I didn’t know this painting was one of my voices until I reviewed old photos. I sold it through Arts for All WI, probably at an art fair, though I can’t remember which one. I wish I had a better photo of her, but this is good enough. I thought it was just a mermaid. I think I did it at a group home in Janesville, which is an Ultimate Hope campus. I was in the basement. She’s a character I’ve tried writing named Shannon F. Potts, or Shannon Fucking Potts. While I was writing Mac’s story, I happened to pass through the kitchen while my parents were watching Dancing With The Stars. There was a blonde little person and I thought, “Wow. That person needs representation in a book.”
I looked her up. Her name was Terra Jole. It has a little mark over the last E, one which I don’t know how to make.
Shannon is a love interest of my other voice, Mac Lomasi. I’m not sure how much I talked to her, but she is still a major player in The Goddamn Unicorn Universe. She is frankly a beeyotch and gets in the way of Mac’s relationship with a character we’ll call Walee. She runs what is called “Female Fight Club.” She is a mermaid living in Madison’s Lake Mendota. I have a friend who calls herself Mendota Mermaid. I asked her if I could use the title. She said yes. I’m probably never going to write it, though. The painting captures it perfectly. I do really enjoy writing these explanations. Thank you to my writing mentor, Kathie Giorgio, for telling me to write differently after I told her I can’t write anymore. This is fun.