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 ❤️

Celebrating Spillwords Press October Publication of the Month!

On November 1, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Awards, Poetry78 Comments

Happy Friday and Happy November!

Thanks to your generosity and for taking the time to vote, my poem “Treats only, Please!” won Publication of the Month for October on Spillwords Press!!! 🎉🎉

I am so excited to receive this award among 15 other wonderful nominees! Thank you to Dagmara K. and her team for providing a welcoming literary site for authors to share their emotions through words. I’m honored to be a part of the Spillwords Press community!

I offer my deepest gratitude for your vote and ongoing support, and for visiting Spillwords to read my poem, “Treats only, Please!” I’m delighted that my light-hearted, entertaining take on Halloween resonated with so many! A poem that was inspired by the days when my children were young and had a blast dressing up in their cute costumes to trick-or-treat! I took a stroll down memory lane to find the pics below…

***Harry Potter meets a vampire***, and our Lucky Girl joins
in the fun! ***Lucky Girl was given her wings in 2011.*** ❤️

My poem is displayed on the sidebar of the Series tab at Spillwords.com for the month of November, if you’d like to take a peek!

Have a wonderful day and weekend ahead, and thank you again!

~ Lauren ❤️

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Spillwords photos and Halloween top photo courtesy of Spillwords Press.

Website: baydreamerwrites.com
Author Of The Month, May 2023 Spillwords Press
Monthly Contributor, Gobbers-Masticadores Literary Website
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08NCRH4MK
Author Latest Release Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poems
Author, More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose
Author, Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poems
Author, New Day, New Dreams: A Poetry Collection
Co-Author, Petals of Haiku
Co-Author, This is How We Grow
Co-Author, Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Cora’s Quest, A children’s book, coming soon!

***Click*** ***on the image*** ***to purchase your copy.***
***Thank you***! 🧡🍂🍁

Literary Revelations Journal features my poetry!

On October 30, 2024October 30, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry77 Comments

***Photo: credit to Literary Revelations Publishing House***

Dear Family and Friends!

I have more exciting news to share! I am grateful to Gabriela Marie Milton for the opportunity of being featured on her literary journal today – Literary Revelations! She has published two of my poems: “I Know This” and “Wild Emotions.” I am always in awe of her beautiful, evocative poetry and of the poetry she features of other talented writers. So, thank you, once again, Gabriela! I am on Cloud 9!! ❤️

Literary Revelations has published a myriad of beautiful books. The most recent are Full Moon Confessions by Tracey Anne and Petals of Haiku: An Anthology, in which the art on the cover is by award-winning painter Hikari. I am honored to be a part of this amazing anthology with over 160 poets.

For some reason, WordPress won’t allow me to add book images in the body of the post, so please visit Gabriela’s site here to peruse her wonderful books.

And now I offer you snippets of my poems:

I Know This

We do not live forever,
I know this,
just as sunlight and moonbeams
cannot shine simultaneously.
But sometimes I feel
he and I
will transcend the inevitable.
Imagining the opposite
is unimaginable…

Wild Emotions

No one listens, no one understands the version of me…
My spirit sinks to the bottom of the ocean floor.
My sky holds gray clouds with no sign of cerulean.
My body suffers heaviness as the hand of death.
My mind resides in a muddle of negativity
Like a dirge repeating loop after loop…
A shadowy corner in my room invites me for an extended stay.
Sun rays no longer peek through my curtains
Because even my sunken spirit has the sun feeling uncertain…

I hope you’ll visit Gabriela’s post to read the poems in their entirety. My heart would be full of gratitude! You can also click on the link below.

Thank you SO much for stopping by and for your continued support. Words can’t express how thankful I am for you! And I wish you a fabulous day, and a fun Halloween!🙏❤️

Featuring Lauren Scott’s beautiful poetry

Words to ponder & Spillwords Voting ends tomorrow on October 30th for “Treats only, Please!”

On October 29, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Nominations & Awards, Poetry48 Comments

*Photo courtesy of my daughter in Tennessee.*

As I shared on October 26th, my poem “Treats only, Please!” has been nominated for Publication of the Month by Spillwords Press! This recognition has been thrilling and unexpected. As you already know, I’m not into scary anything! This is why when I decided to write a Halloween poem, I reminisced to the days when my children were young and couldn’t wait to trick-or-treat. My thoughts were more in line with fun and entertaining. So, being nominated is a true honor, especially to be in the company of many amazing writers. Thank you again to Dagmara, her team at Spillwords, and to the readers who offer wonderful support!

If you haven’t yet, I humbly ask for your vote, and it’s not easy to ask. But it is suggested that we spread the news, so please forgive me for asking again. 🤗 If you choose to support me, simply visit Spillwords here: https://spillwords.com/vote/ and you will need to register and/or log in. Your support means the world to me ! ❤️

**Last day to vote is tomorrow, October 30th!**

Treats only, Please!

Creepy cackles from tall, looming trees
startle their jumpy heartbeats as they walk.
Shadows discreetly follow the echoes
while they timidly proceed down the block.

Young voices repeat with conviction,
“It’s just a night for entertainment.”
There’s no need for goosebumps and fear
as their eyes focus on the cracked pavement.

Undeniably sensing they’re not alone,
many follow in their hesitant footsteps,
eager to reach doors and push doorbells
but afraid of frightening special effects.

Broomstick witches in purple velvet capes,
eerie fog rolling in with white-gown ghosts,
superheroes from blockbuster movies,
owls hooting from high in their posts.

Some faces look like long lost relatives,
wrinkly and aged like dear old granny.
Ignoring the screeches, they focus only
on filling pillowcases with loads of candy!

You can read the poem on Spillwords here!❤️🙏

I offer a Huge Thanks to you who have already voted for my poem. 🙏💞

And as you depart today, I leave you with words to ponder…

Maybe

When you sit by the window,
evading life’s demands,
watching hummingbirds
flit about, do you wonder
if our existence is the only
breathing form?
Who’s to assume we’re alone
with stars millions of miles
away glistening in the night?
Maybe other beings wonder
if they are simply
a tiny atom or molecule
floating in the larger picture.
Maybe we’re just a raindrop
in someone else’s universe.
(From Ever So Gently)

Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful day! Stay well, stay safe! 🧡🍁🙏

Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites ©2024 – All rights reserved.
Photos courtesy of Spillwords and Pexels

“Treats only, Please!” is nominated for Publication of the Month by Spillwords Press!

On October 26, 2024October 28, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry82 Comments

Dear Family and Friends,

I am thrilled to share that my light-hearted, fun poem for Halloween “Treats only, Please!” has been nominated for Publication of the Month by Spillwords Press! This recognition means the world to me, and it is an honor to be in the company of so many talented writers (including a few great blogging buddies). Thank you to Dagmara, her team at Spillwords, and to the readers who offer the most wonderful support of my writing. The email that landed in my inbox today is..

Dear writers,

We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to every one of you! Your exceptional pieces have been nominated due to popular demand for October’s Publication of The Month.

You have the power to decide the winner by casting your vote here: https://spillwords.com/vote/

We encourage you to share this link with your family, friends, and supporters, as their votes can make all the difference. Please note that voting will conclude on 10/30; soon after, we will reveal the well-deserved recipient of this prestigious title.

To vote, kindly register and/or log in to ensure your voice is heard.

The winning publication will be prominently featured on the Spillwords.com sidebar throughout the entire month of November, gaining well-deserved recognition from our global audience.

HERE ARE THE NOMINEES:

Good luck to all the nominees! Your contributions have enriched our platform, and we deeply appreciate your excellent collaboration and participation.

Warm regards,

Editing Team | Editing Department
editor@spillwords.com

Treats only, Please!

Creepy cackles from tall, looming trees
startle their jumpy heartbeats as they walk.
Shadows discreetly follow the echoes
while they timidly proceed down the block.

Young voices repeat with conviction,
“It’s just a night for entertainment.”
There’s no need for goosebumps and fear
as their eyes focus on the cracked pavement.

Undeniably sensing they’re not alone,
many follow in their hesitant footsteps,
eager to reach doors and push doorbells
but afraid of frightening special effects.

Broomstick witches in purple velvet capes,
eerie fog rolling in with white-gown ghosts,
superheroes from blockbuster movies,
owls hooting from high in their posts.

Some faces look like long lost relatives,
wrinkly and aged like dear old granny.
Ignoring the screeches, they focus only
on filling pillowcases with loads of candy!

I am thrilled that this fun take on Halloween received
142 ❤️s and 17 comments (including my replies)!
To those who flew over to Spillwords and hearted
and/or commented on my poem,
I offer my grandest Thank you!!!!
❤️🙏❤️

So, I ask you to vote! Log in or create an account (I know, another account, another password, all I can do is ask). 😃

You can offer your wonderful support by casting your vote here,
and again, voting will conclude on Wednesday, October 30th.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Thank you for your support that I don’t take lightly. I appreciate you so much!
Hugs, Lauren 💖🙏🤗👻

Photo by Monstera Production on Pexels.com

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Spillwords images and email courtesy of Spillwords Press.

Spillwords publishes “Treats only, Please!”

On October 24, 2024October 24, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry81 Comments

I don’t like scary movies! As a teenager, I saw my fill, and the movie that did me in was The Amityville Horror! I was housesitting with my best friend, Melissa, and why we thought going to see this movie was a good idea, I’ll never know. But into the night, every strange sound in the house just about ejected us from our beds! The toilet gurgling, the wind outside, the creaking of the house, the refrigerator whine, our imaginations! Now, as an adult, the news of world events and events in my own country are frightening enough! Who needs Jason, Michael, Chucky, or Freddie?!!! 👻

So, when I read about Spillwords asking for Halloween submissions, I thought, hmmm, scary isn’t my genre. Then I reminisced to the Halloween nights when our children went trick-or-treating in their cute costumes, and behold, a fun, light poem was born. 😁🎃 I’m thrilled that Spillwords liked it enough to publish it in their Halloween collection. My heart is filled with gratitude to Dagmara K. and her team for sharing my writing again within such a talented community.
And now for a snippet…

Treats only, Please

Creepy cackles from tall, looming trees
startle their jumpy heartbeats as they walk.
Shadows discreetly follow the echoes
as they timidly proceed down the block.

Young voices repeat with conviction,
“It’s just a night for entertainment”
There’s no need for…

To read the full poem, fly on over to Spillwords by clicking here, and I hope you’ll give it a 🧡 while you’re there! If you have any thoughts, don’t be shy, leave a comment! Does my backstory and poem resonate with you?
Thanks SO much for your support! 👻🎃

I appreciate your visit, and wish you a wonderful weekend ahead!
Stay well, happy, and safe! ❤️🍁

Who says miracles don’t happen?

On October 20, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry109 Comments

Last Wednesday morning brought us
a stunning sunrise and double rainbow.
I wasn’t able to get photos,
but a friend of mine grabbed her cell phone and captured these!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Who says miracles don’t happen?

I’m sharing a poem from my recent poetry collection
that ties in with the miracles of rainbows:

Darker than the Deepest Sea

Life is like a package wrapped in festive paper.
The matching ribbons fascinate in their delicate,
entwined company, fingers gently unravel,
heartbeats increase from excitement.
We lift the lid, peek inside, letting our
inner child frolic to the forefront of our minds.

But unlike recyclable paper, the gift of life
cannot be tossed back into the universe.
There is no spare awaiting on the sidelines,
and we should be mindful that the contents
require tenderness with instructions solely
for each one of us individually,
because as visible as a ruby rose
in a garden of white daisies…
we are beautifully unique.

Once we follow these
with gratitude and vivacity,
the purpose of our gift will reveal itself
as naturally as moonlight on a night
darker than the deepest sea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you leave my site today,
please remember how precious life is,
and how beautiful you are!

And as Maya Angelou said,
“Try to be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud”.
❤️❤️❤️
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Clock

On October 17, 2024October 17, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry79 Comments

You stare at the clock anticipating an answer, and the clock has no idea of the power lying in its hands. The infuriating face meets your stare as if to ask, “What?” You hold onto the words that fell from the tongue like a lifeline since your life resides on the edge. Trust lived in your heart at the time. But syllables soar far above your reach with no substance. The answer has yet to reveal itself. Waiting is a lifetime occupation. So, your fingers form a steady grip around the bottle as you tip it over, pouring…You watch the golden liquid glide over the cubes like ocean waves rolling over ice glaciers. Your logical self desires to perform a task of importance, a distraction, to trick your thoughts and busy your hands. But then your eyes find the clock again. Mind and body become stuck, paralyzed from emotions out of your control, and the only thing that makes sense is indulging in another sip. The burning down your throat is one sensation you can truly understand.

a crutch of liquid
soothes frustration of vagueness
living in darkness

Never Lackluster

On October 14, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry75 Comments

Firs and pines closely observe us as we take a self-guided tour through their homeland, strolling slowly, while enjoying occasional granite-hopping. We don’t believe they’re bothered by our company because our vibes of respect are as profound as their whispers of wisdom. The lizards entertain as they run like sprinters in a race across the smooth stone, reaching higher elevations to avoid our footsteps, and of course, their safety is critical. All this we do beneath the brilliant blue canopy of sky – the color of my husband’s eyes. Debris crowds our minds, and our awareness is keen. But the warmth of tranquility pushes aside the mess like whisky leisurely flowing through our bodies. Rough edges of the universe begin to soften in this fairytale land. Then what a view! Beauty in its quietude glistens just for us. No other voices share our space, just the tree-tapping of a woodpecker. Each singular sparkle represents a glimmer of hope for the future. In its golden splendor, the sun smiles and delights in our reverence. An ideal getaway for rejuvenation never to become lackluster.

head-spinning events
cause turmoil in heart and mind
lake water beckons