Book Launch - A Version of Grief with JK McQuinn: Grief, nature and learning to grow life beyond loss.

Join me, JK (Jennie-Kate) McQuinn founder, coach and facilitator of Where the Mind Grows for this book launch event.

Introducing 'A Version of Grief'  as part of National Grief Week 2-8th December 2026 

Event Details 

• Thursday 3rd December 2026 - 18:00pm-20:30pm 
• Kindly hosted by Full Circle Funerals (B-Corp) at Full Circles Funeral - The Globe, 275 Broad Lane, Bramley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS13 2EY
• Refreshments and Buffet will be available 
• Limited parking onsite with parking on the road near by. 

What to expect. 

Arrive at 18:00pm - Refreshments, buffet and exhibition of artefacts and pictures from the book, including self guided activities around the theme of loss, grief and bereavement. 

18:20pm - Introduction to the panel & author - Hosted by Ruth Owen of Full Circles Funeral

18:30pm- 19:00pm - Panel discussion & readings from the book 

19:00-19:30pm - Nature Led activity from the book, solo or in groups (optional) with audience reflection. 

19:30pm -20:00pm - Panel discussions, reading from the book & Q&A

20:00-20:30pm - Book sales & signing by the author - JK McQuinn 

20:30pm - Event Close 

(Schedule may vary slightly on the night)

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About the Book & Launch 

In the autumn of 2016, JK's life took a sudden and traumatic turn when her dad had a very unexpected heart attack. After being told he would not live, the family were pretty shocked to have him return to the family home for a few more special months, only for him sadly to pass away in February 2017.

This event spurred JK on to seek the things she truly wanted from life, and one of those was to become a coach and facilitator. The second was the realisation of how nature was a crucial companion in living a life fully.

The death of her dad, Iain, wasn't the only grief she had experienced by that stage of her life, and of course nor was it her last. She set about learning how to heal and thrive - through times of turmoil and sadness - from all types of grief, with the help of the wild.

Death seemed such a tricky topic for so many humans to navigate here in the West, and yet nature was a place where all versions of grief were welcome.

Throughout her years of coaching, JK could not overlook the many grief and loss stories clients brought to the woods. A client seeking career coaching, opening up about caring for and grieving a parent with dementia. A team grieving the change of a culture that left them overworked, where purpose and balance had once held true. JK realised that her work was not just about helping people with change and new beginnings, but a space to help them tend to the many endings we face in life, work and identity.

This work feels even more important and poignant as we live in a time of polycrises.

There is no perfect blueprint, no five-step plan. Grief and loss are as unique as we are, but we don't have to go it alone. A Version of Grief shares three real and raw stories of loss,  from JK's own life and working as a career, life and wellbeing coach with nature by her side. Exploring how nature helped not just herself, but clients find the space, voice and connection to navigate the incomprehensible sadness of losing someone or something.

This is not just a book about sadness, but one about learning to love life, and to grow beyond our grief.

At this launch event, we'll make space for grief to be an 'open book'.  Sharing a panel discussion that will flow with the light and shade of loss. You'll have a chance to take part in one of the book's 'call from the wild' activities, to explore how nature can support our own versions of grief and loss. There will be time for Q&A with the author, and a chance to get a copy of the book signed with a personal message from JK, for you or a loved one, if you wish.

About the Author 

Having moved from the city of Nottingham, UK when she was a young girl, to a beautiful old cottage in rural Nottinghamshire. JK found a kindred spirit in the wild and wonderful landscape of this rural location. Rescuing animals, she would call her friends. Making dens in the woods, playing in the beck by her house and sliding down the hay bales in the farmers field. 

After university, returning from a few months of travel in Europe. JK found her first career in mental health, working in a psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of York. Quickly progressing in her roles and leading an award winning vocational service for patients detained under the mental health act. As career became the focus, the gap between nature and herself, became ever greater and so did the grief and absence within her. 

It took years, working in various community and public health services as a senior leader, before she was able to name the absence within. Nature had been missing from her life. Yet she realised in times of hardship and loss, she always looked to nature for support. 

In 2017, shortly after her dad's death, she went on to set up her own coaching and consultancy company. Two years later she had transitioned her offerings to almost 100% wild sessions. Where the Mind Grows came to life and in 2023 she took root, leasing a woodland in North Yorkshire where she still delivers sessions to this day. 

JK combines therapeutic coaching modalities such as NLP, M-Braining, Integral Eye Movement Technique and Trauma Informed Practice with Nature Led and Inspired approaches including ecopsychology, ecotherapy and regenerative leadership approaches. 

She is an active member of a range of purpose led business communities. Believing that people and planet care goes hand in hand. 

JK is an advocate for death literacy and the death positive movement. Recognising that we still have work to do here in the UK,  to ensure that the inevitability of our existence, is not something we have to see as taboo. A Version of Grief, hopes to support others to find their own way, reduce the loneliness of loss, death and letting go and increase our connection with the nature world, which is facing its own loss right now too. 

Join JK for an evening book launch, as part of National Grief Week. 

Standard tickets are free, but you must register to attend this event. Thank you 

Ticket Options: 

Select from a standard free ticket OR attendance with PRE-ORDER for £12.99 - you will receive your copy on the evening and be on a priority list for book signing at the event. 

This event has a capacity of 35 places. 

CAN'T MAKE THE LAUNCH, BUT WANT A COPY?

If you are unable to attend this event but are looking to purchase a copy of the book, they will be going on sale as part of the National Grief week for my book launch, via my website www.wherethemindgrows.co.uk and various sales page. You will be able to purchase it there. 

Is this event for you?

What this event is (and isn't)

This is a gathering to talk openly about grief and to launch my book on the topic. It is a reflective, space in which I will share elements of my own lived experience both personally and professionally, respecting the anonymity of clients.  It is not therapy or a support group, and I'm not offering clinical treatment. Grief is a natural response to death & loss, and there is no right way to do it. This is my version. 

What we'll be talking about

So you can decide how to take part, here is what may come up:

• Death and bereavement, including losses of a loved one
• Sudden and traumatic loss 
• Non-death losses (relationships, identity, health, home)
• Personal stories from my own journey and from the book
• Difficult emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt, numbness, and relief
• Tending to grief. 

Please only stay with what feels manageable for you. If you are in the early stages of loss or have a history of trauma, you may want to think about if you feel ready for this. I appreciate that everyone is different, and you may find a space where grief is discussed openly helpful at this stage too. 

The culture of this event. 

The event aims to offer the joy of a book launch, with a topic that can be real and raw. We will aim to support a culture of:

Choice and autonomy

• Participation is always optional. You can listen quietly, share, or step out at any time, with no explanation needed.
• You will never be asked to disclose or speak.
• You can move, stretch, or leave and return whenever you need to.

Pacing and care

• I will pace the session carefully, with pauses and moments to ground and breathe.
• I will name shifts in content before moving into them.
• There will be a break and time to settle at the close.
• There will be some guided and participatory elements, but you will not be expected to take part in these. 

Confidentiality and respect

• What is shared from the book, can be accessed in fuller form through purchase of the book. 
• What is shared here stays here. Stories belong to the people who tell them.
• You may share your own learning outside the event, but not anyone else's story or identity.
• Please listen without advising, fixing, comparing losses, or rushing anyone's process.

Boundaries

• I hold this space as an author and facilitator, within the limits of my role. I may gently redirect if a share moves into territory that needs professional support or could overwhelm the room.
• Every grief is valid. We do not rank or compare losses.
• If someone in the audience shares something personal, you by no means are expected to share to this level if its not right for you. If a conversation feels too personal, or overwhelming you have a right to express this kindly and ask to move the topic to something else. 

Looking after yourself

• We aim to offer a supportive, inclusive and interesting space to talk and share about the grief in the book. Facilitators with experience of working in this field, will be holding this space. 
• Your self care is priority, we encourage you to be considered of this whilst attending the event. 
• Take your own space at any time. Water, tissues and a calm area are provided. We do not aim to upset or distress anyone but understand that the topic of grief and death can be emotive. 
• This is not a crisis service of therapy session, if you feel you need additional support please contact your GP, Therapist, Counsellor or another support service. 

Our shared agreements

1. Kindness and curiosity.
2. Acknowledge different ways of grieving, including cultural, spiritual and personal ones.
3. Speak from our own experience ("I") rather than telling others what they should feel.
4. Respect  a range of emotions and responses throughout discussion including silence, tears, laughter.
5. Care for ourselves & are present with each other.

Book sales and promotion

The book launch is part of this event, and there is no expectation to buy or engage. Sales will be at the end of the event. If you purchased a pre order ticket you will receive that on the night and have priority in the queue for a personalised message and signing.

Questions or access needs

If you have any questions or access needs, please contact me before the event at info@wherethemindgrows.co.uk.