Treasuring Poetry – Lauren Scott talks about her latest poetry book, King Copper, and a review

Today, I am delighted to welcome children’s author and poet, Lauren Scott, back to Treasuring Poetry to talk about her recent collection of poetry dedicated to her late dog, Copper.

Tell us a bit about your beautiful Copper and how he came into your lives.

Four months had passed since our black lab, Lucky Girl, crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. After many conversations with my husband, daughter, and son, the timing felt right to welcome a new canine friend into our family. So I began searching a Lab Rescue website. We’ve always adopted second chance rescues, wanting to give dogs, whose owners couldn’t keep them, a loving home. Most of the labs I saw were black or yellow, which are common in our area. We didn’t want to replicate any dogs from the past, so Copper stood out because his coat was literally the color of copper. He was so handsome, I had to meet him, and when I did, he immediately joined our family. More details of how Copper came into our family are in the book.

Copper was lovable and had amber eyes that saw right into our souls. He was the perfect walking partner and freely gave slobbery kisses. He always made us laugh when he thought he was a chihuahua trying to sit on our laps; her grew into 80 lbs. of muscle.

Why did you decide to write this collection dedicated to Copper?

 Copper was our first dog where we had to make that heartbreaking decision of life or death, and it was beyond painful. We did the right thing for the right reasons, but second guessing came naturally. He was 14 ½ years old and had other health issues, so when his health took a turn for the worse on March 3, 2025, taking away his suffering was the human thing to do. The events of that Monday morning are still vivid and roll through my mind in slow motion. The grief was so intense I began writing poetry. I gave my heartache a place to live in my poems, and with my previous fun poetry about Copper, a collection evolved. This was my first unplanned book – a loving tribute to our senior pup who we still miss even after a year since he received his angel wings. I have to add that all of our dogs were special; there are no favorites. But when Copper passed, I was in a different stage of life where I had time to work on King Copper. And all of our beloved canine family members have their place in a poem because Copper has met them across the Rainbow Bridge.

King Copper is a special keepsake for my family, and the book includes color photos that show his personality and our love for him. I have read in many wonderful reviews that this collection helped others move through their grief, which is another reason for wanting to publish this special book. Anyone who reads this collection will smile, maybe laugh out loud, and yes, will most likely shed a tear. Then the heart and mind loosely grasp acceptance – a task that takes effort because it’s not that the grieving has ended, but we all understand loved ones don’t live forever. If you’re a dog lover, a cat lover, or a pet parent in general, the poems will resonate and reach into your heart, and so will Copper.

What is your favorite poem from this collection and why?

Choosing a favorite poem is difficult because all of them offer special messages. But I would say “Copper Boy” on Page 4 stands out because it speaks of his fun and mischievous personality, his good looks, and his unconditional love, which is the true reason we call our pets family. Below is an excerpt:

“When he smiles, his white choppers
shine as if they’ve never caused
any commotion…never mind
that afternoon when he attempted
to eat the barbecue!”

Do you have any advice for pet owners on dealing with the grief of losing a beloved pet?

First of all, grief has no timeline. If your heart is broken from the loss of your beloved pet, please give yourself grace. Allow yourself to grieve, to cry, to relive precious moments with your pet. I’ve heard it said that the best way to get through the loss is to bring another pet into your family, but we’re not ready just yet. Our timing with Lucky Girl and Copper is dissimilar. Our son and daughter are adults now, living on their own, and my husband and I live in a different phase of life, so the journey varies for everyone. When the time is right though, we’ll know it. I’ll pull some lines from one of my poems, “Loss is Loss” on Page 38:

“…and no matter what triggers the pain
we must offer ourselves grace…
to grieve as we should
to mourn as days unfold.
Loss is loss shattering us
into tiny pieces of uncertainty
until the healing of time
brings those pieces back together.”

What is next for Lauren Scott?

 Now is the time to get to work again, and I know Copper wouldn’t want his family to wallow in a puddle of sadness. My second idea for a children’s book, Carlie and Charlie Go Camping, has been simmering for over a decade, so it’s time to revisit, make some edits, and remove from the burner! Carlie and Charlie’s story is inspired by my family’s wonderful camping trips when our son and daughter were young. But their story isn’t just about camping. It’s about family bonding, staying active, and getting outdoors to learn about nature while leaving devices at home. It’s about unplugging in this day and age where technology advances at lightning speed, and how important it is for our health to find a balance. I’m excited to see this story in print!

Simultaneously, I’m compiling another poetry collection. However, instead of self-publishing, I plan to submit both books to small publishers I learned about at the San Francisco Writers Conference in February. This year is for trying new options, so we’ll see what the outcome is down the road.

My inspiration comes from the iconic quote: “You never fail until you stop trying.”
~ Albert Einstein

Click on the slideshow to see more photographs of Copper with his family.

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My review of King Copper by Lauren Scott

Thank you, Robbie, for providing this opportunity to talk about our beloved Copper Boy. And thank you again for your beautiful review! I love how you highlight the Preface and Still Too Soon prose sections, which convey the important ‘before and after’ to the context of the poetry collection. I hope if any of your readers are grieving, they will give themselves grace. And if they choose to let Copper into their hearts, I know they will feel his unconditional love, and I offer my deepest gratitude.

King Copper is a beautiful collection of poems paying tribute to the life of the poet’s dog, Copper. We become incredibly connected to our pets and they are part of our families. As a result we experience great grief and loss when they pass over the rainbow bridge. Lauren’s recordings of magical moments in her relationship with Copper and the joy he brought her and her family are a delight to experience. These emotions are described in Lauren’s micro poem, Temporary Smiles:

“Memories of joy
bring temporary smiles
tears wash them away”

The Preface and Still to Soon prose sections share a bit about Copper, his introduction into the poet’s family and his subsequent life with them, and his passing. He lived to a good old age of 14 1/2 and is sorely missed by his family. The book includes some lovely photographs of Copper with various family members.

This collection is fairly short but it is a worthy read and will help ease other hearts aching from the loss of a beloved pet.

Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lauren-Scott/author/B08NCRH4MK

Lauren Scott’s Amazon US author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lauren-Scott/author/B08NCRH4MK

About Lauren Scott

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 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 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.

Website: baydreamerwrites.com

Instagram: @baydreamerwrites

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08NCRH4MK

About Robbie Cheadle

South African author and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated sixteen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, and written and illustrated three poetry books. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

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