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Known for giving language to what many women feel but struggle to name, Laura Wifler’s debut poetry collection is as riveting as it is relatable.  

Written with her signature timbre of startling honesty and unfaltering hope, Laura offers readers a new way to witness life in This Side of The Sky. Through poetry that is remarkably specific yet wildly universal, Laura explores what it means to grow older in a fallen body, tangles with complicated feelings about grief and suffering this side of Heaven, and examines the aches of living in a world that feels both heavy and holy. 

In these poems and Scriptures, you will find:
  • Permission to be honest about the pain of life, without losing faith.
  • A tender awareness of God’s nearness, even when life feels chaotic.
  • Encouragement in your pursuit of Christ, fortifying your faith even in trials.
  • A reminder that Heaven is real, and it holds hope for you today.

A trusted voice for modern Christian women, Laura's poems grapple with the parts of us that know God is real but need reminders that He is moving in our lives, even now. 

"God is a poet, and so is Laura Wifler. Her poems do not merely move us; they disciple us into confession, worship, hope, and the interplay between the mundane and the transcendent that we so often miss."

-jen wilkin

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who is this book for?

This book is for you if you want honest words and steady hope—without a lot of fuss.

  • You don’t usually read poetry (but you want something beautiful and true)
  • You’re in a season of grief, change, or overwhelm
  • You want language for feelings you can’t quite name
  • You’re drawn to faith—but tired of inspirational fluff
  • You need something you can open anywhere and read in five minutes
  • You want a book that leaves you steadier than it found you

Like a hand beckoning, these poems invite you to notice the holy mystery woven through your ordinary days and trust that, even here on this side of the sky, you are held by a God who is both tender and present.

No writer describes the feeling of motherhood and the unbearable
joy and grief of change as our children grow up the way Laura Wifler does. I closed this book feeling understood, as if she spoke for me too.

ERIN NAPIER

Star of HGTV’s Home Town and New York Times bestselling author of "Heirloom Rooms" and "The Lantern House"

God is a poet, and so is Laura Wifler. With theological steadiness and lyrical beauty, Laura’s words remind us that poetry speaks most profoundly when it is anchored in what is true. Her poems do not merely move us; they disciple us into confession, worship, hope, and the interplay between the mundane and the transcendent that we so often miss. In a world parched for poetry, here is water for the thirsty. 

jen wilkin

Author and Bible teacher

I came to poetry later in my life because, in all honesty, I was intimidated by it... I discovered lots of wonderful poetry on social media—of all places—and I found myself following poets I wanted to read more from. That’s how I found Laura Wifler’s poetry, and I am thrilled for this collection in book form. Read it not just for the insightful poetry she offers but for the familiarity her words will cultivate in you for the larger, necessary world of poetry itself.

RUSS RAMSEY

Author of "Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart: What Art Teaches Us About the Wonder and Struggle of Being Alive"

Reading This Side of the Sky feels like a pause with a dear friend. It’s a hug, a reset in the middle of a chaotic day, a deeply needed sigh. The short reflections carry weighty truth, reaching straight to the soul, like marrow to the bones you didn’t realize were aching. And you know it’s a wonderful read when you’re sad it’s over.

GWEN HEFNER

The Makerista

Laura’s poetry startles the slumbering soul awake... More than poetry or prose, this book is a beautiful weaving of longing, lament, and praise. Laura invites you to pull up a chair, pour a cup of coffee, and as she says, “unbutton your heart” to the faithful, freeing life before you—this side of the sky.

GRETCHEN SAFFLES

Author of "Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart: What Art Teaches Us About the Wonder and Struggle of Being Alive"

Laura is a noticer and a wonderer, and her poems invite us into that same sacred attentiveness. This Side of the Sky awakens us to God’s presence in the present moment, even when our lives feel small or ordinary. The poems on these pages help us name both the ache and the joy of being human as we move through life’s winding seasons. In a weary world that often prizes tidy answers over honest connection and reflection, I’m so grateful for faithful art like this—words rooted in tenderness and anchored in Christ-centered hope.

KAYLA CRAIG

Author of "Our Daily Breath," "To Light Their Way," and "Every Season Sacred;" creator of Liturgies for Parents

Poetry is paying attention to the griefs, glories, grit, and gifts of this beautiful, broken world. In this collection, Laura helps us do just that: pay attention. Few things are harder to do; few things more important to practice.

KYLE WORLEY

Pastor and author of "Home with God: Our Union with Christ"

I'M TURNING 40—HELP ME CELEBRATE!

Help me get forty book clubs reading these poems for my fortieth birthday. Register your club and get a complete kit—guide, questions, invitations, food ideas, and a playlist—so all that's left is the good part: gathering your people around these poems.

SKIP THE PARTY, LET'S HAVE A BOOK CLUB

Preorder This Side of the Sky and I'll send you two printable poetry prints—made to be framed, taped to a mirror, or tucked into your Bible. A little beauty for the ordinary, on me.

Plus, I'll also send you discussion questions for the book + a secret Spotify playlist with music I wrote the poems to.

like free things?

GET YOUR FREE POETRY PRINTS (AND MORE)!

ONE

Pre-order the book by 9.16.26! 

TWO

THREE

A launch team is a group of people who feel passionate about the message of a book and want to spread the word. Hosted on Instagram it'll include additional freebies, teachings, and hang out time with me. Sign up to be the first to know when it starts up!

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It's simple. Here's all you need to do.

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My voice, plus stories I've never shared

get the audiobook

I narrated This Side of the Sky myself—every poem, read aloud—and added exclusive behind-the-scenes you won't find anywhere else: the real stories behind the words, in my own voice. Slip in your earbuds and let me read to you.

bonus bts on the audiobook, not found anywhere else!

These are words to tape onto mirrors, tuck into Bibles, send to friends in crisis, and save for days when life feels like too much.

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Laura Wifler is a poet, educator, and bestselling author of books for both adults and children. As former cofounder of the widely loved ministry Risen Motherhood, Laura has long offered Christian women a place to feel seen in the midst of ordinary life. Through her poetry, she is known for giving language to what many women feel but struggle to name—restless aches, delicate hopes, sticky loves, and the invisible tensions of a tender faith.

Over the years, Laura has authored multiple bestselling, award- winning books for children, including Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer and Like Me, and is the coauthor of the bestselling book Risen Motherhood. She is also the founder of The KidLit Lab, where she helps writers craft captivating children’s books and navigate the publishing process. Laura lives in central Iowa with her husband and three children. You can find her on Instagram @laurawifler or at laurawifler.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR