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Secret Announcement: Revealing Why I Asked if You Liked Mermaids

March 9, 2022 / 50 Comments

Why did I ask y’all if you liked mermaids?? Lucky you, I’ll reveal the answer in this post! 😉 But first, let’s get in the mermaid vibe, shall we?!

Below is a picture of my mermaid tail button art! So far, it’s been the only button art I’ve done, but it was definitely a lot of fun to create. (Can you find the tiny screw glued in the artwork? Hint: it’s among the pile of “treasure.” If not, what about the paperclip?)

Next up, a fun fact!

Mermaid fun fact: professional mermaids is a job that actually exists!

Cool, right? Okay, now for the gif . . . .

via GIPHY

Assuming that you’re feeling the mermaid vibe by now, I guess it’s time I finally reveal my announcement. *takes a deep breath* Here goes . . . the moment you’ve all been waiting for . . . .

.

.

.

I’m kidding. I’m kidding. I won’t make you scroll through dots for the announcement. Here it is, for real now:

I have a short story going to be published in Owl Hollow Press’ Level Up anthology!!!

Eek!! This is the first time I will be published! I’m so happy I think I’m gonna cry. The anthology will be released sometime later this month. I can’t believe I kept this a secret for TWO months! Ack, what is wrong with me?? Anyway, check out this screenshot of Owl Hollow Press’ Instagram post:

Here is the link to their Insta post if you feel like checking it out.

My short story featured in the anthology is titled, “Talented Mers Competition.” And, yes, it’s about mermaids. See why I had to build the hype? 😉 Here’s the short story blurb:

The annual Talented Mers Competition has arrived. The winner will be granted a single wish from the wishing star.

Seaella’s mother has recently experienced an injury from which she is unlikely to recover. The prize from the competition may be Seaella’s only chance to save her mother. Unfortunately, she is competing against an extremely talented merboy named, Splash. With her chances of winning slim, will Seaella still be able to win the wish to save her mother?

Now for the questions! Are you excited for “Talented Mers Competition”? Have you heard of professional mermaids before? Did you find the tiny screw and/or the paperclip in the button art picture shown above? Anything you want to tell me about mermaids (or really anything in general you want to tell me)? Let’s chat!

Swimmingly yours,

~ Katherine Perry

50 Comments

    • Katherine

      March 12, 2022 at 8:48 pm Reply

      Eee, THANK YOU SO MUCH, Allie!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you’ll enjoy the story! Aww, thank you!!!!!!😊 Hehe, yep, I guess you’re right!!😉 My brain still doesn’t believe this is all real though. XD

  • Lorelei Angelino

    March 9, 2022 at 11:46 am Reply

    AHHHHH GIRL CONGRATULATIONS!!!! (You know what’s funny, yesterday I literally randomly thought of that anthology Izzy was in and I searched teen author bootcamp and found that the anthology submission ended in December XDDD what a coincidence!)
    NGSUIGBHEWLGAEUIGLBHGJWSGHJD KAT THAT’S SOOO EXCITING I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! <33333
    Whenever hear mermaids I think of the bonus features of the live action Peter Pan, where it shows how the actresses put on all their makeup and tails and stuff and become mermaids XD. So yeah, I guess I have heard of "professional mermaids"!
    YEP I found both things in the button art (It's beautiful by the way!!!)

    SO are you gonna do like a interview/post thingy about your short story??? I'd LOVE to hear about how you got your inspiration and wrote it!! <3333

    • Katherine

      March 12, 2022 at 9:46 pm Reply

      THANK YOU SO MUCH, LORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Oh my goodness, that is a funny coincidence!😂 I’m so sad you missed it, though. It would have been so cool if we were in the anthology together!!!) AAHH, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!! AWWW, THANK YOU, GIRL!!!!!!!!!😊 <3<3<3<3<3<3<3

      Ooooh, that's so cool!!!! I don't think I've ever seen the live-action Peter Pan. Aaah, OH MY GOODNESS, I bet that is SO COOL to see them get ready in their mermaid look!!!!!!!!!!!
      Awesome!!!!!! I'm glad you were able to find the items!!!! 😉 (Aww, thank you so much!!!!!!<3)

      Hehe, I'M GLAD YOU ASKED!!!! I'm definitely going to post when the anthology releases, and I was thinking about doing something extra/special to celebrate. Since you want to hear about the inspiration behind the story, I'll definitely make sure to include that!!!!😉😀

  • Annabelle

    March 9, 2022 at 12:06 pm Reply

    *gasps* This is so awesome!!!! I love your art, and congrats!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE mermaids, and am actually writing my own series about them right now!!!! So excited for you!!!

    • Katherine

      March 12, 2022 at 9:59 pm Reply

      Thank you so much, Annabelle!!!!!!! Awww, THANK YOU!!!!!!😊 I’m happy to hear you like my art!!!! EEEEEK, ME TOO!!!!!! :DDD Mermaids are SO AMAZING!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness, THAT IS INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!! I’m SUPER excited for your series!!!!!!!!! *squeals and jumps up and down* I’m wishing you the best of luck as you write your mermaid story, and I hope you’ll be able to publish it!!!!! Aww, thank you so much!!!! And thank you for reading and commenting!!!!!

    • Katherine

      March 12, 2022 at 10:07 pm Reply

      Yay, awesome!!!!! I know, right?! It would be a SUPER cool job!!!!!! Yayay, I’m glad you were able to find the paperclip and screw!!! 😉
      Thank you so much, Corrie!!!!!! Aww, THANK YOU!!!!!! That makes my day to hear you say that!!!!!

  • Rose Q. Addams

    March 9, 2022 at 1:55 pm Reply

    I’d heard about professional mermaids! There’s a park (for some reason I think it’s in the Dakotas, somewhere) where there are women who do tricks and such underwater in mermaid garb. There are air hoses hidden in giant plants and stuff and it’s awesome. 😀
    (I read an article on the place from 2010: one of the ladies who worked there brought her twin daughters with her to work sometimes and they were good at holding their breath and everything— but they were only two years old!)

    • Katherine

      March 13, 2022 at 9:39 pm Reply

      That’s awesome!!!! Ooooh, that’s so COOL!!!!! I bet it’s amazing to watch them do tricks underwater!!!! 😀 Aaah, I would totally love to see that one day!!!! I saw a professional mermaid once. She was sitting on a rock next to a creek at a campground, and I had my picture made with her. Honestly, though, I had forgotten about meeting the mermaid until just now. XD XD
      (Whoa, ONLY TWO???? That’s INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!😱 Mind blown! XD Is it crazy to say I’m jealous of the two-year-olds, lol.😆) Thank you so much for sharing! Being a mermaid fanatic, I loved hearing about it!!

    • Katherine

      March 13, 2022 at 9:47 pm Reply

      AWW, THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOELLE!!!!!!!!!!!😃 YOU BRIGHTENED MY DAY!!!!!!😊 YAYAY!!!! *HIGH-FIVES* SO GLAD YOU LIKE MERMAIDS! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m glad I chose mermaids then! 😉

  • Ava Coulter

    March 9, 2022 at 2:23 pm Reply

    So that’s why you ask if we like mermaids!! XD Congrats!!!!! I’m so excited for you!! EEP!
    Lol, when I was little, I wanted to be a professional mermaid (i still do…just a little xD )😂
    Ooh and I love your button art. (I found the paper clip and the screw, but it took a while XD)

    • Katherine

      March 16, 2022 at 11:29 am Reply

      Hehehe, yep that’s why I asked! 😉 Thank you!!!!! Aww, thank you!!!!<33😊 Haha, sounds like a perfect dream job to me. XD It's funny how I didn't think about it when I was younger, lol. (Hehe, same! Sometimes I secretly wish to be a professional mermaid as well. XD)
      Thank you so much!!!!! I'm happy to hear that you love it!!!!!! (Awesome!!!! I'm glad you were able to find them!!! Haha, I figured it might be difficult to find them in the photo, but hopefully, it was a fun challenge.😉)

  • Saraina

    March 9, 2022 at 3:59 pm Reply

    CONGRATULATIONS KATHERINE!!! XD *cheers and applause in the background* That’s so exciting!!!!!

    And no lol I’ve never heard of a professional mermaid before!

    • Katherine

      March 16, 2022 at 11:33 am Reply

      Aw, THANK YOU SO MUCH, SARAINA!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!😊 Aw, girl, you have brightened my day!!!

      Hehe, now you can say you’ve heard of professional mermaids!😉

  • Emma

    March 11, 2022 at 1:40 pm Reply

    YOU’RE GETTING PUBLISHED AND YOU KEPT IT A SECRET FOR TWO MONTHS!!!!!???!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!! *hyperventilates* I…I CAN’T EVEN. ajkjlsektmelskteklteksgilekges GIRL I’M SO HAPPY AND EXCITED AND PROUD OF YOU!!!!! *wraps you in the biggest hug ever* Just…wow. I cannot WAIT to read your story!!! *squeals* I’m just so happy for you!!!! Congrats girl!! *showers you in confetti* <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

    For the record, I did find the screw and the paper clip. And I knew that professional mermaids was a thing. *grins* Also, that button art is amazing <3.

    • Katherine

      March 16, 2022 at 12:12 pm Reply

      EEEEK, YESS AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHY I KEPT IT A SECRET!!!!!!!!!! XDXD AWWWW, GIRL, YOU’RE SO SWEET!!!!!!!!!! *smiles super big* THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!<3<3<3 *squeezes you in hug* Aww, THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!! I hope you'll enjoy my story! Aww, thank you!!!!😊 *twirls in confetti because twirling is so much fun* Thank you so much for this comment!!!! You brought a smile to my face!!! <3<3<3<3<3<3<3

      Yay!! Awesome!!! I'm glad you were able to find the screw and paperclip! Woo-hoo, that's great!!! 😉 My mind was always blown by the fact that professional mermaids are a real thing. XD Aw, thank you so much!!!!<3

    • Katherine

      March 12, 2022 at 10:17 pm Reply

      Aw, YAY, I’m so happy to hear that you’re excited!!!!!!! 😀 Awesome!!! Agreed–they are SUPER cool!!!!! 😉 Yay, I’m glad you were able to find the items!!!!!!!

  • Abigail

    March 12, 2022 at 6:34 pm Reply

    Congratulations, Katherine! That’s super exciting to hear! 😀
    I have heard of professional mermaids before and the videos I’ve watched of them swim in lakes or exhibits were pretty amazing.
    Again, congrats!

    • Katherine

      March 16, 2022 at 12:33 pm Reply

      Thank you so much, Abigail!!!! I’m so happy you’re excited!! It makes me excited even more!!! 😀
      Cool!! Wow, that’s AWESOME!!! I haven’t seen many videos of them swimming (I totally need to watch more, lol), but I did watch one video of a professional mermaid talking about how her tail was made.
      Thank you!!!!! And thank you so much for reading and commenting!

  • Emma

    March 12, 2022 at 11:37 pm Reply

    CONGRATULATIONS KAT!!!! That’s soooo awesome. I’m very excited for you!!! And I love the button art—super cute and creative!!

    • Katherine

      March 16, 2022 at 12:53 pm Reply

      THANK YOU SO MUCH, EMMA!!!!!!!! Awww, thank you!!!!😊
      Thank you so much!!!! I’m happy to hear you love it!! You should try something like it sometime. 😉 It was fun to make, and I liked adding more to it than buttons. XD

  • Victoria Crooks

    March 19, 2022 at 5:01 pm Reply

    ASDLFKJASKLDFJ I’M SO SORRY THIS COMMENT IS SO LATE BUT KATHERINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU’RE GETTING PUBLISHED AND THIS IS THE BEST REASON EVER WHY YOU WANTED TO KNOW IF WE LIKE MERMAIDS AND YOUR STORY SOUNDS ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY 100% EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW COULD YOU KEEP THIS FROM ME FOR SO LONG!?!?!?!?! *takes an enormous breath from the all caps* Actually, I LOVE secrets and surprises so I’m glad you kept it from me BUT EEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!! I am SO SO SO excited and happy for you and so proud of you girlie!!!! God has talented you so much with your writing and you deserve this win!!! *tackles hugs you* *blows party horns* *showers you in confetti and balloons* ANYWAY. CONGRATULATIONS KAT!!!!!!!! I absolutely CAN’T WAIT to read your story!!!!!!!! <33333333333

    (Also, I found the paper clip and the screw!) XD

    • Katherine

      May 11, 2022 at 4:45 pm Reply

      AW, THAT’S ALRIGHT, GIRL! NO WORRIES! AND I’M SUPER SORRY I’M SO LATE IN REPLYING!!!
      AAH, I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE IT EITHER!!!!!!!!!!!! XD HEHE, I’M GLAD YOU THINK It WAS A GOOD REASON!!😉 OH MY GOODNESS, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY THAT YOU THINK It SOUNDS EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haha, I HAVE NO IDEA!!!😅 *takes a breath with you* Hehe, me too! I’m glad it worked out then! XDD *squeals at your excitement* Awwwww, thank you so so much!!!!! AW, GIRL!! You’re so sweet!!! You’re making my day!!! *gives you a big hug* *twirls in confetti* THANK YOU, V!!!!!! Aww, thank you!!!! I hope you enjoy reading it!! <33333333333

      (Yay!! Awesome!! I'm glad you were able to find them!!)

  • RangerElfLegend

    March 20, 2022 at 5:15 pm Reply

    I’m not into mermaids (sorry XD) but that’s so exciting that you’re gonna be published! Congratulations!!!!!

  • Alexa

    April 2, 2022 at 6:47 pm Reply

    EEEEK, CONGRATS, KAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!! I had the opportunity to get my hands on a copy of the anthology last week and so I got to read your short story already and I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! It has such a good message and it totally warmed my heart! You are so talented, Katherine! Keep going girl, you are going to do some FABULOUS things in this world!

    • Katherine

      May 11, 2022 at 7:04 pm Reply

      THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALEXA!!!!!!!!!!!!! AWW, THANK YOUUU!!!!!!!!<33 Yay, that's awesome!!!!!! I'm happy to hear you were able to get a copy!!!! YAY!!! AWW, I'm so glad you loved my story and the message in it and that it warmed your heart!!!!!!!😊 This truly makes my day!!!!!!!! Awww, girl, you're so sweet!!!<3<3<3 Thank you!!!! Thank you for your encouragement!!!! I'm so happy we're friends!🤗 *hugs*

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