The Mermaid Cafe by Andy Maconachie

Country boy and upcoming artist Wallace Newman is awarded an arts grant and moves to a hotel at Sydney’s Coogee beach to paint pictures of mermaids. Almost as soon as he arrives, he becomes involved in the lives of an array of characters, including an embittered prostitute, a highly strung hotel manager and an elusive swimmer who develops into his mermaid-like muse.

Country boy and upcoming artist Wallace Newman is awarded an arts grant and moves to a hotel at Sydney’s Coogee beach to paint pictures of mermaids. Almost as soon as he arrives, he becomes involved in the lives of an array of characters, including an embittered prostitute, a highly strung hotel manager and an elusive swimmer who develops into his mermaid-like muse.