Grief has a way of changing us. It can break us or shape us into something new. After losing her brother to NF2, a rare condition that gradually took his hearing, speech, and mobility, Denise Clanin faced a heartbreak few can imagine. But instead of letting grief silence her, she found healing through storytelling.
Her novel Among the Stars isn’t just a book—it’s a reflection of loss, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit.
In this episode, we dive deep into:
💔 The emotional toll of anticipatory grief and how it changes us
📝 How writing became Denise’s path to healing and self-discovery
🙏 The role of faith in navigating pain and finding purpose
📖 The themes of love, mystery, and redemption woven into Among the Stars
00:00 – Intro: Why this episode matters
02:15 – Denise’s brother: His life, his impact, his legacy
06:40 – The diagnosis: How everything changed
10:15 – The weight of anticipatory grief
14:45 – Losing her brother: The moment that changed everything
18:30 – How writing became Denise’s healing tool
22:00 – The themes of grief, love, and mystery in Among the Stars
26:20 – The power of storytelling in processing pain
30:10 – Learning to carry loss while embracing new joy
35:00 – Denise’s advice for anyone struggling with grief
38:15 – Final reflections: Hope, healing, and the next chapter
If you’ve ever experienced loss or wondered how to turn your pain into something meaningful, this episode will speak to you.
🌟 Connect with Denise Clanin
📚 Get her book Among the Stars: https://a.co/d/iiyhCgK
🌐 Visit her website: https://morganpiercemediapublishing.com/denise-clanin/
✨ Join the Hard Beautiful Journey Community
💬 Instagram: @hardbeautifuljourney
🎧 Listen & Subscribe: https://www.hardbeautifuljourney.com/s8e108