Laing F. Rikkers

Author

Morning Leaves

Reflections on Loss,

Grief, and Connection

  • "Laing Rikkers’ first book is a wonderful example of the ways in which communion with the natural world can calm, restore and heal. Dedicated to her late sister Ginna, it makes a meaningful argument for the power of quiet observation in the midst of chaos, and an appreciation for the beauty and wisdom which is all around."

    —Anna Holmes, an award-winning writer, editor at publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, and The New Yorker, and founder of the site Jezebel

  • “Beautiful, powerful, humbling, painful, at times terrifying – all one messy mix. It touches somewhere deep. Will read again and again to digest and fuel.”

    —Dr. Ia Andrews, Psychologist

  • "With spare, lyrical verses, Rikkers brings us into commune with the earth, with all of life; connecting us with ourselves, with each other. What a gift to see and feel these relationships so palpably, to show how easily and perfectly it can all link up. A gift indeed!"

    —Tucker Malarkey, author of An Obvious Enchantment, Resurrection, and Stronghold

  • "This is a beautiful book. I think it will be very helpful to people navigating grief or loss, pointing the way to finding meaning and solace in connecting to plants, animals and the rhythms of nature."

    —Edward Slingerland, author of Drunk and Trying Not to Try and Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia

  • "The voice is beautiful, delicate, powerful, rich, relatable, clear, articulate, whimsical and penetrating."

    —Reverend Elizabeth Uslander, MSW, MTS and founder of Empowered Endings, End of Life Care

  • “So beautifully written and thoughtfully constructed. Visceral. Visual. Vulnerable. The passages cracked open my heart.”

    —Amy K. Hutchens, International award-winning speaker and Amazon bestselling author of Get It and The Secrets Leaders Keep

  • "Through Morning Leaves, Laing has found an elegant, beautiful way to deal with her loss. Poetry is so helpful here, isn’t it. The book is quite beautiful to look at as well."

    —Nils Peterson, first Poet Laureate of Santa Clara County and author of The Comedy of Desire

  • "Just as Laing Rikkers truly sees nature and listens to its messages, so do her poems witness each of us—our own struggles to break through the cracks, to bud, and blossom—even to feel permission to wither and decay, only to bloom again. Morning Leaves is a gift to all who open their eyes to its images and their hearts to its whispers and exhortations."

    —Faith Salie, Emmy-winning contributor to CBS News Sunday Morning and author of Approval Junkie

  • "The poems within Morning Leaves are tender, compassionate and full of wonder. Laing's writing and Kelly's illustrations are conduits for healing and hope."

    —Kristin A. Meekhof, M.S.W., co-author of A Widow's Guide to Healing

  • “I was so moved and consoled by Morning Leaves, whose poems—like the enchanting varieties of nature they observe—offer a path to healing, growth, and insight.”

    —Charmaine Craig, author of the novels My Nemesis; Miss Burma, longlisted for the 2017 National Book Award for Fiction and the 2018 Women’s Prize for Fiction; and The Good Men, a national bestseller

About Laing

Laing Rikkers is a leader in the field of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), an often hidden - and potentially fatal - medical condition. After her sister died of undiagnosed OSA, Laing sought solace from nature and creativity, and wrote Morning Leaves, a book of poetry to help others navigating grief. Her mission now is to encourage people to recognize the symptoms of OSA so they can better care for themselves and their loved ones.

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Morning Leaves is a book of poetry inspired by the loss of Laing’s sister. The writing and the artwork encourage us to connect more deeply to nature, one another, and ourselves.

The book is a secret garden filled with reminders of our humanity and the shared life-force that links us and the natural world. The lush descriptions and exquisite artwork will resonate with something deep and true as you explore and discover your own path.

Illustrations for the book were painted by Kelly Leahy Radding, an artist and student of nature. Kelly was able to bring visuals to the words in a way that enhances the reader’s experience and makes the book uniquely beautiful. 

Morning Leaves will be published in May 2023 by https://thecollectivebook.studio/.

More on Kelly Leahy Radding and her work can be found at www.kellyleahyradding.com.

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