Recently, Gabriela Marie Milton, Poet and Editor at Literary Revelations Publishing House, invited me to participate in her Portrait of a Writer Interview Series. And I just received her email letting me know that our interview is live on her site, literaryrevelations.com. Gabriela is not only a fabulous writer, she is so kind in sharing the work of other authors. I am honored to be featured, and here is a peek:
A. What inspires you?
1. Thanks so much for having me here today, Gabriela. The first question is tough because so many things inspire me to write…slivers of sunshine, rain showers, lake serenity, redwoods, backpacking, living creatures, celebrating a wonderful marriage to my husband who is my best friend, our amazing daughter and son, our dogs, and even events that tug at the heart inspire me to put thoughts onto paper. Ever since my youth, language, letters, sounds, and words have had their hold on me, so writing every day is natural as sunshine. Playing word games is fun too, and Scrabble will always be a favorite; my husband and I pull out the old board game now and then. We’re even hooked on watching Wheel of Fortune. It’s not only fun, but it’s good for the brain to solve those puzzles.
To read the full interview, please click on the link below:
If you haven’t met Gabriela, peruse around her blog and learn more about her and the beautiful books she has published…
Please note: Gabriela’s new anthology, Haiku For Soulmates is coming soon, so please follow her blog for more information.
Thanks again, Gabriela! ❤️
And thank you, dear friends, for popping in! Since Mother’s Day is around the corner, I want to wish all the wonderful, loving moms out there a very Happy Mother’s Day and weekend! I miss my mom and mother-in-law, and wish the best days to my two lovely sisters in Southern California! And my daughter, son, and hubby make me feel like the luckiest mom and wife in the whole wide world!
Lauren Scott is a recent Pushcart Prize Nominee who enjoys small-town living in the Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their daughter and son live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, this family of four remains close. Lauren has published four collections of poetry, a memoir in verse and prose, and her first children’s book. She has been a guest on several podcasts, and her writing is featured at Spillwords Press, Gobblers and Masticadores, and LatinosUsa. At Spillwords Press, she was awarded Publication of the Year (Poetic 2026), Author of the Month (May 2023) and Publication of the Month (June 2025, October 2024). Her work was named Honorable Mention in The Smalls Too 2026 Poetry Contest from the California Writer’s Club. Lauren’s work is published in several anthologies. She is currently working on her second children’s book and a collection of poetry. Lauren’s muse discovers inspiration from family, spending time outdoors, and marveling at the mysteries of life.
Since I’m not blogging as much, I received a message from Pooja, telling me that she posted her review of King Copper on her blog. I checked my notifications and saw hers – what a wonderful surprise for this Sunday morning! There are many ways of showing kindness, and I believe we’d all agree that our world needs more! Sharing book reviews is one special way! Thanks again, Pooja! 🙏💝
Here is a portion of her lovely words:
I’ve been reading a lot of poetry collections and books about pets and losing a pet which always gets me teary. But they’re also beautiful tributes to the good memories, the laughs and smiles shared. Anyone that’s had a pet will understand those bittersweet final moments and the love that a pet gives us.
King Copper is a beautiful tribute to Lauren Scott’s beloved dog, Copper. It is clear from the poems and the images that he was loved dearly by their entire family. I loved the poems in this collection. Some were uplifting and focused on the good moments with Copper and others were more touching such as March to March.
Despite Copper having said goodbye to the world, Lauren chose to focus on many of the joyous moments he brought her and their family. And in March to March she reminds the reader that even though he is gone, he’ll always have a place in the hearts of all that loved him.
I think the poem that really tugged at my heartstrings was To the Best Family which is written from Copper’s POV. It’s a reminder that when it comes to pets, we are their whole world. And goodbye is never forever.
Please click on the link below to read the rest of her beautiful review. I’m touched that Copper touched another heart. 🧡🤎❤️
If you’re a dog lover, a cat lover, or consider any pet to be family, the poems in this collection will resonate. ❤️
Now, I have to mention that Pooja not only writes beautiful and raw poetry that she shares on her wonderful blog, lifesfinewhine.ca, but she has just published her first novel, Perfect! I read it in 2 days, couldn’t put it down, and I’m working on my review, which I will share later this month. Here’s a snippet of Perfect:
A mother protecting her son. A boy spiraling into darkness. A girl who never stood a chance
Sally thinks she’s succeeded in breaking generational curses until she finds out her eldest son, James, is the prime suspect in Lily Johnson’s murder. After years of bliss, she’s forced to revisit dark family secrets she believed she had left behind. Even more unsettling is that the deeper she digs, the more she realizes that she may not know James as well as she thought.
Perfect is an emotionally gripping psychological domestic thriller that explores the impact of dark family secrets and the generational trauma it leads to. It will have readers questioning how well any of us know those we love and how far we’re willing to go to protect them.
I enjoy a riveting thriller or mystery as long as the story isn’t too graphic. Fitting the puzzle pieces together to solve a crime fascinates me. And Perfect was a perfect and compelling read! So, if you enjoy these genres too, pick up your copy! The story will grab a hold of you!!
Thank you, dear friends, for stopping by! I’ll be reading blogs today and into the week. ❤️🙏
Lauren Scott is a recent Pushcart Prize Nominee who enjoys small-town living in the Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their daughter and son live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, this family of four remains close. Lauren has published four collections of poetry, a memoir in verse and prose, and her first children’s book. She has been a guest on several podcasts, and her writing is featured at Spillwords Press, Gobblers and Masticadores, and LatinosUsa. At Spillwords Press, she was awarded Publication of the Year (Poetic 2026), Author of the Month (May 2023) and Publication of the Month (June 2025, October 2024). Her work was named Honorable Mention in The Smalls Too 2026 Poetry Contest from the California Writer’s Club. Lauren’s work is published in several anthologies. She is currently working on her second children’s book and a collection of poetry. Lauren’s muse discovers inspiration from family, spending time outdoors, and marveling at the mysteries of life.
Poetry that will make you smile and touch your heart. ❤️
You sit on the shelf until I’m ready to pour in white or brown sugar, wheat flour now, trying to be healthier, eggs, baking soda or powder, depending… and dark chocolate morsels, milk chocolate, if I dare, oatmeal and walnuts or pecans, or molasses in autumn, sugar cookies dressed in holiday décor – my mouth waters.
You’re not the same mixer Mom used when she created magic with the same ingredients for our palates, and yet each time you’re hard at work, memories flow of Mom and me in the kitchen with dark wood cabinets, blending, rolling out, and baking, moments more meaningful now.
You need to know that her love shined through recipes in every taste – savory or sweet, irrelevant, our own personal chef whose dishes filled us up to heart’s content.
I know memories flow for my children of them and me in our kitchen with mahogany cabinets, blending, rolling out, and baking, creating their meaningful moments.
Funny thing is for years I wanted one of those fancy stand mixers, but counter space kept me from the purchase, and you know what? I don’t need one because I have you! You have created all the magic I need in deliciousness and memory.
Lauren Scott is a recent Pushcart Prize Nominee who enjoys small-town living in Northern California with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their daughter and son live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, this family of four remains close. Lauren has published four collections of poetry, a memoir in verse and prose, and her first children’s book. She has been a guest on several podcasts, and her writing is featured at Spillwords Press, Gobblers and Masticadores, and LatinosUsa. At Spillwords Press, she was awarded Publication of the Year (Poetic 2026), Author of the Month (May 2023), and Publication of the Month (June 2025, October 2024). Lauren’s work is included in several anthologies. She is currently working on her second children’s book and another collection of poetry. Her muse discovers inspiration from family, spending time outdoors, and marveling at the mysteries of life.
I’m enjoying my coffee as this Wednesday morning unfolds, and while checking email, I found that Manuela reblogged my post about the beauty of fungi at her lovely website, In a Love World.
Thank you, Manuela, for your kindness! And I hope you’ll visit Manuela’s blog to not only read the rest of my poem, but to peruse the beauty and love you’ll discover. ❤️
Author and poet, Lauren Scott, is a recent Pushcart Prize Nominee who enjoys small-town living in the Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their daughter and son live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, this family of four remains close. Lauren has published four collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams (2013), Finding a Balance (2015), Ever So Gently (2023), and King Copper (2025). In 2021, she released her memoir, More than Coffee. Her first children’s book, Cora’s Quest, was published in 2024. Lauren has been a guest on several podcasts, and 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 recent recipient of the Publication of the Year (Poetic) Award. Lauren is a contributing author in several anthologies, and her work is showcased on LatinosUSA and Gobblers and Masticadores. She is currently working on her second children’s book and another collection of poetry. Lauren’s muse discovers inspiration from family, spending time outdoors, reveling in simple things, and marveling at the mysteries of life.
I recently turned Medicare age, and I’m not shy about the numbers. In fact, I’m happy to be alive! As chaos runs rampant around the world, I need to focus on the good. So, I’m lucky to have a wonderful man in my life – my best friend, my rock and voice of reason after thirty-seven years of marriage. I miss my amazing son and daughter more as I get older, but I’m beyond proud of them for spreading their wings and pursuing their dreams. However, my wish is that someday, geography won’t interfere with Sunday dinners, meeting for coffee or lunch, or simply popping in – them popping in on us, of course – we’d never pop in on our children. Smile. I miss my sisters and their families, but all this ‘missing’ is satisfied with visits and technology. I miss loved ones who have passed, and Copper and canine family members who came before him. The health hiccups I had in the past are manageable in the present – a blessing! I’m grateful for mobility. It sounds mundane, doesn’t it? But if it’s taken away, it’s life altering. I revel in each new sunrise and sunset, rebirth in spring, cleansing in winter, coziness in autumn. I marvel at the Golden Gate Bridge with each crossing and adore every visit with the redwoods. ‘Tomorrow’ isn’t a given. When I turn on the news, I’m reminded that each day is a gift that deserves to be lived. So, Live It!!! And I hope all the March babies out there had a wonderful celebration like I did! The candles were lit, the fire extinguisher sat nearby on high alert! 🙂 And I enjoyed that slice of carrot cake!
I’m not sharing these thoughts for selfish reasons but to inspire you to live your life to the fullest! Those numbers are simply numbers. 🎂
I leave you with a recent (draft of a) poem that came to mind when hubby and I sat on our patio enjoying a warm, spring evening.
The Dove
We watch her hop to the top oak branch – it bends but doesn’t break beneath her weight. Our naked eyes, grateful for a better angle to see her silvery body and witness her tiny beak move from left to right as she sings, Coo, Coo, from her bird’s eye view – does she notice us – our admiration of her plain as can be? Our existence, minimal in this magical moment – how amazing she must feel to sit on top of the world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Enjoy the magic of nature! I know I’m not around as much, but I miss you all! When life presents other plans, we must dive in with courage and wonder. ❤️
Author and poet, Lauren Scott, is a recent Pushcart Prize Nominee who enjoys small-town living in the Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their daughter and son live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, this family of four remains close. Lauren has published four collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams (2013), Finding a Balance (2015), Ever So Gently (2023), and King Copper (2025). In 2021, she released her memoir, More than Coffee. Her first children’s book, Cora’s Quest, was published in 2024. Lauren has been a guest on several podcasts, and 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 recent recipient of the Publication of the Year (Poetic) Award. Lauren is a contributing author in several anthologies, and her work is showcased on LatinosUSA and Gobblers and Masticadores. She is currently working on her second children’s book and another collection of poetry. Lauren’s muse discovers inspiration from family, spending time outdoors, reveling in simple things, and marveling at the mysteries of life.
When I think about the word fungi, ‘pretty’ doesn’t come to mind, and the same goes for fungus. But when I saw this gathering that grew on a rotting log while hiking with hubby, I thought they were unique and beautiful. How can we not appreciate nature’s gifts?
Reverence
A painter’s brush moves across a clean white canvas like an ice skater on a rink where magic begins to happen… just as nature dances in sunlight and falling rain creating artwork in lovely hues and a myriad of shapes. Her mystique gifts us visual entertainment unsurprising to the eye and in unexpected places.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nature always inspires poetry, and I hope you enjoyed this piece. Have a lovely weekend! ❤️
Author and poet, Lauren Scott, is a recent Pushcart Prize Nominee who enjoys small-town living in the Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their daughter and son live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, this family of four remains close. Lauren has published four collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams (2013), Finding a Balance (2015), Ever So Gently (2023), and King Copper (2025). In 2021, she released her memoir, More than Coffee. Her first children’s book, Cora’s Quest, was published in 2024. Lauren has been a guest on several podcasts, and 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 recent recipient of the Publication of the Year (Poetic) Award. Lauren is a contributing author in several anthologies, and her work is showcased on LatinosUSA and Gobblers and Masticadores. She is currently working on her second children’s book and another collection of poetry. Lauren’s muse discovers inspiration from family, spending time outdoors, reveling in simple things, and marveling at the mysteries of life.
Please click on the image to purchase your copy. ❤️
Author and poet, Lauren Scott, is a recent Pushcart Prize Nominee who enjoys small-town living in the Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their daughter and son live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, this family of four remains close. Lauren has published four collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams (2013), Finding a Balance (2015), Ever So Gently (2023), and King Copper (2025). In 2021, she released her memoir, More than Coffee. Her first children’s book, Cora’s Quest, was published in 2024. Lauren has been a guest on several podcasts, and 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 recent recipient of the Publication of the Year (Poetic) Award. Lauren is a contributing author in several anthologies, and her work is showcased on LatinosUSA and Gobblers and Masticadores. She is currently working on her second children’s book and another collection of poetry. Lauren’s muse discovers inspiration from family, spending time outdoors, reveling in simple things, and marveling at the mysteries of life.
To purchase your copy, please click on the image. ❤️
I hope life is treating you well! The San Francisco Writers Conference last weekend was another great experience that I’m going to ‘tell’ you about, but first, I’m sharing my review of my dear friend, Maggie’s book, Wildflower. If you haven’t met Maggie yet, read about her below and visit her blog!
I am Maggie Watson, an Indie Poet and Author from Scotland. My poetry journey began at the start of the Pandemic in 2020. I think we can all agree it was a very difficult time (especially, if like myself, you live alone). I initially put pen to paper as a way of getting my sense of isolation down on paper. I did not envisage then, that it would become such a huge part of my life. My first collection of poems was published (by a publishing house in December 2020). I look at what I wrote back then and cringe! In 2021 I decided to try and self-publish, and so, "Me and My Shadow" and "Once Upon A Time" were born. Again, as I look back, I know I was only going for the achievement factor and being able to say that I had self-published, rather than concentrating on the standard of my work. The biggest improvement in my writing has come from joining WordPress without a doubt. The standard on here is so high, you do need to raise your bar!
In October 2024 I released my sixth collection, "Pieces of Me". This was a very important collection as it is my story in poems of my years spent in an Domestic Abuse relationship. At the end of 2025 I released "Wildflower" as a follow up to "Pieces of Me" so that people could see how far I have come, as well as the doubts and fears that sometimes plague me. I was extremely honoured to be part of the After Rain Skies Anthology this year( 2025) curated by Michelle Ayon Najavas. I am, like Michelle, passionate about a subject which is still taboo in some parts of society and trying to empower abuse survivors. My work has also been included in five anthologies, as well as being published at Spillwords and other e-zines (Please see my "Other Publications" Page). Last year, I was awarded both Publication and Author of the Month by Spillwords. These are things I never imagined at the start of my writing journey! I am forever grateful to the WordPress community for their love and support. All my collections are available on Amazon (Please see my "My Books" Page). I write for the love of writing, and I always hope someone can take something from my words.
My 5-star review:
Maggie Watson pulls the emotions for her poetry deeply from her soul. Her words are honest, raw, beautiful, and painful at times because she is a survivor of domestic abuse. She doesn’t try to mask the nightmare. Instead, Wildflower is a collection of poetry that exudes resilience.
The first line in The Foreword provides a profound beginning: “…you spill your words onto the page and pray that they don’t resonate.” Most writers, me included, wish for their stories and poetry to resonate, but in Maggie’s case, she wishes for no one to endure the abuse that she found herself trapped in. The difference is that she hopes to empower those who are experiencing abuse of any kind, or to encourage survivors of abuse to keep moving forward. Her poems will bring comfort and build muscle. Maggie’s poetry is solid proof that escaping from beneath the hand or belittling words of an abusive partner is possible, not only for personal wellbeing, but to inspire others to make the same bold move.
Choosing favorites from this reflective collection is difficult. So, I’m highlighting pieces of profoundness or wisdom that are sprinkled throughout the book. These are my takeaways even though I haven’t walked in Maggie’s shoes. I acknowledge her experience, the horror and pain, and commend her strength. She is truly an inspiration.
Maggie opens her heart, becomes transparent, and is a straightshooter with her words, but she emphasizes, “Never anoint my skin with pity.” All of us should heed her attitude, “Nothing can live for free in my head unless I agree.”
“To view our scars not as flaws but rather as a work of art or a beautiful mosaic.”
“Always listen to the cadence of preferred words. It is not only the dying who utter silent screams.”
Through Maggie’s heartbreaking and emboldening account, she portrays the truth, that courage lies within us. We can keep it confined or give it freedom.
I’m grateful that Maggie is no longer silent because her voice needs to be heard. She states from “Pieces of Me (5)”: “Those pieces are now artifacts of my history. Now, I look at them and smile.” Maggie wasn’t “born to be a lotus flower. In stagnant water is not where she belongs. She is a wildflower, free!” I highly recommend Wildflower for those who are in an unhealthy relationship, for encouragement to escape, or for anyone who could use a nudge to see the good in spite of life “always being bittersweet.”
I hope my review enticed you to purchase a copy of Maggie’s book, and if you’ve read her evocative collection and it moved you in the same way, it would be nice to leave a review for her on Amazon and/or Goodreads. As she and I both agree, “It’s nice to be nice.” 🥰 And reviews for Indie Authors are like hugs. 🤗
An update about the SF Writers Conference…
I had another rich experience for my second time attending. The conference is an excellent way to meet new people while seeing familiar faces. It’s all about networking. A couple highlights were chatting with Michael Larsen (co-founder who is 92 years old) and Dr. Andy Jones. I took more photos of scenes, but I enjoyed meeting Norelyn, Valerie, Diana, Arlene, Jennifer, and so many more wonderful people, and Teri and I snuck in a selfie by the Valentine booth. The weekend was about spreading love! The two keynote speakers were Jack El-Hai, highlighting his work on the Nuremberg film adaptation, and Raina Telgemeier, a graphic novelist known for Smile, Sisters, and Guts. Both were excellent! The icing on the cake was finding gorgeous red roses and Sees from hubby for Valentine’s Day when we got home!
I hope you enjoy the pics:
I received valuable feedback on my next children’s book, Carlie and Charlie Go Camping, so I’m making small changes before moving forward…
I hope you enjoyed this post and will plan to add Maggie’s book to your TBR for a powerful reading experience. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I look forward to visiting you! ❤️
Author and poet, Lauren Scott, is a recent Pushcart Prize Nominee who enjoys small-town living in the Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their daughter and son live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, this family of four remains close. Lauren has published four collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams (2013), Finding a Balance (2015), Ever So Gently (2023), and King Copper (2025). In 2021, she released her memoir, More than Coffee. Her first children’s book, Cora’s Quest, was published in 2024. Lauren has been a guest on several podcasts, and 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 recent recipient of the Publication of the Year (Poetic) Award. Lauren is a contributing author in several anthologies, and her work is showcased on LatinosUSA and Gobblers and Masticadores. She is currently working on her second children’s book and another collection of poetry. Lauren’s muse discovers inspiration from family, spending time outdoors, reveling in simple things, and marveling at the mysteries of life.
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author & Poet 