Welcome to 2026
Happy New Year and Welcome to 2026!
We are so excited for this new year and what it will hold for Mermaid Cove. A new year has many people thinking of resolutions, goals, healthy lifestyles, etc. If you are a writer, illustrator, artist, or designer, I’m sure you have many things you would like to achieve during this new year. Look for inspiration and creativity in the world around you. Find the motivation and strength within you to achieve what you wish for so you can be all that you can be. ONE STEP AT A TIME.
In February, the new book by author Gary Brown will be released. A Practical Guide to Changing Our World Through Personal Transformation explores the ways in which man’s concepts of purpose, progress, time, and relationships have changed since God created this world, and the effects of these changes upon our lives - as individuals, as a society, as a race. Gary’s book will be available on our website, Amazon, B&N online, and many other online booksellers.
Gary is not only an author, but he is an artist and composer. His art and music combine to create a multimedia experience like no other. Read more about Gary here, https://mermaidcoveproductions.com/garybrown.
During the week following Christmas, part of the Mermaid Cove family flew to Norway with other family members for a vacation together. Both of our in-house photographers, Scott and Rachel, enjoyed many photo-shoots together while in Norway. They enjoyed talking about cameras, settings, lighting, and lenses. Norway is such a beautiful place, and we experienced so many “once-in-a-lifetime” moments that we will treasure forever.
We recently received the below picture from a reader who used the recipe for Pork Tenderloin with Fresh Blueberry Sauce from Shared Memories Buoyant Life to create this wonderful meal.
Have you written a book or poetry and need it published? Or do you need illustrations created just for your work? Are you an artist ready to create fine art prints from your work? Do you need an engaging and creative website or a new logo for your brand? Mermaid Cove Productions can help you with all these needs. Contact us today to see how we can help you.
Mermaid Reads: Book recommendations and what we’re reading.
Lilac Girls, Martha Hall Kelly
Fisherman Bob and the Flabberjack, J. S. Clawson
In this new year remember: True life mermaids (or mermen) believe in themselves, they embrace their creativity and live life to the fullest.
Updates from the writer’s desk …
Happy 2026! A new year with new possibilities! I know this segment is titled “From the Writer’s Desk”, which is actually only half of the story. I am also a photographer and split my time between writing and photography. Each discipline is a craft that needs to be developed. The more time you spend on each, the better they should become. I love both writing and photography. One of my fears, however, is what I allude to as the Motorsailor paradox. A Motorsailor is a boat which is part sailboat, and part motorboat. As a sailboat, it typically has a smaller sail set and shorter keel than a typical sailboat. As a motorboat, it typically has a larger motor than what is found in a sailboat (though smaller than what is found in a motorboat of its size) and a larger living space than what is available in a typical sailboat. The result is that you end up with a boat that is a bad sailboat and a bad motorboat. It is unable to do either discipline well. Focusing on two disciplines, you run the risk of mediocrity in both.
The challenge is what I love the most about both of these crafts. When you are developing your craft, you will be challenged consistently. It is how we address these challenges that allow us to develop and enhance our craft. As a writer, your manuscripts may be rejected for publishing. As a photographer, your artwork may never be recognized. Thanks to you, those that follow my work and read my books, my craft has developed in ways I could have only imagined years ago. Recently I entered some of my photography into a competition with the Virginia Living Magazine Photography Competition and my entry Ruby Flash! won 1st Place in the Nature and Wildlife Reader’s Choice category! Thank you to everyone that voted and supported me in the competition. It is very heartwarming and humbling.
I would like to start the year again with a big Thank You! and with some encouragement. Wayne Gretzky (famous hockey player) once said “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. If your craft is photography, you can’t get the photo if you don’t take the photo. Carry that camera with you everywhere. Take the photo that you would like to see. And then share that photo with the world to help make it a better, brighter and more beautiful place.
If your craft is writing, write it down! I firmly believe every single person has a story in them. Tell it. It doesn’t have to be 9,250 pages of Lord of the Rings. Start with a poem, start with a short story. Write that kid’s book. Have you thought of a legacy book for your family, published only for your children or grandchildren? Put thought to paper and share it with the world. Publishing your work could never be easier.
Is your craft painting or drawing? Do not stop, keep painting and drawing with enjoyment! Think about having your work scanned and giclee printed for others to enjoy and to hang in their house. Share your beauty with others and help make the world that much better.
Whatever you do, I wish you the best in 2026 and look forward to meeting you this year, hearing from you this year and sharing in your accomplishment this year as well! Take care.
