Community Conversation • Book Launch • Fireside Chat
A Story of Faith, Resilience and the Cost of Secrecy
Only My Face Was Smiling, the memoir by author Denise Benz, explores what can exist behind the smile others see—the lasting impact of childhood abuse, silence, secrecy, emotional pain, faith, resilience, and the journey toward healing.
The launch of this book is designed to be more than a celebration of a memoir.
It is an opportunity to bring people together for an important community conversation:
What are people carrying behind the smiles we see every day?
Through a candid fireside chat and community gathering, we hope to create a space where conversations about abuse, trauma, secrecy, silence, resilience, and healing can happen—and where people who recognize themselves or someone they love in these conversations can be connected with credible resources and support.
WE ARE SEEKING COMMUNITY PARTNERS
We welcome connections with organizations and professionals who provide resources related to:
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
PROVIDE RESOURCES
Provide brochures, resource cards, educational materials, QR codes, hotline information, or other materials that attendees can take with them.
BECOME A COMMUNITY PARTNER
Help connect this conversation with organizations, churches, women's groups, colleges, nonprofits, survivor communities, therapists, advocates, and community leaders.
HELP SPREAD THE WORD
Share the event and book with your community, organization, clients, members, or professional network.
CONNECT US WITH MEDIA
We welcome introductions to television, radio, print and digital journalists, community publications, podcast hosts, producers, and other media professionals interested in conversations surrounding trauma, secrecy, resilience, faith, healing, and community impact.
MEDIA & INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES
Denise Benz is available for conversations and interviews surrounding:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Denise Benz is an author, speaker, brand strategist, and business coach whose work centers on authenticity, voice, resilience, and helping people recognize the power of their own stories.
Her memoir, Only My Face Was Smiling, brings readers behind the smile others saw and into a deeply personal story of survival, faith, secrecy, resilience, and healing.
LEARN MORE • PARTNER • CONNECT
denise (at) DeniseBenz dot com
Help us turn one story into a conversation—and a conversation into a connection to help.
Only My Face Was Smiling, the memoir by author Denise Benz, explores what can exist behind the smile others see—the lasting impact of childhood abuse, silence, secrecy, emotional pain, faith, resilience, and the journey toward healing.
The launch of this book is designed to be more than a celebration of a memoir.
It is an opportunity to bring people together for an important community conversation:
What are people carrying behind the smiles we see every day?
Through a candid fireside chat and community gathering, we hope to create a space where conversations about abuse, trauma, secrecy, silence, resilience, and healing can happen—and where people who recognize themselves or someone they love in these conversations can be connected with credible resources and support.
WE ARE SEEKING COMMUNITY PARTNERS
We welcome connections with organizations and professionals who provide resources related to:
- Childhood abuse and survivor support
- Domestic violence and sexual assault services
- Trauma-informed counseling and therapy
- Mental health and emotional wellness
- Family and youth services
- Faith-based counseling and support
- Women's organizations and women's groups
- Crisis intervention and advocacy
- Community health and wellness
- Support for families and caregivers
- Healing, resilience, and personal development
- Our goal is not simply to start a difficult conversation.
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
PROVIDE RESOURCES
Provide brochures, resource cards, educational materials, QR codes, hotline information, or other materials that attendees can take with them.
BECOME A COMMUNITY PARTNER
Help connect this conversation with organizations, churches, women's groups, colleges, nonprofits, survivor communities, therapists, advocates, and community leaders.
HELP SPREAD THE WORD
Share the event and book with your community, organization, clients, members, or professional network.
CONNECT US WITH MEDIA
We welcome introductions to television, radio, print and digital journalists, community publications, podcast hosts, producers, and other media professionals interested in conversations surrounding trauma, secrecy, resilience, faith, healing, and community impact.
MEDIA & INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES
Denise Benz is available for conversations and interviews surrounding:
- The Story Behind the Smile — What we may not know about the people we see every day.
- The Cost of Secrecy — How silence can follow people from childhood into adulthood.
- When Survival Looks Like Success — Why someone's outward accomplishments don't always reveal what they have survived.
- Faith, Resilience & Healing — Finding the courage to confront what has been hidden.
- Starting Conversations That Matter — How one person's story can give others permission to tell their own.
- ONE CONNECTION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
- If you know an organization, resource provider, community leader, journalist, producer, podcast host, therapist, advocate, church, women's group, college, or other person who should be part of this conversation, we would be grateful for an introduction.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Denise Benz is an author, speaker, brand strategist, and business coach whose work centers on authenticity, voice, resilience, and helping people recognize the power of their own stories.
Her memoir, Only My Face Was Smiling, brings readers behind the smile others saw and into a deeply personal story of survival, faith, secrecy, resilience, and healing.
LEARN MORE • PARTNER • CONNECT
denise (at) DeniseBenz dot com
Help us turn one story into a conversation—and a conversation into a connection to help.
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Be sure to tag @denisebenz on social media
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#OnlyMyFaceWasSmiling
#BehindTheSmile #HealingOutLoud #YourPastDoesNotDefineYou |
