“One Decision that is Yours Alone” on Gobblers by Masticadores

I’m thrilled that my poem, “One Decision that is Yours Alone” is published on Gobblers by Masticadores today! A Huge Thanks to Manuela Timofte for sharing my work each month. I’m honored to be among so many talented writers.

One Decision that is Yours Alone

I see the tears rolling, slowly,
but with purpose.
Will you let me dry them?
Your invisible scars are as visible
as words of anguish in your eyes.
But there is no room for shame
even though time swiftly moves
while memories remain.

No, you don’t know me well,
and I can’t relate to the nightmare
that stole your self-worth,
and we haven’t exchanged
a friendly conversation over tea,
but you can trust me.
I only wish you kindness
in your unfair moments of nothingness.

Please click here or on the link below to read the full poem and to support this wonderful literary site.
Thank you! 🙏

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

Thank you for stopping by and I wish you a wonderful week! ❤️

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

Click on the image to order your copy! 🙏

Gobblers by Masticadores shares the news about my new book, Cora’s Quest!

Dear Family and Friends,

I’m honored and thrilled that my new children’s book, Cora’s Quest, has been promoted today on Gobblers by Masticadores! Thank you to Manuela Timofte for publishing this exciting news! 🙏

Dear Family and Friends,

I’m excited to announce the release of my children’s book, Cora’s Quest! My nephew, Chris Mendez, illustrated the book, and it was a magical experience watching Cora come to life in her woodland world through her beautiful artwork.

Full transparency, this is my first children’s book. So, I hope that anyone (adults or children) who gets to know Cora will find her little story to be a charming tale, and will take her big message to heart with them into the future.

Book blurb:

Cora is a curious fawn who loves spending time with her parents. On one beautiful day, they stroll deep into the wilderness. They trot along on the trails, and Cora finds other fascinating animals. They skitter and fly around her with joyful purpose. Every unique sound catches her attention, stirring her curiosity to discover just where that sound came from. But suddenly her delightful family day takes a turn that begins to test the courage inside of her…

You can find out more about Chris and his work on Instagramhttp://www.instagram.com/1mcd

Cora’s Quest is available on Amazon (paperback and e-book)
Click on the links for more purchase options:
Barnes & Noble (paperback and e-book),
and Kobo (e-book only).

To read more about my book, please visit Gobblers by clicking on the link below.
Thank you for supporting Manuela and her team. ❤️

I appreciate your visit today, and I wish you a wonderful week ahead!
~ Lauren ❤️

(I have closed comments here and invite you to visit
Gobblers to ‘like’ or leave a comment there. Thank you so much!

© 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!
 ❤️🙏

Editor: Barbara Leonhard at MasticadoresUSA Features “Ever So Gently”

I have read that a book can be promoted for any amount of time, not only on the heels of its release. Editor Barbara Leonhard from MasticadoresUSA proves this fact because my poetry collection, Ever So Gently, was released 16 months ago. So, I am honored and thrilled that my book is still being read with positive reviews flowing in after all this time.

Barbara says, “Scott’s poems may enable readers to find answers to their soul’s longings.” To read her beautiful review, a wonderful testimonial from Diana at Myths of the Mirror, and to learn more about my poetry collection, please click on the link below. I hope to see you at Barbara’s place. ❤️

If you haven’t read my book, I hope you’ll pick up a copy to discover what Barbara’s talking about…
and if you do, Thank you So much! 💙🩵💚

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Cora’s Quest, a children’s book, will be released in early December.
The release date will be announced soon.
❤️

One Decision that is Yours Alone

I see the tears rolling, slowly,
but with purpose.
Will you let me dry them?
Your invisible scars are as visible
as words of anguish in your eyes.
But there is no room for shame
even though time swiftly moves
while memories remain.

No, you don’t know me well,
and I can’t relate to the nightmare
that stole your self-worth,
and we haven’t exchanged
a friendly conversation over tea,
but you can trust me.
I only wish you kindness
in your unfair moments of nothingness.

Please don’t let your soul accept blame –
fingers point in one direction,
and the compass lies in the palm
of your hand, leaving blisters of terror
as evidence.
I’ll help you pick up the pieces
from your shattered heart.
I’m not afraid of a cut.
If you’ll let me be your glue,
I’ll fit them gently back together.

You wear the mask beautifully
because you are beautiful,
but isn’t it time to let it fall
to the earth like a raindrop?
To heal cracks on the inside
and approach life on the outside?

Allow your soul to sing
with melodies of celebration.
Allow your soul to dance in elation,
for you have walked through hell,
felt the burn beneath your feet,
but you have reached the other side
and welcomed the reassurance of light.


You have one decision that is yours alone.
No one will take it away…
so how do you want the world to see you?

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

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!

Celebrating Spillwords Press October Publication of the Month!

Happy Friday and Happy November!

Thanks to your generosity and for taking the time to vote, my poem “Treats only, Please!” won Publication of the Month for October on Spillwords Press!!! 🎉🎉

I am so excited to receive this award among 15 other wonderful nominees! Thank you to Dagmara K. and her team for providing a welcoming literary site for authors to share their emotions through words. I’m honored to be a part of the Spillwords Press community!

I offer my deepest gratitude for your vote and ongoing support, and for visiting Spillwords to read my poem, “Treats only, Please!” I’m delighted that my light-hearted, entertaining take on Halloween resonated with so many! A poem that was inspired by the days when my children were young and had a blast dressing up in their cute costumes to trick-or-treat! I took a stroll down memory lane to find the pics below…

My angel and lion!
Lion meets cheerleader!
Harry Potter meets a vampire, and our Lucky Girl joins
in the fun!
Lucky Girl was given her wings in 2011. ❤️

My poem is displayed on the sidebar of the Series tab at Spillwords.com for the month of November, if you’d like to take a peek!

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Spillwords photos and Halloween top photo courtesy of Spillwords Press.

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 soon!

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

Spillwords Press publishes “An Invitation”

Dear Family and Friends, I am thrilled to share that my poem, “An Invitation” is published on Spillwords Press today as a Featured Post! Thank you to Dagmara and her team for accepting my submission. It is always a great honor to have my writing featured on this wonderful platform, and to be in the company of many talented authors.

An Invitation

Smooth granite invites contemplation and reflection.
Please, take a seat, relax, watch the lake’s ripples
perform their water dance. Does the shimmering surface
remind you of stars presenting a ballet in a brilliant night sky?

Note the tall pines swaying in the breeze,
you can gently sway, too, if you feel the need.
Let the depth of your soul bathe in the beauty.
..

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, and I’d love to read your thoughts. But either way, I’d appreciate your support! 🤗

Thank you again to Dagmara K. and her team! I am truly grateful! ❤️🌷

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Photo is mine from one of our lake adventures.

Fall into gentle poetry by clicking on the
image to purchase your copy.
 
Thank you! 🧡

Thank you for visiting, and have a wonderful day!
Lauren 
🧡🍂🍁🧡

Book Reviews: Compelling Novels and Evocative Poetry!

Dear Friends,

These reviews are long overdue, but I enjoyed each book equally, all 5 glowing stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I will post my reviews soon on Amazon and Goodreads. 😁

The Contract by John W. Howell and Gwendolyn Plano is a story with romance interwoven between the elements of a thriller and a supernatural. Chapter One had me hooked! Peter and Teresa become Heaven’s representatives on earth to assume the bodies of deceased Brad, who was a Navy Seal, and Sarah, who was a teacher and married to an abusive husband. Together, they are assigned a colossal mission, which produces an action-packed and intriguing story. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I began second-guessing who Brad and Sarah should trust. A fun fact for me was the familiar settings of the town of Davis, San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Sausalito, all in my ‘backyard.’

I’m sure it isn’t easy coauthoring a book, but the authors did a fabulous job in making sure the writing flowed seamlessly. The thriller element will keep you turning the pages to the very end, and the love story and supernatural qualities will leave you feeling good. A highly recommended book that offers something for everyone!

I don’t normally read phycological thrillers, but when I ran across a blog post promoting Warning Signs by Carol Balawyder, I immediately paid a visit to Amazon. I was already familiar with Balawyder’s wonderful storytelling and was eager to dive into another one of her books. Once my copy arrived, I dove in and finished the book in two days! A definite page-turner! The story of Eugene, the main character, is horrific, but the author’s experience in Police Technology is apparent from beginning to end, which made my experience fascinating. Regarding Eugene’s criminality, Balawyder didn’t paint graphic scenes that would be disturbing. I appreciated this decision in writing the book. The reader learns the crime, can envision the scene, which is horrendous, but then the story progresses with believable supporting characters who attempt to fit the pieces together. They each carry their own baggage that enriches the tale. A twist took me by surprise, but the conclusion is superb. I’ve always loved a good mystery where the characters work diligently to solve a crime. So, I enjoyed this book for the different genre that it was, along with Balawyder’s brilliant writing.
Highly recommended!

Ephemeral Encounters (Her Book of Words) by Maggie Watson is an exquisite collection of poems that speaks candidly from the heart. The melody of unrequited love plays throughout the pages. I cozied up with these lovely poems one evening and read from beginning to end. Watson’s language is both accessible and elegant. You’ll discover honesty, raw, yet beauty, throughout each poem – the emotions are palpable. Watson gently adds passion to this mix to keep the reader even more engaged.

Falling in love and being loved are elements of life that are vital to one’s desire to live. It is human nature to hunger for attachment, acceptance, and feeling special. When this love enters into our life, a poet feels inspired to write. And when the ache of a love not meant to be persistently throbs, a poet also feels inspired to write. Watson has compiled a touching, relatable, and profound collection. I have too many favorites to list, so I’ll share one of them that stood out, “Unfinished Symphony” (the first of three parts):

Don’t place flowers on my grave when I die.
I am not there.
I will be standing right beside you.
I will be the wind in your hair.
Or keep me in your heart.
That is where I always wanted to be.
I would have swum across an ocean to be in your arms.
But you kept running, and I grew tired.
In this world, we could not be lovers.
Maybe in the next?
You will always be my unfinished symphony.

I highly recommend this poetry book for anyone who has ever been in love
or who has nursed a broken heart.

I’ve always been fascinated with packing imagery and emotions into just a few lines of poetry, and haiku is one form that delivers. Dawn Pisturino’s book, Lunar Gazing Haiku, is a beautiful collection of over sixty haiku touching on emotions, passion, spirituality, seasons, and of course, the spectacular moon. I immersed myself into these short yet meaningful poems one morning while enjoying a hot cup of coffee. In the beginning of the book, Pisturino includes the Introduction that offers history on this short Japanese poetry form which I found to be beneficial. Gaining more knowledge by reading enriches the experience while enjoying the content. This short chapbook is meant to be read more than once. Throughout its pages, there is an aspect of life for everyone that will resonate. Highly recommended for all poetry lovers.
I enjoyed this entire lovely collection, but a few favorites are:

Fireflies

fireflies in the dark
spur childhood imaginings
fairy lanterns glow

Autumn

crisp red apples taste
sweetest in pie and cider
on brisk autumn nights

Healing

mooncakes and water
capture moonlight’s silver rays
powerful healing

I hope you won’t leave here empty-handed, but thank you for stopping by!
Happy reading,
Lauren ❤️

Lauren Scott
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 Poetry
Author, New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author, Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author, This is How We Grow
Co-Author, Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships

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