Book titled 'Sailing with Angels' by Laura Briel Sullivan, illustrated by Aileen Bennett, with a blue cover featuring a sailboat on water.

In a poetic take on loss, debut author Laura Briel Sullivan delivers a whimsical story about navigating grief.

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 to keep memories “ajar.”

A wonderful gift for anyone you know navigating the loss of an elderly parent, grandparent, or mentor. A book a child can read, and an adult might need. And great read for the sailor in all of us.

Scroll down to see what readers are saying

Order now on this site or at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or ask your favorite independent bookstore to order via Ingram using ISBN-13: 979-8992741384

  • An illustrated book cover titled "Sailing with Angels: A Poetic Tale of Grief and Grace." It features a girl with short hair, a crown, and rain boots, walking along the beach carrying a jar of shells. A sailboat is in the water to the right, and seagulls are flying above. The cover announces the book's release in May 2026.

  • An illustration of a young girl in a sailor outfit lying on her back in the water with her arms outstretched, a crown of leaves on her head, and a bird flying above.

  • A girl with a yellow flower in her hair sits on the beach near a glass jar, facing a lighthouse and a small beach shelter with patriotic red, white, and blue colors. A seagull flies in the sky.

  • An illustration of a tipped-over jar spilling blue water that flows across the page, with a small sailboat floating inside the jar. A poem is written below the illustration reming readers to keep memories ajar, not in a jar.

  • Illustration of a Princess Briel returning home after visiting her angels, having found her way through the fog of grief by holding memories with her.

  • The Commodore

    “Grief is fog. A mist that veils the harbor’s face.”

  • The Judge

    “If I gave advice, would you let it in?”

  • The Whaler Mom

    “Roll with the waves, don’t fear the crest.”

  • The Alchemist

    “Sail towards hope, chase the dream.”

  • The Harbormaster

    “When they are passing tarts, take a tart.”

  • The Tinkerer

    “A journey’s worth? Oh, can’t you know? It’s the tales that ebb and flow.”

  • The Angler

    “It’s grace and strength that reel in right.”

  • The Nurse

    “Journeys end, but love stays bright.”

Meet the Team

New England native Laura Briel Sullivan joins forces with British-born illustrator Aileen Bennett, pairing lyrical storytelling with whimsical coastal illustration. The two bonded over a shared love of creativity, good food, Southern husbands, and life’s quirks. Together, in Sailing with Angels, they cook up grief’s lagniappe.

What Readers are Saying

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What Readers are Saying 〰️

“This moving debut feels like a treasured keepsake, born from the author’s childhood summers spent along the shores of Martha’s Vineyard. Sullivan invites the reader to bask in the warm, sun-faded nostalgia of long-ago coastal days, serving as a beautiful tribute to the real-life characters of her summer life. Structurally, Sullivan’s solid rhymes and vivid imagery mirror the gentle, rhythmic flow of a tide. Ultimately, this poetic journey offers a gentle reminder that love remains bright against strong headwinds.”
— New Pages
“A poetic journey through loss.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“The story is both gracefully poetic and extraordinarily visually beautiful… Sullivan’s ability to not only translate a serious subject into a hopeful one but create a unique and meaningful one makes this story a pure masterpiece. As Louisa May Alcott said, “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” It’s comforting to know that Princess Briel does just that, with a little help from her angels. ”
— Readers’ Favorite
“A story about a young girl navigating the loss of the generation she grew up with on the shores of Edgartown. Guided by a talisman, she journeys across sea and Island, meeting wise characters, from the Judge to the Alchemist to the Harbormaster, each offering wit and wisdom.”
— Martha’s Vineyard Times
“Navigating life’s bittersweet journey with magic and acceptance…this book brings in magic to narrate the journey of life and the death that is an inevitable goodbye for us all. It’s accessible enough for older grade school and tween kids wondering about a deceased grandparent as well is a sweet book to anyone pondering how others may find words and imagery in navigating a bittersweet farewell to a loved one.”
— Amazon, book review
“A breathtakingly beautiful map through the storm of grief…This is an absolute must-read for anyone searching for a lighthouse in their darkest hours. It is a meditation of healing, creativity, and spiritual alignment.”
— Goodreads