We had a fabulous time with our son as he played tour guide, showing us incredible sights in Colorado. It was a long weekend that went by fast. But while I was offline, Manuela at Gobblers by Masticadores published “Almost Fall-ing” and this morning, Dagmara at Spillwords Press published “Spider on a Hand.” I hadn’t planned to do a post today, but I chose to combine both to honor Dagmara and Manuela’s generosity.
Thanks again to Manuela for sharing my writing each month, and to Dagmara and her team for accepting my recent submission. It is always a great honor to have my writing featured on both of these literary sites, and to be in the company of many talented authors, some of whom I consider friends in this online community.
First, here are a few photos from Colorado, and we were thrilled to see autumn’s stunning presence:
Rocky Mountain National ParkBear Lake in Rocky Mountain National ParkBreckenridge, COBreckenridge, CO
Now, I offer you my poems:
Gobblers by Masticadores
A sample haiku:
crisp mornings join late summer afternoons to greet fall’s cozy prelude
Trust doesn’t come easily. She can’t be bought like dropping quarters in a gumball machine, and she doesn’t hand out trust as if distributing flyers for an open house. It takes time and discernment, the emotion that comes with falling in love, you just feel it. You know it’s been earned – the intuition, a tattoo on your heart. What happened then? Conversations sharing pure joy, utter anguish spilled like oil in the sea. Suddenly, she’s a spider on a hand that gets brushed off…
To read the the full “Almost Fall-ing” post, please click here.
To read the full “Spider on a Hand” poem, please click here.
If you feel it in your heart to ‘like’ each post, and even have the time to leave a comment, I would greatly appreciate it.
As always, thanks for stopping by, and I’ll catch up with your posts today too. I’ve missed you all, but it was wonderful to see our son. These visits are gold when children live out of state. Please know your support on Spillwords and Gobblers means the world to me.
Have a wonderful week ahead. 🧡🍁 p.s. more Colorado photos to come.
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
I was excited to find Abbie’s wonderful review about King Copper. Hers is another heart touched by the love Copper gave to his family, and the love we gave him in return. I’m humbled and so grateful for the positive feedback rolling in about this very special book. Thanks so much, Abbie! ❤️
Abbie shared my book blurb from Amazon and then included her thoughts, so here is a peek into her review:
“If the above doesn’t make you want to read this book, I don’t know what will. This was how Copper’s story began, and it hooked me right away.
I’ve always loved dogs. When I was growing up, my family had a few. But after being my late husband’s caregiver for six years, I’m not ready to care for another living thing. Instead, I enjoy living vicariously through other people who have dogs. This book helped me do just that.“
To read the rest of Abbie’s beautiful and touching review, please click on the link below that will carry you over to her lovely blog.
A few years ago,I thoroughly enjoyed reading Abbie’s book, Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me. Below is my 5-star review:
Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me is the first book by Abbie Johnson Taylor that I have read, and I was thoroughly impressed with her writing. Taylor tells the story about a close-knit family – mom, dad, older and younger daughter, and the mom’s mother who is in a facility suffering with dementia. The grandmother who recalls events from years ago but whose short-term memory fails, shares a secret from the past with the older daughter without realizing it could tear the family apart. I felt compassion for the grandma because one of my family members passed from dementia.
The chapters are written from the perspective of the family members: Daryl, Marti, Natalie, and Sarah, along with compelling supporting characters, and the story smoothly progresses from beginning to end. Taylor prompts the reader to question how this unsettling news would be received and handled in his or her own family. The story is engaging and well-written with surprising twists and turns. I found the characters to be authentic for their roles and ages, and the dialogue to be natural.
The reader will experience a myriad of emotions as the plot unfolds, and there is a lesson to be learned after the turning of the last page. Highly recommended for fiction readers and for those who enjoy stories with a powerful message. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
But she has a new book out that was released in March, and my paperback is waiting to be read!
Thank you for visiting! I wish you all a fabulous day, and I’ve turned off comments here, so please visit Abbie’s beautiful site. It would be lovely if you ‘liked’ her post or took the time to leave a kind comment. Thanks again, Abbie, for your kindness! I appreciate it very much! ❤️
Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡
Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
I feel old and withered like a dying rock rose. Cracks propagate down my stucco exterior like fault lines in the earth. Does an outburst lie on the horizon?
I remember when vibrant pink, like a fuchsia feather boa, would invite strangers in – strangers who became friends.
My mood has a mind of its own. When the sky opens, tears stream down my windows, tattooing me with streaks of dirt.
I’ve been abandoned for years – no one seems to want me. My door – faded and rotted, hanging like a dead tree branch, wouldn’t welcome a rat. Do you know what it feels like to be all alone? To feel worthless?
There was a time when chatter and laughter filled me to the brim, bounced off the walls into Margarita merry, chips and salsa celebrations.
Now, I sit on the corner like a human without a home.
My sign reads:
Will I ever feel alive again? Will I ever feel life again?
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We drove by an old restaurant that we miss where the building has remained vacant. So, I became inspired to write a personification poem.
Thanks so much for stopping by, and I wish you a wonderful Wednesday. 💝
Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡
Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
When I think of the new season upon us, I envision warm reds, oranges, and yellows, and vibrant shades of pink. I can smell cinnamon baking in the oven, and imagine sipping a pumpkin spice latte for a morning treat and hot apple cider as an evening winds down. Maybe an occasional indulgence in a delicious apple crisp, and of course, some cozying up under soft blankets. This is my favorite season, so won’t you join me as we enjoy a little fall-ing? 🍂🍎🍁
These photos are from years past, as summer is stubborn and won’t let the trees transform just yet, but I’m readyfor the change now…
1.
crisp mornings join late summer afternoons to greet fall’s cozy prelude
2.
leaves change into their raspberry autumn wardrobe attire for the dance
3.
new season creates inundation in its wake melodious crunch
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Do you have a favorite? 1, 2, or 3? Or maybe all three?😁 Thanks for swinging by, and I wish you a peaceful Sunday. 🩷
Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor at Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
I’m grateful for more reviews for King Copper, and when a fellow blogging friend shares his/her review on their blog, I want to post it here to direct you to their site. Sometimes, I’ll reblog a post, or because of timing, I’ll combine. Either way, the gratitude feels the same! ❤️
So, to begin with, a HUGE Thanks to my friend, Ernie at dawgydaddyresponds for his dashing review! Ernie also offered a great stop on the blog tour for which I appreciate! Below is a snippet from Ernie:
Starting this book off the last stanza in “Copper Boy” speaks volumes to me.
He just loves in his simple way, And we love him back, And that is simply enough.
Looking at Coppers’ pictures you’ll see nothing but love in his eyes, ok maybe mischief too. Ninety-one years in dog time he trained his four human pets and had them sharing a dogs life of adventurous fun as witnessed in “Guard Dog”. “Young Lab” had me laughing, wondering what the scene was at bath time.
Lauren effortlessly takes us form the joy to sadness as “Sweet Face” turns the corner of feelings. “Will You” brought a sadness to me and reminded me of my dog Doc, it is a very touching poem and one of my favorites...
Please click on the link below to read the rest of Ernie’s review, and take time to peruse his site if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting him yet. Thanks again, Ernie!
And if you’re looking for a poetry collection that “explores the messy beauty of the human heart” check out Ernie’s book. Ink Stained Love is a beautiful collection – one of my favorites that rests comfortably in my bookcase. My review is on Amazon and Goodreads.
Lastly, a HUGE Thanks to Sally at smorgasbordblogmagazine for her lovely review. All of the reviews have brought tears of joy, knowing that my poems and Copper are touching the hearts of so many. How can I ever express the true gratitude I’m feeling? Sally also promoted my book during the blog tour, and again, I’m so appreciative! Below is a snippet from Sally:
Those of us who have had pets, know from the outset that their lifespan is not the same as ours. We can only hope that the years they are with us will be filled with love and fun for them and for us.
This collection of poems about the wonderful King Copper, is not just an expression of grief at his loss, but a wonderful celebration of his life. His goofiness, and ability to sense the mood of those he loves, as he sprawls, dances and makes mischief.
The family are so lucky to have enjoyed this devotion for 13 years, and the love they experienced will stay with them all their lives. The hardest decision is of course that final act of love to put an end to pain and suffering, but it does weigh heavy on the heart.
However, this collection also brings hope, that just maybe we will meet up again and if we are lucky…
Please click on the link below to read the rest of Sally’s radiant review, and again, take some time to peruse around her amazing site if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her.
And if you’re looking for a reference book for losing weight, staying healthy, and learning the science behind the foods we eat, Sally’s book is for you! She also inserts her own personal, inspiring story.Another favorite of mine resting in my bookcase, and my review is also on Amazon and Goodreads.
Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you’re leaving with ‘a book or two in hand’ and I wish you a weekend full of hope and love in your heart. ♥️
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor at Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
Clinking of pots and pans echoes throughout the house. I sit on my bed, leaning against the pine headboard while Mom’s busy in the kitchen getting dinner ready. Dad will walk through the door any minute sporting his huge smile, happy to see his family after a long day’s work. I miss my brother, Jack, who moved out last August for his first year in college. The house is quiet without him pushing my buttons. He was really good at teasing his younger sister! Now that he’s not here, my heart has a big hole in it, and the void triggers my negative head space. My back slides down the headboard, taking my mood with it. Suddenly, I can hear my grandma say, “You shouldn’t slouch, dear.” My mind drifts about life: everything I love and hate. I know hate is a strong word, but it’s the word that fits. I love my family; it’s me I have a problem with. When I first heard the Taylor Swift song, “The Outside” I felt as though she wrote the lyrics for me.
Dad recently accepted a job in this small town. He told Mom that it would benefit his banking career and would be a good change from the big city for all of us. She supported him, so I had to move. After all, I’m a minor. The bummer is that I’m a new student at the high school in the middle of my junior year. Not easy for a sixteen-year-old, but I forgive my parents. Maybe I’m more mature than other teenagers. Sometimes parents have their reasons for doing things and kids will never get it. Most of the time, mine are cool, so I try to understand their decision – even if this move has been awkward for me.
When I’m on campus, I feel like a weed in a garden of roses. Acne is so annoying, and my body is the bane of my existence. My parents thought I was cute when I was a chubby, little girl. But cute isn’t what I see staring at me in the mirror. My long, auburn hair, and blue eyes that change to green are the only things I like about myself. I need to lose a few pounds too. The current culture is no body-shaming, but kids do it anyway because some kids are jerks, boys and girls!
I’m just not a pretty girl on campus, and I don’t care if I’m pretty or not, but being judged makes me feel uncomfortable. I turn a corner in the hall and there’s another model-thin girl strolling past me. It’s not like they didn’t exist back home in the big city, and pretty girls come in all shapes and sizes. Thin doesn’t mean perfect and thin doesn’t always mean healthy.
So why do I feel unsure about myself? One thing I’m sure of is that I miss the bright lights and energy buzzing through the streets of the big city, horns honking, and people walking fast in every direction with someplace important they need to be. I had three girlfriends back home, and a couple of boys who weren’t crushes, but cool to hang out with. All the kids in my inner circle accepted each other for who they were. The same insecurities lived with me, but the friends I made were more accepting. We’ve stayed in touch through texts, emails, and talking on the phone, but I wonder if our friendships will eventually fade. It’s hard when you can’t see each other in person. On campus, the perfect kids stare and laugh behind my back. Are these assumptions in my head? No, I couldn’t make up the staring and laughing. I know the difference between reality and imagination.
I tap on the calendar in my cell phone…three months, two weeks, and four days have passed since the big move across the state. Funny how it feels like a year! My finger hovers above the Facebook app, and I know it’s the wrong move. Stay away, I warn myself, but I don’t listen. I scroll through photos of my friends hanging out with other friends; they seem to mock me. Why don’t I delete my account? I really hate social media, which alone puts me in a different circle than most teens. I’m not one of those girls who likes to share meals, clothes, and fingernail polish. It’s so stupid!
“Emma, you need to just be yourself,” Mom reminds me. She and Dad drill the point across to not worry about what others think. “Try to put yourself out there to make friends, Em,” Dad says. Sure. No problem…in a new high school and new town. Easier said than done. I wonder if they’ve forgotten what it’s like to be young.
I close out the Facebook app as quickly as I opened it. If you ask me about popularity, it’s never been important. But I need to find my own group of friends. I want to belong. I want to find my own corner on campus. A patch of grass where I can park myself and talk with other girls or boys who like the things I do…cats, dogs, hiking, reading, writing, and listening to music. Can my peers overlook what my mirror shows me? Are my insecurities confusing my perspective? Time plays an important role in life – more wisdom from my parents. So, after more time passes, I may like this town. I may like the school. I may fit in. It’s hard to imagine, but I don’t feel it’s impossible.
Mom’s voice travels up the stairs like a pop song melody, telling me that dinner’s on the table. I can smell her spaghetti sauce. She is the best cook! The Italian aroma lifts my spirits as my stomach growls. I slide off my bed and hit the stairs running. Dad got home twenty minutes earlier, giving him and Mom time to catch up before I join them. We sit down at our oak dining table and they ask about my highs and lows. It’s a good way for them to understand what I’m going through. I can talk to them about anything. They have an open door policy, but there’s one thing I haven’t shared…
After dinner, I offer to do the dishes, but mom gives me the night off. I take the stairs two at a time back to my room. I pull my cat journal out of my desk drawer and slide into my usual spot on the bed, pushing my pillow up against the headboard and scooting back into it. My thoughts wander on the lined pages. It’s amazing how time flies when I’m reading a great book or writing. The sun begins to set. Darkness slowly falls outside my window. The bright moon winks at me through my shutters, and it’s comforting. Tomorrow is Friday. One more day at school before the weekend. I can make it. Wow, I feel tired, but my thoughts won’t sleep.
I think about how we used to go to church as a family. It’s been a few years since my parents became frustrated with some people in the congregation. Disheartened enough that they decided to step away from organized religion. I still say prayers though. Does God listen? I don’t know, but I always feel better afterwards. I’m sure it helps just getting the words out. Telling the universe about what makes me happy and anxious. And I always say what I’m grateful for – Mom and Dad who love me and who try their best, and Jack who I miss so much. I know how lucky I am.
Tonight is different though. I close my eyes, and I pray for something that I’ve never talked about. I didn’t want Mom and Dad to worry about me or feel bad about moving. So, tonight I pray for a friend, someone to laugh with. Someone to calm the negative thoughts spinning inside my mind. Parents can only help to a certain point. A friend will ease the awkwardness of moving to a strange town in the middle of high school. A friend will make me feel accepted. Just one friend. Can you hear me, God? Am I asking for too much? It’s not like I’m asking for two.
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Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book) Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology Co-Author – This Is How We Grow Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Bi-Monthly Contributor at Gobblers by Masticadores Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023 Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024 Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025
I’m delighted to be over at Yvette’s today. She invited me to participate in an interview with her about King Copper, and she shares a snippet of her beautiful review on Amazon and how my book evokes memories of her beloved Cody...
Hello readers,
Today I am sharing about the book King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry, by LAUREN SCOTT
My review is on Amazon and here is a snippet for the formal review there:
“King Copper was a short and beautiful read that I truly enjoyed. It’s not a long book, but it captures the experience of bringing Copper home, living with him, and loving him through to the remarkable age of 14 and a half. The author’s affection for Copper comes through so clearly, and the inclusion of poems, which included some excellent limericks throughout (this added a fun and charming touch). My favorite limerick was Choppers:
There once was a dog named Copper Who sported a nice set of choppers He’d wiggle for treats Hold his nose up to beets And would never eat a grasshopper!
LAUREN: The first part of the book consists of entertaining poems from when Copper was with us. Then the tone changes as the poems segue into sorrow when I was writing through the grief. So, reading the older poems about Copper’s lovable nature and humorous antics makes me smile. The photos I included also bring to mind precious memories.
What’s one thing you hope readers takeaway from this book?
LAUREN: When a furry family member or any pet passes that has touched our lives, the feeling is simply loss. They are not ‘just pets.’ Dr. Vicki Atkinson at victoriaponders.com underscores the reasoning in her review: “For many of us, our pets embody the qualities we long for in humans; especially those who disappoint us. Caring, loyal and loving, they ask only for those qualities in return – delighted by belly rubs and extra kibble now and then.”
To read the rest of the interview and how Yvette incorporates her own experience into reading King Copper, please visit Yvette by clicking on the link below:
Thanks again, Yvette, for your lovely review and for the interview opportunity. I appreciate your support very much, and I’m so glad Copper has touched your heart. I can see Copper and Cody romping around in green meadows, having the time of their life. ❤️
If you haven’t met Yvette, please peruse around her wonderful site. She participates in writing and photo challenges, as well as, conducts frequent author interviews. She has a heart of gold! I was honored to be a part of her latest anthology, This Is How We Grow: Stories and Poems for Perspective Taking.
To order your copy, click on the image. 💙
Thank you for spending your precious time here, and I wish you a wonderful new week! ❤️
One evening before dinner, we drove to a nearby redwood grove that has been renovated. We found new grated nature trails, an obstacle course, and a small rock climbing stump for children. Only a few people were there, and among the tall giants, we felt a cool respite. A slight breeze accompanied us as we walked for almost two miles on a winding trail, and hopped along the obstacle course keeping our balance and freeing our inner child. It was really fun, breathtakingly beautiful, and calming...
In Good Company
When we stroll among redwood trees, our steps slow down, we are in good company. There is no reason to rush and we won’t hesitate to hug them with open arms, because, why not? They deserve reverence for their generosity. In their company, fine fibers of peace flow through our hearts and souls, centering us. Any worries burdening our minds fall to the earth to be walked upon and buried. We listen as their leaves whisper in the breeze, Be filled with joy and do not fret, for there is no time for that nonsense.
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author 