Please go to www.mermaidscientist.org for all updates, freebies, and information on new Mermaid Scientist books and projects. Like the Rockfish Kids Book! Written and Illustrated by Claudia Makeyev.
New Website: mermaidscientist.org
Author Archives: mermaidscientist
Website under construction
Coloring Book for Sale!
The first Mermaid Science Coloring Book is for Sale on Amazon and Create Space!
Here’s the link:
It has mermaids, rockfish, sea stars and more! A great way to learn about the colors in the ocean.
Mermaid Scientist Gets Big Fish Contract
All smiles! I won the bid with NOAA/NMFS to create an educational rockfish kids science book & poster!! Drawings of canary rockfish, yellow eye rockfish & bocaccio coming soon!
Nothing like catching a big fish contract!
Photo throwback to catching the biggest fish in Palau
#62milliongirls
For no good reason there is a prevalent fallacy spread through many areas of the third world that a boy’s education in more important than a girl’s. This was a harsh fact for a liberal, educated California girl to come to terms with in my travels. This is also the reason I began a program in the East Indies, The Mermaid Islands Corp.; to help educate girls.
The powerful First Lady Michelle Obama has gracefully started a campaign to raise awareness to the 62 million girls denied access to education. Mermaid Scientist and Mermaid Islands embody this spirit and certainly my band of sea fans do too! So, just in case you missed it, this is the First Lady’s message:
“In school, we learn that our voices matter. Tweet or Instagram
a black and white portrait and share what you learned in school:
“In school, I learned ____. #62MillionGirls don’t have that chance.””
In support of this inspiring program and with my optimistic hope that the more we talk about the importance of educating girls, the more girls will gain access to an education and consequently whole universes of possibilities! Check out 62milliongirls.com to see all the cute little kid celebrity photos, my favorite has got to be Mindy Kaling.
here is mine:
“In school, I learned how to be a scientist. #62MillionGirls don’t have that chance.”
Join the movement and tweet or Instagram yours too,
what a fun and easy way to get involved!
Central Coast Writer’s Conference
The 2015 Writers Conference did not disappoint! This year I got to be in charge of the 2015 Teen Writer’s program (thanks to PG&E who generously covered their conference fees). These teens brought contagious joy to their craft and raw talent radiated from their pens. It was truly inspiring and I look forward to doing it all again next year! Every September it is full of brilliant talent, workshops and lectures. A local opportunity to create and network with other writers and artists on the summery Central Coast of California. Thank you Teri Bayus and the rest of the CCWC2015 team!
For next year’s updates follow their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CentralCoastWritersConference
Broke Bay Area Art
I have a talented and handsome brother named Alex (see below). He writes for the young, broke and beautiful on a site called brokeassstewart.com. This month, I had the pleasure of illustrating the above for one of their tongue and cheek articles on which city is “hipper” San Francisco or Oakland. If you are interested in the answer, check it out: http://brokeassstuart.com/blog/2015/09/01/10-reasons-why-oakland-beats-san-francisco/
Bound for SCBWI 2015
This fresh pack ‘o cards is excited for the 2015 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference in LA!
Sketching New Characters
Memories of a Marine Biologist
Looking throughout old sketchbooks of rockfish and found these from my NOAA/NMFS days as a Research Fisheries Biologist. Fun, fun, fun…. contemplating Quillback Stock Assessment. oh the memories of analyzing all the West Coast spatially enabled trawl data for groundfishes, making conclusions about Rockfish Conservation Areas and other such mer-things.
Quillback Stock Assessment
Flag Rockfish
Not a Christmas Mermaid
There have been a lot of inquiries about the first Mermaid Scientist book coming out in time for the holidays. I myself was extremely excited too. This was to be the easiest Christmas shopping year of my life. One item for everyone! Done! Happy Holidays! Love Me. But the tide is switching and temporarily floating Mermaid Scientist away into the world of real world publishers. I am bursting with happiness to report this, don’t get me wrong! But I am choking on the enthusiastic lump in my throat as I report that Mermaid Scientist is not aloud out into the world quite yet. Soon to be sure, just not in time for Christmas 2014. I will keep you updated as things progress and be tragically relegated to gifting of socks, calendars and fruitcakes this year. 
Mermaid Scientist partners with Red Fox Literary
At the Central Coast Writers’ Conference this September, I carried with me my first fully illustrated children’s book; my trusty companion for these last couple years. We excitedly attended lectures, encountered authors and illustrators and had the pleasure of lunching with a few literary agents. The artists and agents liked my “Jacques Cousteau meets little mermaid” concept and I am thrilled (and also sighing with happy relief).
I am excited to announce that Mermaid Scientist and I officially signed with
Karen Grencik and Red Fox Literary.
Red Fox is finding a great home for Mermaid Scientist in the big world of publishing.
Looking forward to a long lasting and productive partnership!
Front and Back Mermaid Book Covers
I would love to say that I do not judge a book by it’s cover but that would be a complete lie.
When perusing bookshelves I look, I judge and I pick up what looks interesting.
A book cover is the first impression you give to your reader. “Hello there, evaluate my choice of font and color preference and then pick me up!” the book cover yells visually from the shelf, hoping to woo its perfect reader, enticing them to reach out and touch you.
My target audience is the kid interested in the ocean and mermaid information. I’m also looking for parents, aunties, uncles and friends looking for the perfect gift for their little loved one, a gift that they will both enjoy and learn something productive.
Pink, flowery ridiculousness with modern fonts ooze and overflow in the girly section but this project represents something different. So here you have it: tropical blues and greens and the old school type used by the likes of Shel Silverstein and the Dewey Decimal system. Crossing fingers and toes.
Mermaid Scientist Story Hour
Story Hour with the Mermaid Scientist was a success!
Thank you to the SLO librarians, the enthusiastic kids and supportive parents
You are the wonderful!
The Mermaid Scientist Displays will be up at the San Luis Obispo Library for all of August 2014
Mermaid Scientist 
