Meet the Character: Queen Awa Diop
The clever, catty Queen Awa is one of my favorite characters in the Mermaid of Venice series. When I imagine her I think of my friend, Laverne Cox. Scroll down to discover more about the magnificent Queen Awa, ruler of the Senegalese mermaid colony.
Many moons ago Laverne and I were featured as two of the one hundred most influential LGBTQ+ people in the world. She later went on to grace the cover of Out (several times). Our Studio 54-inspired photoshoot was so fun. On the far left is one of my icons, Michael Musto, a legendary reporter for the Village Voice. To the right of him is film director Kimberly Reed. Then, the glamorous Laverne, and lastly, me. Half a head, but full boobage. Sounds about right. HA!
EXCERPT FROM MERMAID OF SICILY, CHAPTER 37
January 9th
Days into their stay at the Coral Tower, Vittore, Stavros, and the family were all anxious for the arrival of Queen Awa. Having failed to secure funding in Hong Kong for her son, Queen Awa was equally anxious to return to Dakar.
The whole business about Gia was extremely messy, and the Queen almost regretted pledging her help after Gia’s trial in Santorini. At the same time, there was much to be gained from an alliance with Gia.
Unlike the Greeks, isolated in their underwater maze of caverns, Queen Awa had encouraged her subjects to interface regularly with the humans of Senegal and live double lives.
Did the Queen have concerns about and contempt for Man? Yes, of course.
But she was of the mind that it was better to live among one’s enemy to understand their weaknesses. Queen Awa had learned much in her two-hundred-year reign.
The Queen had protected her subjects during the enslavement of more than ten million people from the African continent. She had observed the rise of the Greek mermaids as their colony became the financial center of the Atargatic world. And more recently, she was witnessing the destruction of the planet by Man, the raping of the oceans. Man spat in the eye of the Gracious Tides—and yet—Man was ignorant that the sea owns the Earth. Those who rise against the sea are drowned.
Queen Awa knew that while Gia was half Man, her soul was entirely Atargatic. With her vast fortune, Gia could prove to be the perfect ally in Man’s increasingly hostile and volatile world.
After an evening of rest in her chambers, Queen Awa and her Queen Consort, Ndeye, called a meeting in the Nautilus Dome. Inspired by the architectural sculptures of Richard Serra, the high metal walls of the Nautilus Dome wrapped around each other until reaching the Pearl Heart, a round room with rows of benches and an elevated platform in the center with four thrones for the Royal Family. During a recent refurbishment, Prince Moussa had added large LED screens, so that the Queen's face could be seen from any seat.
Everyone rose to stand when the Queen entered the Pearl Heart. She took her place on the High Throne and motioned for everyone to sit. Moussa, Oumar, and Ndeye took their places beside her.
“Good day to you, Stavros,” Queen Awa called out.
“Your Highness,” he replied. “May the Gracious Tides bless you.”
Queen Awa chuckled. “No need for the formalities, old timer. Just call me Queen. We have known one another for many moons. Too many perhaps.”
“How true,” he blushed.
“Shall I guess the purpose of your visit?”
“I imagine you already know it.”
She shrugged her shoulders and said, “Indeed I do. You would like our help with a man from Sicily.”
Don’t Want the Plot Spoiled?
Well, then go on and read the whole book! Here’s a blurb in case you want to know more:
The glamorous Gia Acquaviva struggles to maintain her freedom and hold onto her business empire. A Sicilian mob boss nips at her tail, hoping to lure her into his sick fantasies. Meanwhile, the global media hunts Gia, attempting to hold her accountable for a string of murders. Can the world’s most famous mermaid escape their net, or will she be caught?
“A movie on paper.” ––Kimani Lauren, Author of I’ve Gotta Have It
“Fresh off the heels of Mermaid of Venice, we’re thrown into the next riveting chapter of this escapist saga. Gasp-inducing twists…crisp…Mermaid of Sicily is the perfect sexy thriller for fans of any genre.” –– Rebecca Hefner, Author of the Prevent the Past series