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 ❤️
As the year slowly or rapidly (depending on perspective) comes to a close, I thought to share this poem again. A poem reminding us that each day is a gift, and those who love us and Nature herself are precious gifts. I hope you enjoy for a second time around if you’ve already read it earlier in the year.
For All That Was Lost Has Been Found
When the sun descends behind emerald, rolling hills and evening offers all that it owns, my husband falls into a serious slumber in a matter of seconds – I am envious. It takes more than seconds for my mind to shut down, for thoughts to pause for an evening’s repose.
The flowers in our garden turn in for the night, and the smiles in their blooms wait for dawn’s greeting. Critters burrow in their homes, although darkness calls some to come out and play and we miss the show. Our dreams carry us through minutes and hours until night bids farewell, the cue for morning to slide into her spotlight.
And when she does, we witness again the glorious sun rising over those rolling hills, one more sky where clouds stay hidden, one more kiss from each other, the one who accelerates our heartbeats… when our children are home, they gift us with another hug, age is irrelevant…from babies to adults, their hugs are priceless like the moment we draw a new breath.
And don’t forget how nature delights with her offerings… our feathered friends sing their wake-up chorus of joy, bushy-tailed squirrels skitter along redwood fence tops. How do their tiny feet not miss a step, tumbling their little bodies to the ground?
So, we wipe the sleep from our eyes, gratitude flows through our veins, for all that was lost in the darkness has been found on this fresh, magnificent day.
On another note, I was honored to be included in Diana’s November book reviews. Diana shares excellent monthly reviews on her blog, Myths of the Mirror. She read Cora’s Quest the first day and gave Cora 5 glowing stars. You can visit her here to read her wonderful review and those of several other great books perfect for shopping for the holiday season. Thanks again, Diana! 🙏
Today, I’m honored to be included in Sally’s roundup post which you can find here. Sally at Smorgasbord Blog Magazine is so kind and generous by helping other authors promote their new books. So, I am truly grateful, and as I told her, the happy dance continues, and in Cora’s case, it’s a happy deer dance! 😁
I’m sure most indie authors would agree that promoting books isn’t fun. But we only have ourselves, and family and friends who offer to help out. So, thank you for reading, and if you’ve bought a copy of Cora’s Quest, Chris and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 💞
Wishing you all a lovely day and week ahead, Lauren ❤️
Resa rocks, enough said, and I’m sharing a bit about her if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her:
I’m an amateur photographer who has a passion for taking pics of outdoor ephemeral art.
My name is Resa McConaghy, and my site, “Graffit Lux and Murals”, was originally dedicated to showcasing & documenting Graffiti Art and Murals in Toronto and Winnipeg.
However, I now find I am featuring the Street Art of other cities around the globe through travels of mine, and guest contributors.
Taking these pics is a passion and a joy. Each work of graffiti art or mural evokes thoughts in me, and these thoughts are reflected in the titles of my Post.
Resa has posted and reviewed my last two books, Ever So Gently and More than Coffee, and now she’s done it again for Cora’s Quest, my first children’s book illustrated by my nephew, Chris Mendez! She creates stunning masterpieces weaving art and books together seamlessly like needle and thread.
So, I invite you to visit Resa’s post and immerse yourself into the colorful palette of her amazing creativity! Thank you again, Resa, for your invaluable support and friendship! You have enriched my life! ❤️🎉🙏
A Huge Thanks to you who have bought Cora’s Quest, and I’ll share again that in the last few days since Cora was released, it has reached… Top New Release in Baby and Toddler Beginner Reader Books, #1 New Release in Children’s Self-Esteem and Self-Respect, and #1 New Release in Children’s Mammal Books! I’ve never paid attention to Amazon’s Best Seller’s Rankings, but I’ll admit this news is a great boost! 🎉👏🏼 Thank you for stopping by! I appreciate you so much! ❤️ And I hope Cora will find herself on your holiday shopping list. 🥰
Have a wonderful weekend ahead, and I hope to see you at Resa’s!
In the last few days since Cora’s Quest was released, it has reached Top New Release in Baby and Toddler Beginner Reader Books, #1 New Release in Children’s Self-Esteem and Self-Respect, and #1 New Release in Children’s Mammal Books! I’ve never paid attention to Amazon’s Best Seller’s Rankings, but I’ll admit it’s a great feeling to see these headlines pop up! 🎉👏🏼 Thank you to those who have offered Chris and I good wishes, and who have already purchased copies. I’m delighted to share Cora’s first review, 5 stars, from a fabulous writer herself, D. L. Finn from dlfinnauthor.com:
Cora’s Quest is a sweet story about a deer’s family outing. Cora is enjoying the forest until things change quickly, and now she needs to find her courage. A fantastic story to read to your little ones or for young readers to enjoy. The illustrations are beautiful and full of color, and the story is woven into a lesson that will resonate with children and their families. Here is an engaging passage: “An owl hoots/from its lofty perch./ The wind howls,/swirling around Cora./Grunts and growls/in the distance/steal her courage!/ They act like thieves!” I can easily recommend this story for young readers and those who read to them.
Thanks again, Denise! ❤️🙏 And if you’d like to purchase a copy of Cora’s Quest, please click on the image below that will take you to Amazon. Also available on Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
Now for some book reviews…I always seem to be long overdue in sharing book reviews, but the intention is always good! Reading has been a slow-going process, but I’ve read eight wonderful books that I’ll highlight in two separate posts. I give all of these books 5 glowing stars and can highly recommend…
Click on image to purchase.
Size Always Matters by Sally Cronin is a tool that can be used as reference repeatedly throughout the years. Cronin shares her story of reaching a point of literally life or death, choosing life. She mustered up the willpower and fortitude to lose 154 lbs while studying nutrition, and later, becoming a nutritional therapist and health consultant. I admire her for being transparent with her weight struggles in order to help others because it’s not always easy to shed the mask. She compiled a program that worked for her, so she lays it all out from page to page for us to absorb and utilize.
I remember when I was young, my dad used to say, “Good health is no laughing matter.” I couldn’t really grasp the full, profound meaning of his words at a young age because honestly, I thought I had all the time in the world to live! Now in my early sixties, I can attest to him being right. I’ve had my share of health issues, not food related, but I’m sure we all know that what we eat makes a difference for the better or worse. Cronin delves into the scientific formulas behind the simple concept of dieting, exercising, and hesitantly stepping on the scale to check those numbers – numbers that can make or break a day. She underscores the necessity to identify the physical, emotional, and mental attachments we have to food. She talks in depth about obesity and reiterates that it’s not about yoyo dieting. It’s about making a serious lifestyle change.
So, if you need to lose 10 lbs or 110 lbs, this book will serve as a beneficial guide to you attaining your goals. As a bonus, Cronin includes delicious recipes at the back of the book, which I intend to try, such as the Tomato Tostada, Baked Frittata, and Vegetable Casserole. Are you getting hungry? The last several months have been more of ‘grab pre-cooked dinners and go’ due to being busy and a hot, hot summer! But now that the temperature has dropped, I’m back in the kitchen, cooking dinners like old times. To learn more about Sally’s books, visit her at smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com.
Click on image to purchase.
Orion’s Gift by Anneli Purchase is a riveting story involving romance and intrigue in the beautiful setting of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. The author creates a vivid world with landscape and climate that she knows well from her visits to this terrain. I loved this detail and felt as though I was there. Sylvia and Kevin are easy-to-like characters but authentic carrying their own baggage, running from their abusive spouses. Their paths cross, sparks fly, but can their evolving love endure the danger lurking around each corner? Their fear and secrets from each other have a way of creating a gap. I enjoy a good romance, but this book isn’t your usual love story. Abuse is always a heartbreaking topic to read about or to discuss. However, as I turned the pages, I hoped that Kevin and Sylvia would find peace and happiness at the end. Orion’s Gift is the first book I’ve read from Anneli Purchase, and I know it won’t be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Engaging, compelling, action packed told in a vivid setting with dialogue that flows smoothly to the end. I couldn’t put it down! To learn more about Anneli, please pay her blog a visit at wordsfromanneli.com.
Click on image to purchase.
I’ve read several books by D. L. Finn, both poetry and fiction, so I knew that Sounds in the Silence would be another can’t-put-it-down book. Finn engages the reader with this mystery written in a dual timeline spanning from the 1920s to the 1960s. We have the privilege of meeting Helen and Charles in 1924 who are madly in love, well liked, and enjoy throwing extravagant parties. They have a great time with their friends but insert Prohibition, and evil begins to loiter from the local church, keeping an eye on them. My concern for this lovely couple grew as I turned the pages. In the later era, Maria and Logan are a delightful, young couple who have a dream of owning a successful inn. They discover the perfect old house with a beautiful lakeside setting. However, its charm from decades ago has turned into dilapidation – livable, but renovations are needed before opening the doors to the public. While working diligently on the restorations, they realize they aren’t the only occupants living in the grand old house. A ghost seeks justice for a murder that occurred forty years earlier. Maria, especially, can’t ignore her curiosity, so she and Logan dive deep into uncovering what actually happened in the 1920s. But in doing so, they find themselves in danger. Their rescue pets add amusement and warmth to the tale and become useful in solving the mystery. Sounds in the Silence is a captivating novel filled with tender moments of romance, intense mystery, and paranormal elements. To find out more about D. L. Finn’s books, visit her at dlfinnauthor.com.
Click on image to purchase.
Three-Penny Memories by Barbara Harris Leonhard is a powerful poetic account of the author’s life. Leonhard speaks of her own life-threatening illness at six years old, and then later on when she is unable to carry a baby to term. However, most of the poems provide a moving glimpse into a mother-daughter’s relationship. I was struck by Leonhard’s queries: “How can a daughter question her love for her mother while helping her to navigate the progression of Alzheimer’s? Can she learn to love the stranger that her mother has become?” These are questions that can only be answered by someone who has cared for an Alzheimer’s patient. In “Daughter, Like Mother” Leonhard writes, “I can relate, Mom, to how histories crumble/How memories burn off/like the dew in hot sun/Our paths align/You held me/Now I hold you.” While reading this emotional and beautiful memoir, I felt pain, joy, conflict, and devotion between mother and daughter. Leonhard’s memories make me pause, remembering when my brother-in-law had Alzheimer’s, and my sister was his caregiver. She is a retired nurse, but even so, caring for him in the various stages of the disease was both physically and emotionally challenging. The disease took his life eight years ago. This is a provocative collection about accepting and coping with the hand that life deals us – poetry that will truly touch your heart and soul. To learn more about Barbara, visit her at https://extraordinarysunshineweaver.blog.
I hope you enjoyed my reviews. Each book comes in e-book and paperback. Simply click on the images to purchase your copy on Amazon.
Thank you for stopping by, and please don’t leave empty-handed. These books would make great Christmas gifts! Happy holiday shopping! ~ Lauren ❤️
I’m excited to announce the release of my children’s book, Cora’s Quest! My nephew, Chris Mendez, illustrated the book, and it was a magical experience watching Cora come to life in her woodland world through his beautiful artwork.
Full transparency, this is my first children’s book. So, I hope that anyone (adults or children) who get to know Cora will find her little story to be a charming tale, and will take her big message to heart with them into the future.
Book blurb:
Cora is a curious fawn who loves spending time with her parents. On one beautiful day, they stroll deep into the wilderness. They trot along on the trails, and Cora finds other animals fascinating. They skitter and fly around her with joyful purpose. Every unique sound catches her attention, stirring her curiosity to discover just where that sound came from. But suddenly her delightful family day takes a turn that begins to test the courage inside of her…
I haven’t planned a blog tour, but my good friend, Resa, is just as excited as I am, so she’ll spread this exciting news on her blog as well! If you would like to promote Cora’s Quest on any social media platform, I would be honored and thrilled! If so, please let me know in the comments below, or you can email me at baydreamer25@gmail.com. A Huge Thanks in advance! 🙏
Cora’s Quest is available on Amazon (paperback and e-book) Click on the links below for more purchase options: Barnes & Noble (paperback and e-book), and Kobo (e-book only).
An important sidenote: Due to inadequate performance by the software tools provided by the self publishing company, I am unhappy with the illustration/text alignment in the E-Book. I recommend the print version for the full experience.
Call me old fashioned but I believe a child should hold a book in his/her hands, feeling the excitement of turning the pages, which in turn, creates a more magical reading journey. 💖
To purchase your copy from Amazon, click on the link above. Cora’s Quest would be a delightful addition to your holiday shopping!
Thanks so much for stopping by, and I wish you a peaceful holiday season. Lauren ❤️
I have read that a book can be promoted for any amount of time, not only on the heels of its release. Editor Barbara Leonhard from MasticadoresUSA proves this fact because my poetry collection, Ever So Gently, was released 16 months ago. So, I am honored and thrilled that my book is still being read with positive reviews flowing in after all this time.
Barbara says, “Scott’s poems may enable readers to find answers to their soul’s longings.” To read her beautiful review, a wonderful testimonial from Diana at Myths of the Mirror, and to learn more about my poetry collection, please click on the link below. I hope to see you at Barbara’s place. ❤️
With the holidays upon us, my memory can’t help but reel back a few decades. Our parents were still alive, all of their grandkids were young, and those big, noisy family gatherings for Thanksgiving and Christmas were anticipated with excitement. Sure, giving and receiving gifts at Christmas time is rewarding and fun (in that order), but what I truly miss is ‘the noise, the laughter, the chaos, the loved ones’ (section 2 of my book, Ever So Gently). And I remember when our daughter and son were precious little bundles of joy. The elation my husband and I felt when our family became 3 then 4, and then complete. Don’t misunderstand though – returning to the past isn’t my wish, I’m simply reminiscing.These are thoughts from last year’s post.
And so, to those who celebrate Thanksgiving, I wish you a blessed day, and to those who don’t, I wish you a blessed day! Below is a poem I give to you all! ❤️
Thanksgiving Thoughts
Born from history a day we celebrate blessings in our lives, for each breath we take but some live in darkness with light, imaginary living to survive is anything but sanctuary I hold them in my heart, though trite to some ears In moments of surrender, I give freedom to the tears
So, I ask not for anything but one gift I will bring to the feast laid before me where all should dance with glee a piece of me that I impart is my very grateful heart.
p.s. Cora’s Quest, a children’s book, is coming in December – I’m working on final approvals. p.s.s. I’m working on several book reviews, but because of tech issues, I lost the word doc. Sigh. Maybe a miracle will bring it back. Otherwise, I have to start over. These will come in December also, but I had hoped by end of this month. Sometimes, all we can do is go with the flow! 🥰
I appreciate you all, Hugs, Lauren 🩷🍁❤️
Photo courtesy of my daughter, Cheekwood Estate, Tennessee
The vast space of emptiness will never feel right Communication sustains but the heart feels short-lived relief no room for logic the heart carries a stubborn streak
Moments missed Hours missed Days missed fleeting of time The miles from here to there, like a ball of yarn unraveling over hills, through valleys getting snagged on jagged edges along the way
In a daze, I’m slowly slipping down a rabbit hole about to surrender the very best of my soul where darkness cloaks itself around me Air, no longer reality
Sadness befalls the world outside as sky-falling tears slam the earth I’m tumbling with them in a frenzy The first teardrop rolls down my face leaving a chill in its wake before disappearing beneath my jaw My back slides down the wall I’m drenched in sobs
Then reason meets my reflection I challenge my emotions because pain trails closely behind – I’m inviting stress, and I can’t handle one more ache Does this make me selfish?
Humans are complicated Emotions are complicated
Some days, the golden sphere dazzles me into dancing Some days, the shadowy sky lures me into that daze I can feel my heart breaking I can feel each piece tear away I won’t have strength to sweep up the mess…
but this love is stronger than I ever thought I could feel a love in my heart that will need to be the glue… it is what it is ‘till it isn’t anymore maybe someday… until then, the vast space and I will need to reach a truce.
I’m feeling a bit nostalgic, reminiscing to when I was a little girl – how I stayed entertained in the sixties. This is when the memory box in my brain comes in handy…
My friends and I used to play school outside on the sidewalk in front of our corner house with three birch trees standing proud on the lush lawn. A big chalkboard took up a fair amount of sidewalk and they elected me to be the teacher. And when school became boring and brains tired out, we’d make a splash in my kidney-shaped pool pretending to be mermaids. How fun it was to dive deep and touch the drain or jump off of the diving board! Then we’d dry off on the grass while playing ‘Operation’ and eating tangerines from our tree. Nothing like trying to manage those surgical tweezers with sticky fingers to avoid the buzz!
When my son and daughter were little, they had a blast playing hide and seek with other kids on our quiet block. They loved riding their cool bikes and scooters. My husband and I also took them roller skating where we all tried our best to ‘roller dance’ to the upbeat tunes. Fun times had by children and parents!
Innovation is meant to bring convenience for the human race. I appreciate convenience, but with the good also comes the bad. Unfortunately, there’s an abundance of negative aspects to technology, such as with social media – not only for youth, but also for adults.
So, I miss the old times. When I wanted to talk to loved ones or friends, I picked up the phone and dialed. Remember rotary dialing? Then came push buttons. And what about those cords that coiled up like angry snakes? When cordless phones were invented, they brought freedom. I could walk and talk on the phone without worrying about the annoying cord dictating my whereabouts!
Families gathered at dining tables and chatted about their days, sharing highs and lows. My family participated in this routine every night for dinner when the kids were young. Even as they grew older (when their extra curricular schedules allowed) the tradition continued because Matt and I wanted them to feel like they could talk to us about anything. I’m thankful that communication has never been an issue with the four of us. In fact, many times we’re talking over each other because we all have something to say!
In those simpler times, friends used to hang out, talking and laughing. They didn’t congregate on sofas or around tables with heads down and eyes glued to screens, fingers tapping away. Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok didn’t steal their loyalty. They actually paid attention to each other.
Children’s laughter used to echo down the street, swirling around the trees. Well, that laughter no longer flows in through the windows of my home like a joyful melody.
Where are the children? Are they tucked inside their homes, scrolling on social media? Could be.
This being said, I enjoy the screen as much as anyone. I’m sure you can assume that while I work on this post, a screen stares back at me. However, I think those simpler times were the best of times. Living without the option to blog and form the wonderful connections with you all would be missed, but I could easily live without social media. I’m grateful that my daughter and son didn’t grow up with cell phones until later in high school. Even those were flip phones, offering zero access to the internet. Besides phone calls, good old fashioned letter writing was the glue for staying connected. I still love sending cards and an occasional letter via snail mail.
I can only imagine how difficult it is to find that magical balance of letting your kids enjoy technology in their generation while also maintaining some semblance of control for their safety.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com – finding that perfect balance
Do you find technology challenging while raising your children? Do you remember the old days? Do you miss them?
Below is a poem from my book, Ever So Gently, which ties into this topic:
Giggles
I can still elicit memories of when our block teemed with giggles echoing in the distance, the tapping of shoes on asphalt. Remember hide and seek? They’d take cover behind bushes, parked cars, corner fences. But where are they now? Where have all the children gone? Giggles and footsteps are silent, and yet, not one for sale sign sits in a front yard. Perhaps, sneaky screens stole that amusement, those precious moments spent outdoors under the clear sky, even in rain’s gentlest sprinkling, but weather, irrelevant, the friendships mattered.
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author & Poet 