannah Fraser was a massive influence on me, her videos inspired me to get my first monofin and start swimming. I think most modern mermaids would say that she founded the mermaiding movement as we know it and in some way shaped them.

Another massive influence would be Mermaid Raven who not only makes amazing accessories and tails but is a true performer. I can’t think of another mermaid who embodies the grace and mystery of the mer when swimming more than she does. Mermaid Raina is also fantastic with her fun quirky nature (see her mermaids in winter video) who is very active in the MerNetwork community as well as a talented educator.

How do people react to you in public?
Normally people are really positive and want to take photos, ask questions and talk. The Mermaidens are often swamped with excited kids wanting to chat/play with us and so far we haven’t really had any negative reactions.Some adults even get more excited than their kids at seeing a real mermaid!

Sadly another local mermaid went and gave her story to the paper which then wasn’t expressed in a very positive light so she got a lot of negativity thrown at her.

What kinds of events do you do?

Debris dive horrors

What do you think the appeal of mermaids is?
Mermaids represent the unknown, there is so much of the ocean waiting to be discovered, explored and enjoyed. We can only ever see a tiny portion of it which lends to question: what lies beneath? Was that tail a fish or was it something else?

What kind of a message do you have, as a mermaid?
The ocean is an amazing place that deserves reverence but humans pollute and destroy it. I was swimming with grey nurse shark a couple years ago and I saw the most heartbreaking thing, a majestic grey nurse with a giant hook through the side of its mouth. Grey nurse sharks not only endangered but harmless to humans and an important part of the ecosystem. We need support our environment before we create a world with an environment that can not support us.

What I’m referring to, of course, is the “The Effect of Global Warming on Mermaids” panel that is being held on Saturday at 4pm in the hot tub at the Hilton.

Because this is an issue I am deeply passionate about, I will be participating in said panel.

Please expect a full report, not to mention many more gorgeous mermaid interviews that are neither global-warming- nor hot-tub-related, in coming days.

Also, in completely unrelated yet what I feel is totally relevant news, my new novel, The Next Full Moon, went on sale YESTERDAY.

1) Please admire the MERMAID SNOW SCULPTURE below, from Anchorage, Alaska’s Fur Rendezvous Snow Sculpture Contest. I took these photos on my BlackBerry on Saturday in the snow, after watching the start of the IDITAROD, and I admit they are not the best quality. But still. On what other mermaid blog will you find such a glorious mermaid snow sculpture, even if it looks more like a Sphinx sitting atop an igloo?

2. On February 24, I attended Vintage Roadside‘s Mid-Century Mermaids presentation as part of Modernism Week in Palm Springs. Jeff and Kelly (who make up Vintage Roadside) gave a fantastic, comprehensive lecture and slideshow about the popularity of mermaids in the mid-century, with tons of details about aqua shows featuring mermaidly creatures, porthole lounges with mermaids drifting by glass windows, films featuring mermaids, mermaid attractions like Weeki Wachee and Aquarama and Aquarena Springs (and more), and all kinds of mermaids in advertisements and other popular culture around the mid century.

It was awesome. I believe yours truly was the only person in the audience frantically taking notes, however, but I prefer to think of this behavior as more glamorous and less nerdly.

(Also, when I was in Portland earlier a few days earlier, I got to visit Jeff at home — Vintage Roadside is based in Portland — and see all kinds of very very fabulous costumes from Aquarama and Weeki Wachee and the Sip n’ Sip Lounge in Great Falls, Montana, in person. My goodness were those designer creative with the fake gems and rhinestones. I am swooning right now, remembering.)

After, MeduSirena herself gave a gorgeous performance at the hotel pool, which was lined on all sides with an appreciative, tiki-loving audience. Look at this amazing photo by Kari Handler. (I took photos on my BlackBerry but because MeduSirena was using so much fire in her performance, my photos make her appear as one giant, unglamorous ball of flame. What can I say, I forgot my camera. Sigh.)

And the stylish sign pointing to the event:

3. So when I was in Portland, Oregon, a couple of weeks ago, my friend Wendy Rover of Roving Horse Henna decorated my hands and forearms with the most gorgeous henna. She did this freehand (!!!) while we chatted casually in her living room, and then afterwards sprinkled her design with green and blue glitter. How gorgeous and mermaidly is this? Sadly, the next morning I had to scrape off the gloopy henna, and all the glitter with it, but the henna designs have lasted two weeks and counting now.

Obviously, you should go find Wendy and get her to henna you, too.

It will be available on the Faerie Magazine website RIGHT HERE, as well as in Barnes & Noble and indie bookstores across the country. Not to mention in the depths of your own heart.

It really makes you want to pawn something, doesn’t it?

In the meantime, Eric, in addition to being a very famous theater person and a brilliant, soon-to-be-published novelist, also runs this crazy Facebook page dedicated to FRUITY CHEWY CANDY. It started as an obscene act of procrastination on Eric’s part but now has about a zillion rabid fans.

Here is a gorgeous (and fruity and chewy) Valentine’s Day message from said page:

OH. AND Eric has promised to do some kind of homage to the fruit chewy mermaid, pictured below, so you should obviously go like his page and watch for it, or else forever wonder what might have been.