It is a busy Spring
I don’t know about you, but we’ve had a very busy spring so far! We have been non-stop working on the new, upcoming Gwynn’s Island cookbook, getting ready for the upcoming photography exhibit, and at home we have been busy cleaning yards and gardens of their winter mess.
And yes as I just mentioned, The Gwynn’s Island cookbook, Shared Memories Buoyant Life, will be going to print this week! We have dedicated many, many hours and months to this project and we can’t wait to show you the finished product. You will be the first to get a peek at the cover once printed! Stay tuned! We would like to thank those that have contributed to this project: Rachel, our creative advisor; Krista and Adrienne, our editors; Helena for her Mermaid illustration, and Mom, who contributed many photos and tasted lots of food.
If you love art or are a photographer living in coastal Virginia, please plan to participate in the photography contest and exhibit to benefit the Gwynn’s Island Museum in June. Mermaid Cove Productions, in conjunction with the Gwynn’s Island Festival, will host this photography contest and exhibit. Coastal Reverie, Musings of Virginia’s Coastal Shores from the Photographer’s Eye, will feature a collection of photographic works showcasing the uniqueness, beauty, and depth of our region’s shores as seen through the lens of a camera. The exhibit opening reception will take place on Friday, June 27, 6:30-9:00pm and the exhibit will remain at the museum through July 5th. If you are interested in learning more, please visit our website for more information and entry forms, https://mermaidcoveproductions.com/coastalreverie
We have so many projects coming up for both our publishing and production departments. In June we begin working on a very touching poetry book by Melany, a talented writer. Helena is busy working on illustrations for the newest children’s book we shared with you last time. The French translation of The Hawk and the Hummingbird And the Treasure is finished by Gipsy and ready to be formatted. Then once we return from a photography trip to Paris, we begin work on a historical coffee table book featuring architectural photography from Paris. All the while, Mermaid Cove will be preparing for the Gwynn’s Island Festival and Coastal Reverie at the end of June.
Helena attended the International Kite Festival in northern France in April and shared some amazing pictures with us. And being the dedicated illustrator, Helena took her sketch book along with her. We couldn’t ask for a better illustrating partner!
Stay creative, smell the flowers, and continue to enjoy the spring days!
True life mermaids (or mermen) believe in themselves, they embrace their creativity and live life to the fullest.
Update from the writer’s desk…
Is it me or is May flying by spectacularly fast? Time flies when you are having fun, and May is shaping up to be a fun Month. One thing came to mind early one morning when I was over at the beach. I had gone over with the hopes of catching a comet (C/2025 F2 (SWAN)) with some of my astrophotography gear. As with a lot of comets, the atmospheric conditions have to be pretty good, especially if they are not very bright. That morning it was shaping up to be a bust as I was having difficulty locating it near the constellation it was supposed to be at. Suddenly I noticed an object on the horizon that was odd. My brain could not figure out for a minute what it was. Then I finally realized what I was looking at. It was a moonrise, the moon had the tiniest sliver of light as it came above the horizon with the sky just beginning to show color, all dark hues of purple, red, and pink. Phenomenal! Except that I was set up for astrophotography! All my cameras were pointed towards the heavens and mounted on star trackers. I didn't have my good tripod with me either. None the less, I was not going to let this opportunity slip me by without trying something. I grabbed the only camera with an actual lens (i.e not a telescope lens), took it off the star tracker and used the truck bed and bed cover at my stable platform. You know what? It worked. A beautiful photo of a moonrise with a blacked-out dock in the foreground.
So, sometimes things don't go as planned. But just being there can open an opportunity. You can't take a picture if you don't grab the camera and go. You can't write a book if you don't sit down and write. Whatever your passion, take some time this month to engage with it and see what happens! In honor of my cosmic friend the comet that I never got a picture of, here is a poem I wrote in 2007. It is loosely in the style of a Quatern with the repeating refrain, though the syllable count per line is incorrect (should be eight syllables per line). Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.
Endless Quest
Quietly passing through heavy blackness Soft spoken whispers of an ancient past Silently gliding in breathless movement Mysterious creatures abiding within
Centuries abroad these traveling vagabonds Quietly passing through heavy blackness Endlessly searching far flung reaches Unflinching sacrifice of sorrowed souls
Longing for days long since past Renewing vigor for unspoken dreams Quietly passing through heavy blackness Restless in heart of unfailing dedication
Children of light and of stardust Wayward bound for all eternity Forever flowing on swift solar winds Quietly passing through heavy blackness
Stay in touch with Scott and keep up with his exhibits and book signings here, https://www.jsclawson.com/
