The Story Behind The Book – Our Soul Contract: When Love writes your Story

Having lost my dad at the age of 20 to Lymphoma, this wasn’t my first rodeo with grief – yet one that would change the trajectory of my life, as well as thousands of others.

In June 2018 my husband went on a business trip to the other side of Australia and never made it home. He died from a brain aneurysm. Unexpected, no warning.

We were so deeply connected, that I was the one calling the hotel, to send somebody to his room and check in the shower. I had a split second of a vision, that I wish hadn’t become reality – and then one phone call confirmed what I had seen.

“Loving Life after Loss” was my first book – written within a time frame of just 5 weeks and published only 5 months after my husband died unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm. This is our Love story – about how we met, our dream barefoot wedding on the beach, the birth of our two sons #madewithlove – and ultimately Rob’s death and how we dealt with it.
I wrote this book as a Love legacy for Rob – and also because I wanted to write our story while it was fresh in my head and heart, so our sons could one day read it, when they would be old enough. Flyn and Jed were only 10 and 8 at the time.
Withing days of publishing, “Loving Life after Loss” touched people around the globe and ranked in the top 100 bestseller list of Amazon Australia. I realised I had something the world needed: hope and happiness when least expected yet most needed.

Based on the overwhelming response to my first book, I founded a movement with the same title “Loving Life after Loss”, in which I took approximately 5,000 people onto their path through grief – with healing journeys, private coaching, programs, and retreats.

This led me to publish my second book “Happy Healing” in February 2022, to share what happened after our first book – the continuum of our story. It also includes my 7 steps From Grief to Relief, the very steps I personally took after Rob’s unexpected death from a brain aneurysm. In the same month I presented my TEDx talk on “Redefining our Image of a Widow”.

I wanted people to know that our Love story hadn’t finished. I continued spreading hope and healing with everything I offered to the world – and most importantly, I wanted our sons to see what’s possible. Grief is not a lifelong sentence, like society suggests. Yes, it changes our life dramatically – yet we have choices in how it changes us – a lesson Rob had taught me during our life together. I still hear it in his voice and see his cheeky smile, when he used to say, “Two choices, babe!” We can always choose how we respond to what life presents us with; every single moment. We are the author of our own life story!

In June 2023 I archived the movement, as I decided to step up in my approach to changing the narrative of grief. I published “Sparks of Joy”, a prompted journal, on Rob’s 5th passing anniversary. It was my passion project and farewell present to the community –a well-loved companion for a well needed healing journey through any adversity.

My pivot took me into the world of speaking and storytelling, holding workshops, and continuing my private coaching for a selected number of clients at a time.

After sharing my story at the Sydney Opera House in October 2025, I published my 4th book during the same week: “My Person Died – What Now?” A Grief Guide with a Positive Twist, in which my sons (now 18 and 16) also co-wrote one section, sharing their rather personal perspectives throughout our journey. It contains all the FAQs I have been asked – and answered – over the past 7+ years; there’s hardly a week where I don’t receive a message about somebody having died, and nobody knowing what to say or do.

This book goes to the griever as well as to the support person, and contains valuable references, recommendations and global helplines. It offers tools, practical things to do, as well as more heartfelt and nurturing language, so we don’t revert to “My condolences”. This isn’t good enough. We need to do more than ticking a box.

My books are for people walking through grief, knowing there’s got to be a different approach to what society portrays. I am here to change the narrative of grief and give people language in grief that opens doors and connects, rather than separate us in a time where we already feel isolated. We don’t heal well in isolation!

People often share that my books, my messages, are giving them hope – and in many cases have even saved lives! Feedback like that fuels the fire within me.

Last but not least I would like to introduce a topic that adds to my fire: Epigenetics.
There’s a strong history in my Father-line of men dying young in my family. Having two sons, who now have that history from both sides of their family, it’s got to end with me.
I am a cycle-breaker. And I want to watch my sons grow to an old age, with a happy and fulfilled life. That’s my why, my raison d’être, my everything.

Marie Alessi

About the author

Marie is a Grief Advocate, bestselling Author, TEDx and Keynote Speaker. After her husband unexpectedly passed from a brain aneurysm, she dedicated her life to allowing healing and creating happiness for her young family. Becoming a widow at the age of 45 was nothing Marie had anticipated. With the intention of changing the narrative of grief, she started sharing her story in a few books, and well featured publications. This most beautiful Love legacy for her husband has paved the path to Bringing Lightness into Grief!