Denise J. Hughes: About Me

Come on in.

Hi. If we haven’t met yet, I’m Denise, and I’m committed to doing “online life” a little differently. A little quieter. And a little simpler.

I write about “the quiet life.” It’s a vision for living counter-culturally in a loud and restless world.

For a glimpse of what this looks like in everyday living, SIGN UP HERE to receive my newsletter, The Quiet Life Quarterly. And for a more intimate look into what it means to cultivate a quiet heart in a loud and restless world, my book SANCTUARY explores this in more depth.

My favorite thing to do is sit with a friend while sharing stories over a pot of peach tea, so I like to recreate that same sense here. Because I believe our stories connect our hearts.

And more than anything, I want you to know: You are welcome here. No matter what. Life is a journey, and the journey is made so much sweeter when we sojourn together.

Come on in…

Hi. If we haven’t met yet, I’m Denise, and I’m committed to doing “online life” a little differently. A little quieter. And a little simpler.

I write about “the quiet life.” It’s a vision for living counter-culturally in a loud and restless world.

For a glimpse of what this looks like in everyday living, sign up here to receive my newsletter, The Quiet Life Quarterly. And for a more intimate look into what it means to cultivate a quiet heart in a loud and restless world, my book Sanctuary explores this in more depth.

My favorite thing to do is sit with a friend while sharing stories over a pot of peach tea, so I like to recreate that same sense here. Because I believe our stories connect our hearts.

And more than anything, I want you to know: You are welcome here. No matter what. Life is a journey, and the journey is made so much sweeter when we sojourn together.

A little about me professionally…

Teacher. Author. Editor. Speaker.

I have an M.A. in English, and I have enjoyed teaching college composition and literature as an adjunct professor. I’ve also served as the General Editor on a couple of fun projects with LifeWay, like this one here. I’ve written some books, too, and I think you’ll find a fairly consistent theme in everything I write.

I enjoy teaching and coming alongside writers, so you’ll find me in some other fun places from time to time — like the First 5 app by Proverbs 31.

Back when the world wasn’t dealing with COVID, I traveled and spoke at conferences and retreats. You can click here to learn more.

And if you’d like to take a peek inside my book, Deeper Waters, you can read the Introduction and Chapter 1 for free here.

A little about me personally…

Wife. Mom. Homemaker. Dog Lover.

I’d love for you to meet my family. My husband, Jeff, is my best friend. He always makes me laugh. Together, we have raised three kids — two girls and a boy. They’re 27, 19, and 18. We also have two pups who have stolen our hearts.

This family picture was drawn by my middle child at age six, and it’s rather true to life — except for the ultra skinny mommy part. Maybe someday I’ll post an actual family portrait here, but throughout my “online life” I’ve been committed to honoring my children’s privacy.

As a writer, I am a story teller.
As a mom, I am a story protector.

When I say “story protector,” I simply mean that I believe it’s my responsibility as a mom to honor my children’s lives by letting them tell their own stories when they’re ready. This gets easier as they get older. Very occasionally these days, I will share a picture on Instagram. Always with their permission.

These are my favorite four, and they are the reason I do my best to be fully present, here and now.