I am honored and grateful to be included in Gabriela Marie Milton’s upcoming anthology of haiku! This is the second anthology I’ve been part of following the beautiful Petals of Haiku released in May 2024. Thank you again, Gabriela and Literary Revelations for believing in my work. 🙏
From Gabriela’s blog post:
@LR_Publisher, just sent out letters of acceptance (or rejection) for our upcoming book Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku. Congratulations to everyone who was accepted. Please help me spread the news. Soon, we will send you the whole design of the cover – as you know, the art on the cover belongs to Japanese artist Hikari and the fine art photography included in the book to Japanese artist Naoki Kimura. Over 240 authors were included.
All photos courtesy of Literary RevelationsPublishing House.
For more information and gorgeous photography by Naoki Kimura, and to read beautiful and evocative poetry by Gabriela and other poets she features, please visit her site by clicking the link below.
I had a blast at the San Francisco Writers Conference! For my first time attending and on a scale from 1-10, my experience was a 15! I came home with an abundance of information to digest, organize, and implement, and I made some great friends! The conference was held at The Hyatt Regency, which is a beautiful hotel with incredible architecture, right across from the Ferry Building.
What’s funny is I thought I’d have time to read in my room and write in my journal. But the book and journal remained in my suitcase fully ignored, yet unintentionally. Along with attending self-publishing, poetry, and business tracks, I was in the company of amazing women authors either lunching, wine-ing, or enjoying good conversation and laughter over a delicious dinner. I made 3 consultation appointments for pitching another children’s book to meet with an agent, editor, and publisher, and received valuable feedback. Once I do final editing, I was asked to send my manuscript in, which was a boost of encouragement!
By the time I returned to my room each evening, I was exhausted, falling into my comfy king bed and sliding immediately into a much-needed slumber.
I was also thrilled to have my books, Ever So Gently and Cora’s Quest, on display in the onsite bookstore, and to sell a copy of each! By the way, how could I pass up more books to buy? I came home with six! Obviously, I’ll have to interrupt life to read, read, read! 😁
Below are more photos that I hope you enjoy…
If the planets align, I plan to attend next year! Such a rich experience!
I hope you are well, and I look forward to reading your posts again! ❤️
We’re all amazed at how fast time flies, and I continue to be…because it seems like yesterday when my book, Ever So Gently, was first published. This is my 4th book, and after one year has flown by, I’m celebrating with joy the 1st Anniversary of this poetry collection dear to my heart. Not to mention, the beautiful, soft cover painted by my son that paired perfectly with the title and the message within the pages. I want to thank everyone who has bought a copy! I feel so honored by the beautiful reviews I’ve received and all of them, 5-stars. A Big Thanks to you all! 🙏🙏
Reading Ms. Scott’s poetry is like roaming the pages of a spiritual book and you can feel a connection. Upon picking up this book I first read “Ever So Gently” and felt an instant connection, as I’ve lived such moments myself during bushcrafting adventures, connected to nature and all of creation. As I continue to read, each poem is equally as deep and reveals not only the writers soul, but my own. ~ Scott Mitchell, Photographer and Poet
A beautiful collection…
“Ever So Gently” is a beautiful collection of free verse and symbolic poetry. It is broken into three sections that cover nature, life’s moments, and some author insights. I love nature and I’m drawn to vivid images, but the emotions and insights explored in our shared experiences were equally intriguing. There was a peace within these pages that allowed me to drift off into a poetic slumber when I was done reading. Although I enjoyed the entire collection, here are a few lines that captured my heart. “Fresh raindrops/gently landed/on their wilted spirit/as I witnessed them lifting…”—Wilted Spirits, “You stowed dreams in the clouds,/imaginings rose higher than the heavens…”—First Breath, “Their presence graced my universe beautifully like an endless ceiling of bright blue sky. Then they were gone.”—Friendships Gone, and “Its glow will grow ever so gently/into a bright beacon of hope/rising with the golden sun/bringing clarity to our vision.”—Ever So Gently. A collection that I will be enjoying again and can highly recommend. ~ D. L. Finn, Author of Sounds in the Silence
Reads like an Impressionist painting looks…
This book of gentle poetry reinforces love of family, nature and the mysteries of life. Written in a free style, the poems are organized into 3 sections: The Wisdom of Nature, The Noise, The Laughter, The Chaos and The Loved Ones. Each section breaks from free style at its end and features syllabic poetry. This book is for lovers of poetry who look for words to savour, poems to read over and over and a book to treasure in their collection. Through her writing, Lauren Scott reveals a caring and gentle soul that lives up to the title of her book. ~ Resa McConaghy, Photographer and artist at https://graffitiluxandmurals.com. For Resa’s full review on her blog, visit https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/2023/08/20/ever-so-gently-by-lauren-scott/.
Read it slowly, and savor it long…
Ever So Gently–A collection of poems by Lauren Scott, a book of 126 pages, is a beautiful collection to savor more than once. In a combination of poetry forms like free verse, haiku and tanka, etheree, shadorma, and others, the Author celebrates family memories and present moments and reflections on where she is in her life today. Read it slowly and feel the words cause your own memories to float to the surface.
The book is divided into three parts: The Wisdom of Nature; The Noise, the Laughter, The Chaos, The Loved Ones; and Lost In Thought. In Part 2, there’s even a poem from the perspective of Copper, her Labrador—a clear indication of the different loves in the Author’s life. Undeniably you will find the words swell your heart with gratitude too.
I recommend Ever So Gently to anyone who knows how to tap into and make much of the happy moments in life. Because life is not always a bed of roses, yet beautiful things happen all the time. Any of the poems will have resonance. What, with language like these excerpts from the book:
“That this routine, though simple to some, would not be the same, would not provide the comforting experience if one of us was not present? I shudder to imagine such a scenario…” ~Toots and Circles
“the soil exhaled and my lantana sang “Hallelujah!” ~ October’s Miracle
“When I reminisce to these years, memories make me pause… to a time when I witnessed their laughter and tears,” ~The Tiny Town
“a little bit more. I’m sure she knows the amount of residence she claims in my heart. Then again, it is quite difficult to quantify.” ~A Little Bit More
“Then with the years your adolescence faded like my blue dye, but I stayed loyal.” ~The Blue Down Jacket
“Life is like a package wrapped in festive paper.” ~Darker Than The Deepest Sea
All the poems offered me a tender glimpse into Scott’s life. One calm evening to read through this poetry collection is all I needed to recognize how much I have in common with this Author. That she and her husband are empty nesters puts me right in her shoes. So the poem that will remain tucked safely in my happy place is the following:
“I find comfort in the clothes\ strewn on the floor\ soon to be dumped in the washer,\ wallet lying on the dresser,\ cell charging, bed comforter\ in shambles\because the messiness\ displays his presence.\ Now with air miles accumulated\ back in his time zone,\ the room shines in all its cleanliness,\ the neatness grating on my nerves,\ the silence, a cold shoulder.\ My hand pulls back the comforter,\ tousling, creating wrinkles\ in the navy fabric, then I pull\ some old shirts from the closet,\ tossing them on the floor.\ I can certainly pretend\ he’s just out with friends…”\\ The Mess, p.59
I hope you’re ready for just such a book, serene and enticing, that will speak ever so gently to your soul. I cannot wait to read more poetry like this from this Author. 5-star from a satisfied customer.~ Selma Martin, Author of In the Shadow of Rainbows
If you don’t own a copy of Ever So Gently yet, I hope you will soon. It’s never too late! But most of all, my wish is for you to find some poems that you can call your own – poems that resonate to the core. ❤️
I appreciate you joining me in this special celebration! 🎉💫
Thank you from the bottom of my heart! 💙🩵💚
To purchase your copy in paperback or e-book, click ‘Buy on Amazon’ or visit Barnes & Noble, and Kobo where Ever So Gently is also available.
HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY, AND THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY! HUGS & HAPPY READING, LAUREN 💜💜
I am honored to be a part of this beautiful anthology created, compiled, and edited by Gabriela Marie Milton at Literary Revelations! Over 150 poets with four haiku each are included in Petals of Haiku which is a Top New Release on Amazon, and my copy has arrived! I’ve already immersed myself into the lovely and delicate poetry – truly a beautiful collection!
I sprinkled some pink blooms throughout the post for this joyful occasion, and I recorded two of my haiku for your listening pleasure.
A few words from Gabriela about the Anthology:
Petals of Haiku is not just an anthology that Literary Revelations is proud to publish. It’s a masterpiece that encapsulates the essence of haiku poetry like never before. The spectacular haiku writers featured in this collection bring to life the delicacy of seasons and the profound range of human emotions, from joy to grief, in a way that is both delightful and deeply moving.
The art on the cover by award-winning painter Hikari sets the tone for what awaits inside – a world where words dance off the page and into your heart. The background photo by award-winning Japanese photographer Naoki Kimura adds another layer of beauty to this already exquisite collection.”
To order your copy!
If you’re not familiar with Gabriela’s blog, I’m including some facts to entice you because each time you visit Literary Revelations, it is easy to lose yourself in the beauty through the written word…
We publish most poetry genres: epic, lyric, narrative, or prose poetry. We expect work that dazzles the intellect, and delights the soul; work that makes feelings blossom into symphonies of love, beauty, and sorrow. Interpret the silence. Find the place where love was born, and tears are entombed. Be the voice of prophets. Be the soft whisper of Sakura.Dream, create, suggest. Avoid cliches. Avoid the banal and the explicit, even if both have become trendy. Remember “To define is to kill. To suggest is to create.” (Stéphane Mallarmé).We also publish fiction such as mystery, romance, fantasy, and other types.
Congratulations to Gabriela and to all authors in Petals of Haiku, and thank you, Gabriela, for this amazing opportunity! ❤️
I’m thrilled to share that my poem “Burdens to Buoyancy” is published on Gobblers & Masticadores today! Thank you to Manuela Timofte for believing in my workand providing the opportunity to be a monthly contributor to her literary site. I am in the company of so many talented writers. Thanks again, Manuela!
Burdens to Buoyancy
Stones of burdens can seem like pebbles barely tripping us up in our routines, but sometimes, they’re boulder massive, sliding us deeply into our heads when the need to escape from our own selves becomes vital for our sanity.
We pause in our footsteps, holding our breath, fighting tears pushing as fiercely as a category five…
The rest of the poem can be read here, and as always, a BIG THANKS to all of you for your wonderful support!
Thank you for visiting, and I wish you a lovely day!❤️ Photo by Ir Solyanaya on Pexels.com
My latest collection of poetry, touching on nature, love, and the mysteries of life that would make a great for any holiday! Click on the image for your copy. Thank you! 💚
I am happy to announce that Betty’s book, Skipping Stones, is available again on Amazon. There was a glitch, but all is fixed now, and here is the link to my introductionpost where you’ll also find my review of her amazing book:https://baydreamerbubble.com/2018/07/01/skipping-stones/.
The photo for the cover was taken by her son, Jason, and is absolutely stunning. Doesn’t it entice you to explore the magic and depth of her writing inside?
Here is the convenient short link for Amazon:https://tinyurl.com/yccscdzk, and if you haven’t already visited her blog, I encourage you to pop over. She is an amazing writer, so all it takes is one click on the link below, and you can also purchase a copy by clicking on the book image on her right sidebar. https://raindancepoetry.wordpress.com.
As stated by Candice Daquin, “Albright’s voice is pure and deep simultaneously, and she writes using the dichotomy of human gravitas, fancy and folly, and our enduring relationship with the natural world as her quill.”
Thank you again for reading and for supporting Betty’s writing. ~Lauren ❤❤❤
I am thrilled to announce the publication of my good friend’s book, “Skipping Stones.” Betty is a lover of nature, Mother Earth, gardening, song and dance. She writes beautiful poetry that leaves the readers sighing…She graciously asked me to write a review for the back cover of which I remain honored to do so. Please see below…
“Betty’s poetic narration in Skipping Stones is mythical and dreamlike, moving and heart- wrenching, delightful and thought-provoking. All facets of Mother Earth play an integral part in Betty’s life, and after reading her poetry, including the poignant personification of a tree, the reader feels more compassion. The language of grief is strongly persuasive, as if pulling the reader to the ground, weeping. The poems of love and romance seamlessly interlace joy, sorrow, and passion. Each word, each line, each verse in the Maeberrie series portrays vivid imagery and a mastery of captivating storytelling. Betty’s writing illustrates the seasons of life, peeling through many layers, touching countless levels of emotions, while adding clever wordplay. This book of poetry impeccably represents the devoted, empathetic, and beautiful spirit of the author.”
The photo for the cover was taken by her son, Jason, and is absolutely gorgeous and enticing enough to turn the pages and discover the beauty that lies inside. So…
Here is the convenient short link for Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yccscdzk, and if you haven’t already found her blog, I encourage you to pay her a visit, as you will not be disappointed. She is an amazing writer, so all it takes is one click: https://raindancepoetry.wordpress.com.
Thank you for your support, and I know you’ll love not only Betty’s poetic style, but also her heart. ~Lauren 💕🌷
Have you ever “talked” about “doing” something, but never did it? I have, so I’ve chosen this year “for doing” and I’m excited to say that my first poetry book is in the production process. I am publishing it through Xlibris and they have been really great to work with. It is expected to be released in October.
Most importantly, I’m dedicating the book to my parents, In Loving Memory of Mom. I wish I had committed to it before she passed away, but I can only move forward now and do it for Dad. Anyway, I just thought of sharing some exciting news and am proud of myself for finally “walking the talk!” 🙂
I also know several other friends who are publishing books, so this truly is the year “for doing!” I’m excited to read them all! ♥
Thanks for visiting and I wish you
a wonderful weekend ahead
and encourage you to…
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author 