Valerie Anne Burns, lover of story and beauty landed in the glamorous life of  Los Angeles. As it turned out, working in Hollywood as a stylist, producer, and story editor wasn't as glamorous as it appeared...

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Fast forward a few decades later to Santa Barbara, where Valerie has completed her book (a collection of linked essays in memoir), "Caution: Mermaid Crossing, Voyages of a Motherless Daughter."

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“Since childhood, when I was living on a tropical island, I have been finding ways to remain in the magic of ethereal beauty as a mermaid does when crossing over to face the demands of life,” said Burns, who has had a business as a Santa Barbara makeover specialist for wardrobe image and home décor. 

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