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As the applause gradually ended, Denise realised she would now have to speak. Keeping her standing position she fought the urge to fold her arms as
she began.
"Well as I am sure you can imagine this is all rather overwhelming for me," she smiled, "However I would like to thank everybody for attending this
afternoon. I hope we all have a pleasant time& enjoy the meal& but for now I believe you have some questions so why don't we start with them?" As
another light applause rose from the gathering Denise took her seat in between Christine and Carl. The editor had discreetly made his way to the front of
the room while DJ was talking. Pulling her chair into position, Denise turned to Carl and received a wink of support. She smiled and turned back ready to
face the questions.
Hands started to rise and Denise nodded to a middle aged man with a receding hairline.
"Miss Jennings," he began, "Rupert Green, The Times Literary review. I would first like to ask what I am sure we are all most eager to know. Why did you
keep your identity so closely guarded and why do you now feel the need to come out into the open?"
Denise entwined her fingers together and placed her hands upon the table. "Well& basically I suppose I was and still am to a point& a little shy. At the
time I was comfortable remaining out of the public eye. I was young and had no idea my work would be so positively acknowledged. I've always been a
relatively private person."
"So why now?"
"Lots of changes occurred in my life," Denise blinked as another camera flashed in her face. "I realised I could no longer continue to live my life in the rut it
was becoming. I had to move on and accept the changes& so I did. Besides I felt it was about time I quashed those rumours about me& and I assure
you that I do not possess the tackle of a man!"
Amused chuckles rose from the crowd before hands lifted once again and DJ nodded for another person to speak.
"Miss Jennings, your poetry has recently been included in the high school syllabus. How do you feel about having your work put under the microscope in
such a way?"
Denise grinned. "I am very flattered. It was certainly something I never expected but I was pleased nonetheless. I always hoped in some way I would be
able to touch somebody with my words. I in no way claim to possess a greater knowledge or desire to hold a status of high regard. They are just my
thoughts and feelings. If I am able to touch somebody& in some way and make a positive difference in his or her life then I feel that I have achieved my
goal. It is all I have ever wanted."
"Miss Jennings?" A female voice said. "Is one of the changes in your life that you mentioned the death of your aunt, Sara Jennings?"
"Yes it was." Denise answered simply.
"And why did you live with your aunt and not your own parents?"
DJ shuffled uncomfortably in her chair. "My parents died in a house fire when I was ten years old. I lived with Sara& my father's sister from then on."
A chorus of hands rose once again and Denise pointed towards a smartly dressed woman in a navy suit.
"Hello, Miss Jennings. Julia Ford, assistant editor for Passions of Prose Magazine. Is it true you are planning to release your first novel based upon your
aunt's life?"
Denise internally rolled her eyes as she answered the woman's question. She had hoped this question would arise though so she could put a stop to the
rumours that were travelling around.
A young man quickly raised his hand and asked his question. "After writing just poetry what makes you think you can successfully make the transition into
fiction, Miss Jennings?"
"Well& all I can say is that this certainly isn't the first work of fiction I have written. The only difference is that this book will be published under my own
name."
"Are you saying you have written under a pen name?" He pushed.
"I'm afraid I am not allowed to answer that question under the restraints of the contract it was written under."
"You've written for somebody else?"
"I'm sorry I am unable to answer that."
Another question arose. "Miss Jennings, in your dedication you included a very personal message to a Miranda Martin."
"Yes?" Denise said simply.
"Are we to believe this was a declaration of your sexual preference?"
Here we go, the poet thought. She had wondered how long it would take before this line of questioning commenced. "It wasn't so much a declaration of
that as it was quite simply a affirmation of my feelings for Randa."
"So you are in a relationship with this woman?"
Denise felt her hackles rise at the way the reporter described Randa. "Yes, I am in a relationship with Randa. Very happily so."
From beneath the table Denise felt Carl squeeze her knee in a show of support. "There has to be at least one!" He muttered, lowering his head. The
brunette refrained from smirking as another body rose from the crowd.
"Miss Jennings, what would you say to those who state that revealing your sexuality along with your identity was nothing more than a publicity stunt?"
Fighting the urge to pound her head upon the table, Denise leaned forward. "I would say they are wrong. My reasons were purely personal and simply part
of a transition within my life."
"And you are not afraid this will alienate your fans& the people who admire you and your work& and who gave you this success?"
DJ looked around the room before answering. "I suppose that if they really are fans then it shouldn't make any difference. My writing is all they knew of me.
I will never claim to be anything I am not. The fact that I fell in love with a woman was due to the wonderful person that she is& it had little to do with her
gender."
"Is she here today?" A voice called out.
"No, Randa had to work," Denise said.
A young woman sitting in the front row raised her hand. "Miss Jennings, I work for the Daily Edition." Denise instantly recognised the name of her local
Derbyshire newspaper. "We recently received an anonymous letter stating your rumoured forthcoming book based upon your aunt's life& "
"Though it is not," Denise interrupted feeling suddenly concerned.
"Well yes& but the letter stated that some facts you include in this book will be fabricated or will only tell half of the truth about Sara Jennings. The letter
leads us to believe that either you are hiding certain facts or you are ignorant of them."
With a frown Denise turned towards Carl who looked back with an expression of concerned confusion. Biting the corner of her lower lip DJ looked back to
the assembly of expectant faces. "I don't see any relevance this will hold to the book as it is just fiction. As for my aunt& well apart from the fact that I
assure you that I do know all aspects of her life& I don't necessarily think they are other people's concern. My aunt passed away after falling victim to a
terrible disease and I would like to pay her the respect she is due by not bringing her personal life under scrutiny." Denise paused as she felt a tight ball of
emotion swell within her. She took a deep steadying breath before continuing. "I hope you will understand how tough this was for us all and show Sara the
respect she deserves by letting her rest in peace."
As a quiet applause ascended from the crowd of guests, Denise let a small smile of thanks past her lips. Please change the subject, she thought as the
sound died.
"Miss Jennings?" A young man with ash blonde hair emerged from the gathering. "First of all I would just like to say that I am a fan of your work and I would
very much like to know where do you gain your inspiration?"
DJ sighed internally as she delivered a winning smile and answered the man's question.
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