Wombat Books acquires Linsey Painter’s “The Butterfly Mermaid”

Rhiza Press imprint Wombat Books has acquired world rights to The Butterfly Mermaid, a middle-grade book by Linsey Painter.

The Butterfly Mermaid is a “fun, portal fantasy adventure perfect for middle-grade readers”, the publisher said. “When Yara is swept off her dad’s sailing boat and rescued by fantastical creatures from another world, she discovers that her estranged mother is a mermaid. But in this new world filled with shapeshifters and a dying island, the merfolk are the enemy, and Yara’s presence is far from welcome.”

Painter is the author of picture book We’ll Still Be a Family, and short stories “To Free a Mermaid” (published in the anthology A Glimmer of Uncommon Fairy Tales) and “Mechanical Magic” (published in the anthology Stepping Sideways: Stories of Steampunk and Dystopia).

Painter said, “Writing The Butterfly Mermaid has been an incredible marathon that’s taken about 10 years. It’s packed with elements that I find fun and exciting: adventure, fantasy, mermaids and friendship, and at the same time holds what I have learned through experience about moving to new places, rebuilding relationships and facing fears.”

The publisher said, “It’s a heartwarming story of family and friendship, with hope and love at its core. It’s also initially set in Far North Queensland, where Linsey Painter lives, and features mermaids, which remain a steady interest for young teen girls. Butterflies add a splash of colour and mystery to the story.”

Wombat Books plans to publish The Butterfly Mermaid in February 2027.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions