While writing Mermaid of Sicily, I was searching for inspiration for the mermaid colony in Senegal. On Pinterest, I found this gorgeous photo of Blixunami, the Geechee Merm. Blix lives in Charleston, South Carolina. Blix is a queer, non-binary content creator, artist and designer. I knew that I’d found the perfect source of inspiration for Prince Moussa Diop, heir to Queen Awa’s colony near Dakar.

Prince Moussa is not only a royal, he’s also an entrepreneur. He owns Rip Cure, a budding surf and skate empire with its headquarters on the Atlantic Coast of Senegal. Below is a peek at the Senegalese mermaid colony and a little taste of Moussa. I love him so much. He’s honestly one of my favorite characters––always a joy to write!

MERMAID OF SICILY, EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 10

Once they arrived at the seafloor, Gia was able to take in the incredible architecture of the Senegalese colony. Moussa had overseen the renovation of the Coral Tower himself, taking inspiration for the underwater skyscraper from the Burj Al Arab, because he loved the whimsy of a colony of mermaids living in a metaphorical ship’s sail.

It had taken him thirty years to complete construction, and the result was stunning.

The building was crafted from old-fashioned steel, but the real magic in the design came from the glowing phytoplankton sculptures that twisted through the beams and held the whole structure together. Its architectural beauty far surpassed anything on land.

Along the way to the guest suites, Oumar pointed out special projects that he and Moussa were still completing. “For Moussa, the work is never done,” he laughed. “He calls it ‘editing.’ I call it what it is... perfectionism.”

Moussa shot his husband a nasty look. “And who was it that insisted on crushed pearls in the terrazzo, hmmm?”

Everywhere they walked, Gia was the recipient of stares. “I imagine everyone has seen the Mermaid Tape?” she whispered.

Oumar let out a deep chuckle. “Darling, I know the colony in Greece is a little provincial, but here in Senegal we do have television.”

They rounded the corridor leading to the royal suites.

“And here we are,” Moussa led Gia into the finest accommodation in the Tower.

She gazed out the rounded window of her suite and saw what looked to be a cloud made of tiny rainbows.

“Those are sea butterflies,” Moussa explained. “It’s their migration season.”

The tiny creatures’ transparent shells were illuminated from within, and when they fluttered by, the kaleidoscope of butterflies reflected color across the suite.

“Shall I ring for tea?” Oumar asked.

“I prefer to rest for a while if that is all right. It was a very long journey to get here.”

“Yes, of course,” Moussa agreed. “Just please stay in your room tonight. The Californian princes depart in the morning. We certainly would not want you running into each other.”

“Will no one from the colony tell them I am here?”

“Absolutely not. We prize discretion above all else. I have let my people know that I expect not one single word to swim its way to Greece. Or any other place for that matter,” he added. “You know, Gia... if you’ve done anything positive for the world of Mermaid, it’s that you’ve united all the colonies against a common enemy.”

“I thought Man was the enemy?” Gia snipped.

“And isn’t your father human?” Moussa wasted no time delivering another jab.

“He died many years ago.” Gia angled her head as if waiting for another challenge.

“Don’t worry yourself too much about it. Queen Awa always roots for the underdog. You can count on Senegalese support.”

Need More Moussa in Your Life?

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