Available now in paperback, large print, or ebook!
Flying Free
Poems for Pilgrim Hearts
Trade Paperback
Large Print
Ebook
2023 Christian Indie Award Winner!
Awarded multiple Readers' Favorite
five star reviews!
Read them here!
A collection of 40 poems
(and a song) about growth, healing, and the quest for wholeness and identity, intertwining the metaphors
of pilgrimage and flight.
Part One, First Flight, evokes the hopeful beginning of the adventure of journeying through life with Jesus. We begin to discover who we are in Christ, and are filled with a desire to live in a meaningful way for Him.
Part Two, Defying Gravity, explores the sometimes painful challenges of that journey. We discover that suffering is part of life, even life with Jesus - yet He is with us, even within our toughest times. As we persevere, we come to a deeper knowledge of our Lord and of ourselves.
In Part Three, Flying Free, healing comes and hope is reborn from our experience as we learn to trust more fully in God's character and faithfulness. As we see His heart more clearly, we also come to a better understanding of our own, and begin to see ourselves more as our loving Father sees us. This leads us to a place of rest, peace, and fulfilment, centred in God's love.
An epilogue, in the form of a song, expresses how God brings us through difficult times.
We're left with a restoration of the hope of the beginning of the journey, but now fortified and enriched by personal experience of God's faithfulness in our lives.
The large print edition is formatted to the guidelines of the British Dyslexia Society.
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Here's what people are saying about
Flying Free: Poems for Pilgrim Hearts
"I really appreciate her writing skills. Full of perception and empathy. Love the breadth of styles that she's crafted."
~ Chris Bowater
songwriter & worship leader
"The book consists of many different types of poetry… a brief description of how each type of poem is written… seems to be a wonderful tool that could spark a love for writing in someone else… Fanshaw opens up the world of poetry…
"My favorite was the poem entitled Winging It which embodies many of this book’s strengths such as a wonderful knack for finding rhymes that do not feel forced.
"However, the main strength of this book… resides solely in the undeniably good spirit the author has instilled in the pages.
"Not to put too fine a point on it… Flying Free: Poems for Pilgrim Hearts is one of the finest poetry books I have read to date and that puts it at or near the top of a very large list."
~ Jacob LaMar
Readers' Favorite Reviewer
"[A]n inspiring collection of poems. Most if not all of them relate to her personal relationship with God. This poet uses a variety of styles in her poetry, from haiku to free-verse, and this really shows her range as a writer. But the poems show her range of emotionality and beliefs as well.
"There is a fresh feel to these Christian poems, and you can find deeper meaning in them, possibly making a connection to your own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. You will find themes of healing, finding who you are, and growing as a person and spiritual being. The phrasing echoes symbols of flight and journey, so this volume is aptly titled...
"Those new to poetry, or faith-based poetry, will appreciate the author's introduction and explanations of her poems, as she lays out the types of poems she uses, and their purpose and themes… this is the perfect primer for them. It… may even encourage some to write poetry themselves.
"…[T]he themes found in [these poems] will definitely be recognized by Christians and those seeking a spiritual experience… My favorite part is her song, The Morning… If you like poetry with vivid imagery and meaningful themes, Flying Free: Poems for Pilgrim Hearts by Ruth Fanshaw is a must-read."
~ Tammy Ruggles
Readers' Favorite Reviewer
"[A]n authentic and heart-warming faith-based poetry collection… It instills significant values such as courage, hope, and gratitude while it examines the search for identity and the pursuit of healing and growth…
"The different structures make the collection fun to reflect on. I loved that I could identify with the themes covered in the poems such as growth, developing confidence, and finding one’s identity. The poems also enable self-reflection… Others explore encouraging themes about redemption and learning to be hopeful again…
"The collection closes with a beautiful song that expresses how God redeems us from difficult times. By allowing herself to be vulnerable, Ruth Fanshaw reveals impactful, life-changing lessons within the poems in Flying Free."
~ Edith Wairimu
Readers' Favorite Reviewer
"In Flying Free: Poems for Pilgrim Hearts, Ruth Fanshaw shares emotional chapters of her life’s journey through poetry.
" 'At evening, I read in the soft-lit quiet. I relish the flow of words, the grace of language.' These few lines from her poem entitled Sunlight epitomize deep contentment and fulfillment, and display the delicious skill Ruth has with words… She artfully captures the nuances of the season in The Turn of the Year… Her poems cover a variety of topics: her relationship with God; observations on the spectacular beauty and purpose in nature; the impact of people, music, philosophy, and literature… A few well-chosen words arouse the spirit of adventure and freedom of train journeys in her poem Forward…
"Ruth Fanshaw’s Flying Free is aptly titled. Her poetry expresses faith, freedom, and hope… once I began, I was enticed to read more… I could feel an inner warm glow in response to the colorful images in my mind's eye.
"I enjoy rereading my favorite books, and I expect Flying Free to join this category in my library. The variety of poetic forms would be useful for writers considering expanding their work. I’d also recommend Flying Free to readers who may not have considered venturing into poetry."
~ Irene Valentine
Readers' Favorite Reviewer
"…Flying Free is a raw, honest portrayal of the highs and lows of being a Christian… Her heart is on full display and the way it shines through in her work is a testament to her convictions.
"…Fanshaw writes in multiple poetic styles with perhaps the largest range of diverse formats I've come across by a single author in a single volume of their work...
"...this is a really lovely compilation and it's wonderful that it is now being shared with the world."
~ Asher Syed
Readers' Favorite Reviewer
Available now in paperback,
large print, or ebook!
"What a joy it was to read them all. I love Ruth's command of language and how it expresses her journey, in life and with God, with such passion and power. Utterly inspired. I certainly was taken on a journey with her. I enjoyed reading every poem! I want to share them with everyone I meet!
"The collection describes the ups and downs of life perfectly and expresses Ruth's journey with God through it all. It very clearly expresses her love of life and it’s possible to see the proverbial tapestry in which all the ups and downs are woven in by the Master Weaver. Theologically excellent too.
"It's rare I find anything that I want to read again and again but that’s how I feel about her writing.
"Inspired and authentic."
~ Beverley Williams, Advance Reader
BSc (Hons); BA (Hons); Dip Chl (Merit); Dip BSt.;
Cert Counselling
"Lyrically poetic.
"Lilac Time evoked the same emotion that Wordsworth’s daffodils did. Be the Change inspires me to sit with some of the harder parts of dealing with others.
"A journey of new possibilities that traversed hope, while moving forward, up to new heights, and down through valleys which have been painful, but up and forward again to freedom. It soared."
~ Helen Riley, Advance Reader
MDiv, Studying as a Counsellor in Training at Concordia University Irvine
"There is definite coherence to the collection, themes of brokenness, journey and healing permeate it, as does faith and dependence on God both as healer and as sustaining Life-Giver.
"My favourites were By Derwent Water and Halcyon Day. I think it’s to do with their simplicity, and the capturing of the essences of things, seeking after or expressing feelings or impressions of things.
"I also particularly liked Something in the Mist, Promise and Sunlight for similar reasons.
"I found Lost and Lament & Mending heartbreaking, in a beautiful, powerful way. Feelings that as a mother I can’t share, but can feel the ache of in knowing what I wouldn’t have if that were the case. They made me cry actually.
"It felt like a journey, entirely shot through with faith in God and God’s faithfulness, that started with anticipation and travelled through finding self, affirming life and goodness and kindness; and then progressed to pain and hurts that yet found light in the darkness and healing and then crescendoed with all this hope and joy and peace and re-finding of self completely centred in God."
~ Anonymous Advance Reader
"I really engaged with the explanations at the end of the poems. They really resonated with me and helped to create a bond between the reader and the author.
"I especially liked that the first poem was set just before new year. It was almost a new beginning is coming.
"I particularly enjoyed Forty-Five and Flower Child (especially with the story afterwards). Be the Change and Turn the World really resonated with me. Lost broke my heart (again, especially with Ruth's explanation).
"At the end I felt that I had made a friend. Almost like reading a diary. I enjoyed reading it and would definitely go back to it time and time again.
"I have got different things out of it each time I have read it. Cannot wait to get a proper copy on my book shelf."
~ Karl Hebblewhite, Advance Reader
Available now in paperback,
large print, or ebook!
If you'd like to know when Ruth's work becomes available
and get uplifting content in your inbox,
sign up for her monthly email and get a FREE ebook!