Author Carolyn Turgeon visits Philly, shares knowledge of swan maidens, mermaids and fairy godmothers

It was my pleasure this past Sunday to attend a reading of Carolyn Turgeon's new novel "The Next Full Moon" at the home of one of her dear friends in Philadelphia.

It was my second visit to the home of actress Trillian Stars (aka Jennifer Summerfield) and her photographer/author husband Kyle Cassidy for a reading by Carolyn, a high school classmate of mine. Click here to see my March 2011 blog about Carolyn's reading of her then-new and equally magical novel, "Mermaid."

Carolyn, who is the author of three previous novels ("Rain Village," "Godmother" and Mermaid") took on a new challenge with "The Next Full Moon" (Downtown Books, 192 pp., March 2012, $7.99) writing for an audience of 9- to 12-year-olds.

My friends Maria and Brandie accompanied me on this fun-filled afternoon in Philly, and Brandie so nicely agreed to take some video of Carolyn as she prepared to read an excerpt from her book (Notice the well-done cinematography ... thanks Brandie). 


 

The uber-poised and gracious Carolyn read to a living room full of supporters of all ages from the book, which is about a young girl named Ava who is horrified to find that she's growing feathers. Ava incidentally resides in a college town in the middle of Pennsylvania. Carolyn said I might recognize some of the settings from our hometown of State College and Penn State University, but noted that other inspiration came from her childhood memories of Michigan. 

CAROLYN TURGEON

Next was a short concert by amazing vocalinist (violinist/vocalist) Monique Canniere and talented guitarist-friend John. Monique played a few fairytale-influenced songs, accompanied by her ethereal vocal stylings. John, whose last name I'm sorry I didn't learn, added some original Celtic tunes. The music was really lovely.

Afterward, Carolyn noted that she was headed back to central PA to complete a revision on her NEXT new book, "The Fairest of Them All," which she said is about Rapunzel growing up to be Snow White's grandmother. And then, the jet-setting authoress is on her way to  Alaska to teach in an MFA program this summer. Makes a small-town journalist's life seem so ... not magical!

CAROLYN READS FROM HER BOOK SUND

But I digress ... back to "The Next Full Moon." Here's a description from the publisher:

This thoroughly compelling, gorgeously told tale begins as the weather turns warm enough to swim in the local lake. Ava is on the brink of her twelfth birthday, and her crush, Jeff, is most definitely taking notice of her. Everything is going beautifully. Until Ava starts to grow feathers — all over her shoulders, arms, and back. Horrified, mortified, and clad in a turtleneck, she hides out in her bedroom, missing her dead mother and worrying about the summer, and the rest of her freakish life...

Carolyn Turgeon has a gift for imagining magical worlds. In Ava’s case, this otherworldly place belongs to the Swan Maidens, one of whom is Ava’s mother. Ava goes back and forth between middle school and this magical realm, taking the reader along for an exhilarating, extraordinary ride.

Brandie behind the camera, at left, and Maria listen to Carolyn

Click here to go to Carolyn's blog and view her full bio. 

Notably, Carolyn said it took her 10 years to complete her first novel, "Rain Village," (published in 2006) while working full-time. She said while she very much enjoys crafting the lovingly researched fairy-tale inspired stories, and may have more of those up her prettily-tatted sleeve, she also has a detective novel in the works.

Can't wait to read it (and hear Carolyn read from it!)

Catching up with Carolyn Turgeon and friends in Philadelphia

Had a very literary, artsy and relaxed sort of afternoon today.

Went to Philadelphia for a reading by two novelists, Carolyn Turgeon and Jeanine Cummins, in the comfortable and eclectic home of arts lovers Trillian Stars and Kyle Cassidy.

There was also a lovely performance by Chicago-based singer-songwriter Molly Robison (Here's a video of Molly singing one of the songs she played today. It's called "Patience Worth.")

Carolyn (that's her with me after her reading) I know from high school, and she nicely invited me to the Philly reading after I had to decline a recent invite to one of her NYC readings (if you're in that area, she has one coming up this Wednesday, March 16, check out here blog for details).

Carolyn read for about 30 minutes from "Mermaid" (Broadway, 256 pp. 2011, $14), which I now have an inscribed copy of but have not yet had the pleasure of reading. In short, it's the tale of two women - a princess and a mermaid - who both love the same man. Much is at stake for both of them and only one of them will win the prince's heart for good. The tale is a dark departure from the saccarine Disney version of The Little Mermaid, Carolyn said.

Next, Molly played a few songs from her new CD, "Bedrooms & Attics," which I immediately liked - that girl has a sweet voice and can play her some guitar! Anyhow, bought the CD and listened to it on the way home. Hope to hear more of Molly's work soon.

Rounding out the afternoon was a reading by Jeanine Cummins from her new novel, "The Outside Boy," (New American Library, 2010, 356 pp., $15) told from the point of view of someone who lives the culture of the Travelers, a gypsy sort, in Ireland. I haven't read this novel yet either, but I now have a copy sitting next to me. Cummins' reading was a chapter or so of her book and had to do with a young boy's experience assisting with the birth of a horse was quite compelling and rich. Cummins is the bestselling author of a memoir of tragedy, "A Rip in Heaven."

After the reading Carolyn and I compared cowboy boots (hers, black with dark pink roses; mine just dusty brown) and talked a bit about our hometown of State College, where she calls home when she's not traveling. Coming up soon she'll be touring the midwest in support of her novel, to places like, Omaha, Neb., and Appleton, Wisc., where her other books, "Godmother" and "Rain Village" were well received, she said.

It was fun to get reacquainted with an old friend like that ... someone I hadn't seen other than on Facebook since, oh, about 1989! I am impressed by her grace, her ease with the whole publicity thing and, of course, her talent.

Here is a recent YouTube short and comical posting by Carolyn in which she speaks about one of her inspirations, Hans Christian Anderson. The notoriously unlucky at love Anderson wrote The Little Mermaid, the fairytale on which Carolyn's new novel, "Mermaid," is based. Turgeon told me she has a children's book and several other projects in the works.

And, as long as I'm posting videos and pics, I also found this interesting video online of Cummins speaking about her novel, her inspiration and why she chose to write fiction this time around. Cummins, at right in a publicity photo, is currently working on a children's book, and another novel that alternates chapters set in Ireland and in New York City.

Even with laryngitis, Cummins hung in there and read for at least 20-25 minutes. Married to an Irishman, she said she spends at least 8 weeks a year there and did much of the research for her novel there - including interviews with actual Travelers.

A very thought-provoking and intriguing afternoon it was. I expect we'll be hearing much more in the coming months and years from all three of these artists.

Thanks to my friend and a novelist in her own right, Katie McVay, for making the trip with me, calmly supporting my navigational skills as we made our way basically through the Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade, and treating me to an extremely delicious pastry and coffee at a heretofore undiscovered (by us) Lebanese bakery called Manakesh (circa 44th and Walnut). Yum!

Coming in March: Magical new novel from Carolyn Turgeon

An amazingly talented and imaginative author sprung from my humble hometown of State College, PA will be releasing her third fantastic work of fiction on March 1.

Carolyn Turgeon (that's her in a snowy photo I swiped from her blog), who was in the grade ahead of me at dear old State High and who may have had the not so magical misfortune of being in choir with me, is currently touring in support of her latest novel, "Mermaid" (Three Rivers/Crown, 2011, 288 pp., $14).

The gorgeous book cover (below) features a beautiful mermaid lass modeled by ... none other than Turgeon! Isn't it pretty?

She blogged some photos from that modeling experience on her own very entertaining blog, aka The Astonishing Blog, in August 2009 (click here to see that). She also has a website that links to her original blog as well as a brand new blog iamamermaid.com to support her book.

I haven't yet read the book, but it has received favorable reviews by the likes of Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus.

The dark fairytale quality seems to run along the same lines as her previous works, "Rain Village" (Unbridled, November 2006) and "Godmother, The Secret Cinderella Story" (Three Rivers/Crown, March 2009). I wrote about that fantastical novel in April 2009 ... check that blog out here).

From Publisher's Weekly:

Mermaid

Carolyn Turgeon, Three Rivers, $14 trade paper (288p) ISBN 978-0-307-58997-2

In Turgeon's surprisingly dark retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid, two women pine for the affections of a prince: mermaid Lenia, who pulls Prince Christopher from the sea, and Margrethe, the princess of the rival kingdom, who witnesses the rescue from the convent where she hides from the war raging between their two kingdoms. Lenia, who falls instantly in love with the prince, sacrifices the sea, her voice, and her health to be with him on dry land. Meanwhile, Margrethe believes that marrying the prince would unite their kingdoms, but when she arrives to arrange it, she finds him already enraptured with Lenia. While he remains unaware that the girl he loves is also the mermaid who saved him, Margrethe recognizes her rival immediately and puts into motion a plan to send the ailing mermaid back to the sea and save her own ravaged kingdom. Turgeon has done a superb job of creating compelling characters and conflict from a story already familiar to readers. (Mar.)

From Kirkus:

MERMAID

A Twist on the Classic Tale

Author: Turgeon, Carolyn

Review Date: November 15, 2010

Publisher: Three Rivers/CrownPages: 288Price ( Paperback ): $14.00

Price (e-book ): $14.00

Publication Date: March 1, 2011

ISBN (Paperback): 978-0-307-58997-2

ISBN (e-book ): 978-0-307-58998-9

Category: Fiction

Two princesses (one earthbound, one aquatic) vie for the heart of a prince in this new twist on the classic fairy tale. For 18-year-old mermaid princess Lenia, the world of men could not be a more exotic or fascinating place. Although her experience with humans is limited to the shipwrecks and dead sailors she comes across in her ocean-floor kingdom, she yearns for more. She gets her wish when she is finally permitted to go up and explore the surface, and has to save a young man from drowning during a storm. She delivers him to the shores of a convent and into the arms of a young novice. That girl, Margrethe, is actually the daughter of the northern king, hiding at the convent for her own protection. And, as luck would have it, the rescued sailor, Christopher, is the son of her father’s arch nemesis, the southern king. The two royals share an attraction, without knowing each other’s identity, and Christopher leaves without knowing Margrethe’s secret. Back with her merpeople family, a smitten Lenia pines for the prince and strives to find a way to be with him. Her quest takes her to the sea witch, Sybil, who informs her that becoming human is indeed possible, but comes with a steep price. Lenia has to give up her beautiful voice, and her lovely new legs will cause her chronic pain, like walking on knives. Also, Christopher must marry her if she is to survive and acquire a human soul. No matter. Lenia takes Sybil’s potion and goes to her beloved, who is indeed charmed by the mute otherworldly creature Lenia has transformed into. They become lovers, but she has competition. In order to stave off an almost inevitable war, Margrethe hatches a plan to marry Christopher herself, and unite their kingdoms. But while that might be good politics, it does not bode well for Lenia, who is unable to explain her situation to anyone. Faithful for the most part to Andersen’s dark fable, Turgeon’s (Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story, 2009) version wisely gives voice to the mermaid’s rival, making the prince’s ultimate choice—and Lenia’s sacrifice—even more poignant. A gothic love triangle with two equally matched heroines. This isn’t kid’s stuff.

***

If you're in the Empire State or thereabouts, Turgeon is scheduled to read from "Mermaid" on Thursday, March 3, from 7 to 8 p.m., at the Barnes & Noble Tribeca, 97 Warren St., New York, NY.

Clap if you believe in fairies

"What occurs in the world of the faerie will become manifest in the world of men"

Reviewed: "Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story," by Carolyn Turgeon, Three Rivers Press, 2009, $13.95, 279 pp.

I’m a fan of novels that push envelope of the concept of "willing suspension of disbelief" by mixing reality with fantasy. Carolyn Turgeon’s latest novel, her second, "Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story," does just that.

The enjoyable and quite readable fictitious tale follows Lil, an old woman who works her days away in a New York City bookshop while dreaming of returning to her youth as a fairy — yes, a fairy in the fashion of Peter Pan’s Tinkerbell, complete with wings and mystical powers. And Lil wasn’t just any fairy, she was the fairy chosen to be Cinderella’s fairy godmother.

But this is a Cinderella story that strays far from the innocuous, bubbly Disney version. At first glance at the book’s gorgeous cover, I thought maybe I could pass the book along to my 9-year-old niece, but as I read more changed my mind. I realized this is no light fairy tale, though it truly is the tale of a fairy. This fairy tale is more of the Grimm Brothers sort.

Lil is a tragic, heartbroken figure. She’s a person broken in spirit who hasn’t given up hope for redemption for past wrongs. She leads a double life: On one hand, she’s a knowledgeable bookshop assistant who ekes out a meager existence in a rent-controlled apartment; On the other, she’s a lonely, outcast creature who once did something so heinous as to lose the keys to the kingdom, so to speak.

Desperately, Lil wants to redeem herself — something she feels could possibly take her back to the fairy world, to the sister she lost at a young age and dearly misses.

The opportunity presents itself in the form of a good deed of sorts for Lil’s boss, a dashing Prince Charming of a bookshop owner who’s unlucky in love. Lil encounters and has an instant connection with Veronica, an artsy type who may the perfect young woman for him, at the shop and arranges for them to have a magical date to an actual society ball.

But the story is not as light and sweet as it may sound. There’s an underlying despair in Lil’s character, in her story. As much as we want her to be redeemed from her discgrace, we begin to doubt her credibility. But we are already, as they say, enchanted by this story.

Apparent are Turgeon’s sheer imagination, exquisite and colorful language and descriptions and ability to generate momentum within the story.

She reminds us that life, after all, is no fairy tale.
And though the world may be cruel, there is hope.

*Full disclosure: Carolyn Turgeon went to my high school (dear old State College Area Senior High School in State College, Pa.), graduating the year before I did. We were acquainted then, but didn’t stay in touch over the past two decades. I recently reconnected with Carolyn through a popular social networking site and was pleasantly surprised to learn she is a full-time author of marvelous and magical books (Her first novel, "Rain Village," went to print in 2006. Learn more at her website). Turgeon is quite the blogger as well: Check out The Astonishing Blog.