"I can think of no better guide into the intimate landscapes of loss than James Crews. With his signature gentleness, wisdom, clarity, and compassion, he gives voice to the nuances of grief, shares his own healing process, and invites the reader to explore their own tender experiences of grief and love."

"James Crews offers us a wealth of model poems and short essays, followed by an invitation to write our own, imploring us to discover our complex responses to various aspects of loss and grief. But he also includes encouragement to write about themes of love and appreciation, making this a book that feels balanced and whole, a book unique in its approach to making sense of ourselves in the face of the unknowable, as well as in its sense of understanding and appreciation for the mysteries and poetry of being human."

"As a bereavement and end-of-life therapist, I have long waited for a book like Turning Toward Grief to be written. Filled with poems and invitations to reflect or write, Turning Toward Grief will offer you, in accessible language, the solace, deep companionship, and wisdom you need for your journey."

"This book is gentle, affirming company on the path of grieving. It doesn't shy away from the pain, the work, the time that grief requires of us, but it does remind us that we have power and agency on our journey toward healing."

"Opening this book is a gentle way to tend to our wounds, soothe our soul, and remind us that grief, too, nourishes and feeds us. Perhaps most importantly, the words on these pages remind us that we are not alone in our grief."

"In Turning Toward Grief, James Crews tenderly invites his fellow grievers in for a slow softening of the heart. Each poem and prompt is an outstretched hand that offers an 'of course . . .' His words--so personal and universal--inspire inner wisdom and offer the medicine of witness, a potent salve to loss."

"A gentle invitation to face heartbreak and to wrestle with adversity. James Crews invites readers to approach even further: to see grief as an opportunity for growth, creativity, and action. His poems are rich, real, and raw. And he incorporates short essays and writing prompts that inspire us to craft our own narratives of love and loss."

"This book is not only a companion in grief, but a testament to the beauty that persists even in the face of unimaginable loss."

"A warm invitation inviting us to write and reflect on the messiness--and complexity--that grief demands. With deep love, Crews weaves the brokenness, searching, yearning, and need for connection that shadow our daily lives in the aftermath of loss. He braids these threads with glimmers of light, softening yesterday's pain, all the while reminding us that we are not alone."

"James Crews has long consoled us with his poems and anthologies to companion our troubles and joys. In this book he turns toward grief to offer a triple gift: poems, meditations, and prompts for healing."

"In Turning Toward Grief, James Crews invites us into his careful exploration of personal loss and great pain, while weaving universal experiences of grief into every line. This is what his accessible language does best--it creates community and welcomes everyone to engage."