Urban Mermaid: Tails From Colony Island, Book One (Tales from Colony Island) - Softcover

Parsons, Howard T.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1938281721 ISBN 13: 9781938281723

Publisher: Moonlight Garden Publications, 2015

Synopsis

Ever since Penelope Tench was in grade school, she knew there was no one living on Colony Island she was interested in choosing as a mate. There were feral boys—merfolk who lived in the ocean—but they were not a viable choice. Penelope could only spend three days at sea before wanting to return home to her warm bed and a hot meal. She wanted to find a mate and have a family someday, like most females, with or without scales, but as she grew up, her chances lessened, as there seemed to be only one option left—and mermaids were strongly advised not fall to in love with humans. After graduating with a degree in Finance, she began living a very lonely and isolated life in the city and shut out her family and friends. Even though she had a job lined up, she felt there was no future for her—anywhere. While spending a day in the ocean, Penelope lay under a dock contemplating her life. She was about to return to the city, catch a flight to the desert, and end things, when a human male walked out on the pier. Instead of hiding, she popped above the surface, gave him a scare, and then proceeded to chat with him for a bit before disappearing underwater. She’d enjoyed herself so much, she decided she would stick around a bit longer. Penelope reported for her new job the next morning, and found her temporary desk was right next to the Assistant Comptroller, Peter MacPherson. They immediately recognized each other from the previous day, and although she wanted to flee, a series of circumstances kept her at the company. Peter assured her he’d keep her secret safe, and subsequently volunteered to make her weekend swims enjoyable again by handling all the logistics—motels, meals, and safe and secure drop-offs and pick-ups. Over the next couple months, Penelope began enjoying being a mermaid again. Then, following a knock-down, drag-out debate with herself, she realized she had feelings for Peter, and decided she would go out in a blaze of glory and get into bed with a human.

About this title

About the Author:

Howard T. Parsons was born in Petersburg, Virginia during the final days of King George VI’s reign. He grew up and attended school in nearby Hopewell, VA. The eldest son of Lucile and Howard T. Parsons, Sr., he attended North Carolina College in Rocky Mount and graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Although his interests lay in Virology and Marine Biology, the need to earn a living led him to the field of Information Technology. During his stint with the Michie Company in Charlottesville, Virginia, he developed the TOOL programming language, and in 2008, wrapped up a thirty-year career in legal publishing. Howard recently retired from his position as a software engineer with the Dematic Corporation and lives in The Parsonage in Charlottesville with his wife and the latest two moggies in a long line of house cats. His interests include pipe collecting, Scottish highland games, railroads, and heraldry.

Review:

I knew that Howard Parsons was sort of a mermaid expert going into this. Okay, so there's no doctorate one can obtain to officially qualify for such a title, but if there was, this author would have the certificate, the trophy, the PHD, the Monopoly board game mermaid edition, and some sort of Nobel Prize. Urban Mermaid is unlike any other mermaid book I've ever read. His book isn't even a half-cousin to any of them. There are no off-the wall names, there's no royalty, there are no sparkles, there's no slack-jawed human. What there is is warmth. Urban Mermaid crosses more genres than any Mer book I've ever read, and what is so cool about it is that paranormal romance and fantasy don't even get a look-in! It's a satire, a romantic comedy, a coming of age, a blue-collar romance, and in the end just a beautiful story about ordinary people meeting, falling in love, and trying to overcome obstacles together, when one of those people just happens to have a tail sometimes. The characters are not too perfect to be true they're the average Mr. and Miss, and I am so grateful for that. Howard doesn't need tsunamis and royal weddings and octopus-people or seahorses named Glimmer to make you fall in love with his characters. They are realistic, flawed, lovely, and practically peel themselves off the page and wiggle into the sea with their believability. Pulling off a hero in this day and age who isn't loaded or fabulously wealthy, or more kinked than a home perm, is a hard task but Mr. Parsons does exactly this, and with a lovely, graceful writing style that only the most refined writers can cultivate. --S.K. Munt, author of The Fairytail Saga

This story illustrates Howard Parsons' extensive research and all of the years he's spent reading and reviewing other Mer tales. The author has sketched out Colony Island in such a way, that I can see the little shops, the beachfronts, and also the Mer who secretly make up this quaint beach town. The mermaid mythology in Urban Mermaid is completely unique and unexpected. Pen and Peter have a love story all their own. Congratulations, Howard Parsons. You've created a very distinct little world with a seemingly normal and average couple who turn out to be anything but by the story's end. --Emm Cole, award-winning author of the Merminia series and The Short Life of Sparrows

The story was presented in a fresh and bold new way, while still managing to incorporate some traditional mythology. Urban Mermaid was an enjoyable read, and I found myself delving deeper and deeper into the story and feeling emotionally invested rather quickly. Howard Parsons portrays a colorful picture of figures and places you can tangibly feel. It is a love story between Penelope and Peter first and foremost, but that doesn't mean that love comes easy. They face everyday problems that are timeless family, work, stations, stigmas, etc. This is definitely not the childhood bedtime story many of us remember when we think of 'mermaids'! It is much sexier, edgier, and faster paced. Urban Mermaid is smartly written with the added benefit of breaking away from many of the clichés that are common with this theme of story, while still maintaining the core folklore most mer fans are hoping to see. If you are craving an entirely new mermaid experience, by all means, read this book. --Paige Blue, author of Finding Summerland

About this edition

• Publisher: Moonlight Garden Publications
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1938281721
• ISBN 13: 9781938281723
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 451
• Editor: Moore S. C., Moore C. E.
• Illustrator: Om Ilsie