First Place Finish
This week we start with Congratulations to Scott. His photograph, Ruby Flash, has been selected as the 1st place winner in the Nature & Wildlife category of the 2026 Virginia Living Photography Awards, Reader’s Choice. Thank you to those of you who voted for his photograph! As a winner, his work will be featured by Virginia Living magazine and be included in the exhibition at Quirk Gallery in the Pink Gallery, downtown Richmond, January 22 through February 22. If you are interested in visiting the exhibition, the gallery is located at 201 W. Broad Street in Richmond, VA. If you have a minute, please send Scott a congratulatory note at scott@jsclawson.com.
We are currently finishing up the layout, illustrations, and production of the new book by Shenandoah Squatch. This new book, The Floating Squatch, a beautifully illustrated picture book, is a rhyming story about kindness and helping others. Shenandoah Squatch, also known as the Floating Bigfoot, will be appearing at many festivals and shows in 2026 and he sells his Bigfoot wares on Etsy. Make sure to check out all his social media sites for festival schedules. Find links to Shenandoah Squatch’s sites here, https://mermaidcoveproductions.com/shenandoah-squatch
Here is a sneak peak of The Floating Squatch.
Have you heard? Tibby Goes to the Beach is now available! We have been anticipating the release of this children’s board book and it is finally here. Our illustrator, Laura, produced such cute and colorful illustrations for this new Tibby book. This new book is a lift-a-flap book that will delight every child as they find out what Tibby sees at the beach.
Mermaid Reads: Book recommendations and what we’re reading.
Before We Were Yours, Lisa Wingate
Tibby Goes to the Beach, J. S. Clawson
True life mermaids (or mermen) believe in themselves, they embrace their creativity and live life to the fullest.
Updates from the writer’s desk…
The grip of Winter is here. Clear blue skies and bright sun are tantalizingly deceptive. When you step outside, the wind is biting and the air is cold. I love the clear winter nights the best. The humidity haze of the summer is gone, and the stars and planets are at their brightest. In our part of the world, Orion with its belt and sword glide all night over top of us. You can literally see the orange of Mars. The Pleiades shine bright blue. It gets me thinking. How vast is that space?
In the movie Contact with Jodie Foster, young Ellie asks he dad “Dad, do you think there’s people on other planets?”. Her dad answers “I don’t know Sparks. But I guess I’d say if it is just us……. seems like an awful waste of space.” Looking up, I am enamored by the thought of how ancient the stars are. The belt of Orion is formed by the star groups Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka. Alnitak is actually a triple star system, and the primary star is Alnitak Aa which is a hot blue super-giant. Hot blue super-giants are known for their fast stellar winds. Imagine traveling the depths of space, propelled by stellar winds, in search of the ancient memories of the stars.
Star Traveler
Sliding through endless stars cold and dark
Ancient memories reaching out
Highways of stardust guiding
Solar winds pushing all
Gravity tugging
Constant Movement
Endless search
Where are
You?
