A Successful Book Fair!

On May 20, 2025May 21, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion, Poetry103 Comments

Please know there is no bragging in this post. I’m simply sharing my first-time experience and excitement participating in a book fair...

It turned out that I had a fabulous time at the Ukiah Children’s Book Fair on Saturday held at The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas! Cora’s Quest was in the spotlight! I did my first children’s book reading which went smoothly. I’m also thrilled that I sold 12 books! So exciting, I have to admit! 🎉

The event was well organized, so I offer a huge Thank You to all involved in making this fair a success. If I had to choose a word for this day, it would be ‘Kindness.’ Everyone was so nice! The authors received a goodie bag upon arrival and were asked to sign a poster board. Such a kind and welcoming gesture!

This book fair was a great opportunity to meet new authors and exchange business cards. It was also fun to carpool with Teri Drobnick and catch up. She and I met at the SF Writers Conference. Her charming book is Moving Day which I highly recommend. Inspired by the real-life story of moving a 139-year-old, 133-ton Victorian house six blocks, this picture book from a house’s perspective is a charming twist on a common childhood experience.

Click on the image to purchase from
Amazon.

Some photos are courtesy of The Ukiah Book Fair and some are mine.

From Ukiah’s Facebook post:

The Earth Store Hall came to life as the community came out to meet authors, celebrate books, reading, community and culture! Not only did the event feature dragon & lion dances but also taiko drumming, fan dances and a performance from Ballet Folklorico! There were exclusive food and drink options from Jyun Kang Restaurant and so much more.

For my first book fair, this was an awesome experience! Calm nerves, a relaxing and fun environment, and an opportunity to network, along with promoting Cora’s Quest. I’ve been nudged by Teri and a few other authors to join SCBWI, Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, and I finally took that leap yesterday. Ironically, I have about 4 children’s book ideas brewing! Not sure if they’re good, but I can’t wait to move forward once my Copper book has been released. And I can’t wait for the next book fair!

On a sidenote, I made a To-do list (all about writing projects) and it’s about 20 items long. So, at 2:30 am I woke up thinking about everything on that list! But I dozed off and on until the alarm went off, and during that dozing, a poem swirled around and around like clothes in a washer! Can you relate?

Dear Brain,

I know you want to think
Because much needs to be done
But now isn’t the time
For you, me, or anyone.

The sky is sleepy dark
Not a sound stirs outside
Humans are slumbering
And so must I!

I beg you to flip your switch
To the preferred off from on
I promise you’ll get your chance
At the break of dawn

When the sun rises over hills
Wearing tangerine and pink
Then you can flip the switch again
And think, think, think!

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

I hope you enjoyed this update, and as always, I appreciate you stopping by!
Have a wonderful day! ❤️

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.

Available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble,
but click on the image to purchase your
copy through Amazon. And a friendly nudge
to share a review online if you loved Cora’s Quest.
***Thanks so much!*** 💜

Nature’s Gifts, Book Fairs, & Detours!

On May 14, 2025May 14, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Books, Poetry113 Comments

I had a wonderful Mother’s Day with my hubby and son, and daughter via phone from TN. They always make me feel so special and loved. We miss our moms too, and though they’ve been gone for many years, they live in our hearts and a day doesn’t pass by without thinking of them. 💕

My Copper book is finally in the works, survived the glitches, and fingers crossed, no more are waiting on the sidelines. I hope to publish this special book in mid June.

I’m also excited for a book fair that I’m participating in this Saturday. It’s for children’s books, so Cora’s Quest is the main focus and I’ll be doing a reading as well. I’m all prepared and ready to go but have a few more days to wait. Sigh.

“Never forget that anticipation is an important part of life. Work’s important, family’s important, but without excitement, you have nothing. You’re cheating yourself if you refuse to enjoy what’s coming.”
~ Nicholas Sparks, Three Weeks with My Brother

So with all this going on and our son visiting, I’ve fallen off my online routine and apologize for missing some blog posts. It seems there never is enough time, right? But while out for Mother’s Day, I took a few photos of the gorgeous scenery at this time of year (the flowers above included). I hope you enjoy!

Lastly, I’ll end with one of my older poems.
Food for thought as you leave my little corner of blogland.

A Detour

It doesn’t matter the position of sun or moon
or where my feet have landed…
whispers find me,
their tasks needing my attention
at that very moment.

Do whispers wiggle into your mind too
like an annoying song repeating on a loop?

I question if this busyness is urgent enough
to prevent us from breathing in

the fragrance of flowers or admiring
the pageantry of wildlife outside our windows…

Surely our minds,
piled high with clutter,

deserve a detour
for some sweet refuge.

From my poetry collection, Ever So Gently,
available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

My son read my book while on
a 7-month road trip from Maine
to California, visiting National Parks.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I’ll try to catch up with reading blogs today.
May love and light wrap you in their warmth. ❤️

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.

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

Mother’s Day Limericks 🌷

On May 10, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry74 Comments

I’m replicating my post from last year…It’s limerick time, and this collection was fun to work on, although a couple are more factual and not so delightful. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy!

Unselfish

She is a classy, lovely mother
Who puts herself last behind others
Their care comes first
Health, hunger, or thirst
They love her – daughter and brother.

Summer

How special to become a mother
Devoted but not to smother
To love and raise
Till the end of her days
Mothers are the essence of summer!

Special Day

The special day comes every year
But not all hold their mothers dear
Words criticize
Make tears leak from eyes
Sad those hearts didn’t hold their babes near

Smiles and Giggles

What a miracle to be a mom
Caring for babes with a heart of calm
Relish in their smiles
Giggles heard for miles
Music to a mother’s ear, a balm.

Not Fragile

Mothers are an exceptional class
Their work ethic no one can surpass
Cooking and cleaning
Diapering and weaning
They’re strong, not fragile like glass!

Warrior Soul

Caring for her children is her role
Keeping them safe and happy is her goal
A multitasker
Sought after
Her skills are plenty, a warrior soul!

DNA

DNA does not a mother make
DNA may produce a mother fake
Who only thinks of herself
Baby’s needs on the shelf
Baby’s life unimportant and at stake.

Flair

A mother’s talents are exhaustible
But clearly, they’re not implausible
Many balls in the air
She juggles with flair
Her demeanor is surely laudable!

Golden Worth

A mother’s love comes from her heart
That blooms and glows from the start
Cradling at birth
A golden worth
She’ll give her All to do her part!

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

Do you have a favorite or two? Let me know if you do! 😁
Happy Mother’s Day Weekend to all the loving and unselfish moms who have hearts of gold, and to the moms who have left our world, but who live in our hearts. I’m thinking of Doris and Diane, my mom and mother-in-law.

Our son has been visiting from CO. so I haven’t been online as much. It was nice to celebrate his birthday with him, and it will be special to celebrate Mother’s Day with him tomorrow. Our daughter will celebrate with us from TN. I appreciate your presence here and wish you all a fabulous weekend!!! 💗🌺

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.

Gobblers by Masticadores publishes “Baseballs”

On May 5, 2025May 5, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Gobblers by Masticadores, Poetry88 Comments

Dear Friends,

I’m thrilled to announce that my poem “Baseballs” is published today on Gobblers by Masticadores. A huge thank you to Editor, Manuela Timofte, for sharing my work on her highly regarded literary site.

Baseballs

To read the full poem, please visit Gobblers by clicking on the link below,
and if you’re not already subscribed,
please follow Manuela’s wonderful site for a rich poetry experience.

Thanks so much for visiting, and have a wonderful week ahead! ❤️

Baseballs

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© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.

I am from…

On May 2, 2025May 2, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry112 Comments

As I mentioned in my last post, I’m focusing on my book to honor Copper, our senior puppy who received angel wings in March, while also trying to visit you. This has been my mindset for the week, but I’m pulling my hair out because of glitches.
Third time’s a charm, they say, and Life is NOT about throwing in the towel!

Anyway, one of the posts I had the pleasure of visiting was Vicki’s, and it truly intrigued me. Please pop over to her lovely sight for inspiration and enlightenment: https://victoriaponders.com/2025/04/28/echoes/. She was originally inspired by Lori’s post: https://loripohlmanwriter.com/2025/04/25/polished-maple-tables/ in which I also visited, feeling the same rush of inspiration. They both spotlighted the following poem and the concept of writing our own version:

Where I’m From
By George Ella Lyon

I am from clothespins,
from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride.
I am from the dirt under the back porch.
(Black, glistening
it tasted like beets.)
I am from the forsythia bush,
the Dutch elm
whose long gone limbs I remember
as if they were my own.
I am from fudge and eyeglasses,
from Imogene and Alafair.
I’m from the know-it
-alls
and the pass
-it
-ons,
from perk up and pipe down.
I’m from He restoreth my soul
with cottonball lamb
and ten verses I can say myself.
I’m from Artemus and Billie’s Branch,
fried corn and strong coffee.
From the finger my grandfather lost
to the auger
the eye my father shut to keep his sight.
Under my bed was a dress box
spilling old pictures.
a sift of lost faces
to drift beneath my dreams.
I am from those moments —
snapped before I budded —
leaf-fall from the family tree

To read more information and for helpful tools in writing your poem, please visit Vicki and Lori’s wonderful posts. And now, I offer you my version. I didn’t use Lori’s template, but I ran with the concept. Thoughts appeared one after the other, so mine is a bit lengthy, but I don’t feel like cutting anything out just yet. Subtle rhymes also slid their way in, and I’m unsure if they were supposed to. Nonetheless…

I am from

I am from my mom’s emotions
that had a mind of their own
so wild at times emulating a summer storm
I am from my dad’s humor
where smiles bloomed
but his temper too in my less patient moods

I am from flower petals I did not plant
Mom’s were nurtured – my thumbs weren’t green
yet the petals’ beauty is always seen
I am from butter, sugar (granulated and brown),
vanilla, baking powder and soda,
and nuts, yes, sometimes this is the case,
and chocolate chips in their tantalizing ways

I am from the moon in her mystery
The sun in his radiance
The lake in its serenity

I am from the well-liked and the shunned
the self-doubt lodged on my shoulders
the redwoods standing tall
I am from planned and spontaneity
clarity and ambiguity

I am from the Big Bear cabin on the corner
from laps and splashes in Orange County pools
I am from “When you have children, you’ll understand”
I am from two sanctuaries for finding God
to discovering faith near mountains and sand

I am from me
unique, quirky, strong, kind,
a used-to-be people-pleaser
the third of three daughters
I am from knowledge still pouring in
like a flood of surging waters
I am from gratitude for every little blessing
from those I love, from being loved
I am.

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

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.

Thank you for taking the time to visit. I wish you a Marvelous May,
and a wonderful weekend. ❤️

Birds, Blooms, Beauty, & Books!

On April 27, 2025April 27, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Books, Photos, Poetry105 Comments

Hubby and I are the proud landlords of a couple of feathered friends. They both worked hard to build a nest for their babies and chose our hanging ladder for the base. Needless to say, we are not moving the ladder until they relocate! Friday morning, I was lucky to get some photos while I quietly stepped outside. When I walked a little farther, they fled, landing on the power line, and watching me like a hawk, I’m sure.

aware while they work
a safe home of leaves and twigs
the honor is ours

That evening, we tried a new restaurant. A little wine bar in downtown that also serves Sonoran food. With an elegant, yet cozy ambience, the environment was inviting, and the food, delicious! We tried one of their burritos, ate half, so enjoyed two meals out of them. But first, we savored wine and good conversation before diving into dinner. A myriad of music genres in the background played a role in this wonderful dining experience. As we strolled back to our car, we passed a garden of stunning roses. I couldn’t help but stop to tap away on my cell for some pics.

springtime bling uplifts
abounding with vibrancy
rose beauty for you

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

I hope you enjoyed my nature exhibit and poems. 🙂 Now, onto the books! 📚

Yesterday, Japan joined the US and made Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku a #1 Amazon Bestseller, too, and in Gabriela’s post today, she features two of my haiku…

feel the quietness
on the meandering trail
worries drift to earth

Please visit her post to read my other poem and for more information about this wonderful book. Congrats again to Editor, Gabriela Marie Milton, and to the other fabulous contributors! I’m honored to be a part of this beautiful anthology! And don’t forget to order your copy!

Kindle: https://shorturl.at/AEYoU

Paperback: https://shorturl.at/pWXIm

Yesterday, Japan joined the US and made Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku a #1 Amazon Bestseller, too – haiku by Lauren Scott

Lastly, my presence in the next week or two may be spotty as I’m drilling down on bringing my ‘Copper’ book to print. However, I’ve run into another glitch (gotta love those glitches that challenge us). But I’m persevering because this book means a lot to me. Of course, all books hold special meanings for their authors. 😁
Anyway, thank you from the bottom of my heart for visiting my corner of blogland. I hope you’ve enjoyed your time here enough to return. And I wish you peace, happiness, and lots of love! ❤️

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

Baseballs

On April 24, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry97 Comments

One day the sun guides you
with its glorious rays,
the world spins
in its usual manner,
then out of thin air,
in the blink of an eye,
the cliché is yours,
under a sullen sky,
plans become fractured.
Life is altered
in a skipped heartbeat
that was slow to join
the rhythm of the others.
My emotions
feel awkward.
They seem wilder,
body feels heavy
as though pewter
crowds my veins,
but I don’t walk
in their shoes.
Meeting challenges head-on
distracts heart and mind,
but in the hush of turmoil,
I imagine their emotions
will morph into wild too.
Until then,
questions soar like baseballs
out of a batting machine.
Some answers remain elusive.
Others may be clear
as morning dew
but tricky to swallow –
digesting turns into a test
of the human spirit.
What comes next?
Only uncertainty is for certain.

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

Bay Beauty, Blooms, & Bunnies

On April 21, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Photos, Poetry104 Comments

It was just the two of us for Easter, and we were running on spontaneity, but the day turned out to be lovely in so many ways. It began with an hour bike ride in the morning around the neighborhood and back to our kids’ elementary school. We have a lot of hills near our house, so we head for the flats! Although, we attempted more hills in the midst of the flats, executing them perfectly! We’re a little out of shape because of knee and back issues, but cycling is good for both, so we’re taking baby steps. But yesterday was a work out and it felt great! And we love this cool bench that sends a vital message for children…

After the ride, we headed south, enjoying a scenic drive along the San Francisco Bay. A seafood lunch called us, so we accepted the invitation. Afterwards, we walked around town, and for Easter, it was surprising to see all the shops open and the town hopping! (no pun intended) Spring flowers smiled at us around each corner, the sun was shining, but the temp wasn’t hot, even a bit cool with the breeze at times. It was sweet to see little children dressed up in their adorable Easter outfits. We saw a cute little girl in the restaurant randomly wish a stranger a Happy Easter. She had the biggest smile on her face. Precious!
A beautiful day on the bay! And, we saw the Easter Bunny! How lucky, right? 😁