Author: Lauren Scott, Author

Welcome to my corner of this wonderful community where I share my poetry, short stories, and occasional photos. My husband and I have been married for almost thirty-five years, and we have two adult children. Our furry family member is Copper, an 80-lb chocolate lab mix, and he just turned 13 years old. I have published two collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams (2013) and Finding a Balance (2015). My memoir, More than Coffee, was published in 2021, and my recent publication is a poetry collection titled Ever So Gently released in July. I have finished my first children’s book and am working with my illustrator with plans to publish in 2024. When you visit, I hope you find something to take with you, but that you also find something enticing enough to keep bringing you back. I truly appreciate your visit. Cheers, Lauren ❤️

New Book Release: King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry 🤎

On August 1, 2025August 1, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Book Promotions, Poetry126 Comments

*Those eyes. That face.*
*He had his head on my knee.*

Dear Friends,

This is the most bittersweet book promotion I’ve done. My poetry book in tribute of Copper, our chocolate lab mix, who left our earthly world in March will be released on Wednesday, August 6th. Both paperback and e-book versions will be available. I’m partial to holding a book in my hands, so the paperback is what I prefer. When my copy arrived, my emotions got the best of me. I’m so proud of this compilation to honor Copper, and in a way, all of our dogs that have blessed our family.

Both versions: paperback and e-book are available on Amazon, and Barnesandnoble.com.
Kobo offers the e-book only. Just fyi, the e-book format is a bit different
than the paperback.
If you’re interested, you can pre-order now. For Amazon, you can click on the front cover image…

This collection is a combination of freestyle poems, tanka, limericks, micro poetry, and haiku, including color photos. The first section consists of poems written when our golden boy was still with us. Then when he received his angel wings, the mood shifts because I wrote through the initial grieving process.

A few samples:

Tour De Force

Prancing on the left like a well-bred horse
Staying in step, not drifting off course
Stopping for sniffs
And frequent leg lifts
His character is a tour de force!

Showstopper

There once was a dog named Copper
Whose good looks were a showstopper
A hugger and kisser
Love he’ll deliver
Bit with love comes lots of slobber!

One More Moment

A dog barks in the
distance causing me to pause,
it sounds like Copper’s –
a wild imagination
longing for one more moment.

To the Best Family (an excerpt)

I felt sad to leave you,
but my body was tired,
it wouldn’t stop hurting.
Then I couldn’t walk.
How could I live like that?
I was too big. I needed to be
able to get around and sniff
and lift my leg and play.
I was old, and I lived a
great life with you, Mom,
Dad, Sis, and Bro!

You gave me a loving home,
and before you adopted me,
that’s what I wished for,
so you made my wish come true…

An excerpt from the Preface

When I knelt down to Copper’s level, my heart melted. His amber, soul-searching eyes told me all I needed to know.

I recalled sitting at the table, perusing a Labrador rescue website. A lab sporting a copper-colored coat stood out like a citrine crystal in a bowl of black diamonds. I had to meet the handsome fellow.

So, on a late winter March day in 2012, my family drove to Oakland to meet Copper. A woman was fostering him in her small apartment. He had a gentle demeanor, and after a walk around the block and some play time, I was ready to take him home…

***** I’ve decided not to do a formal blog tour, but if any of you are interested in sharing about my book on your blogs or social media, please let me know.
I would be grateful. 🙏

Thank you for your support this year when I shared about Copper and the heavy hearts that my family and I have had. If you have a cuddly pet, give them a hug for me.
And if you plan on purchasing a copy to read about our beloved King Copper, thank you so very much. ❤️

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Protective Gear

On July 28, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry92 Comments

At first, I was uncertain. How would I live with my own personal white noise tailing me like a spy? I couldn’t make a James Bond escape. A daunting shadow stalked me for days because the constant hiss felt claustrophobic though I’ve never been…but then time doesn’t concern itself with rest, and I learned to tune it out (the irony). So, to you who reassured me that life goes on despite the hiss, I offer my deepest gratitude. And then I rotated my thoughts, tumbling them in the frontal lobe like clothes in a Kenmore dryer, until my attitude experienced a transformation. My personal noise became protective gear, shielding me from unwanted hubbub in the world, carrying a more soothing cause than threatening.

We deal with the hands we’re dealt, but some take more grit than others to navigate. This should be acknowledged, so navigation time is subject to personal situations. Yet, in doing so, we create our own rules, bringing a whisper of warmth settling over us like being wrapped in the comfort of a cashmere blanket.

try inviting in
a positive perspective
to alleviate

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

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.
This post is a follow-up to my original “Hiss”
in case you missed it.
Photo by SlipcoverKAS .COM on Pexels.com
Happy Monday, and I wish you a wonderful week! ❤️

Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble,
but click on the image to purchase
your copy through Amazon.💜

Diddly-squat

On July 26, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry75 Comments

it could be a lunch at our favorite café
it could be a chat, laughter,
and stroll through the mall
it could be sharing a morning coffee
with a stunning sunrise
it could be gossip on the patio
it could be a Sunday dinner
it could be a weekend away
for mom and daughter…

but it can’t for now
as long as geography gets in our way
as long as circumstances dictate
so I’ll continue missing her,
comforting my hurting heart
until the next trip in the air.

i thought i’d get used to it
i thought time would heal
well, time has done diddly-squat
so, if i allow the distance
to take up residence in my thoughts,
i’ll just add one more ache
to my medical records.

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

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.
I was in a downer of a mood the other day,
missing my daughter and son. I’ve written
about both of them, so this one is for my
daughter, who has always had a sunflower
personality. 💜

Wordless Wednesday

On July 23, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Photos85 Comments

*Painted Ladies* in San Francisco –
**Have you been here?**

Alamo Square Park across from the *Painted Ladies*

**Musical entertainment for opening day**
**of the new park section**

Golden Gate Bridge –
Have you seen this iconic bridge?

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

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.
Thank you for stopping by, and Happy Wednesday! 💖

Fade the Shadows

On July 20, 2025July 20, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry102 Comments

The world is beautiful,
proof dances all around…
leaves fluttering in a breeze,
butterflies floating by
with grace, but the world
is more beautiful with him.
Even if the sky unfolds,
and a storm rages,
his presence adds a glow
to fade the shadows
and quiet the fear.
If the universe
has stolen my spirit
and descent
is imminent,
his arms catch me
before the landing.
He comprises the tones
in my tapestry,
rebirth in my rain,
fire in my winter.
He is everything
around
in between
within
the world I reside.

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

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.
Photo taken at Alamo Square Park
in San Francisco.
Thank you for stopping by, and I hope
you have a peaceful week ahead. 💖

Seen

On July 18, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Photos, Writing

Make yourself seen.
Don’t slip into invisibility
like shade in the night.

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

Comments have been turned off,
but I wanted to wish you all
a beautiful weekend and offer some
words to ponder. Some of you may
have also seen this on Instagram.
Hugs, Lauren 💞

#CopperBookUpdate ❤️

On July 14, 2025July 14, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Books, Poetry131 Comments

Dear Friends,

My goal to publish this special book last month obviously didn’t happen. Sometimes, I wonder if the editing will ever end. I’m working on Ingramspark, and this week I will progress to the next step for them to review. Then I’ll have to see what comes next. I toyed around with various title ideas, but then ‘King Copper”‘popped into my mind and it lingered like a warm hug. He was the king in our house, and you can tell in the cover photo below that he wore the crown well and looked so handsome. What a gentle 80-lb giant he was. Sigh.

Anyway, now I’m hoping to publish King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry this month. But we’ll have to see if any glitches jump in the way. I believe the editing is finally done. With this being said, unless we make last-minute changes, this is the final cover. The dark chocolate color scheme ties into Copper’s mixed chocolate lab breed. Other shades of brown just didn’t work. I also like the idea of dark chocolate, a rich beginning into this poetic journey of Copper’s wonderful life. I hope you like the cover too.

More updates will follow regarding the publishing date, and life sure is interesting, isn’t it? You know this book wasn’t planned. But I had already written joyful poems about Copper when he was with us, so when he passed in March, I began writing poetry for therapeutic reasons. He was my 3rd child, and even though he was elderly, his passing was “still too soon.” Reading this collection of poetry will take you on an emotional roller coaster from joy to grief to acceptance. And sharing our life about our beloved senior pup will hopefully provide comfort to everyone who is also grieving the loss of their pet, or has done so in the past.

A poem from the book…

Will you?

Will you remember us
when you cross the rainbow bridge
where grass stays emerald green
high upon the tallest ridge?

Will you wait for us
when our time for crossing arrives
to be a family once again
filling the hole in our lives?

But before we reunite
be your happy, playful self
run and sniff, no pain, be free
your joy and freedom is our wealth.
❤️

Sending love, and if you have a furry family member, give them a hug for us. ❤️

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

Saturday Serenity

On July 12, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry67 Comments

Under the redwoods,
we slide into a zen-like state –
letting the magic flow gently
into our presence
bringing inner peace
to mind, heart, and soul.

“One can never get enough of redwood charm to fill the need for harmony within oneself.”

Wishing you all a peaceful weekend, and I truly appreciate your visit. 💗

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Thank you for sharing. 💗

Thank you for sharing. 💗

Thank you for sharing. 💗

Thank you for sharing. 💗

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Thank you for sharing. 💗

Thank you for sharing. 💗