I wish you peace today. 🩵🩵
© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Photo: LScott, Loon Lake, CA
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Threads of Peace…
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Book Reviews: Poetry & Memoir…
It Ain’t Winning If Without You by Michelle Ayon Navajas
Michelle Ayon Navajas’ 7th book, It Ain’t Winning If Without You, is a collection of beautiful poetry that is lovingly dedicated to her beloved father who has passed away. The poems are divided into three sections, most in her preferred form, freestyle, but many in various syllabic forms as well. Michelle pays tribute to her inspiring and hardworking muse that any author will find relatable. She writes about love for her father and love of the heart – its every edge, jagged and smooth. Then she pays tribute to those who read and love her work. A very endearing end to this collection.
This book is over 300 pages, so I took my time reading and rereading each poem. I nestled into my comfy sofa at the end of each evening and sunk into Michelle’s engaging words. Her poetry is written in the first person, very intimate, so it was effortless to slide into each phrase and feel the emotions enfold me in their deepest meaning. Her style of writing is accessible and conversational as though we’re sitting across from each other, sharing a cup of coffee or tea, and she’s divulging her personal feelings.
Since both of my parents have passed, Michelle’s poems about her father resonated. I know what the heart endures when a parent leaves our physical world. Her signature poem, “My Papa” truly tugs at the heart. But her love poems, well, the varied emotions are exquisitely expressed, and there were too many favorites to list, but a few are “Sixty-Five”, “Crimson Sky”, “What am I to You?”, and “Loneliness too.” A real beauty that exemplifies Michelle’s talent is:
The Moon
the moon envies my midnight soul
for it shines brightly as it ever had
now that your heart has been thawed
from being frozen for so long
without even knowing why
without even asking why
but one thing is sure my dear
your unfrozen heart has made my soul
euphoric and alive and ecstatic
that even the moon has been jealous of.
This lovely collection of poems is meant to be savored, to slowly dip into the deliciousness for supreme enjoyment. Highly recommended for all poetry enthusiasts who love diving into poetry about the joys and sorrows of life, the struggles and celebrations of the heart, and poems on gratitude.
The Winding Road: A journey of Survival by Miriam Hurdle
The Winding Road by Miriam Hurdle is a detailed account of her journey after being diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in 2008. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer because of its ability to spread to vital organs if it’s not detected early. But this rare form of melanoma was discovered when Miriam was seen for a routine procedure. Imagine going in for a procedure that is conducted on a regular basis, then leaving with news that shockingly obscures the view you have of your future. When I began to read Miriam’s narrative, a version of the old adage came to mind, “We can’t truly understand unless we walk in the same shoes.”
And yet, Miriam’s story is relatable on the surface as my husband is a melanoma survivor. Even so, reading Miriam’s experience evoked fearful memories of the days to follow the diagnosis when his outcome was still undetermined.
Miriam tells her story like it was without mincing any discomfort. Following the diagnosis, she was given two treatment options to choose from, and it was a difficult choice to make. Then The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost appeared in her mind, specifically these lines:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less traveled by.
And that has made all the difference.
Miriam wrote, “I gazed at the road of unknown. I sought affirmation.”
I was so moved by this profound declaration.
I was also touched by the kindness of others that shined in various ways throughout her journey. This loving support afforded her the strength to keep believing, to continue pushing through the grueling treatment. The pain that Miriam endured was beyond unimaginable. But her persistence, faith, and strength were beyond commendable.
If you don’t believe in miracles, I implore you to read this moving book because I know without a doubt, you’ll have a change of heart.
I hope you enjoyed these interviews, and to read more of these wonderful authors, visit Michele here and Miriam here.
Thank you for stopping by and I wish you a fabulous day! ❤️
© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Thank you! ❤️
From his son – until that time…
I look at the frail man
lying in the hospice bed
whose body is slowly giving up.
My eyes close.
Is he my father?
The pillar in my life?
It’s tough to accept
because
my father stands next to me
in the 8×10 frame
on the peak
of San Gorgonio mountain,
highest in Southern California.
At 65, he hiked
up and down that mountain,
18 miles round trip.
Sun hat, t-shirt, long pants,
smile, heart full of adventure,
this man, so full of life.
The end of his trail draws near.
Grief will find its way, no doubt.
and I will surrender,
then I will shout to the universe
in celebration
of the incredible man he used to be.
Until that time,
I look at his face,
I bend down to kiss him
on the forehead.
I focus on his good eye,
and I see my wonderful father
who stood beside me
on that mountain top.
© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
My father-in-law always says, “Until that time.”
My latest release – click on the image to purchase your copy!
Thanks so much for visiting. ❤️
Hospice Wings
He sees
emerald rolling hills
and brilliant blue skies
that stretch forever.
He sees a train rolling by,
the passengers wave,
cars float in the clouds,
a wire suspended between lips,
a lady painted on the door,
but he listens,
he understands,
his appetite takes in small bites,
slow swallowing,
juice flows fluidly through
a flexible straw,
yesterday, cranberry flavors
made him smile.
Today, he winced at the thought.
We hold his hand,
sometimes, he doesn’t let go.
We say, “I love you.”
He repeats these words,
then adds
“More than you know.”
Each day differs.
Each day surprises.
Each day is heartbreaking
as we wait…
© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
My latest release – Click on the image to purchase your copy!
Thank you for visiting! ❤️
The blog tour for Ever So Gently continues with Selma Martin…
Dear Friends,
I know these promotional posts tend to get repetitive, and yet, it has been so exciting and humbling to receive such generous support from my fellow friends in this warm blogging community. I appreciate you who have followed along, liked, or even left a comment on the several tour stops. And before I move forward to share Selma’s post, I have a silly confession to make…a week ago, I was making changes on my blog and accidentally closed comments on all posts. I can’t believe I did this, but I mention this because if you tried to leave a comment on the early tour stops and weren’t able to, comments have been reopened. Not that you have the time to go back. We barely have time to go forward! 🙂 So, maybe it’s too late, but I wanted to let you know. Now for today, I am sharing my lovely friend’s promotional post, Selma Martin, which also includes her stunning 5-star review. For those of you who don’t know Selma, please visit her blog by clicking here to read her beautiful and amazing poetry.
Introducing You To My Author Friend, Lauren Scott
Hello, reader friends. How about that heat, huh? It’s coming to the end of the month and I have yet to find a pleasant day, temperature-wise. The only respite I get is in slow reading the many books I’ve purchased. Thank God for good books!
Today, I’m tearing at the seams and cannot wait to tell you and help shift your attention to something gentle that exists in the world today: A new book, Ever So Gently, by Lauren Scott, owner of the following website:
Baydreamer ~ Lauren Scott ~ a thread of words from every stitch of life ~
The first time I mentioned Author Lauren Scott was back in May when I posted an Amazon review of the first book of hers I read, released in 2021. Here’s a refresher.
And now, Author Lauren Scott has a new release: A collection of poems that will linger Ever So Gently in your soul.
There’s just so much I wish to tell you about Lauren, but first, an interview I conducted with her recently.
- Tell me something about yourself/your life that readers wouldn’t know otherwise.
If you’ve read my memoir, More than Coffee, then you’ll know this fun fact…when I was 9 years old, I knew I wanted to be a professional singer. I wanted to be just like Barbra Streisand.
Her voice lulled me to sleep on many nights in my youth. So, I performed concerts in my living room for my family, singing into my precious hairbrush microphone, and I sang in school choirs as I grew older. I won best vocalist in choir and first place in my senior talent show. I also performed a rock gospel song on a church choir tour, performing in several venues on the east coast. I sang the same song in front of an audience of 2000 people, and what an experience! I reveled in those exhilarating spotlight moments, and then my dream changed. And that’s okay because we can have more than one dream. But I am grateful for these amazing memories, and now writing has slid into that dream slot.
- Tell me about ‘Ever So Gently’ and why you wrote it.
I’m thrilled to give you a little back story…I had organized this 90-poem collection into three parts: Nature, Love, and Life, and yet a book title still remained in hiding. And then one of my poems stood out titled, “Ever So Gently,” and it’s as though a lightbulb turned on. Everything clicked. Then I began to ponder how we live each day. It’s easy to live ‘gently’ when things happen according to our plans. But what if they don’t? What if heartache befalls us? Do we react ‘gently’ or do we press the panic button? I’ve done both, but I’m trying to focus on ‘gentle.’ And while in this mindset, I thought of the love my heart has felt, the tranquility and companionship of nature, and the good and not so good that life has tossed my way. So, I offer you the beginning of my introduction in the book…
“Ever So Gently expresses the gentle demeanor in which I welcome nature’s offerings. The gentle way in which I should react to life’s challenges. The gentle grace in my heart, full of gratitude for the love in my life. For the support of family and friends through every stumble and celebration. When I witness another sunrise, I remember to breathe and live gently. But succeeding in ‘gentle’ may not happen around the clock, so if I slip up, I will try again.”
CHECK OUT A CONVENIENT PREVIEW OF THE BOOK HERE:
- Share one poem from the book and tell me what inspired it.
My husband and I have been empty nesters for two years now, and we’re proud of our daughter and son for chasing their dreams, for paving their own paths. But their dreams happened to be across the country. So, between all of us flying back and forth, texting, talking on the phone, and zooming, we stay in touch. But for me, it’s not the same. I miss them so much that sometimes it hurts. We only get one ride around the sun, and I’d prefer that my ride be closer in distance to them. Maybe someday it will. I hope so, but in the meantime, I wrote the poem below:
The Same Sky
I don’t know
if I should feel embarrassed
about having a moment
that lasted for a day,
and there is no point
in fighting the tears.
They are winners.
Would other parents
think differently?
Not that I care
because…
I loathe
the many miles between us
as though they have done me
wrong, becoming my enemy.
But the consolation is knowing
that when my eyes look upward,
when I exhale acceptance,
we share the same vivid blue sky.
The distance, simply geography.
- If you were to leave a ‘message in a bottle’ for the future, what would you say?
Be you. It’s as simple as that, but it’s not always simple to discard the mask. Try not to free the negative voices in your head. Do what makes you happy because you only get one chance. This is it. Live gently, live kindly toward others, and be true to yourself. I believe happiness will follow.
Dear people, add this video to your options when deciding if you’re ready for a book that speaks “ever so gently” on your soul.
- Lauren Scott’s Bio
Lauren Scott is a poet, an author of short stories, both fiction and reflections of her life. She enjoys small-town living in Northern California with her husband, Matthew, and their lab, Copper; they have two grown children. She has authored two collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams (2013) and Finding a Balance (2015). In 2021, she released her memoir, More than Coffee. Her new collection of poetry, Ever So Gently, was published in July 2023. She is a published author at Spillwords Press and was voted Author of the Month for May 2023. She is also a contributing author in the anthology, Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships (2021) and in the anthology, This is How We Grow, released July 2023. Lauren’s writing inspiration comes from her love of family, spending time in the great outdoors, and finding joy in the simple things.
- An exclusive from the Author–COMING SOON:
I have finished my first children’s book, and I’m working with my illustrator, aiming to release it at the end of the year or early 2024. This is an exciting new adventure.
For more updates, please click on Baydreamer’s Website above to inhabit the ever so gentle world of Lauren Scott.
Social Media Links: – Facebook – Instagram
Thanks for reading. Tomorrow I will post my Amazon review here for you.
And now for Selma’s elegant and stunning review:
Read it slowly, and savor it long
Ever So Gently–A collection of poems by Lauren Scott, a book of 126 pages, is a beautiful collection to savor more than once. In a combination of poetry forms like free verse, haiku and tanka, etheree, shadorma, and others, the Author celebrates family memories and present moments and reflections on where she is in her life today. Read it slowly and feel the words cause your own memories to float to the surface.
The book is divided into three parts: The Wisdom of Nature; The Noise, the Laughter, The Chaos, The Loved Ones; and Lost In Thought. In Part 2, there’s even a poem from the perspective of Copper, her Labrador—a clear indication of the different loves in the Author’s life. Undeniably you will find the words swell your heart with gratitude too.
I recommend Ever So Gently to anyone who knows how to tap into and make much of the happy moments in life. Because life is not always a bed of roses, yet beautiful things happen all the time. Any of the poems will have resonance. What, with language like these excerpts from the book:
“That this routine, though simple to some, would not be the same, would not provide the comforting experience if one of us was not present? I shudder to imagine such a scenario…” ~Toots and Circles\
“the soil exhaled and my lantana sang “Hallelujah!” ~ October’s Miracle\
“When I reminisce to these years, memories make me pause… to a time when I
witnessed their laughter and tears,” ~The Tiny Town\
“a little bit more. I’m sure she knows the amount of residence she claims in my heart.
Then again, it is quite difficult to quantify.” ~A Little Bit More\
“Then with the years your adolescence faded like my blue dye, but I stayed loyal.”
~The Blue Down Jacket\
“Life is like a package wrapped in festive paper.” ~Darker Than The Deepest Sea\
All the poems offered me a tender glimpse into Scott’s life. One calm evening to read through this poetry collection is all I needed to recognize how much I have in common with this Author. That she and her husband are empty nesters puts me right in her shoes. So the poem that will remain tucked safely in my happy place is the following:
“I find comfort in the clothes\ strewn on the floor\ soon to be dumped in the washer,\ wallet lying on the dresser,\ cell charging, bed comforter\ in shambles\because the messiness\ displays his presence.\ Now with air miles accumulated\ back in his time zone,\ the room shines in all its cleanliness,\ the neatness grating on my nerves,\ the silence, a cold shoulder.\ My hand pulls back the comforter,\ tousling, creating wrinkles\ in the navy fabric, then I pull\ some old shirts from the closet,\ tossing them on the floor.\ I can certainly pretend\ he’s just out with friends…”\\ The Mess, p.59
I hope you’re ready for just such a book, serene and enticing, that will speak ever so gently to your soul.
I cannot wait to read more poetry like this from this Author. 5-star from a satisfied customer.
A huge hug to Selma for her exquisite presence in this blog tour!
And I want to thank my wonderful friends for their exceptional support from the beginning:
Robbie kicked off the tour on August 2nd, and she also created the awesome book trailer using my photos.
Sally featured me on August 3rd for her ‘new book on the shelves’ post.
Balroop continued with the tour on August 7th, sharing my book and her stunning review.
Colleen conducted a fabulous interview on August 21st for her ‘Meet the Poet’ series.
Resa grabbed the reins on August 20th (after my wilderness break) creating an elegant interview and stunning review.
Diana read my book early, wrote a beautiful 5-star review, along with a beautiful testimonial for the back cover.
If you missed their posts, I invite you to check them out. And if you haven’t met Selma or any of these wonderful bloggers and writers, I encourage you to get to know them. Your blogging experience will be greatly enriched. 💜
Thanks for dropping by!
~ Lauren ❤️
© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Colleen at Word Craft Poetry presents Meet the Poet, Lauren Scott…
I was excited when Colleen at wordcraftpoetry.com invited me to be featured in her Meet the Poet series. This is part of the blog tour for my book, Ever So Gently. And if you’re following along, I greatly appreciate YOU!
She created the interview which gave me an opportunity to talk about poetry and to discuss Ever So Gently. What a wonderful way to meet new authors and to learn more about the writing process of the authors we already know and love. If you haven’t met Colleen, please visit her site and take your time perusing around. She is the queen of syllabic poetry!
Here’s what Colleen has to say about her wonderful series:
This is a way to get to know more about the poets and their work. Many of our poets have written both fiction and non-fiction and published and self-published their works.
Some of our poets are also artists, crafting their magic through watercolors or other artistic means along with the written word. There are even a few musicians in our poetic community!
At least once a month, I’ll be introducing you to the poets in our community! Grab a cup of tea or coffee, and meet the poet!
A preview of our interview:
(L) Hi Colleen. Thanks so much for your invitation. I’m really looking forward to our chat.
(C) Hi Lauren! I’m glad you stopped by! How long have you been writing syllabic poetry? What’s the first form of syllabic poetry you wrote?
(L) I’ve been writing syllabic poetry since I started my blog, baydreamerwrites.com, over eleven years ago. The first form I explored was haiku. I love the idea of painting a picture or evoking an emotion with so few words. Since then, I have taken the challenge by trying other forms such as Tanka, Etheree, Shadorma, Didactic Cinquain, Oddquain, and Double Ennead, which was created by you, Colleen.
(C) Thanks, Lauren. I’m glad you enjoyed writing the Double Ennead. I know you have published several poetry books, and a brand-new poetry book you’ve just published called Ever So Gently. Tell us about the book and why you wrote it.
To read the rest of our interview, please visit Colleen’s post here, or click on the blog link below!
I have to add that while conversing with Rebecca Budd on Colleen’s post, she invited me to be a guest in 2024 (her 6th year) on her Tea Toast & Trivia Podcast . I am honored and so excited for this opportunity.
Thanks to Colleen for opening this door and to Rebecca for opening it just a little bit wider.
And to purchase a copy of Ever So Gently, you can click here or on the image above. A huge Thanks to you who have read my book or who are currently reading the collection. I hope you find a poem or two that you can call your own, and by the turn of the last page, I hope you’ll discover the reward of living ever so gently.
Thanks always for stopping by to show your support, and Colleen, you rock! I loved doing this interview with you and am grateful for being featured in your Meet the Poet series.
~ Lauren ❤️❤️
To read the rest of our interview, please visit Colleen’s post here, or click on the blog link below!
And if you missed any part of the tour, check out my prior posts. Thank you!
Resa elegantly talks about Ever So Gently…
Today, I am more than excited to be featured on Resa’s blog. If you know Resa, you’ll understand how her words about my poetry collection fit exquisitely. Here’s a glimpse of what she felt:
“I read the poems in order, but not at first. Deciding to try a different approach, I dove into the book like it was a box of chocolates. I read whatever poem in any order, as the fancy lead. Yet, as delicious as it all was; it’s more than confection.
It’s like collecting beautiful fabrics and trims. Poems were read, materials collected and a pattern designed. When the poems were over, they had draped a rich, beautifully adorned gown over my spirit.”
To read the full interview with her gorgeous images and creativity, please visit her post.
Thanks again SO much, Resa! ❤️❤️
Respite in the wilderness…
Dear Friends,
I hope you all had a great week! Hubby and I had a wonderful time at our favorite lake. It felt good to unplug, to just be together, to read, and enjoy good wine and coffee along with the stunning views and tranquility. We also did some light hiking and walking around, but with each step, I was mindful of where my right foot landed. And gratefully, I had zero pain.
For those of you who tent camp, you know what the adventure entails. The experience is relaxing once the ‘wilderness home’ is set up, but until then, it takes a lot of effort. We were lucky to reserve our favorite site that offered a short walk down to the lake. And though the weather report didn’t indicate rain, several thunderstorms entertained when light rain turned into downpours! But we stayed dry under the easy-up and our backpacking tent kept the deluge of rain from seeping into our sleeping bags and clothes. In the mornings, when the days looked like they’d be glorious, I stole a few moments, sitting by the shore, jotting down thoughts in my journal. But I don’t have anything completed, so I’m sharing photos for now:
“The mountains are calling and I must go.”
~ John Muir
stunning lake
coffee time
fire and sky
awesome Jetboil and sample of delicious backpacking food – we kept things simple so we could enjoy more and work less
ambience
there is no such thing as too many sunset photos
stealing a hug (and kiss) while witnessing another gorgeous sunset
lake view from campsite
beautiful blues and greens on the north side of the lake
organic landscape along the trail 
too cute 
lots of bumblebees around – these are a little blurry
kayaker sunset 
beautiful sky
I hope you enjoyed these photos; they’re only a fraction of what I took. 🙂
If you enjoy ruminating over life’s rewards and mysteries, my latest book, Ever So Gently, a collection of poems, is available for purchase by clicking on the image below:
Thanks for stopping by, and I look forward to reading your posts again.
~Lauren ❤️
© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author & Poet 