A tinny ring and then a scratch and a shuffle as the world tilts upside down.

“Hello?”

“Hi,” she waves and her picture swims into focus.

“I’m nervous, ” I say. “You’re my first mermaid.”

“I’m nervous too.”

In 2017 I started interviewing professional mermaids for my next book. I am one of the little girls who saw Daryl Hannah in Splash and I’ve been in love with mermaids ever since. I am not alone. So far I have spoken to mermaids, mermen, tail makers, mer-photographers, and mer-scholars. What does it mean to embody a myth? To fulfil a child’s wish? To customise your own tail? And how long can you hold your breath underwater?

If you are a mer I’d love to hear from you: megandunn90@gmail.com