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.

Last post for 2024: Merry Christmas! 🎄⭐️❄️

An older photo of Copper enjoying the warmth.

A Christmas Soliloquy

The noble fir smells heavenly
Pervading throughout the room
Lights twinkle in red and green
Adding to its festive costume.

Stockings embellish the mantel
Eager to be filled with treats
Garland graces letters in gold
Spelling out P.E.A.C.E.

Dangling to model icicles,
White lights sparkle on eaves
Ornaments shimmer on branches
All this, the stuff of dreams.

But can dreams still come true
When years become displeasing?
Amidst the tears and heartache,
Is there room for believing?

I have faith that joy weaves
Its way through the pain
Angels keep watch while Love
Is the magic that remains.

I don’t know your story
The details are yours alone
But I do wish you Happiness
That you may seize and truly own…

As we listen to the marching rhythm
Of the exultant Christmas drum
For these holidays upon us
And for the New Year to come.


© Lauren Scott

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

Click on the image to purchase
your copy
Thank you!🎄❤️



Saturday Smiles & A Lot Going On!

Do you feel like the world is out of control?
Do you need a smile?
I found an old poem that might just cheer you up…

Bananas

Swinging from the chandelier
I’m overwhelmed from toes to ear
I know it’s time to walk the frog

Can’t just sit, type, and blog
I’d love to dye my hair bright red
I’d love to go right back to bed
Reaching for the coffee cup
Time to fill and pet the pup
In the wind, I feel so free
Would you like a cup of tea?
I’d love to swim and read a book
It’s five o’clock, what shall I cook?
Staring at the vacuum cleaner
I wonder why the fish are meaner
Planets aren’t aligned at all
Let’s go shopping at the mall
Don’t be bothered by the styles
I could talk and talk for miles!

Photo by Tara Winstead on Pexels.com

Are you smiling? I hope so!

Along with smiles and laughter, we need to remember that each day is a gift and worth celebrating. I was recently reminded of this when I visited Steve’s blog, Song of the Day, where he shares a new song each day, writes about its history, then shares his thoughts on the meaning of the lyrics. On a recent post, he reshared the 1971 hit song, “I Just Want to Celebrate,” by the American rock band Rare Earth. Steve asked, “Every day is a good day to celebrate something, right?”
When you listen to the song, you’ll definitely feel like getting outa your chair and groovin’ to the movin’ and celebrating! By the way, if you haven’t met Steve, pay him a visit. Not only is he a nice guy, but if you’re a music lover, you’ll enjoy learning about songs and bands you’ve never heard of or listening to your favorites again!

I can’t begin to thank enough the friends who have helped spread the word about my first children’s book – a collaboration with my amazing nephew, Chris, who created the enchanting, vibrant illustrations. So, this is where ‘a lot going on’ comes into play…below are several more examples of the awesome support I’ve received:

Carol Anne at therapybits.com blogs about her life, focusing on therapy and the process of going through psychotherapy. She is also a wonderful writer of poetry that touches the heart, and she was gracious to post about my book here to help with the promotion.

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

Denise from dlfinn.com is the author of Miracles and Ghosts: A Christmas Collection which I highly recommend! A collection of short stories perfect for the holiday season. She included Cora’s Quest in her post: Books that Changed Me: 2024 Winter Edition where she highlights a fraction of the books that she enjoyed by sharing her beautiful reviews. The other fabulous authors spotlighted are Joan Hall, Staci Troilo, Jan Sikes, and Linda Broday.

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
D. L. Finn

Cora’s Quest is a sweet story about a deer’s family outing. Cora is enjoying the forest until things change quickly, and now she needs to find her courage. A fantastic story to read to your little ones or for young readers to enjoy. The illustrations are beautiful and full of color, and the story is woven into a lesson that will resonate with children and their families. Here is an engaging passage: “An owl hoots/from its lofty perch./ The wind howls,/swirling around Cora./Grunts and growls/in the distance/steal her courage!/ They act like thieves!” I can easily recommend this story for young readers and those who read to them.

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

Ebooks are now only 2.99 on Amazon

Paperback is 9.99 available on Amazon.

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

Darlene at darlenefoster.wordpress.com is the author of the delightful Amanda Travel Series, and her recent book is Amanda in Scotland. I am almost finished and have truly enjoyed traveling to Scotland with Amanda. I’ve read a few of the other Amanda adventures, so I can highly recommend this series. She posted her 5-star review for Cora’s Quest on Amazon and Goodreads while celebrating the success of Amanda in Scotland.

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Darlene Foster

An adorable book about a young deer who questions her courage. The illustrations are delightful and the story has a lovely message. A perfect gift for a little one in your life, one that would be fun to read together too. I can see a child wanting to read this story over and over.

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

Dr. Vicki at victoriaponders.com is the author of Surviving Sue: An inspirational survivor’s story about a daughter and her life with a mother who was riddled with alcoholism, Alzheimer’s, anxiety, depression, and Munchausen’s. I have the paperback and look forward to reading this powerful and emotional story. I love Vicki’s writing and the way she thinks just by reading her blog posts, so I know her story will go straight to my heart. She recently wrote an inspirational blog post that is a balm to the soul. She wove her inspiring message into children’s literature in which she included my book, Cora’s Quest, and Goldie A. Poligee & the Three Bears by Joanie Becker Goldberg. Check out her blog post here!

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

Dawn Pisturino at dawnpisturino.wordpress.com is the author of Sun Haiku: 365 Days of Sunshine, which I will begin to read soon. I’ve read several of Dawn’s books and love them all! Her evocative poetry draws her readers in deeply. She shared her beautiful review of Cora’s Quest here, so check it out, and you’ll also find out more about Dawn’s books!

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dawn Pisturino

This charming new children’s book by poet Lauren Scott tells the story of a little fawn who gets lost in the woods, finds herself vulnerable and alone, and discovers her inner strength and courage. Written for children ages 2 – 5 years old, this story teaches children the importance of remaining calm and focused when faced with uncertainty. The illustrations by Chris Mendez will delight any child. If your child or grandchild likes Bambi, he or she will adore this book.

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

I mentioned Diana Wallace Peach at mythsofthemirror.com in this blog post because she read my book the day it was released and reviewed it right away, gifting Cora with a 5-star review! But I want to announce that she has a new book on preorder now which will go live on January 2nd: Tale of the Season’s Weaver. Diana writes incredible fantasy books, and she is the fantasy writer who converted me!

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

All of the authors mentioned in this post are talented, beautiful, and amazing writers! They know how to weave words that appeal to all senses. I am honored to be included in the mix and to receive such warm support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! ❤️

I know this post is longer than usual, so if you’ve read from beginning to end, I appreciate you taking the time. I also encourage you to visit the posts I highlighted and peruse around the blogs I shared!

All of the blog links and anywhere you see ‘here’ are clickable. WP was acting snarky, but they all work. I conclude with a poem from my latest poetry collection, Ever So Gently, that ties in with gratitude:

7 am

The sun slowly opens
its sleepy eyes
The neighborhood
still breathes
soft breaths


Not a soul
Not a sound


We own this morning
this moment is ours


Tranquility flows
through our veins
We exhale gratitude
Another miracle
reveals itself
in the creation
of a new dawn.

🔆🔆🔆

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

I look forward to some quiet time with a cup of tea or coffee and diving into the wonderful books waiting to be read. What a great problem to have, too many books! 💖

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

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



100 Things I Love & Are Grateful For!

When I read Brian’s post at WritingfromtheheartofBrian where he shared a list of 100 things he loves, it really touched me. Brian’s posts and the essays he writes are always moving, humorous, and authentic. Please pay him a visit if you haven’t met him yet. Anyway, I picked up my loyal journal from where it rests on the coffee table, and began making a list. I seamlessly wove together things I love and things I’m thankful for. Perfect timing because here we are with Christmas just around the corner. The spirit of the season seeps into our hearts. For the sake of time, I tried to narrow my list down to 50, but I couldn’t. Now this says it all! And I went a few over! 🙂 These are in no particular order.

  1. Family time.
  2. Sharing life’s adventures with my best friend, my husband, for almost 36 years (37 since we met).
1989

3. My dog, Copper. He’s 14 years old and doesn’t go fast and far anymore, but he’s doing well.
4. Good health – this is no laughing matter, as my dad used to say. I don’t think I grasped the profound meaning when I was young, but now I get it.
5. Baking – carrying on my mom’s tradition.
6. Singing – my passion since I was 9 years old.
7. Barbara Streisand – my vocal idol who I was fortunate to see in concert – the most magical evening!
8. Elvis Presley – I was only a teenager, but his voice was incredible and he was so handsome. 🙂 I was lucky to see him in concert with my family two years before he passed away so young.
9. Redwoods – I feel a sense of peace and reverence whenever I’m in their company.

10. My childhood cabin – memories of Yahtzee nights and Mom’s lasagna!
11. Chocolate chip cookies made from scratch right out of the oven!
12. Sunsets, especially at our favorite lake.

13. Writing! Poetry, Fiction, a children’s book – trying new genres for a challenge.
14. Reading – getting lost in poetry that resonates or in the pages of a compelling book!
15. Poetry of Mary Oliver – I feel deeply moved by her poems.
16. Beautiful gardens – the colors, the life, the connections, the honey bees!
17. Addictive Netflix shows – Virgin River, Schitz Creek, Grey’s Anatomy, Gilmore Girls, & New Amsterdam.
18. Long phone chats with my daughter in TN.
19. Long phone chats with my son in CO.
20. Chardonnay on a Friday night after another work week has come to an end.
21. Going to the movies – the whole experience of relaxing in the recliner chairs and munching on popcorn.
22. Music – singing, dancing, listening, going to concerts.
23. A quiet drive on country roads.
24. Wine country in the spring and fall.
25. All animals, esp. dogs, and elephants – After I read two non-fiction books about elephants, I fell in love with the magnificent creatures.
26. Chocolate!

27. Hawaii.
28. Camping in a tent – I don’t mind roughing it and getting a little dirty.
29. Campfires in the wilderness.

30. The color blue like the clearest sky, a tropical ocean, and my husband’s eyes.
31. Musicals – The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plumber top the list.
32. Small, charming towns.
33. Reminiscing through old photo albums. The memories…
34. Moving furniture around in the house.
35. RomComs: Pretty Woman, While You Were Sleeping, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, The Proposal, When Harry Met Sally

36. A hot shower after tent camping for a week.
37. Air conditioning on a 100 degree summer day.
38. A fun day at the county fair. I have great memories of going as a family, checking out the art exhibits, the pig races and petting zoo, riding the ferris wheel, and eating fun fair food: gyros and chocolate mint ice cream.
39. Noisy holiday gatherings with children’s laughter that evoke wonderful family memories of when my parents were still with us.
40. Christmas decorations inside and outside.
41. Coffee with hubby no matter where we are.

42. Typing.
43. A great sense of humor 😂
44. Kind people.
45. Ethical politicians.
46. Tacos and a margarita.
47. Jeans and t-shirts.
48. Hokas – my saving grace to mitigate foot nerve pain.
49. Jewelry – Silver, gold, beaded, all kinds. Necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets. I love to accessorize!
50. Blogging and the wonderful friends I’ve made!
51. My Apple watch – changing the photo & using for exercise. It’s simply fun.
52. The moon!
53. Visiting my daughter in TN.
54. Visiting my son in CO.
55. Technology when it works! LOL
56. My white Mazda CX-5.
57. Disneyland – Childhood memories of having Disneyland in my backyard. I love Disney!
58. Compassionate and trustworthy doctors – I am grateful for the care and treatment my family has received at Kaiser over the years.
59. Purses.
60. Backpacking with my husband! The tranquility, carrying all we need on our backs, the photos, the memories!

61. Hiking.
62. Holding a book in my hands. There’s something special about the feel of the cover and pages.
63. When Paxlovid kicked in during Covid, even though the metallic taste in my mouth was unpleasant for a week.
64. Organization.
65. Playing in the snow: sledding, snow shoeing, tobogganing, tubing.
66. A lush, green lawn.
67. Carrot cake. Did you know it counts as a vegetable? 🙂

Made by my son for my birthday a few years ago.

68. Sitting on our patio on a summer evening, watching the hummingbirds.
69. Stinson Beach.
70. Heat in the house on a cold winter’s morning.
71. A live Christmas tree adorned with ornaments the kids made and ornaments that were given to us.

72. A new roof that cost too much but that keeps us dry.
73. A house we call home.
74. The feeling of euphoria I had after giving birth to my daughter and son.
75. Walking hand in hand with my husband.
76. Paying someone a compliment.
77. Waking up early in the morning and enjoying quiet time to read, write, or blog.
78. Reveling in the joy when my husband gets home from an awesome motorcycle ride.
79. A simple walk around the neighborhood. Each time, it’s a different experience.
80. When my kids tell me they love me.
81. Receiving Christmas cards.
82. Getting together with friends.
83. Motorcycle rides with my husband.
84. Lucille Ball. The laughter never ends!
85. Enjoying a day at the beach.
86. Attempting a new creative endeavor and succeeding.
87. Reading the blogs I follow.
88. Listening to the rain from inside my cozy home.
89. How comfy my bed feels at night when I’m tired.
90. Any body of water.


91. The excitement of a new year’s possibilities.
92. Riding bikes in Lake Tahoe.
93. Weekend getaways.
94. Having something to look forward to.
95. When my children graduated from UC Davis.
96. Self-publishing a new book.
97. My poetry and stories getting published in literary magazines.
98. Opening all windows in the house on a beautiful spring day.
99. Emojis ❤️🥰🎉🤗🙏 What can I say? They’re fun! 😍
100. Bodega Bay.
101. Pain-free days and nights.
102. Samuel P. Taylor Park.
103. Point Reyes.
104. West Marin.
105. The Cheese Factory.

Could any of these land on your list? I’m sure some from Brian’s are the same for mine. And that’s okay. Like- minded individuals!
I’d love to hear your thoughts! Thanks for taking the time, and for stopping by today!
I appreciate you all for visiting my little corner of blogland. ❤️

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

New Release! Click on the image if you’d like
to purchase a copy! ❤️🙏

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!
 ❤️🙏

Adam Fenner Reviews “Things I Know, Believe, and Imagine”

I had just woken up and walked into the living room, grabbing my laptop on the way to catch up in the online world. And when I opened my blog, I was pleasantly surprised with a comment by Adam Fenner, letting me know that he chose my poem, “Things I Know, Believe, and Imagine” to analyze on his blog. What an honor and a nice surprise for this Saturday morning!

Things I Know, Believe, and Imagine

I know hearts can shatter if beaten down,
and souls can be crushed if pounded,
and those judging others
appear to be close-minded.
I believe people should live
the life they were intended.

I believe differences afford knowledge.
Why is violence the chosen solution
for those who loathe a culture or religion?

I imagine everyone opening their
hearts and minds…
Can you envision this landscape,
like spring blooming every day,
budding across borders and state lines?
A glorious bridge connecting us all…
if only.

I know the ideals of respecting
and accepting will stay models
to be repeated until the narratives
mend, and I hope they do,
because no one deserves to exist
beneath a cloud of pretense.
I believe all people should
have the freedom to live
within the arms of truth.

I can imagine how invisible scars
create hell for the heart.

I believe Love should remain
the center of all humankind,
but since hate continues to linger
on the streets,
here’s a question to ponder…
what should we do differently?

© Lauren Scott
From Ever So Gently

Adam’s Analysis

In “Things I Know, Believe, and Imagine,” the speaker presents a raw exploration of the painful divide between violence and love, offering a blend of personal convictions, reflections on the state of the world, and hopeful imaginings for a better future. The poem starts by acknowledging the harsh realities of human suffering, particularly the emotional and physical toll of violence. The speaker knows firsthand how hearts can shatter and souls can be crushed, painting a stark picture of the damage caused by judgment, hate, and fear. This sense of disillusionment sets the stage for the speaker’s deeper reflections on what could be—a world grounded in empathy, understanding, and love.

The structure of the poem mirrors the speaker’s thought process, alternating between declarative statements of certainty (“I know” and “I believe”) and more speculative, hopeful musings (“I imagine”). This shift is significant because it allows the reader to see both the speaker’s grounded understanding of the world and their desire to move beyond the pain they see. The first part of the poem starts with what the speaker knows, followed by what they believe, which provides a glimmer of hope amidst the violence. For instance, the speaker believes that people should live the life they were intended to, free from hate and misunderstanding. This idea of living authentically is an invitation to reflect on the deeper, more compassionate life that could be if only humanity embraced empathy and acceptance…

To read Adam’s full excellent review of my poem, please click the link below:

I hope to see you at Adam’s site, and as always,
your visit is appreciated!
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
❤️

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
Cora’s Quest, a children’s book, coming in December!

Wynne & Vicki invite me to be a guest on their podcast: Sharing the Heart of the Matter

Happy Friday! I am thrilled to announce that I’m a guest on the wonderful and warm podcast Sharing the Heart of the Matter with Wynne and Vicki and it’s live today! These two wonderful women are a dynamic duo and made my experience chatting with them relaxing and fun. I was a bit nervous in the beginning, but soon, my nerves calmed and it was truly a delightful adventure! Another huge thanks to Vicki and Wynne! ❤️

The podcast is on two blogs: Surprised by Joy and The Heart of the Matter, so the links are below:

I hope you will take the time to watch and listen, and if you do, I hope you enjoy! And don’t forget to peruse around Wynne and Vicki’s sites for topics of conversation that will draw you in and resonate.

Have a wonderful and peaceful weekend wherever you may be and whatever you do!
Just know that I appreciate you!

Hugs, Lauren ❤️

Website: baydreamerwrites.com
Author Of The Month, May 2023 Spillwords Press
Publication of the Month,
October 2024 “Treats only, Please!” Spillwords Press
Monthly Contributor, Gobbers-Masticadores Literary Website
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08NCRH4MK
Author Latest Release Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poems
Author, More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose
Author, Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poems
Author, New Day, New Dreams: A Poetry Collection
Co-Author, Petals of Haiku
Co-Author, This is How We Grow
Co-Author, Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Cora’s Quest, A children’s book, coming soon!

Literary Revelations Journal features my poetry!

Photo: credit to Literary Revelations Publishing House

Dear Family and Friends!

I have more exciting news to share! I am grateful to Gabriela Marie Milton for the opportunity of being featured on her literary journal today – Literary Revelations! She has published two of my poems: “I Know This” and “Wild Emotions.” I am always in awe of her beautiful, evocative poetry and of the poetry she features of other talented writers. So, thank you, once again, Gabriela! I am on Cloud 9!! ❤️

Literary Revelations has published a myriad of beautiful books. The most recent are Full Moon Confessions by Tracey Anne and Petals of Haiku: An Anthology, in which the art on the cover is by award-winning painter Hikari. I am honored to be a part of this amazing anthology with over 160 poets.

For some reason, WordPress won’t allow me to add book images in the body of the post, so please visit Gabriela’s site here to peruse her wonderful books.

And now I offer you snippets of my poems:

I Know This

We do not live forever,
I know this,
just as sunlight and moonbeams
cannot shine simultaneously.
But sometimes I feel
he and I
will transcend the inevitable.
Imagining the opposite
is unimaginable

Wild Emotions

No one listens, no one understands the version of me…
My spirit sinks to the bottom of the ocean floor.
My sky holds gray clouds with no sign of cerulean.
My body suffers heaviness as the hand of death.
My mind resides in a muddle of negativity
Like a dirge repeating loop after loop…
A shadowy corner in my room invites me for an extended stay.
Sun rays no longer peek through my curtains
Because even my sunken spirit has the sun feeling uncertain…

I hope you’ll visit Gabriela’s post to read the poems in their entirety. My heart would be full of gratitude! You can also click on the link below.

Thank you SO much for stopping by and for your continued support. Words can’t express how thankful I am for you! And I wish you a fabulous day, and a fun Halloween!🙏❤️

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

Website: baydreamerwrites.com
Author Of The Month, May 2023 Spillwords Press
Monthly Contributor, Gobbers-Masticadores Literary Website
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08NCRH4MK
Author Latest Release Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poems
Author, More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose
Author, Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poems
Author, New Day, New Dreams: A Poetry Collection
Co-Author, Petals of Haiku
Co-Author, This is How We Grow
Co-Author, Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Cora’s Quest, A children’s book, coming this fall!

Click on the image to purchase your copy. 
Thank you! 🧡🍂🍁