Love says she was inspired to write the book when she met a former partner's older brother, who had transitioned a few years before Love began writing the book. Who knows if that's because they're magical creatures who can live between two realities or because they don't have any genitals.' Influences Love's initial plan was to have Julián meet with drag queens on their way to a drag ball, inspired by RuPaul's Drag Race, but in an interview with PinkNews, she said she changed the characters to mermaids, as her research uncovered the mythical creature's significance to transgender people: 'There's something about mermaids. After that, Love decided to redraw the whole book on brown paper similar to kraft instead of white paper, believing it would be better for the warmer and pastel tones she used throughout her illustrations. The book's draft, which was originally 45 pages, called 'insanely long' by Love's agent, was sent to Candlewick Press, and later accepted for publishing.

Parker helped Love find an agent who was willing to help publish her book. During her debut on Broadway, she met with Mary-Louise Parker. At the time she considered self-publishing the book, but decided to look for an agent instead. After writing an initial draft, she kept working on the art until 2016. Love began writing Julián Is a Mermaid while working as an actress on a Jez Butterworth play in 2014. His grandmother then takes him to the parade, where he gets to walk with all the other mermaids. After leaving the bath, his grandmother gives what seems a disapproving look and leaves for a while, just to return with a smile on her face and a pearl necklace for Julián.

Julián becomes fascinated by them and starts dreaming of becoming a mermaid swimming in the sea.īack home, while his grandmother is showering, Julián fashions himself a mermaid outfit with a variety of materials he finds at home, including a potted plant and window curtains. One day, while on the subway with his grandma, Julián sees some of the participants of the Coney Island Mermaid Parade.

Julián Is a Mermaid was awarded the Stonewall Book Award and the Klaus Flugge Prize, and was highlighted in several 'Best Of' lists. The book received wide praise from critics, both for its emotional depth and the author's artistic decision to mix watercolor, gouache, and ink in her paintings, as well as for her usage of pastel tones against a more muted background. Love first began writing the book in 2014 while she worked as an actress, and it was published in 2018 by Candlewick Press. It tells the story of a boy who wants to become a mermaid and participate in the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. Julián Is a Mermaid is an American children's picture book by Jessica Love.

Book julian is a mermaid