A Special Shout-Out, King Copper reviews, and Precious Artwork of Copper 🧡

To begin with, I want to offer a SHOUT-OUT to my dear friend, Maggie Watson. She was voted Spillwords Author of the Month for August! You can find her on the Spillwords sidebar for the month of September. But she is not new to Spillwords. She has been awarded Publication of the Month as well, and had several pieces of her beautiful and evocative writing published. Congratulations, Maggie! You deserve this high honor! 🎉🎉🎉

Secondly, I can’t help but share some fabulous King Copper reviews from friends who have posted them on their blogs. I’m combining all into this one post by including an excerpt and the link to their beautiful blogs. So, I invite you to visit their sites to read the rest of their lovely reviews – and to learn more about these amazing author friends. 💖

Image credit to Dr. Vicki Atkinson

‘King Copper: Our Dog’s Life in Poetry’ is a heartwarming tribute to a pet whose love shines through Scott’s poems. This handsome guy looks stunning in the pictures that the poet has shared. I am not a dog lover, but I can understand how much love and understanding these furry friends hold in their hearts. Copper’s unconditional love has been beautifully expressed in memorable poetry by his mom.

No less than a celebrity, the poet tells us that Copper was a show-stopper, a hugger, and a kisser. His graceful gait, his charming smile, his slobbery kisses, and his dedication to guard his loving family made him an adorable golden boy. The warmth that radiates from his amber eyes reaches your heart if you look at his pictures. Most of the poems celebrate Scott’s love for Copper, but there are a few that tug at my heart as they bring out the poet’s grief when she hears “a dog barking in the distance” or misses the sounds like “nails clicking on the kitchen floor.”

‘Loss is Loss’ perfectly captures the emotions of those who grieve, a feeling which can only be understood by those who know that mourning seeps into our skin, a constant reminder that our loved one will never return. However, ‘Rainbow Bridge’ breathes positivity and encourages acceptance…

Lauren has put together this tender collection in memory of her family’s Labrador, Copper. Each and every poem in this book feels like a precious gem and a keepsake, Lauren’s verse carrying along the joy of companionship, the ache of farewell and the warmth of cherished memories. The poems are also accompanied by cute photos, elegant too… of sweet handsome Copper, photogenically posing or playing with family and friends.

There are the funny and playful moments, the gentle ones, the nostalgia and the love, the warmth and the togetherness… all captured wonderfully by Lauren in her poems,so sweet… as is this endearingly cute memory she shares in “Copper Boy”,
“When he smiles, his white choppers
shine as if they’ve never caused
any commotion…never mind
the afternoon when he attempted
to eat the barbecue!”
or a reminder of the purity of unconditional love, and the way it can transform our life…

Anyone who’s ever loved a dog (or another furred or feathered family member) will be able to relate to this lovely collection of poetry about the author’s Chocolate Lab named Copper.

Copper’s transition over the Rainbow Bridge and the author’s immense grief provided the inspiration to chronicle the lab’s personality, relationships, and life in poetry. The poems are heartwarming, joyous, funny, loving, and sad. A few of them are written from Copper’s point of view. The style of poetry ranges from silly limericks to deeply emotional free-form pieces.

The collection is written in two parts, each beginning with a short section of prose. The first piece of prose describes adopting Copper, the love-at-first-sight experience of meeting the perfect pet. The second describes losing Copper after 13 years and the author’s devastating grief…

Lauren Scott’s beautiful new book, “King Copper – Our Dog’s Life in Poetry” stole my heart. Sadly, one of the common denominators in life is loss. When those I care about – friends, family, clients, former students – reach out and share their grief about losing a pet, there’s often a sense of shame about the depth and capacity of the torment. “After all,” (a dear one said recently, speaking about the unexpected passing of her cat), “she was just a pet”.

I saw what she was doing – attempting to minimize her pain with a reductive explanation. Self-talk intended to soothe, with words borrowed from a thoughtless one who used the phrase “just a pet” to offer consolation. 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.

I was excited/nervous to read Lauren’s tribute to her beloved Copper. Excited because I know it was a labor of utmost love for Lauren. Nervous because I knew “King Copper” would prompt tears. Lauren writes with powerful poignancy. I embraced every word…

King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry is a beautiful tribute that deeply touched my heart. The words brought back memories I had of losing our sweet dog a couple of years back and of remembering the joy she brought us too. Our pets are such a gift, and this collection not only shows that but also offers comfort to all of us who have known the loss of a beloved pet. Here is an example of the depth of emotions: “A dog barks in the distance causing me to pause,/it sounds like Copper’s/ wild imagination longing for one more moment”—One More Moment. I can highly recommend this for all those who have loved and lost a pet family member.

Lastly, some friends years ago offered to draw or paint Copper using photos I provided, and I continue to be in awe of their extraordinary talent:

Barbara Soby
DM Denton
DM Denton
Resa McConaghy
Resa McConaghy

Hugs to you all! ❤️

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.

Click on the image to order your copy! 🧡

The end of a blog break with New Year’s musings!

Dear Friends,

How are you??? I can’t believe a month has passed by since I began my blog break! The holidays were magical, and I read a lot! I had so many books lined up from my friends here in blogland, so I took the opportunity to dive in! One by one, I was enchanted by evocative poetry, hooked by compelling fiction and fantasy, and moved by an inspirational memoir. In my next post, I will share those wonderful books. I also wrote reviews and posted them on Amazon and Goodreads, which felt good to help my fellow authors. Anyway, the photo above was from watching (from the comfort of our sofa) the Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year’s Day. And the poem that I’m sharing below was written in December prior to the fire devastation in Los Angeles that began early January.

December Musings

I didn’t need mistletoe
on New Year’s Eve
to touch my lips to his
nor an array of gifts
resting beneath
the Christmas tree
I have a roof that shelters
from winter’s rage
and cools from summer’s
hot embrace

The stars dance each evening
in the vast sky above
They shimmer and shine
for all eyes to see –
fathers and mothers
sons and daughters
aunts and uncles
sisters and brothers –
for you and for me.

A new year has arrived,
the calendar tells us so
I wish the holiday spirit
would continue through the seasons
Let it flow! Let it flow!

How lovely for children’s laughter
to be music filling our days
and love for All people
to be the purpose of our ways…

My words still ring true, but our hearts ache for those lives that have literally been turned upside down because of the fires. The devastation looks unreal, but to everyone affected, it’s a living hell. For lives lost, for homes burned to the ground. The victims remain in our hearts. We have donated, and I hope everyone helps in any way possible. ❤️

While watching the news and staying informed with heavy hearts, we also celebrated this week…Cheers to 36 years of ‘happily ever after’ for my husband and I – 37 years together! And to think a refrigerator linked our paths! 😊 Life has presented us with an abundance to celebrate, but also hurdles to jump when things happened out of our control. Matt and I would jump those hurdles all over again hand in hand. Happy 36th to us, and to many more anniversaries to come! ❤️🎉🥂

A random thought…I pass by a mural often, reminding myself that someday I should stop and get a picture. Well, that ‘someday’ came. I took this in such a hurry though that I forgot to get the artist’s name. But I love the joy of nature this artwork displays. Does this mural make you wish for spring? 🌻

And lastly, if you recall from last month, I was dealing with a big hiccup regarding my paperback of Cora’s Quest. It was ‘out of stock’ and ‘on hold’ with the company I published it through, and because this occurred during the holidays, it was beyond frustrating. Well, it’s fixed! The image pages needed to be upgraded to a premium color level at no additional cost to me, so it’s all good, even though the wait was infuriating. Cora’s Quest is back in business, available in paperback (recommended for the full magical experience) and in e-book version.

For those of you who ordered the paperback and had to wait, have you received your copies? Thank you for your patience! And to those of you who have read, loved Cora’s adventure, and shared your 5-star reviews, Thank You, Thank You!!! Please consider sharing a review if you loved the book. Reviews are like hugs to Indie Authors! If you haven’t read about Cora yet, her story isn’t just for little ones; all ages will appreciate the important message found in the midst of Cora’s lively forest.

Click on the link to purchase your copy. xo

“A wonderfully uplifting story of lessons learned and the power of love. I recommend it for children and adults of all ages!” Award-winning Jan Sikes

Thank you for taking the time to pop in, and I look forward to reading your posts again!

Happy New Year,
Lauren
💖

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.

Resa kicks off the book launch for Cora’s Quest with an array of colors!!!

Resa rocks, enough said, and I’m sharing a bit about her if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her:

I’m an amateur photographer who has a passion for taking pics of outdoor ephemeral art.

Eagle ! to Natasha

My name is Resa McConaghy, and my site, “Graffit Lux and Murals”, was originally dedicated to showcasing & documenting Graffiti Art  and Murals in Toronto and Winnipeg.

However, I now find I am featuring the Street Art of other cities around the globe through travels of mine, and guest contributors.

Taking these pics is a passion and a joy. Each work of graffiti art or mural evokes thoughts in me, and these thoughts are reflected in the titles of my Post.

Resa has posted and reviewed my last two books, Ever So Gently and More than Coffee, and now she’s done it again for Cora’s Quest, my first children’s book illustrated by my nephew, Chris Mendez! She creates stunning masterpieces weaving art and books together seamlessly like needle and thread.

Have a wonderful weekend ahead, and I hope to see you at Resa’s!

Lauren 💖

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.

New Release! Click on the image to purchase
your copy!
 ❤️🙏

Let’s talk about coffee and mugs…☕️

Are you a collector of mugs like I am? Every so often, I have to let go of a few so I can buy more! I always find another mug on a trip that I can’t pass up. My latest additions are from my talented and lovely friend, Marina. She is a fantastic photographer, artist, and musician. In fact, she and her husband, Oannes, have a band MK-O [the music of Marina Kanavaki & Oannes]. I think it’s easy to say Marina is definitely multi-talented! But she is also one of the kindest people I’ve ever met (even though it’s only through blogging). Please visit her blog if you haven’t had the pleasure yet. You’ll love her incredible talent but also her gentle nature.

The mugs below are my new additions with artwork by Marina, and I think they are just gorgeous! For some reason, I couldn’t get my act together to take a photo with coffee in them.😁 But I believe you can imagine. They are perfect for a hot, soothing cuppa! Don’t you love the colors and the cheer? We’ve had June gloom weather, so these delightful designs and colors brighten the mood. So, why don’t you pour yourself a cup and enjoy!

If you’re in the mood to shop, check out Marina’s page where you’ll find a whole host of her amazing designs and products. I hope you’ll do some shopping!

Thank you, Marina, for being YOU! I look forward to perusing more of your gorgeous art! ❤️

And now I don’t mean to overwhelm with more about coffee, but yesterday I saw the link come through from Selma’s blog. She wrote a review for my latest book, More than Coffee, that couldn’t help but put me in the mood to dance! I haven’t known Selma for long in this warm blogging community, but in a short time, I know she is a lovely and compassionate individual, not to mention, a beautiful poet. And I already consider her a dear friend. If you haven’t had the chance to meet Selma,
I encourage you to pay her a visit. She will welcome you with open arms where you can immerse yourself in her incredible writing. Below is her stunning review. I am over the moon again!

More Than Coffee—Memories in Verse and Prose by Lauren Scott

Ah, life! It doesn’t come with a manual on how to live it, but if you’re looking for a role
model to live authentically to radiate happiness from within, I invite you to look no
further than More Than Coffee—Memories in Verse and Prose by Lauren Scott. What
a lovely book. It’s loaded with personal stories sprinkled with heartfelt poetry that
enhances each phase reached in the Author’s narrative. Her resonant heart and calming voice befriended me from the get-go. 

From the preface and the first story, entitled Silver Heirlooms, that opens with the
Author telling us about an old set of silverware she inherited from her mother. To the
last one, Magic, a poem, she had me glowing with gratitude, as was her hope for me in
the preface. Mission accomplished. I’m all lit up. 

This Author doesn’t overuse language, and in More Than Coffee, she writes about her
life with reverence. The cadence of her voice reached under my skin, and I found myself
nodding to her words. 

This 63-page paperback compilation of memories in verse and prose is estimated to be
a 100-minute read. It is if you want to breeze through it. But slow reader that I am, a
sentimental romantic, who loves her family just as much as this Author loves hers, I
went slow—savoring her beautiful words. And glad I did—I had many epiphanies and
pauses that helped to uplift me for knowing people with beautiful hearts like Author
Lauren Scott exist. 

In this modern age of AI, fake and negative news in the media, and varied lifestyles, in
the middle of just such a life, there exists room for more happiness—this book will get
you one step closer. 

Because happiness does that—seeing someone happy gets us all closer.

I’m glad I read More Than Coffee—Memories in Verse and Prose by Lauren Scott
and want to recommend it to everyone—a resounding 5-star rating.

…Because even second-hand happiness makes us all happy.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Thank you again, Selma! My heart is bursting with gratitude! ❤️

Selma’s original post can be found here, and you’ll be able to read her wonderful review for
It Ain’t Winning If Without You by Michelle Ayon Navajas, another book added to my TBR.

Thanks so much for dropping in, and I wish you a wonderful week! ❤️❤️

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.