Hi I am Denyse Whelan. I am relatively new to Blogging. I am currently revamping my blog so have no name YET. I am in Sydney Australia. I write on my blog in areas of personal, community, education and family. I would welcome a chance to 'meet up' or 'tweet up. I am @denwise1 on twitter.

Thank you! I was just looking in my back yard noticing how the grass is coming in looking very colorful this year, and the phrase "the grass is greener" popped into my mind. I sat down at the laptop and had just received your message linking to your blog, where I read the words "the grass is greener". I had to stop and think, "Was I thinking about green grass before I read this?" It all seemed to converge at the same moment. Then I read "Life Was Meant to Be Easy" and it seemed as if I stumbled across a moment of clarity. :) The grass is pretty damned green, indeed.

That sounds wonderful! I have written poetry ever since I can remember. Poetry is an active healing process for me. However, I was always terrified to share it with others until about two years ago when I hit bottom. My boyfriend had committed suicide, and I developed a heroin and cocaine addiction as a way to cope with the pain. After a few years of attempting to balance my addiction, I eventually lost the battle and ended up homeless. Around the corner from the homeless shelter I was living in was a coffee shop called Cup of Joe's. At that point, Cup of Joe's had been the longest running open mic in SLC and was the home venue of the SLC Slam poetry team. I would go to the coffee shop everyday and write, write, and write. Eventually I worked up the nerve to share my work at the mic, and developed a community with an amazing group of writers and musicians. This process of writing and speaking about my internal process was my rehab, and now two and a half years later, it is my career. I was a professional improvisational pianist before Peter's death, so the realm of creative expression within performance is very familiar for me. I write and speak about topics such as addiction, death, rebirth, spirituality and indigo children. My intention is to speak and sing about the trials I endured as a way to inspire others to speak about and overcome similar trials they might be facing. I have hosted open mics here in SLC in the past, but now I am beginning an open mic at the Utah Pride Center for LGBTQ youth in order to mentor the writing and performances they wish to share. I'm very excited to be at a place in my life where I can help facilitate new voices to express, inspire and heal.

I live in Salt Lake City, Utah. Land of the glass temple. (hehehe) I am focusing on poetry at the moment, but I have dabbled in children's fiction as well. In the current incarnation of my creative cycle, I am a spoken word/hip hop artist. Off the page and into the mic! rawxtract.bandcamp.com

I just passed your blog site along to several girlfriends who also dabble in the blogging art. I think they will appreciate it. :) At one point I thought I was going to travel the blogging road, and I think after I have finished the bouts of poetry manuscript submission I will return to it. My idea was to publish a weekly chapter of my children's book on a blog. Charles Dicken's style. I need to look into the ways of blogging a bit more to do it justice. Finding a site such as yours gives me inspiration. This is what I did thus far, although I haven't promoted it in the least.
redvelvetnotes.blogspot.com

I subscribed to your blog and look forward to reading more!

MMMMhhhhmmmm. I just checked out your blog from the message you sent from the Mother Writers group. I love the look and the content is divine!

Happy day, Sharni! Your website is wonderful...your story will touch so many hearts. It's good that Spirit is guiding you so clearly. You go, girl! enjoy the ride!

Thanks for the update... I am so busy right now. I just got that Master's degree and when I came home... whew! I hope everything is going well for you, Sharni. Warmly, Jen

Hi Sharni,
Just wanted to check back in with you to see if you're still interested to write a blog post for my drinking diaries blog. let me know if you'd still like to write something.
caren

Wow, thanks for the offer! I'd love to share my book with you. I've had a few reviewers there, but it's very possible that the only way you can order it is on Amazon. Email me your address, and I'll get you a copy after the holiday: JenKnox395@gmail.com
(More philosophical than spiritual. Probably a different take.)

Just had a look at your site, sounds like a fascinating read, albeit it is your life. I am interested in this style of writing - also on my blog the chronicles of Sharnia I interview writers / people who I find interesting / inspiring in some way.
I am just about to launch my website - Sharnanigans which will be along the same lines, a little whimsical but I am really fascinated by writers who have gone through something tough, but come out the other side in an inspiring way.... I too had a bit of a misspent youth and suffered panic attacks, but I feel I have finally got to the 'other side' now -- is there a spiritual element to your book? Not that this matters, it is just I finished reading a fantastic book called 'the high heeled guide to enlightenment' by another author I met on here (and interviewed) and so am still in that 'spiritual' thinking!!
Anyway after all these questions, wondered if you would be interested in being on my website, perhaps doing a giveaway? I have mostly Australian readers, but do have some in UK and America....
Perhaps we could start with an interview and take it from there..
so many questions - but your book has definitely intrigued me, love finding new authors and introducing people to them here....or maybe I should read your book first hey? Is it available in Australia?
so many questions ;-)

Music to an author's ears... There's an extended synopsis on my site: http://www.musicalchairsbook.com
But the gist is that I wrote about my "largely misspent youth" (that's from my favorite review) that begins when I ran away from home at age fifteen and traces a series of bad decisions that lead up to an aimless career as an exotic dancer (not that all exotic dancers are aimless, but I was). I wrote about these times because a lot of trauma occurred that didn't really surface until years later, when I was an undergrad.
Email or message me, if you'd like to know more. I'd love to chat ...
And here's my Amazon link, if you want to read some of the reviews. http://amzn.com/0984259422

Email: JenKnox395@gmail.com

Hi Sharnia. Love your blog. I also love the Chronicles of Narnia, so you can imagine where I'm coming from with my British background in the old colony of Nigeria! You have over 39 followers you lucky stiff, now with me it may be 40. I'm proud of my 14 though. I've heard the key to having followers is keeping in touch with them;) and commenting on other people's blogs. One guy said he didn't worry about it much and just wrote what interested him and commented on blogs he liked and the people just started to come. What great tips do you have for me?

Blessings, Princess ayo

Hi Sharni

Welcome and would love to give any advice where needed. It's a bunny eat bunny world this children's writing...LOL

Welcome to the Children's Writers Group. You can introduce yourself, if you like, in the comments area on the group page. I look forward to getting to know you.

Hey Sharni,
I'm living in southern UT in Hurricane (irony of all ironies) and I am a poet, but I dabble in journalism.
Amey (Cathy)

Hello Sharni, I hope that all is well and that you are mingling and learning here on she writes. I am a inspirational blogger and a Author, I am working on getting my first book published soon.

Thanks Sharni, but right now it would not be a possibility. Maybe later. Blessings.
Chris

No problem. Just let me know when you want to send something. Thanks

Hey Sharni,

Are you still interested in sending me a blog post? I sent an email but I'm thinking you didn't get it.
Looking forward to posting your guest blog.