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IFWG is extremely happy to reveal the front cover of Robyn L. Coburn’s upcoming middle grade fantasy novel, Mermaid Summer, the first of the 4-book series, Mermaid Lake Stories. The wonderful art and design is by Charlene Bowles.

Jenna Hanson, lonely 11-year-old, finds an extraordinary friendship after her family moves to a resort town in the mountains.

She is as frustrated as any other tween with her parents, even more so with having to start all over again in yet another new place. But at least there is the summer fun of swimming and boating in the surprisingly large lake to look forward to, and maybe someone in this little crowd of local girls will accept her. Then Jenna meets an orphan mermaid, living in secret, and she learns what it means to be truly lonely. 

But the mermaid, named Lira, is in danger. Until their deaths in a freak accident, Lira’s parents were able to use magical energies to keep the lake pristine despite industrial waste spewed by the paper mill on the hill. Over the last three years the lake has slowly become contaminated. Now a battle brews between the mill and Jenna’s biologist dad. Worse, the mill manager, who has long suspected Lira’s existence, hopes to use the mermaid’s gifts to make her fortune. 

To save her new friend, Jenna must do two things she never thought she would:  break a pinky promise and lead a team.

A story that has action on land and water, as well as about trust and doing whatever it takes to help a friend, Mermaid Summer is set in our contemporary world where everyone, including young people, can learn to take responsibility and make good choices for the environment.

Mermaid Summer will be globally released on 2 November 2026, available from all quality online and bricks and mortar stores, in print and ebook formats. Preorder links will be available in coming weeks.

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