My life and background has always been around water. I learned to swim, fish, and surf in the Atlantic Ocean. As a teenager I went on numerous "road trips" with my friends to the outer banks of North Carolina to camp and surf for the weekend. I taught lifesaving and was a water safety instructor for four years during college (Longwood University, Va.) I was in the commercial crabbing industry for a year and a half. I then joined the Merchant Marines in 1990, to participate in desert shield/desert storm. For the next twelve years I sailed with various companies, literally sailing around the world, visiting beautiful, vibrant countries, with such different cultures. This was truly a blessing. The project started rolling last June when I met the most beautiful woman ever, both inside and out. She has a heart of gold, full of love, knowledge, a strong passion for doing "good" and wanting everyone to strive to do their best, my inspiration, my muse! It took this beautiful woman, a hurricane, and being pinned down for three hours at a table to put together a "rough book" for the project. After signing an agreement last fall with Rick and Camie, the book sprang to life. This story started three years ago, May 2009, with a play on a pair of words, Marlin and Mermaid. I decided then these words had a meaning and a purpose. As I pondered, the ideas began to flow and they have only continued to grow with new ideas and dreams! This isn't just a book or an eBook as first planned, but now the birth of an interactive eBook, full of information, using the "new" technology designed for tablets and other interactive devices, allowing for children to grow through creative and playful ideas!