Spillwords Press publishes “Spider on a Hand” – Gobblers by Masticadores publishes “Almost Fall-ing” & a peek into Captivating Colorado!

On September 29, 2025September 29, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry77 Comments

Dear Family and Friends,

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:

***Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park***

Now, I offer you my poems:

Gobblers by Masticadores

A sample haiku:

crisp mornings join late
summer afternoons to greet
fall’s cozy prelude

Almost ‘Fall-ing’ – a haiku trio

Spillwords Press

Spider on a Hand

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.

***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

Spillwords Press publishes my poem, “I Am From”.

On June 4, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry113 Comments

Dear Family and Friends,

I am thrilled to share with you that my poem, “I Am From” is published on Spillwords Press today! Thank you to Dagmara and her team for accepting my recent submission. It is always a great honor to have my writing featured on her wonderful platform, and to be in the company of so many talented authors, some of whom I consider friends here in blogland.

You may recall my prior post, but if not, here’s a little back story…”I Am From” was inspired by Vicki’s poem that intrigued me. Please pop over to her lovely sight for inspiration: https://victoriaponders.com/2025/04/28/echoes/. She was originally inspired by Lori’s post: https://loripohlmanwriter.com/2025/04/25/polished-maple-tables/ in which I also visited, feeling the same rush of inspiration. They both spotlighted the poem “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon. And my version is:

I Am From

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

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

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

You can read the full poem here, and please don’t leave without giving it a ❤️. You only need to log in if you’d like to leave a comment. Either way, I’d appreciate your support!

Thanks again to Dagmara K. and her team, and thanks to you for stopping by!
I hope to see you at Spillwords! ❤️

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

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

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

Spillwords Interview for ‘Spotlight on Writers’ is Live!

On March 23, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Interviews, Poetry70 Comments

Dear Family and Friends,

I am thrilled to be featured on Spillwords Press as part of their ‘Spotlight on Writers’ Series and my interview is live right now! Thanks so much to Dagmara and her team for offering this amazing opportunity. It’s a wonderful feeling to be recognized and to have a platform such as Spillwords to showcase my poetry. I am truly honored and grateful! And now for a peek at the interview beginning with Question #1:

Where do you hail from?

I was born in Palo Alto located in Northern California. But since my parents shared an excitement for moving, when I was two years old, we relocated to Cypress in the southern part of the state. The neighborhood where I began kindergarten evokes memories of playing with tadpoles and a frog the size of a football that I named Sam. When I was eight years old, we moved to Anaheim with Disneyland in our backyard. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and the rest of his cohorts became friends. I met a girl who lived around the block, and our friendship remains to this day. She and I spent most of our time in the magic kingdom when ticket books existed, and e-ticket rides were the best! Three years later, my parents packed up the house again, but this time, traveled across state lines to New Mexico. We lived in a beautiful brick house where wintertime brought snow for our brown and white springer spaniel to romp around in. But after four years, back to Southern California we headed. Moving frequently in my childhood was difficult – changing schools, leaving old friends, and making new friends. But my parents had their reasons, so I didn’t harbor any resentment toward them. Fullerton became my high school home, and the last one before I moved out on my own. Who knew that in the future, I’d find my way back to the northern part of the state with my husband and children.

If your interest is piqued and you’d like to read the full interview, click here and you will gently be carried over to Spillwords. Or you can simply click on the Spillwords image below.

And if you would be so kind to give me a friendly ❤️ while you’re over there, you won’t need an account.
But if you’d like to leave a comment, you will need to log in, and of course,
I’d love to read your thoughts!
Either way, if you cheer me on, I’ll greatly appreciate it! 🙏

*Voted Author of the Month for May 2023*

Thank you so much for stopping by,
and please know that I appreciate you! 🙏🩷

A collection of poems that speaks of nature’s healing touch,
how love shapes our lives, and the mysteries of life.
Click on the image to purchase your copy. Thank you! 💚

Nomination for 2023 Author of the Year from Spillwords Press!

On January 26, 2024January 27, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Nominations & Awards, Poetry90 Comments

Dear Family and Friends,

What a surprise I discovered last night to find an email from Dagmara at Spillwords Press informing me that I have been nominated for Author of the Year for 2023!

The following nominees for Author of the Year are:

SmithaV
Michelle Ayon Navajas
Cindy Georgakas
Lauren Scott
Suman Pokhrel
Verity Mason
Nial Crowley
Vidya Venkataramanan
Caroline Ashley
Adele Evershed
Rob Wilcher
Dawn DeBraal
Ernie Stricsek

So, this is the time when I ask for your vote, and voting begins today and will end on Wednesday, January 31st. You will need to log in to vote, but all I can do is ask. You may cast your vote by clicking on this link: https://spillwords.com/vote/

A soft reminder, I was voted Author of the Month for May 2023 where I shared that exciting news here: https://baydreamerwrites.com/2023/06/01/spillwords-press-author-of-the-month-for-may/

I also had the pleasure and privilege of doing an interview with Dagmara, which I shared in the post below:

SPILLWORDS INTERVIEW IS LIVE TODAY!

A Big Thank You to Dagmara K. and her team for recognizing my work and for this wonderful nomination!!!!

** Please remember that you’ll need to log into Spillwords to vote, and voting is happening now and will end on Wednesday, January 31st!

Good luck to all the amazing authors!

Thanks so much for your kind support! ❤️🙏🏻

Photo credit for flowers goes to me.
Spillwords logos from Spillwords Press.

A collection of poems about nature,
love, and the mysteries of life.
Click on the image to purchase your copy.
Thank you! 💚

Happy Friday! Today is the last day to vote!

On September 29, 2023 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Nominations & Awards, Poetry40 Comments

As I stated in my previous post, I am honored that my poem “Chilling Embrace” is nominated, and today is the last day to vote for Publication of the Month at Spillwords Press. I hope you’ll support me!

Here is the link: https://spillwords.com/vote/ and you’ll have to log in to vote.

Thanks SO much to you who have already voted! My heart is full of gratitude regardless of the outcome!

And Thank You to Dagmara and her team for offering their site as a home for my poetry!

Chilling Embrace

I have been embraced
by the chilling presence
of loneliness.
I have wondered
where the niche
designed for me
exists in this world
in which my breaths
originate.
I have waited
for the glow
to emerge from
behind the shadows.

But when I take
that wise step
into the splendor
of nature,
listen to the trees
whisper their sagacity,
feel the flowing rivers
move my pain,
creating vast distance
between it and me,
I have been revived
by the compassion
that nature offers
so unselfishly.

Thanks for visiting today, and I wish you a Fabulous Friday and weekend ahead!!! ❤️🙏🏻🎉

Nomination from Spillwords Press!

On September 26, 2023September 26, 2023 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Nominations & Awards, Poetry80 Comments

Dear Family and Friends,

I am excited to share that my poem “Chilling Embrace” which was recently published at Spillwords Press has been nominated for Publication of the Month. The email that brightened my day is below:

Dear writers,

We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you! Your exceptional pieces have been nominated due to popular demand for Publication of The Month of September.

You have the power to decide the winner by casting your vote here: https://spillwords.com/vote/

We also encourage you to share this link with your family, friends, and supporters, as their votes can make all the difference.

Please note that voting will conclude on 9/29, and soon after, we will reveal the well-deserved recipient of this prestigious title.

To vote, kindly register and/or log in to ensure your voice is heard.

The winning publication will be prominently featured on the Spillwords.com sidebar throughout the entire month of October, gaining well-deserved recognition from our global audience.

HERE ARE THE NOMINEES:

Fever by Suman Pokhrel
The Falling Man by Stephen Kingsnorth
Kings of The Water by Tim Barlow
Chilling Embrace by Lauren Scott
Love Lane by Simona Prilogan
Two Black Cats by Tamara Lindsay
Ruth by James Walmsley
True by Ivor Steven
You’re No Good For Me by Sheila Henry
Rubble Women by David Milner
Harvest by Elaine Nadal
Unobtainable by S.J. Walker
Two Weeks Today by Elizabeth Ricketson
Endless Scale by Vasile Trif

To all the nominees, good luck! Your contributions have enriched our platform, and we deeply appreciate your excellent collaboration and participation.

Warm regards,

Editing Team | Editing Department
editor@spillwords.com

Chilling Embrace

A Big Thank You to Dagmara K. and her team for publishing my poem and for this wonderful nomination!

** Please remember that you’ll need to log into Spillwords to vote, and voting is happening now and will end on Friday, September 29th.
Thanks so much for your kind support! ❤️🙏🏻

Nomination from Spillwords Press!!!

On May 26, 2023May 25, 2023 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Nominations & Awards, Poetry106 Comments

Dear Family and Friends,

I was checking emails after getting home from work yesterday, and you can imagine how excited I was to receive this email from Spillwords Press!

Dear Authors,

We are reaching out to let you know that you all have been nominated for ‘Author of The Month’ of May.
Congratulations!

Voting will be conducted via this page: https://spillwords.com/vote/

General Voting will be officially held from 5/26-5/29.
Please note, you need to register and/or login to vote.

The Winner will be announced soon after the voting has been completed and featured on the Spillwords.com sidebar during the entire month of June!

I’m thrilled to be nominated among so many talented writers!

So, if you visited my prior post, you’ll know that my poem, “Toots and Circles” is the poem that is referenced with this nomination.

If you haven’t read “Toots and Circles,” you can read it here.

And if you missed my prior post, you can find it here.

Voting begins today and continues through to May 29th. I know you have to log in to vote, and this is a lot to ask. So, I won’t ask, but I will hope that some of you will take the leap! And if you do, you’ll see my poem displayed on the right side bar.

This is so exciting, and however you offer support, I am grateful! ❤️

Most importantly, Thank you for stopping by, for ‘hearting’ the poem over at Spillwords, for voting if you do, and for simply reading and considering! ❤️💜❤️

Lastly, Thanks again to Dagmara and her team at Spillwords Press for publishing my poem, and for this wonderful nomination! 🙏🏻