D. G. Kaye gives Ever So Gently 5 stars!

What a nice surprise to find this lovely review this morning! Debby, thanks again, and I’m so glad you enjoyed my poetry collection and found many of the poems resonating. For those of you who haven’t met Debby, she has written several books that will make you smile, laugh out loud, and grab a tissue. So I encourage you to peruse around her cozy and beautiful site. In her most recent book, Debby writes about her journey through loss. I have read many of her books and loved them, and I will start this beautiful and emotional book soon.

The beginning of Debby’s 5 Star Review for Ever So Gently:

Lauren writes beautiful and heartfelt poetry. In this book she divides the book up into sections of various types of poetry – The Wisdom of Nature, – The Noise, The Laughter, The Chaos, The Loved Ones, and, – Lost in Thought. A lovely mix of story poems from nature to reflections on moment’s in life – reminiscing of poignant and tender moments, firsts, becoming a mom, reflections on life, losses, and her love for her family and pets. The imagery Scott portrays from her words are moving and many so relevant to today’s world

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Thank you for popping in today, and have a wonderful week ahead! 💖

We miss Copper this holiday season, but
we’ll find comfort in the photos of him by the tree
,
wearing a Santa hat, or snoozing by the fire.
If you’d like to order a copy, or know someone
who would find comfort in this special collection,
please click on the link. Thank you. xo

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
Author and poet, Lauren Scott, enjoys small-town living in the Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their adult son and daughter live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, the family of four remains close. Lauren has published four poetry collections, a memoir, and her first children’s book. Her latest poetry collection is a tribute to her family’s Chocolate Labrador who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in spring 2025. Lauren is a recent Pushcart Nominee and has been a guest on several podcasts. Her writing is featured on Spillwords Press where she was voted Author of the Month and garnered Publication of the Month awards. She is a contributing author in several anthologies, and her work is also shared on Gobblers and Masticadores. Her muse discovers inspiration from her family, spending time outdoors, reveling in simple things, and marveling at the mysteries of life.

Three More Hearts 🧡🌈

This weekend, I was surprised to find more touching reviews for King Copper. I’m beyond grateful to my friends, Selma, Lori, and Marie. I appreciate the support from these lovely ladies and also from you who have read and reviewed this special book for my family. I’m repeating myself, but my heart is fuller each time I read about how my poetry collection of Copper’s life affects another reader. I am in awe of every review, how everyone discovers something unique that stirs their emotions. Simply put, it’s profound and heartwarming…

The back cover of my book.

Below are portions of each lovely review, but I invite you to click on the blog links that will gently carry you to these beautiful sites to read the reviews in their entirety. And while you’re there, I hope you’ll spend some time to get to know these talented women if you haven’t met them already. ❤️

I felt this author’s immense grief in King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry by Lauren Scott, but I also saw her light flicker on. Here’s a quote I want to include and my honest thoughts:

“My candle burns, not to dispel the darkness, but to put forth the Light.”
~ Charlie Siegel.
Like Charlie Siegel’s quote, this book might help you put forth the light.

The setup of the two parts works well, as do the color photographs. This short 70-page book (digital) is for anyone who has ever loved another person or pet—“love” being the keyword here— and has to go on living without them. How, you ask? Trust me, this book will help you discern the light that resides inside. And bring you comfort too.

The words in King Copper are heartwarming and lulling like whispered confidences in a comforting tone, like a messenger of the holy. Yes, the best I’ve heard this year. Just when you feel leafless and stark like a bare tree in winter from a recent loss, the bird in your soul will open its eyes, and locate the light; open its beak, and be encouraged to sing again. In your “house of silence” and you will “find your shadow”. That’s what this book will do…

Lauren Scott’s love of her family’s beautiful chocolate lab, Copper, shines in this sweet little volume of photographs and poems that follow their lives together from adoption day on. In her words, King Copper is “a poetic account of the joy that arises when a lovable chocolate lab walks into your life and changes it forever. And the eventual heartache you feel when he crosses over the rainbow bridge thirteen years later and still too soon.”

What a touching account, and what a testament to the glorious impact our beloved pets have on our lives. If only all dogs—all pets—were as well loved and appreciated as the delightful lab Lauren writes so poetically about, the world would truly be a better place. Brava to Lauren for giving her beloved Copper a tribute worthy of his beauty and goodness!

Did it make me cry a bit? Absolutely. But tears shed over the loss of a dear dog are never wrong. There is nothing purer than a dog’s affection and devotion.

Copper wasn’t my dog, but I, too, have loved wonderful dogs. Like Lauren and her family, I know our animal companions deserve our deepest affection in return for the many gifts they give us. Part of the price for that gift is the same as it is for anything we open up our hearts to fully—the possibility, even the probability that one day there will be pain and loss…

Not so long ago, Lauren had to say goodbye to their lovable chocolate lab Copper and as a way of soothing her grief, she wrote a book about the welcoming of Copper into their family, his sweet temper, the joys shared on the road and the terrible decision they had to make, as Copper couldn’t keep going, suffering.

In the past 3 months, two of my friends lost their beloved pets. I was the witness of their pain, of the emptiness they felt, tears flowing down as they recalled the time they met, the “love at first sight ” feeling , fond memories.
Nobody is ever prepared for any loss. It’s always a heart-breaking story.

In her book, Lauren shares Copper’s Story with her readers, via sweet photos and her wonderful poetry! We can even feel at times Copper’s presence as we unravel the fantastic relation they shared as a family. I liked the way she mixed poems from her point of view and some from Copper’s viewpoint. We understand how much love they both got from this special bond.

Some people come to your life at times to change it forever. It’s what happened to Lauren and her family – for 13 years Copper brought happiness, unconditional love, affection and much more, as they gave him a safe place to grow and simply be. I feel that Lauren’s recollection of moments can be a great gift for anyone going through such a bereavement…

And thanks so much for visiting! I appreciate you!
Have a wonderful week! ❤️

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com

Click on the 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

King Copper brings more 5-star reviews from Sally and Ernie! 🤎🧡

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...

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

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Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡

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


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

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! 🧡

Gobblers by Masticadores welcomes King Copper!

A huge Thank You to Editor, Manuela Timofte, for sharing the initial post about my new release, King CopperA poetic account of the joy that arises when a lovable chocolate lab walks into your life and changes it forever. And the eventual heartache you feel when he crosses over the rainbow bridge thirteen years later and still too soon. I’m always honored to be featured on Manuela’s beautiful site along with many talented writers. 🙏

To read the entire post, please visit Gobblers, and if you haven’t subscribed, I hope you will. Manuela shares evocative poetry and stories from a myriad of talented authors. Thanks again, Manuela! ❤️

Image by Jacqui Murray
Photo by alleksana on Pexels.com

Thanks for dropping by, and I wish you a fabulous day! 🤎🧡❤️
Now that the blog tour has ended, I’m going to work on
finishing overdue reviews for some great books.
🙂

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

Click on the image to order your copy! 🧡

#BlogTourLastStop – I’m at Marsha’s today as she ends the tour for King Copper in a spectacular way and one that tugs at my heart.

The blog tour train has reached its final destination at Marsha’s blog, Always Write, and what a post she created! I told her that I thought the tears had begun to dry up, but they keep finding me. Though my family is beginning to revel in the joyful memories of Copper, we still him so much. Sometimes, it’s hard to believe that he won’t greet me one day when I walk through the door. This is life. There is a beginning and an end. I also told Marsha that I guess I wanted others to know Copper like his family did. So far, the reviews are beyond touching. Adjectives are being repeated, but I think you know what I mean and how I feel.

So, please visit Marsha and her wonderful blog, to learn something different about this special poetry collection. And to get to know her if you haven’t already met her! I have to be honest, if you’re a dog parent or even a cat parent, my poetic sentiments will resonate because all of our hearts have been melted by our furry family members. ❤️

And now, click on the link below that will transport you to Marsha’s beautiful blog.
Comments are turned off.

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

Click on the image to order your copy! 🧡

#BlogTour – I’m at Dawn’s today as she continues the blog tour for King Copper!

I’m excited to spend time with Dawn today as the blog tour train moves forward. And I am touched that King Copper has achieved #1 Amazon New Release status! I’ve mentioned before, each post offers something different. If you’re a dog or cat parent, I’m sure my book will resonate with you. Dawn has already read it and shared her 5-star review as well. I’m so glad my poems touched her heart, which is my hope as others read through the collection. Comments will be turned off so you can head over to Dawn’s to learn more about the book and about what’s going on in her life. She’s a fabulous poet and writer of short stories, so acquaint yourself if you haven’t already. Thanks again, Dawn! ❤️

By the way, I am delighted to see 4 five-star reviews on Amazon with 3 five-star ratings! Knowing my poems about Copper are touching the hearts of everyone who picks up a copy is my wish come true. Thank you to those who have read about our love for Copper or who plan to read. And to those who have left beautiful reviews. Your words and support warm my heart. And I know as Copper romps around in green meadows with his friends, he’s smiling because of all the love he has received. 🤎🧡🤎

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hugs, Lauren ❤️

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

Click on the image to order your copy! 🧡

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#BlogTour – I’m at Sally’s today as she continues the tour for King Copper!

Dear Family and Friends,

I’m excited to be at Sally’s today to spread the word about my special tribute to Copper. The tour began with Maggie on August 4th, so it’s been a whirlwind of love and support from this warm community. Sally is a generous soul by sharing fellow author’s books. Here’s a peek into what her site is all about:

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine was the follow on to a physical newsletter that I published every month for two years, on subscription to listeners to my radio show.. I expanded the original format which was mainly health articles, to including book marketing, music, humour, lifestyle, cookery and food and short stories. My aim was to create a watering hole that provided a wide number of topics to chat about….This has now developed further to provide a platform for other authors to share their work. This year the blog celebrates thirteen years, eleven of them as Smorgasbord Blog Magazine.

Thank you so much, Sally, for your generous heart! You, Maggie, Mike, Jacqui, Brian, and Ernie have brought magic into this blog tour. Marketing isn’t fun, but you all have made it fun and exciting, and I’m running out of ways to say “Thank you” from the bottom of my heart! ❤️

Photo by George Dolgikh on Pexels.com

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

Click on the image to order your copy! 🧡