Embracing Mortality by Hillary L. McBride

Embracing Mortality

Preorder now!

Practices for Overcoming Death Anxiety and Living Beyond Fear

Discover the courage to be in a relationship with your mortality and watch as what’s inside and around you become more connected, more beautiful, and more alive.

United States

Canada

How Contemplating Death Can Become a Doorway Into a Fuller Experience of Life

In a culture that avoids death while remaining haunted by anxiety, loss and impermanence, Embracing Mortality invites readers to face mortality honestly and live with greater freedom, meaning and presence.

Blending spiritual wisdom with modern psychology, Hillary explores why you might fear mortality and offers embodied practices to help you befriend rather than avoid the realities of death and grief.

Join Hillary as she guides you through preparing to face mortality, practising forms of dying and letting go, and moving toward a deeper embrace of aliveness, gratitude and purpose.

This Book Is for You If…

You are wrestling with death anxiety or avoidance.
You are caring for aging or ill loved ones.
You are navigating grief.
You want to meet fear with greater courage.
You long to live a meaningful, embodied life of presence.

Meditations
Reflection prompts
Breathwork
Imaginative exercises
Rituals of release

Forty Guided Practices

A Message from Hillary L. McBride

Preorder Embracing Mortality

Preorder the book from your favourite retailer before February 9, 2027, and you’ll receive 3 bonuses so you can start your journey while you wait for your book to arrive.

Bonus 1
will help you assess your death anxiety and acceptance.

Bonus 2
will be 3 practices to root yourself in the here and now.

Bonus 3
will be a book gathering you can attend online with a special guest (who will be revealed at a later date).

AND you’ll also get access to a 40-day journey that will begin on February 10, the day after the book arrives at your home or office.

Preorder

How to Claim Your Preorder Bonuses

Preorder Embracing Mortality from your favourite indie bookstore or the retailer of your choice.
Email your proof of purchase (send a screenshot of your receipt or forward your order confirmation) to embracingmortalitybook@gmail.com.
You'll receive an automatic reply with a link to a page with your pre-order bonuses + more as the journey continues.

Please check your spam or promotions folder if you do not receive a reply within a few minutes. If you still don’t find it, please check the spelling of the email address. :)

By reading this book, you’ll be part of a greater community of people who are learning to live more fully by embracing their mortality.

The 40-Day Journey

From February 10 (Ash Wednesday) to March 27, 2027, Hillary will walk with readers through the practices of Embracing Mortality, one day at a time.

Everyone who buys the book is invited to join. Email your proof of purchase to embracingmortalitybook@gmail.com and you'll get the info to join.

Here's what to expect:

Something every day.
- A daily email guides you to that day's practice, often with a short video from Hillary letting you know where you are in the journey and what's coming.
Live events and workshops.
- For example: Create with Scott Erikson. A live online event where artist Scott Erikson invites you to create your own art piece on death.
Community interaction.
- You do not have to do this alone. Hillary will be interacting with you alongside everyone who is journeying with us. We’ll be practicing, asking questions, and sharing art. It’s going to be full of LIFE!

Death is Scary,
Talking About It is Brave

Hillary is bringing Embracing Mortality to communities across the U.S. and Canada. Each event is an invitation to gather, talk honestly about mortality, and explore how facing death can help us live with greater freedom, meaning and presence.

Upcoming Events - Stay Tuned!

We’re dreaming these up! We’ll keep you posted when we have firm dates.

About Dr. Hillary L. McBride

Hillary L. McBride, PhD, is a registered psychologist, award-winning researcher, bestselling author, speaker and retreat leader.

She is the author of:

Her work has been recognized by the American Psychological Association and the Canadian Psychological Association. She has a private practice in Victoria, Canada.

Learn more about Hillary

Frequently Asked Questions

Embracing Mortality will be published by Simon & Schuster on February 9, 2027.
The book will be available through major online retailers, independent bookstores and participating booksellers in Canada and the United States.
Use the preorder menu on this page to select your preferred retailer.
Embracing Mortality will be available in hardcover, ebook and unabridged audiobook.
Readers who preorder are invited to a one-time, preorder-only live launch event with Hillary and [special guest name] on February 9, 2027, hosted on Substack Live. If you can't attend live, a recording will be available. Your preorder also includes the 40-Day Journey.
The 40-Day Journey runs from February 10 (Ash Wednesday) to March 27, 2027, on Hillary's Substack. Anyone who buys the book, before or after launch, can join. There's no cutoff: if you buy the book and send your proof of purchase, the journey is yours. You'll receive something every day to guide you through the practices.
No. A free or paid subscription to This Embodied Life works. You'll also need proof that you bought the book.
Buy the book directly from your preferred retailer. Then:
1. Take a screenshot of your receipt or order confirmation.
2. Email it to [email address].
3. Watch your inbox for an automatic reply with your links to register for the launch event and join the 40-Day Journey on Substack.
No. The book is for anyone wrestling with death anxiety or avoidance, caring for aging or ill loved ones, navigating grief, or seeking to live more awake to what matters most.