The Ships We Sail: Modern Fables for the Unfinished Soul

by Janet Helen Fix

Get ready to hear your soul song.

The Ships We Modern Fables for the Unfinished Soul is a collection of short, soulful tales for anyone navigating change, carrying grief, or seeking a moment of calm.

These aren’t tidy morals or big answers. They’re gentle pauses. Reflections. A soft place to land. Some will comfort you, others may stir what you forgot you were holding—but all will remind you that you’re not alone.

If you love the quiet wisdom of Anne Lamott’s Almost Everything, the soulful reflections of Mark Nepo’s The Book of Awakening, or the healing meditations of Braiding Sweetgrass, this book will feel like home.

For the unfinished soul. The soft one. The strong one. The one still becoming.

98 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2025

About the author

Author also write as Janet Fix

Reviews

[Marsha]

The book is filled with several short stories(fables) that really make you think. It has a 'chicken soup for the soul' kind of vibe. I think everyone can find at least one that they can relate to personally. It is an uplifting read. To make the book even more charming, there is an illustration to go along with each fable. At the end of the book, there is even a few antidotes for certain situations that you may be facing. It's easy to read. The book itself is more of a novella in length. Each fable is only a couple pages in length, so you can get through it's entirety pretty quickly, but as the author suggests, it's best to savor. To think about. I just read one or two at a time. It's poetic in nature, and just overall an enjoyable read.

[Wilson Carter]

There is beauty in the brokenness. These are the words that came into my mind as I read The Ships We Sail. These short, light fables are like rays of sunlight peeking through a stormy sky. They are wisdom in simplicity, veins of hope in hardened stone, and joy in a shattered world.

[Lisa Faison]

One of those books I will share with those I love and u will read again. A sweet reminder to care for ourselves so we can continue to care for those we love.

[Mandi Newbold]

Beautiful illustrations and beautiful words. Each story could be used as a small daily affirmation/reflection to help us be brave, feel seen, and be good humans. 🩵