#BookReview – Wildflower by Maggie Watson & San Francisco Writers Conference Update

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry

Dear Family & Friends,

I hope life is treating you well! The San Francisco Writers Conference last weekend was another great experience that I’m going to ‘tell’ you about, but first, I’m sharing my review of my dear friend, Maggie’s book, Wildflower. If you haven’t met Maggie yet, read about her below and visit her blog! 

I am Maggie Watson, an Indie Poet and Author from Scotland. My poetry journey began at the start of the Pandemic in 2020.
I think we can all agree it was a very difficult time (especially, if like myself, you live alone). I initially put pen to paper as a way of getting my sense of isolation down on paper. I did not envisage then, that it would become such a huge part of my life. My first collection of poems was published (by a publishing house in December 2020). I look at what I wrote back then and cringe!
In 2021 I decided to try and self-publish, and so, "Me and My Shadow" and "Once Upon A Time" were born. Again, as I look back, I know I was only going for the achievement factor and being able to say that I had self-published, rather than concentrating on the standard of my work. The biggest improvement in my writing has come from joining WordPress without a doubt. The standard on here is so high, you do need to raise your bar! 

In October 2024 I released my sixth collection, "Pieces of Me". This was a very important collection as it is my story in poems of my years spent in an Domestic Abuse relationship. At the end of 2025 I released "Wildflower" as a follow up to "Pieces of Me" so that people could see how far I have come, as well as the doubts and fears that sometimes plague me. I was extremely honoured to be part of the After Rain Skies Anthology this year( 2025) curated by Michelle Ayon Najavas. I am, like Michelle, passionate about a subject which is still taboo in some parts of society and trying to empower abuse survivors. My work has also been included in five anthologies, as well as being published at Spillwords and other e-zines (Please see my "Other Publications" Page). Last year, I was awarded both Publication and Author of the Month by Spillwords. These are things I never imagined at the start of my writing journey!
I am forever grateful to the WordPress community for their love and support. All my collections are available on Amazon (Please see my "My Books" Page). I write for the love of writing, and I always hope someone can take something from my words.

My 5-star review:

Maggie Watson pulls the emotions for her poetry deeply from her soul. Her words are honest, raw, beautiful, and painful at times because she is a survivor of domestic abuse. She doesn’t try to mask the nightmare. Instead, Wildflower is a collection of poetry that exudes resilience.

The first line in The Foreword provides a profound beginning: “…you spill your words onto the page and pray that they don’t resonate.” Most writers, me included, wish for their stories and poetry to resonate, but in Maggie’s case, she wishes for no one to endure the abuse that she found herself trapped in. The difference is that she hopes to empower those who are experiencing abuse of any kind, or to encourage survivors of abuse to keep moving forward. Her poems will bring comfort and build muscle. Maggie’s poetry is solid proof that escaping from beneath the hand or belittling words of an abusive partner is possible, not only for personal wellbeing, but to inspire others to make the same bold move.

Choosing favorites from this reflective collection is difficult. So, I’m highlighting pieces of profoundness or wisdom that are sprinkled throughout the book. These are my takeaways even though I haven’t walked in Maggie’s shoes. I acknowledge her experience, the horror and pain, and commend her strength. She is truly an inspiration.

Maggie opens her heart, becomes transparent, and is a straightshooter with her words, but she emphasizes, “Never anoint my skin with pity.” All of us should heed her attitude, “Nothing can live for free in my head unless I agree.”

“To view our scars not as flaws but rather as a work of art or a beautiful mosaic.”

“Always listen to the cadence of preferred words. It is not only the dying who utter silent screams.”

Through Maggie’s heartbreaking and emboldening account, she portrays the truth, that courage lies within us. We can keep it confined or give it freedom.

I’m grateful that Maggie is no longer silent because her voice needs to be heard. She states from “Pieces of Me (5)”: “Those pieces are now artifacts of my history. Now, I look at them and smile.” Maggie wasn’t “born to be a lotus flower. In stagnant water is not where she belongs. She is a wildflower, free!” I highly recommend Wildflower for those who are in an unhealthy relationship, for encouragement to escape, or for anyone who could use a nudge to see the good in spite of life “always being bittersweet.”

I hope my review enticed you to purchase a copy of Maggie’s book, and if you’ve read her evocative collection and it moved you in the same way, it would be nice to leave a review for her on Amazon and/or Goodreads. As she and I both agree, “It’s nice to be nice.” 🥰
And reviews for Indie Authors are like hugs. 🤗

An update about the SF Writers Conference…

I had another rich experience for my second time attending. The conference is an excellent way to meet new people while seeing familiar faces. It’s all about networking. A couple highlights were chatting with Michael Larsen (co-founder who is 92 years old) and Dr. Andy Jones. I took more photos of scenes, but I enjoyed meeting Norelyn, Valerie, Diana, Arlene, Jennifer, and so many more wonderful people, and Teri and I snuck in a selfie by the Valentine booth. The weekend was about spreading love! The two keynote speakers were Jack El-Hai, highlighting his work on the Nuremberg film adaptation, and Raina Telgemeier, a graphic novelist known for Smile, Sisters, and Guts. Both were excellent! The icing on the cake was finding gorgeous red roses and Sees from hubby for Valentine’s Day when we got home!

I hope you enjoy the pics:

I received valuable feedback on my next children’s book, Carlie and Charlie Go Camping, so I’m making small changes before moving forward…

I hope you enjoyed this post and will plan to add Maggie’s book to your TBR for a powerful reading experience. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I look forward to visiting you! ❤️

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com

Author and poet, Lauren Scott, is a recent Pushcart Prize Nominee who enjoys small-town living in the Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their daughter and son live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, this family of four remains close. Lauren has published four collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams (2013), Finding a Balance (2015), Ever So Gently (2023), and King Copper (2025). In 2021, she released her memoir, More than Coffee. Her first children’s book, Cora’s Quest, was published in 2024. Lauren has been a guest on several podcasts, and her writing is featured on Spillwords Press where she was voted Author of the Month and garnered Publication of the Month awards. She is a recent recipient of the Publication of the Year (Poetic) Award. Lauren is a contributing author in several anthologies, and her work is showcased on LatinosUSA and Gobblers and Masticadores. She is currently working on her second children’s book and another collection of poetry. Lauren’s muse discovers inspiration from family, spending time outdoors, reveling in simple things, and marveling at the mysteries of life. 

Click on the image to purchase your copy. ❤️

134 thoughts on “#BookReview – Wildflower by Maggie Watson & San Francisco Writers Conference Update”

  4. I am looking forward to reading Maggie’s new poetry book. Thank you for sharing your excellent review. Congratulations, Maggie. The conference pictures show how well organized it was! It must be so exciting to be a part of of it and you are looking awesome.

    Reply

  5. I’ve never attended a writer’s conference, but you get me thinking Lauren. It looks like a lot of fun. Glad to hear that you got some valuable feedback on your next work. That sounds like a great sign of how helpful a conference can be! Glad to hear.

    Reply

    1. I know you would enjoy a writers conference, Brian. It’s about networking and gathering information so that each writer can choose a path that is best suited for him/her. It’s also about socializing and having fun. 🙂 Thanks for your kind words. I was told that my synopsis was excellent and learned more about the kind of book that I want my story to be (picture book, early reader, etc). The learning never ends, but now I know the format that will be best. What made me feel good was the invitations to email once I’m finished with editing. You should search conferences in your area. Thanks again, and I’ll visit you soon!

      Reply

      2. That’s great and I get it. It’s a lot to think about and plan ahead of time. Mine was easy because it’s only half hour away, but if I had to fly somewhere, that would definitely take more planning. Thanks again, Brian!

  6. Dearest Lauren I am so glad you had an amazing time at the conference (I will be picking your brains soon 🤗)
    Those red roses are so beautiful, just like you my friend 🌹❤️🌹
    Thank you so very much for sharing your wonderful review of Wildflower 🙏
    It means a lot 🥰🌹and I am so happy to hear you enjoyed it.
    Thank you for everything !
    Much love and big squishy hugs to you xoxox

    Reply

    1. You’re so welcome, Maggie, and I’m sorry it took soooo long! I’m glad you enjoyed the conf. update too. It’s always my pleasure to support you, my friend! xoxoxo More hugs and warm hugs to you! 💖🌷💖🌷💖

      Reply

    2. I just had a thought. Have you looked into SCBWI? It’s an organization for children’s writers and illustrators. I used to be active in the So Cal chapter when we lived in Palm Springs. They have local meetings, critique groups and invite editors and publishers to speak. Plus a ton of online resources including a market survey that spells out publishers, if they accept unsolicited manuscripts and what they are looking for. There’s also a NYC and Los Angeles national conference each year. https://www.scbwi.org/.

      Reply

      1. Yes, I joined last year because a friend suggested it. But with Copper’s passing, King Copper was my focus. This year, I’d like to look into SCBWI more for reasons you mentioned. So, thank you! I appreciate the thought! 🥰

      2. I just rejoined and am looking for a home for several stories I wrote years ago. I was offered a contract for one of them and won a national contest for another one. I turned down the publisher because I didn’t think it was “big” enough. I have kicked myself for 20 years on that one!

      3. Wow! That’s amazing, and don’t kick yourself. You can’t go back, so just move forward. I want to put my work out there more in contests, etc. But some contests only accept work like poetry that is unpublished. So If I share on my blog, that’s a problem for many contests. I think I’m going to post less of my writing so I can try other avenues. It’s hard to know what to do. 🙂 Good luck with your projects!

      4. Thanks! Also, I appreciate your words to move forward. I can’t go back. I was having early success with children’s magazines and had a contract with the Los Angeles Times. They had a kid section in the Sunday comics. I thought it would be a breeze. I learned it isn’t!

        I didn’t know that about contests that won’t accept work we publish on our blogs. Thanks for the advice.

  9. Pingback: A Thousand Thank You’s – Ephemeral Encounters

  10. Hi Lauren, it’s been ages since I saw you on here… though to be fair, I’ve been a bit sporadic keeping up with blogs. It’s good to read a little of what you’ve been up to! I hope you are doing well. Have a great weekend!

    Reply

    1. Yeah, it’s been a while Steve and I’ve missed you and everybody, but I’m trying to work on projects and I can’t do it all especially when I still have a day job. There are some things that I want to do or try this year, so I think I’ll be blogging less, but I’m not sure exactly what that means. Anyway all is well and I hope you and your family are doing well too. 🙂

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      1. I’ve missed your presence here too, Lauren, and completely understand about competing priorities. We’ll be here in blogland whenever you can make it!

        Doing well thanks! 🙂

  13. Congratulations to Maggie on the stellar review! Sharing to help spread the word.

    I’m glad you enjoyed your time at the writers’ conference! The architecture of the venue looks very unusual. (At least to me!)

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    2. Thanks for the good wishes to Maggie, Liz, and for sharing. The conference was held at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco and it’s a beautiful and iconic hotel. This conference is held there every year and it’s such a beautiful place to stay while taking in the networking and knowledge. 😊✍️

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      2. It really is, and the architecture is unique and beautiful. It was nice to stay there so that after the evening events, I could just take the picturesque glass elevator up to my room. A conference worth attending! 🤗

  14. Great review of Maggie’s work. She should feel honored.

    I was just wondering how things may have gone at the writer’s conference, and here came my answer. Getting valuable feedback on your work in progress must have felt good.

    Reply

    2. Thanks so much, Pete, and I’m glad Maggie’s happy with the review. Her book is well deserving.
      What a coincidence that you found your answer. 🙂 Yes, the feedback was wonderful to hear. When the book comes out, I hope you like it! Have a great weekend! 😊✍️

      Reply

  15. what a wonderful review of Maggie’s book. this line, ‘…you spill your words onto the page and pray that they don’t resonate.’ so incredibly powerful and it sums it up. I feel it will help others.

    on another notes – so glad you enjoyed the conference and it sounds like you made a.lot of good connections

    Reply

  18. Lauren, what a wonderful review of Maggie’s book, and I wish her much success. I am glad you enjoyed the conference, and how sweet of your hubby to give you those gorgeous roses for Valentine’s Day. 💕

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  23. Fabulous post Lauren!

    I am a relatively new follower to Maggie’s blog, and I’ve heard many wonderful things about her writing. I fear her poetry will resonate with many, unfortunately.

    “Man’s inhumanity to man” – Burns

    OMG! The Writer’s conference has come and gone. That came up fast! It sounds like you had a great experience.

    I’m trying something new, myself. I’ll be the guest artist (to the main artist who is showing oil paintings) at a Pop-Up gallery show: 2 Art Gowns, a dozen Art Gown canvases (photos I took then had printed on faux canvas, then added bits of paint) and 6- 8 of my rock star portraits. I’ve had 6 posters made of each to sell (hopefully).

    There’s an opening night, and it will run for 1 week from 1-5 in the aft.

    Are you back blogging? OR?

    ❦🕊 ~ ❤︎✾💙✾❤︎ ~ 🕊❦

    Reply

    1. I agree about Maggie’s writing, Resa. I know you’ll love it, but it’s powerful and raw. Yes, time is flying, isn’t it? Feb. is almost gone. Don’t blink! 🙂

      That’s wonderful about being a guest artist at the Pop-Up gallery show! When is it?
      I’d love to buy one of your posters, but I fear they might be expensive. Can you email me and let me know? You always support me, so I’d like to support you if I can.

      Blogging this year will take on a whole new look – maybe a few times a month or less. I need time to work on my two books, and I want to put myself out there in other writing ways. I can’t do it if I’m sitting at the computer during my free time. That day job comes first, then everything else works around it. I feel bad though because I’m missing so much, but ironically, other friends are blogging less too. I want to still keep my ‘presence’ but not as often. Sigh. Finding a balance isn’t easy. Anyway, thanks for popping in! Hugs ❤️🌷💫

      Reply

      1. HUGS back to you Lauren!

        I get what you say about blogging. This is why my Art Gowns posts can go a month – 6 weeks w/o a post. Often I suppress comments.

        GLAM gets about a post a week- 10 days. Of course now that I’m working on this show, I expect to be even slower at blogging.

        There’s a beauty in that. It is that somehow by interacting with other bloggers, each our own art has flourished into an entity that demands more time.
        That is really what it’s all about. AND we still blog and visit when the time is right.

        Life is a lot about finding balances.

        The posters: I haven’t decided what I’m charging. They cost me about $20.00 US each to be printed. It’s a limited edition of 6 each. My friend says $120.00.
        BUT
        I’m still deciding on 2 more faces. At this point I have done Janis Joplin, Leonard Cohen, Keith Richards and Joni Mitchell.

        Let me figure which other 2 I’m doing. Is there one of my portraits that you think would be popular to sell?

        Anyway, let’s wait until after the show. At that point I would be happy to send you one for the cost of the printing and shipping.

        They are 14″ x 18″.

        If I sell a bunch and recoup my money + some, I’ll send you one, a gift.

        ✾ ~ 🕊❦ 💙❦🕊 ~ ✾ (xoxoxoxo)

      2. You said it well, Resa, and I can’t choose a favorite of yours! I believe all of your art will sell really well! Just keep me posted, and you can email me too. I would love to have one!
        Blogging and interacting with others has been wonderful, and the support is so valuable. But what I’ve recently found is that if I want to submit a poem to a magazine or a contest, let’s say, some require unpublished, even on blogs. So, it makes me feel that I probably shouldn’t share everything I write on my blog because I want to try other means of getting published. I hope I’m not forgotten though. 🙂 Anyway, XOXOXOXOXO 🥰🌷

      3. Yes, unpublished is a concern when submitting.
        Thing is, you write amazing poetry, so when you feel one isn’t up to the magazine/ot publication, chuck it our way!

        We are both still around, and I will keep in touch via email. I’ll send you the invite, for fun!
        XOXOXOXOXO💙💃🏽

  24. Love your review Lauren. Maggie’s new book looks like one I’ll add to my “to read list”. I’m working on a similar poetry book this year. I’ll also love to discover her blog – thank you for sharing. And nice to see photos of the conference 😊 and knowing you are moving on with your new book too!

    All the best and have a great week my friend.

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Marie, and Maggie will be thrilled! I look forward to hearing more about your book and can’t wait to read it. Thanks for your kind words about the conference and my book too! Wishing you the same! Hugs 💖🌷

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  28. The SF Writer’s Conference sounds thrilling! I’m glad you had a wonderful experience. You wrote a fantastic review of Maggie’s book, and I wholeheartedly agree with it. I just finished reading Maggie’s powerful collection and will post my review tomorrow.

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  30. Lauren, what a beautiful review you really did Maggie’s work justice. You don’t come across that kind of writing often, where an author is hoping no one else has lived what she’s lived. That’s something. And the conference sounds like such a good time 🙌🏼

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  33. Hi, Lauren!

    I am glad you are well and enjoying the writing conference. I was thinking I haven’t seen you in the blogging world here for a while. I came directly to your page. Nice to reconnect.

    Blessings

    Lisa xoxo

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Lisa, and yes, I’m changing things this year. Less time online and more time working on my second children’s book and another poetry collection. I still work, so doing everything is impossible. If I spend most of my time blogging then I’m not working on my projects. It’s a hard decision. But I’ll blog a few times a month and will read blogs at that time. I will visit you soon though. Thanks for popping in and I hope all is well with you. xoxo

      Reply

  34. Lauren, thank you for sharing your thoughtful and thought-provoking review of ‘Wildflowers’! The excepts are powerful and I’m especially moved by: ‘“To view our scars not as flaws but rather as a work of art or a beautiful mosaic.” Wow!

    I’m glad you had such a great time at the conference and you have definitely made the most of the networking. The present awaiting you at home was so sweet. What a guy! 😀❤️xx

    Reply

    1. Hi Annika, it’s great to see you and thanks so much for your wonderful, wonderful comment. Maggie’s book is amazing and I agree with your wow on that line. I’m sure you would love the conference experience too if you haven’t already attended one. Hope all is well with you. Sending hugs. 🥰❤️🌻

      Reply

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