Laura Briel Sullivan at the GDBS

The Garden District Book Shop welcomes author Laura Briel Sullivan to the shop on April 29 for an evening celebrating the release of her debut book of poetry Sailing with Angels: A Poetic Tale of Grief and Grace.

The evening will begin at 6:00 PM. Sullivan will be joined in conversation by Denise Morse. After their discussion, Sullivan will answer guest’s questions and personalize copies of her book. The event is free and open to the public but interested parties are encouraged to RSVP and reserve their copies of Sailing with Angels ahead of time on Eventbrite.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In a poetic take on loss, debut author Laura Briel Sullivan delivers the wonderfully whimsical yet grounded story of Princess Briel, a young girl dealing with the loss of the generation ahead of her.

Once upon a time, on an isle not so far away,

Where ocean tides and sea winds play,

A princess mourned of what had passed

While souls set adrift upon raised masts.

Guided by her talisman, Princess Briel traverses across the sea and island, encountering a charming cast of characters—from the Judge to the Alchemist to the Harbormaster, each offers the young princess a piece of life’s sage wisdom. Sailing with Angels takes readers on a lyrical voyage on the moonbeam and is a powerful reminder that “love stays bright,” even in the harshest storm.

LAURA BRIEL SULLIVAN is a first-time author who believes that life has a soundtrack and that the best gifts are stories that find us when we need them most. Laura grew up on tales passed through generations, rainy afternoons in libraries, summers on Martha’s Vineyard, and the spark of Mr. Vous’s fourth-grade reading class, where she fell in love with turning a phrase. A recovering financial-services executive, her career adventures led to a tricoastal life—always somewhere near a river, bay, or bend.

Shortlisted in the Faulkner Society Wisdom Competition, Sailing with Angels: A Poetic Tale of Grief and Grace is a love letter to the characters of her summer life. Laura divides her time between the Massachusetts and Mississippi coasts with her husband and two loyal muses, William Hamilton and Moose. She is currently at work on Sailing with Alligators: A Poetic Tale of Grit and Gumption.