A Bright Light

From the hugs, cuddles, and games of fetch, Copper learned he could trust us. And so, he became family. For thirteen years, he gave us unconditional love. He crossed over the rainbow bridge this past March. It is serendipitous to know that he came into our lives in March and left our earthly world also in March – the month of new beginnings. He was a bright light in our lives that will shine eternally. This is the power of our dogs or any pet. They leave a positive, long-lasting imprint on our souls. (Part of the Preface)

On the same shelf with Mary Oliver!

He Carries On

A copper-colored coat he dons
Looking handsome as a celebrity icon
A senior now
Gray on his brow
Even with pains, he carries on.


My Shadow

Feeling empty in my bones
walking from room to room,
where is my shadow?



I hope you’ll let Copper touch your heart like he’s touched so many already. Or perhaps, you have a friend or family member who would find comfort in reading my book. A Huge Thanks to You who have read this special poetry collection and left beautiful, heartfelt reviews. ❤️🤎🧡

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© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
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


Interview with Yvette Prior about King Copper and Her beautiful review 🧡

Hello readers, 

        Today I am sharing about the book King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry, by LAUREN SCOTT

My review is on Amazon and here is a snippet for the formal review there:

“King Copper was a short and beautiful read that I truly enjoyed. It’s not a long book, but it captures the experience of bringing Copper home, living with him, and loving him through to the remarkable age of 14 and a half. The author’s affection for Copper comes through so clearly, and the inclusion of poems, which included some excellent limericks throughout (this added a fun and charming touch). My favorite limerick was Choppers:

There once was a dog named Copper
Who sported a nice set of choppers
He’d wiggle for treats
Hold his nose up to beets
And would never eat a grasshopper!

King Copper Links:

FOUR QUESTIONS WITH LAUREN SCOTT

LAUREN: The first part of the book consists of entertaining poems from when Copper was with us. Then the tone changes as the poems segue into sorrow when I was writing through the grief. So, reading the older poems about Copper’s lovable nature and humorous antics makes me smile. The photos I included also bring to mind precious memories.

LAUREN: When a furry family member or any pet passes that has touched our lives, the feeling is simply loss. They are not ‘just pets.’ Dr. Vicki Atkinson at victoriaponders.com underscores the reasoning in her review: “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.”

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To order your copy, click on the image. 💙

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

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

Carol Anne shares her review of King Copper!

Copper came into our family a month after Mom passed.
But Dad was able to meet him, and they loved each other.

Another wonderful surprise was finding Carol Anne’s stunning review of King Copper on her blog. Carol Anne writes brilliant poetry, so if you haven’t met her yet, please take the time to get to know her. She’s a beautiful soul, very kind and supportive. Enjoy this peek into her review:

Here’s the touching cover of King Copper: Our Dog’s Life in Poetry by Lauren Scott—a poignant tribute rendered in rich, chocolatey tones that mirror the gentle, soulful nature of Copper the Labrador. Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author+1.

King Copper: Our Dog’s Life in Poetry is a heartfelt poetry collection published on August 6, 2025, by Baydreamer Writes. The collection is a loving homage to Copper, the author’s cherished chocolate Labrador-mix. Part memoir in verse, part exploration of grief and healing, it captures the bond between a family and their beloved canine companion.

Spanning 66 pages, the book offers both paperback ($14.99) and e-book ($5.99) editions, with the e-book available for pre-order across platforms like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

What sets this collection apart is its variety of poetic forms—freestyle, tanka, limericks, micro-poetry, and haiku—all interwoven with color photographs that bring visual warmth to the written words. It begins with light-hearted, joyful verses celebrating Copper’s life and transitions into more reflective, grief-colored poems following his passing.

Short samples from the book carry profound emotional weight:

  • Tour De Force
    A vivid limerick:

Prancing on the left like a well-bred horse / … His character is a tour de force!” Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author

  • Showstopper
    A playful yet affectionate limerick:

“There once was a dog named Copper … Bit with love comes lots of slobber!” Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author

Thank you for stopping by today, and I hope your day is
peaceful, as well as the new week ahead!
❤️

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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! 🧡

Maggie shares her review of King Copper!

A young Copper loving the beauty that life brings.

I’m thrilled to be featured at Maggie’s beautiful blog again. If you recall, she kicked off the tour on August 4th. What a wild two weeks it has been! She was also the first to review my book, and she shares her review today. Here’s a peek into her lovely words:

Anyone who has ever owned a pet knows
how heartbreaking it is when we lose them.
As Lauren so correctly says, “loss is loss, hearts still break,
tears fall until there are no more stages of grief”.
I smiled and I cried while reading this beautiful collection of poetry
written in tribute to Lauren’s Labrador, Copper.
I loved all the poems, particularly the ones signed ‘Love Copper’ and ‘Your Copper Boy.’
Lauren also included many lovely photographs of this handsome boy, on his own, and with members of her family.
..

To read Maggie’s full excellent review, please head over to her beautiful site.
I’ve turned off comments here, so she hopes to see you soon!

Before I close, I want to highlight Maggie’s recent book, Pieces of Me. Below is what Amazon says:

For more than a decade, I lived in a toxic/abusive environment.

I survived by learning when to keep my mouth shut.

Now, I have a voice by writing about my experience through poetry.

This is my story, no longer silenced.

I hope it gives you the courage to do the same!From the ashes, I rise.
Emerging from the dust and ruins
of the carnage you left behind,
wiping away the dirt from the words that
once left me unable to breathe.
As I lay gasping for air, you did not care.
You could have been my downfall, but I refused to die.
Now watch as I climb to the summit of my life,
no longer caught in your riptide.

I highly recommend this evocative poetry collection that I gladly gave 5 stars.

So, now you have two book ideas: Pieces of Me and King Copper. Please visit Maggie to read her full review, and to learn more about the collection of books she has published.

Thank you so much for stopping by!
I wish you a lovely weekend full of laughter,
love, and peace! I appreciate you very much! ❤️🙏

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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 over at Jacqui’s today as the blog tour continues for King Copper!

What I’m really loving about this blog tour is the personal touch that my friends are softly including into their posts. I love reading how my book connects to them. My heart is full! A Huge thanks to Jacqui for helping me spread the word about this special poetry collection that pays tribute to a very special family member, our beloved chocolate lab mix, Copper, who received his angel wings on March 3rd.

Comments are turned off, so please visit Jacqui to learn more about my book. And if you’ve missed prior posts, you can check out my sidebar to catch up. 🤗 Also, if you haven’t met Jacqui, take some time to peruse around her blogging world. She is a fantastic writer of non-fiction, fiction, action, and prehistoric fiction. Simply click on the link below that will gently carry you over to her site.

Photo by George Dolgikh on Pexels.com

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo (e-book only)

Thank you for stopping by, and for those who are following the tour, I appreciate your support very much!

❤️🤎🙏

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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! 🧡

#NewBookRelease: King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry 🤎

Dear Family and Friends,

Today is the day! I’m excited in a bittersweet way to announce the release of my poetry collection, King Copper – a tribute to my family’s friendly, lovable chocolate lab mix who crossed over the rainbow bridge on March 3rd. I had already written several fun and happy poems about Copper when he was with us. But when he left our world, I began writing through the heartbreak, providing a destination for grief in the form of poetry. I’ve also included color photos to bring life to the poems.

But today isn’t about feeling sad, bittersweet, yes, but this day is for my family and I to celebrate Copper through this special book. We can ‘see’ him frolicking with his friends in a magical place where pain doesn’t exist, only lush green meadows, redwoods, cheerful sunflowers, smiling daisies, ladybugs, and butterflies. It’s about believing…

My son with a young Copper
My daughter with a young Copper

I wasn’t going to do a formal blog tour, but I couldn’t believe the outpouring of support. Several friends offered to help spread the word about King Copper. So, the blog tour began with my good friends, Maggie at Ephemeral Encounters on Monday, and Mike at Silent Pariah continuing yesterday.
More good friends will continue the tour as follows:

Jacqui at https://worddreams.wordpress.com/ – Friday, August 8th
Ernie at dawgdaddyresponds – Sunday, August 10th
Sally at smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com – Tuesday, August 12th
Dawn at dawnpisturino.wordpress.com – Thursday, August 14th
Marsha at alwayswrite.blog – Monday, August 18th

I hope you’ll follow the tour to get to know these amazing writers and to learn more about the book.
Each post will offer something new…

When I knelt down to Copper’s level, my heart melted. His amber, soul-searching eyes told me all I needed to know.

I recalled sitting at the table, perusing a Labrador rescue website. A lab sporting a copper-colored coat stood out like a citrine crystal in a bowl of black diamonds. I had to meet the handsome fellow.

So, on a late winter March day in 2012, my family drove to Oakland to meet Copper. A woman was fostering him in her small apartment. He had a gentle demeanor, and after a walk around the block and some play time, I was ready to take him home. My son and I were excited to welcome Copper into our lives. But my husband and daughter were hesitant to adopt another dog so soon. Would we be replacing Lucky Girl, our black lab mix, who passed just four months earlier?

Despite telling the woman we needed time to make a decision, only three days later, we found ourselves signing the adoption papers. Copper effortlessly jumped into the back of our car for a ride to his new home. We heard that the best way to get past the grief of losing a pet is to get a new one, and that’s what we did. Lucky Girl would always be in our hearts. But after many conversations, we felt the timing was right. I, especially, couldn’t shake the feeling that Copper was meant to be our next canine friend.

From the hugs, cuddles, and games of fetch, Copper learned to trust us. And so, he became family. For thirteen years, he gave us unconditional love. He crossed over the rainbow bridge this past March. It is serendipitous to know that he came into our lives in March and left our earthly world also in March – the month of new beginnings. He was a bright light in our lives that will shine eternally. This is the power of our dogs or any pet. They leave a positive, long-lasting imprint on our souls.

A Special Connection (an excerpt)

Every canine that has joined my family
owns a part of my heart,
but when Copper trotted into our lives,
something different,
something special clicked inside of me.

Warmth radiates from his amber eyes
that see into my soul.
Cliche, yes, but it is through those eyes
that we are linked.
How can an impression be described?

He is my third child,
a copper-coated lovable boy…

March to March (an excerpt)

From March to March
he arrived with youthful spirit
and left with angel wings –
thirteen years in the spaces
now glowing memories
around each corner.
We celebrate his life –
those soul-searching eyes
that connected to us –
we were links in a golden chain
and now one link is missing…

Copper when he first ‘came home’ at 18 months

I hope that if you read this special book, you will laugh out loud. I want a smile to form, crinkling your eyes at the corners. And I even want the heartache to be felt because it was intense when I wrote the grief poems. Every emotion plays a role in reaching the point of acceptance. Every stage of grief is necessary. But I also hope you feel comfort if you’ve lost your beloved furry family member because Copper and all those who keep him company live in our hearts. It’s choosing to believe so we can find a way to move forward without our loved ones, humans or pets.

The paperback and e-book versions are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and e-book only on Kobo. Click on the ‘buy’ button above for the image below for your copy from Amazon.

barnesandnoble.com

kobo

Copper was his given name when we
brought him home, so we kept it
because it fit with his rich, copper coat
. 🤎🧡

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

Simply click on the image to order your copy! 🧡

New Book Release: King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry 🤎

Those eyes. That face.
He had his head on my knee.

Dear Friends,

This is the most bittersweet book promotion I’ve done. My poetry book in tribute of Copper, our chocolate lab mix, who left our earthly world in March will be released on Wednesday, August 6th. Both paperback and e-book versions will be available. I’m partial to holding a book in my hands, so the paperback is what I prefer. When my copy arrived, my emotions got the best of me. I’m so proud of this compilation to honor Copper, and in a way, all of our dogs that have blessed our family.

Both versions: paperback and e-book are available on Amazon, and Barnesandnoble.com.
Kobo offers the e-book only. Just fyi, the e-book format is a bit different
than the paperback.
If you’re interested, you can pre-order now. For Amazon, you can click on the front cover image…

This collection is a combination of freestyle poems, tanka, limericks, micro poetry, and haiku, including color photos. The first section consists of poems written when our golden boy was still with us. Then when he received his angel wings, the mood shifts because I wrote through the initial grieving process.

A few samples:

Tour De Force

Prancing on the left like a well-bred horse
Staying in step, not drifting off course
Stopping for sniffs
And frequent leg lifts
His character is a tour de force!

Showstopper

There once was a dog named Copper
Whose good looks were a showstopper
A hugger and kisser
Love he’ll deliver
Bit with love comes lots of slobber!

One More Moment

A dog barks in the
distance causing me to pause,
it sounds like Copper’s –
a wild imagination
longing for one more moment
.

To the Best Family (an excerpt)

I felt sad to leave you,
but my body was tired,
it wouldn’t stop hurting.
Then I couldn’t walk.
How could I live like that?
I was too big. I needed to be
able to get around and sniff
and lift my leg and play.
I was old, and I lived a
great life with you, Mom,

Dad, Sis, and Bro!

You gave me a loving home,
and before you adopted me,
that’s what I wished for,
so you made my wish come true…

An excerpt from the Preface

When I knelt down to Copper’s level, my heart melted. His amber, soul-searching eyes told me all I needed to know.

I recalled sitting at the table, perusing a Labrador rescue website. A lab sporting a copper-colored coat stood out like a citrine crystal in a bowl of black diamonds. I had to meet the handsome fellow.

So, on a late winter March day in 2012, my family drove to Oakland to meet Copper. A woman was fostering him in her small apartment. He had a gentle demeanor, and after a walk around the block and some play time, I was ready to take him home…

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

We will always love you, Copper! 😢🤎