fter years of writing, editing and rewriting, Denise has finally released her autobiography, Blame It On Vanity. She says, “I have been writing this book for 18 years. When I had first finished it, God told me to throw it out — it is time to grow up. Inside the pages I had told all the dirt, my dirt, their dirt his dirt and everything anyone has ever done to me.”
The autobiography is not a gossip book filled with secrets and scandal, instead Denise chose to write a very truthful account of her tumultuous childhood and rock star life. In answer to the question what will people reading this book receive, she says, “A lot of the inside of me, real truth telling. They will read of two relationships mostly the one of Prince, the other of King Jesus.”
Another relationship in the book has to do with the physical, emotional and psychological abuse she and her sisters faced from her biological father. Denise doesn’t like talking about it publicly which is why she wrote about her childhood pain in her book. She says, “That is a long story I would prefer you read the chapters, plus you will cry and get your computer all wet!” There was a faint glimpse of closure between Denise and her father when he was on his death bed and looked up at Denise and said, “I love you Denise!” Her chilling reply, “You know what i said? Phillipe, I never believed him.”
Before she blamed her life on Vanity, she first blamed it on her father Denise says, “ Yes I did, but now I blame me for everything after he died and I continued to live. ”She was fifteen when he died and did not forgive him until or herself until she was saved. “Yes until I came to Jesus in 1991.”
Her last relationship she profiles in the book was her marriage to football player Anthony Smith, of the Oakland Raiders. They divorced in 1996. She recalls, “Yes, I was married. I have a sincere love relationship with my soul mate, whom I finally yearned for; Jesus my Father, my God amen! My ex divorced me, I followed Jesus. He went the other way, I forgave him for cheating. God said ‘Let no man put asunder what God has joined together.’ Some of us have put our own wrong together without listening to Jesus, that’s another story. I have been a celibate virgin for almost fourteen years.”
In closing, I asked Denise what advice would she give women and men wanting to pursue their dreams but have a similar childhood story? “Find Jesus, Follow Jesus, Seek Jesus and never leave Jesus. The whole world is going to pot but Jesus, now Him you can trust, the world is Egypt. I am afraid for those that deny Him, or those that have known Him and walked away.”
Between praising God, dialysis and signing autographed copies of her book, Denise finds time to work on the launch of Pure Heart Ministries. “We bring souls to Jesus,” Denise says, “I preach wherever God sends me and I do not charge. I am not a wealthy woman as most suppose. I live for Jesus, people give me offerings, God supplies all my needs…amen?! Love and more love!”
