Laura folds into the patio rocker, breathing in summer’s fragrance. The sun boldly hangs in the bright sky, but today marks the tenth anniversary of that day. Her heart feels heavy.
“I miss you, Mom, and the kids miss their grandma. I just long for another chat, a hug, even one more piece of unsolicited advice.”
She watches a hummingbird soar to the pink geranium hanging from the gazebo. Her mother loved these delightful creatures.
“Is that you, Mom?”
The little bird glides to Laura, hovering at eye level.
Rocking gently, Laura feels the comfort of her mom’s presence.
“What a day I had at school, Bella,” Nick said to his loyal black lab cuddling against his leg. “I finally got the courage to ask Rachel to prom and she said no! I thought she liked me!”
Bella just stared at her human brother, ready to give him a big sloppy kiss on the cheek. She couldn’t help but wag her tail, hoping to get Nick in a tail-wagging mood.
“I can always count on you to cheer me up, Girl. No matter what, you won’t betray me. I guess that’s why they call you ‘Man’s best friend.’
P.S. I’m not sure if this little piece of writing qualifies as a story, but it is 99 words, and you get the message I want to convey. If you’re an animal lover, I hope this story warms your heart.
Happy Friday and weekend ahead, and for those in the U.S., have a safe and fun Fourth of July! Hugs, Lauren ❤️
I thought some ‘silly and fun’ would be in order after my last post.So, I pulled this oldie from my book, New Day, New Dreams. Wow, 2013 seems like 100 years ago!
Anyway, enjoy some Scrabble Soup!
First you need a thought, nothing fancy and it can’t be bought, then add a spoonful of emotion. There’s no magical potion, although, I have a notion you could include humor. According to rumor, laughter’s the best medicine. It always has been. Yet, contrary to giggles, start some tears flowing with a dash of melancholy, or if you’d rather be jolly, Don’t be coy, Sprinkle in joy. Now to spice up your mixture (I think you get the picture) toss in melody with your favored tempo and let your feet dance. Feel the rhythm and give romance a chance. This is where you improvise (write between the lines). Follow your feelings. Close your eyes, peel off your disguise. This is your recipe. This is your vision. Follow your bliss and for a final touch, Seal it with a kiss!
I was pleasantly surprised to receive another glowing review for More than Coffee. This book was released in fall of 2021, so for these amazing reviews to still be flowing in truly warms my heart. Cheryl Orteglia from Living in the Gap wrote a stunner!
This is an extraordinary book and one that I could not put down. Scott captures the reader with her love for coffee, endearing tales, and the courage to live life to the fullest. Her exceptional writing resonates deeply with my own values, history, and love of storytelling. It is a charming book of prose and poems that will warm your heart and lift your soul. Scott highlights the beauty of marriage, friendship, and the love of family so beautifully, from the first story to the last poem, I felt as if I belonged in the pages of this delightful book.
Scott explores all the facets of life, including love and sadness, gratitude and loss, humor and joy. She takes me on a familiar journey of a complicated life, including encounters with aggressive spiders, sacred heirlooms, grief, and long-distance relationships with grown children.
I admire how Scott and her husband are exploring new activities as their nest empties and their courage soars. I especially related to the long hikes and the magical encounters with the wilderness, waterfalls, and a canopy of stars.
I have Scott’s book by my bedside, within reach, so I can enjoy again and again her incredible knack for drawing one into a story, her arresting poetry, and the potency of a well-told story. Don’t miss this opportunity to sit down with a cup of coffee, an old friend and explore the deeper meaning of this one precious life.
I highly recommend More Than Coffee with a five-star review for those of you who love memoirs, mystique, and family love.
Thank you SO much, Cheryl!I’m over the moon again by your most beautiful review, and I’m so grateful you felt as if you belonged in the pages. This line just gets to me in a warm way. ❤️
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Cheryl, please pay her avisit. She writes engaging posts about real-life stuff! And her sense of humor will have you doubled over! When you read her stories, you’ll find yourself nodding because her tales are so relatable!
If you wrote a review for my book, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! And if you read it and loved it, I hope you’ll consider writing one. I’ve heard through sources here in the land of blogging that reviews are like hugs to Indie authors. Fyi, I love hugs! 🙂
Thanks so much for dropping in, and I wish you an amazing weekend!
~Lauren ❤️
“The majestic trees and vast sky invite you to keep looking up.”
I’m inches away from the finish line for my book. It’s a s-l-o-w process because this poetry collection is larger, which calls for more editing and formatting.Anyway, I still managed to get some good, relaxing reading in, and I thoroughly enjoyed the following books. I hope you enjoy my reviews:
Small Wonders by Kaye Lynne Booth
Small Wonders by Kaye Lynne Booth is a collection of engaging poetry that highlights various phases of her life. Even though the poems are individual to her experiences, I felt a connection with many. The book begins with “Two Little Faerie Princesses” inspired by Booth’s two granddaughters. What a lovely start to this collection.
Her nature poems resonate because I enjoy spending time in the wilderness. “The Mighty River” is stunning, and I could almost hear the water rushing and roaring.“Early Morning” transports me with my husband to the Sierra Nevada Mountains on one of our backpacking trips:
Early Morning
Birds chitter in the trees, interrupting the quiet solitude. The sun edges its way over the horizon in pastel hues, Replacing the early morning chill with the warmth of its soft rays. The wind whispers an early morning greeting through the pines. Golden blades of grass shush in the breeze, bending low to the ground, Then rising and stretching to greet the sun once again. Dewy moisture slowly dissipates as I breathe in the scent of fresh pine. Eyes, barely open, witness the birth of yet another day.
A few more favorites are “There was a Time” that touches on the reality of aging but mixed with a little humor. “To the Slow Motorist” reminds me of how often I get stuck behind a driver who isn’t even going the speed limit. Another delightful poem is “My Muse,” where all writers will nod in understanding. I have stood on the same perplexing corner Booth writes about in “At the Crossroads” and “False Smile” reiterates that everyone has a story.
This charming and touching collection is beautiful and appeals to all senses and emotions. There is poetry in this book for everyone. Highly recommended with 5 glowing stars!
Coming Home by Smitha Vishwanath
ComingHome by Smitha Vishwanath is her debut novel, but it certainly doesn’t read like one. Her storytelling and language flow seamlessly, and the protagonist, Shanaya, is an authentic character with strengths and weaknesses like you and me. We’ve all experienced loss, but when a loss is sudden, shock augments the already wild emotions. Shanaya is devastated by the unexpected death of her mother. Even after two years, she still has trouble moving forward. During this time, she wants to care for her father, but he has different plans, which adds more worry for Shanaya. Both father and daughter struggle to find their way in this new life without the woman they love very much.
At twenty-six years old, Shanaya believes she has her life figured out, yet she has no idea what is in store for her. Romance lies on the horizon, but her journey entails much more nuance. She finds herself on a soul-searching path while trying to move through the heartache. Vishwanath inserts details about marriage – both arranged and derived from love, and she explores relationships with parents, siblings, and friends. Shanaya’s journey transports her to various destinations, and I enjoyed traveling with her as she moved from Dubai to Bangalore to Karela where her life began to shift in an exciting direction. Having never been to this part of the world, I was given a terrific sneak peek through Vishwanath’s vivid descriptions of the landscape.
I always enjoy learning about other cultures, and I became engrossed when Shanaya visited the Ashram for two weeks. This was a spiritual retreat where she practiced yoga and meditation. Lessons were learned, and wisdom was acknowledged by friends she made.
Coming Home is an engaging story of self-discovery, learning about relationships, and truly finding home at last where home isn’t just a place. It’s a comforting realization. Highly recommended for all who enjoy a story with substance and an uplifting ending. Another 5-star rating!
Fifteen First Times by D. G. Kaye
I’ve always enjoyed D.G. Kaye’s conversational writing style. This book is no exception to her honest and entertaining narrative. She has compiled a collection of ‘firsts’ from her teen years relatable to all readers. I felt so at ease that I read this collection in one sitting, feeling like we were comfortably chatting over a glass of wine. These memories invited me to stroll down memory lane, recalling crazy crash diets, first kiss, first boyfriend, and first broken heart that felt like it would never mend. Her amusing fascination with shoes made me chuckle; how she managed those heels is beyond me. I laughed out loud when I read about the first hair dye episode. Her first car was a Ford Mustang given by her wonderful father, and while my first car wasn’t, her story evoked memories of when I bought a blue Mustang a few years later with equal excitement.
Kaye’s anecdotes are witty, engaging, and poignant. She has no trouble sharing her vulnerability. Low self-esteem plagued her in those years, but with her outgoing personality and wild sense of fashion, she rose above it, growing into the confident woman she is today. Being a teenager isn’t easy. Those years are about finding ourselves, figuring out who we are, and Kaye succeeded with spirit!
Kaye ends the collection with an emotive tribute to her late husband, her only true love. My heart still aches for her loss. She writes in her dedication, “To those who’ve been there, done that, and learned from. And for those who’ve yet to venture out and overcome.” She couldn’t have expressed the purpose of this delightful book any better. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a heartwarming memoir and a stroll down memory lane. One more 5-star rating!
Thanks for dropping by, and I hope you’ll find the time, too, for some good reading, whether you enjoy poetry, engaging fiction, or a memoir that will transport you back in time.
I am excited to share with you the Q & A I had the privilege of doing with Spillwords. This interview is aligned with being Author of the Month for May.Thank you again to Dagmara and her team for this incredible opportunity! I won’t repeat myself, so I’ll let you get to the questions…
We offer our first and exclusive Q&A Interview with Lauren Scott, a writer whose literary works have been featured on our Spillwords pages as well as being Author of the Month of May 2023.
What does it mean to be selected as Author of The Month?
I feel honored to receive this wonderful accolade, and I am grateful my family and friends took the time to vote for me. It means my writing has been acknowledged and gained valued exposure among talented authors on your esteemed, literary website.
How have your friends and/or family influenced your writing?
The support I receive from family and friends continually motivates me to write. My son nudged me to start a blog years ago, which has been a wonderful platform to share my writing. These loved ones have also assisted with my books in various ways. Their love and encouragement provides the fuel for me to stay on this path of creativity.
What inspires you to write?
I enjoy the challenge of wordplay, which probably stems from my enjoyment of playing Scrabble. Shaping words into phrases or sentences to express a deep emotion or to paint a picture. Many poems are inspired by my strong marriage, and then motherhood followed, which brought new emotions to the surface. I also feel a deep connection to nature, spending time outdoors, especially camping and backpacking. I find living in the wilderness with essentials tucked into a backpack to be a profound adventure.
I’ve asked for your support before, but I’d be grateful if you’d visit Spillwords.com to read the full interview. You can land there seamlessly by clicking here. 🦋
You don’t need an account to ❤️ the interview, but you do if you’d like to leave a comment, and I welcome your lovely comments here or there. 🙂
Thanks so much for your supportthat is greatly appreciated!
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author & Poet 