Mary-Frances O'Connor, PhD in conversation with Tawnya Healy

Country Bookshelf is excited to welcome Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor, PhD and Tawnya Healy to celebrate the release of Dr. O'Connor's newest book The Grieving Body.

Tickets are not required for this event, but RSVPs are appreciated. Please get a FREE general admission ticket by selecting "Get tickets" on this page.

Books can be purchased at the event or ordered in advance through Eventbrite, ordering on our website, or by calling Country Bookshelf at 406-587-0166 during our regular business hours.

The event at a glance:

• On May 8, please arrive early to secure your seat. Seating is general admission first come, first serve.
• At 6:00pm, the event program featuring Dr. O'Connor and Tawnya Healy will begin. Dr. O'Connor will take audience questions following the program.
• After the talk, Dr. O'Connor will be available for book signing.
• Can't attend in person? Order a signed copy of The Grieving Body on our website or by calling 406-587-0166. Signing requests will need to be placed 24 hours before the event.

About The Grieving Body:
The follow-up to celebrated grief expert, neuroscientist, and psychologist Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor’s The Grieving Brain focuses on the impact of grief—and life’s other major stressors—on the human body.

Coping with death and grief is one of the most painful human experiences. While we can speak to the psychological and emotional ramifications of loss and sorrow, we often overlook its impact on our physical bodies. Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor specializes in the study of grief, and in The Grieving Body she shares vital scientific research, revealing imperative new insights on its profound physiological impact. As she did in The Grieving Brain, O’Connor combines illuminating studies and personal stories to explore the toll loss takes on our cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems and the larger implications for our long-term well-being.

The Grieving Body addresses questions about how bereavement affects us, such as:

• Can we die of a broken heart?
• What happens in our bodies when we’re grieving?
• How do our coping behaviors affect our physical health?
• What is the cognitive impact of grief?
• Why are we more prone to illness during times of enormous stress?
• and more

Research-backed, warm, and empathetic, The Grieving Body is an essential, hopeful read for those experiencing loss as well as their supportive friends and family.

MARY-FRANCES O’CONNOR, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, where she directs the Grief, Loss and Social Stress (GLASS) Lab, investigating the effects of grief on the brain and the body. Her book The Grieving Brain was included on Oprah’s list of Best Books to Comfort a Grieving Friend. O’Connor holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in psychoneuroimmunology at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Having grown up in Montana, she now lives in Tucson, Arizona.

Tawnya Healy is a death midwife, offering emotional, spiritual, and practical support at the end of life. She blends energy healing techniques for release and relaxation with sacred practices such as vigil, sound, smell, and touch, creating a presence that is both comforting and reassuring.

Having a profound understanding of loss, Tawnya believes that talking about death can help you live a more whole and fulfilling life. She emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and choice—essential tools when approaching the end of life. Walk alongside Tawnya as she helps you reclaim the sacredness of death and embrace your autonomy in this delicate, final journey.

A mother and daughter, Tawnya has experienced the deep lessons of loss through the passing of her parents and her beloved four-legged family member, Hazel. Her deep wisdom, rooted in personal experience, brings a unique and compassionate perspective to her work.

Accessibility Information:

• The event will take place on the first floor of Country Bookshelf.
• All doorways have a width greater than 32 inches with the narrowest being our front door at 35 inches.
• The speakers will be using a microphone at this event.
• Please email staff@countrybookshelf.com if you have any specific accessibility needs and we will do our best to serve you!
• Do you or someone you know provide ASL interpretation? Country Bookshelf is seeking an interpreter to call on for future events. Please send information to staff@countrybookshelf.com if there is interest!

Photo credit for Mary-Frances's headshot to Eric Godoy.