Target reached!
I will be able to print more books and order a distribution service
The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo kids book
Bristol, Bristol City, United Kingdom
Aim
A fun picture book based on a real life mermaid's adventure looking for her otter friend amidst all the sewage pollution.
Helloooooo! Thanks so much for reading my page and considering supporting The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo!
After the wonderful success of The Mermaid and the Cow, I decided to work on a series of envionmental mermaid adventure swims, kids books and films. The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo is the second in the series, based on my my mermaid week-long swim down 60 miles of the Bristol Avon, towing my homemade poo sculpture, investigating how river pollution affects wildlife like otters.
The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo is a fun picture book for 4-9 year olds, using occasional rhyme to make the villain- Sue Widgewaste (a name I was quite chuffed to come up with), think about how she's treating the river on her doorstep which is also home to the mermaid, the otter and friends.
The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo book launch
To celebrate the launch of my second kids book, I will be mermaiding across the Bristol Channel from Wales to England. It's approx 12 miles and will take approx 5-7 hours and will be like doing 10,000 sit ups in one go! The Bristol Channel is also where The Bristol Avon ends up. I'll be mermaiding with my poo sculpture to highlight how once the river pollution enters the channel, it then goes to the ocean.
Otters are a good barometer for a healthy river River pollution kills off all the insects, which then kills the fish, so there's no food for the otters and they have to go else where.
Sewage scandal in the news
Me, my poo and my mermaid tail, very randomly made it into the Sport section of the Telegraph after my Bristol Avon swim. Sewage pollution has been in the news heavily the last few years. Over the last decade, the Environmental Agency's budget has been cut by 75%, so they just don't have the resources to investigate and prosecute polluters. I've collaged newspaper articles on sewage scandals as inanimate objects, sprinkled throughout The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo to give the art work texture, make it more interesting for the parents and show kids that despite it being a fun book, sewage pollution is very much a real problem.
Get your name printed in the back of the book
EVERYONE who orders a copy of The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo through this crowdfunder will get their name (or child's name) printed in the back of the book as a thank you for your kind support. If you have lots of kid's friends' birthdays to get presents for, there's an option to get 6 copies, where you can choose 6 different names to go in the back of the book, which would make a wonderful birthday gift. Kids LOVE seeing their name in the book.
Or how about have them illustrated into the story?
Does your child like bug hunting? There are only 4 spots available to have your child illustrated into The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo as part of the story. They have to be pledged for before Thursday 15th June.
My goal
I would love The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo to reach 500 supporters. The Mermaid and the Cow was supported by 300 people and The Mermaid, the Otter and Big Poo film received 400 supporters. Through mermaiding and kids books, I've married my passions of adventure, storytelling, the environment and working with kids and really love what I do. I want to be able to take these last 3 crowdfunders to an agent and publisher to show how hard I work and how I've increased support with each project so someone will take me on for my next book- The Mermaid and the Polar Bear.
What is Crowdfunding and why am I Crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding is a platform to help creatives, entrepreneurs and individuals to get their projects off the ground, supported by you- the public. I've loved using it for my previous 2 projects as I gained direct interaction with the people who wanted to support me. It also gives you insight to understanding how the process of a project works (the highs and lows) and you can sometimes give your own input.
I'm crowdfunding this time because I'd like The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo to be out for summer, which means I have to self publish again. The cost of the printers I used for The Mermaid and the Cow has gone up 80%. By crowdfunding, I'm preselling the book so I know how many copies to print and I'm not out of pocket.
Thanks so so much, once again for supporting me and my work. Please do share with any friends and family with little budding eco warriors or water lovers and help The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo reach as many hands as possible.
Much love
Linds
This project successfully funded on 28th June 2023